Douglas J. Cohen News

? The new musical MANN… AND WIFE arrives in New York directly from its world premiere at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma for a special one night only concert presentation at Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W 54th St, Cellar, New York, NY 10019) on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.54below.com.

This March, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. Scroll down for details!

Berkeley Playhouse presents the world premiere of BRIDGES: A NEW MUSICAL, with lyrics and book by Cheryl L. Davis (2009 Writers' Guild Award winner and Daytime Emmy Award nominee for As the World Turns), composed by Douglas J. Cohen (2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Off-Broadway's Children's Letters to God, Richard Rodgers Grants and the Gilman & Conzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation Award for Off-Broadway's No Way to Treat a Lady), and conceived by Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy (developer of new musical theatre works for Berkeley Playhouse including: Born And Raised, Bravado, and Just So Stories).

Berkeley Playhouse presents the world premiere of BRIDGES: A NEW MUSICAL, with lyrics and book by Cheryl L. Davis (2009 Writers' Guild Award winner and Daytime Emmy Award nominee for As the World Turns), composed by Douglas J. Cohen (2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Off-Broadway's Children's Letters to God, Richard Rodgers Grants and the Gilman & Conzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation Award for Off-Broadway's No Way to Treat a Lady), and conceived by Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy (developer of new musical theatre works for Berkeley Playhouse including: Born And Raised, Bravado, and Just So Stories).

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma presents its first production of the 2016 season, MANN... AND WIFE. This world premiere musical, running tonight, February 3, through February 21 at Lyric's Plaza Theatre, is the third musical to have its first full production at Lyric in the past three years. Written by Douglas J. Cohen and Dan Elish, and based on Elish's novel Nine Wives, the musical is produced in partnership with Larry Hirschhorn and Jayson Raitt.

Berkeley Playhouse is proud to present the world premiere of Bridges: A New Musical Lyricist & Author CHERYL L. DAVIS Composer DOUGLAS J. COHEN Based on an original concept by ELIZABETH McKOY

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) continues its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of Evanston: A Rare Comedy, written by Michael Yates Crowley. This reading, directed by Michael Rau, will be performed for one night only on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 7pm at SOPAC (One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079). The reading is $15 and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at www.sopacnow.org or by calling 973-313-ARTS (2787).

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Berkeley Playhouse will present the world premiere of BRIDGES: A NEW MUSICAL, with lyrics and book by Cheryl L. Davis (2009 Writers' Guild Award winner and Daytime Emmy Award nominee for As the World Turns), composed by Douglas J. Cohen (2005 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for Off-Broadway's Children's Letters to God, Richard Rodgers Grants and the Gilman & Conzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation Award for Off-Broadway's No Way to Treat a Lady), and conceived by Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy (developer of new musical theatre works for Berkeley Playhouse including: Born And Raised, Bravado, and Just So Stories).

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) will present LET IT SING! Broadway Comes Home for the Holidays, a one-night-only benefit concert on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 7:30pm at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079).

WINTER RHYTHMS, the annual festival and fundraising event produced by Urban Stages Theater in New York City, will present a concert version of A CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS, a family musical about Charles Dickens's personal struggles with writing A Christmas Carol. Through an unexpected 'muse,' Dickens comes to understand his own troubled youth, ultimately learning the true meaning of Christmas and finding the inspiration for this immortal holiday classic. The concert will take place tonight and Saturday, December 10 and 12, 2015.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) has announced that its 2015 donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will total $1.65 million dollars, bringing the foundation's total contribution to BC/EFA to $11.65 million since it began eleven years ago. The foundation, which is funded by royalties from the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb's vast catalogue of work, makes an annual donation to BC/EFA.

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma announces the cast and creative team of its first production of the 2016 season, MANN… AND WIFE. This world premiere musical, running February 3 through 21 at Lyric's Plaza Theatre, is the third musical to have its first full production at Lyric in the past three years. Written by Douglas J. Cohen and Dan Elish, and based on Elish's novel Nine Wives, the musical is produced in partnership with Larry Hirschhorn and Jayson Raitt.

WINTER RHYTHMS, the annual festival and fundraising event produced by Urban Stages Theater in New York City, will present a concert version of A CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS, a family musical about Charles Dickens's personal struggles with writing A Christmas Carol. Through an unexpected 'muse,' Dickens comes to understand his own troubled youth, ultimately learning the true meaning of Christmas and finding the inspiration for this immortal holiday classic. The concert will take place on December 10 and 12, 2015.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) continues its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of WHAT GOD HATH WROUGHT ~ A TRANSATLANTIC FARCE, written by John Walch, with songs by Rachel Peters.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that film, television, and theatre actor Geoffrey Arend (MADAM SECRETARY on CBS) will be joining previously announced Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus in Midtown Direct Rep's staged reading of THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF NOW, a new play written by Y York and directed by Will Pomerantz.  Broadway actress Marni Raab (The Phantom of the Opera) will read the stage directions. 

National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce the cast for the SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE and the SONGWRITERS CABARET at the 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16. Both events take place at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). In person registration for industry members will be available on Thursday at 9:30 AM at New World Stages (340 West 50 Street). (Please note the admission process for each event in the individual descriptions.)

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR), kicks off its 2015-16 season at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with Theatre in the Loft, a series of staged readings of new plays and musicals. The Impossibility of Now, written by Y York and directed by Will Pomerantz, will be performed for one night only on Sunday, October 18, 2016 at 7pm at SOPAC (One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079).

Berkeley Playhouse at the Julia Morgan Theater proudly announces their eighth season. The ambitious season will see an increase of productions from four to six, their first 'R-rated' show, a world premiere commission, the first non-musical in the company's history, and a Bay Area premiere.