Ed Rogers News

Due to popular demand and critical acclaim, WANDA'S MONSTER A Family Musical will receive a commercial Off-Broadway engagement beginning July 13 and running through September 8 at The Vineyard's Dimson Theatre (108 East 15th Street), it has been announced by Barbara Zinn Krieger, Artistic Director of Making Books Sing, the non-profit and theatre company that commissioned the musical and presented it to critical acclaim and sold-out houses earlier this season. The official press re-opening night of WANDA'S MONSTER A Family Musical is Sunday July 21, 2013, and is presented Off-Broadway by Making Books Sing and Jamie Cesa.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Casale has announced casting for the 63rd Music Circus season, including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes The Wizard of Oz, Show Boat, Sugar, The King and I and the Music Circus premiere of Chicago.

David Rogers, Broadway playwright who also wrote for television, opera and night clubs, and authored novels and short stories, died on Wednesday, June 5th in Westport, Conn. He was 85.

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, one of the world's leading children's book publishers, has been named master publishing licensee for PBS KIDS ratings winner Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Under its agreement with brand owner, The Fred Rogers Company, and licensing agency, Out of the Blue Enterprises, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing will introduce a broad range of books based on the award-winning and critically-acclaimed animated show, the first TV series from The Fred Rogers Company since the iconic Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The first titles in the publishing program are set to launch in January 2014.

Making Books Sing (MBS), the critically acclaimed New York-based nonprofit that promotes children's literacy and social development through professional Theater Productions and arts-in-education programs, presents its second and final production of the 2012-2013 season WANDA'S MONSTER The Musical, with music & lyrics by kindie rock sensation Laurie Berkner ('The Laurie Berkner Band') and book by Barbara Zinn Krieger (THE BUTTERFLY), based on Eileen Spinelli's book 'Wanda's Monster,' from today, April 19 through May 12 at the company's new Off-Broadway home - Theater 3 (311 West 43rd Street) in Manhattan.

The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, an award-winning Preferred Boutique Hotel and Orvis Endorsed Fly-Fishing Lodge that is setting the new standard in all-inclusive luxury ranch resorts, announced today the itinerary for its fourth annual Independence Day celebration which will include a week of unforgettable activities from dazzling fireworks and country and classic rock concerts under the stars to a professional rodeo and Lil' Wranglers camp for kids, along with gourmet rocky mountain cuisine and relaxing spa experiences.

Making Books Sing (MBS), the critically acclaimed New York-based nonprofit that promotes children's literacy and social development through professional theater productions and arts-in-education programs, presents its second and final production of the 2012-2013 season WANDA'S MONSTER The Musical, with music & lyrics by kindie rock sensation Laurie Berkner ('The Laurie Berkner Band') and book by Barbara Zinn Krieger (THE BUTTERFLY), based on Eileen Spinelli's book 'Wanda's Monster,' from April 19 through May 12 at the company's new Off-Broadway home - Theater 3 (311 West 43rd Street) in Manhattan. Official press opening for WANDA'S MONSTER The Musical is set for April 21st.

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, a concert reading series of original musicals, with EVE, a contemporary opera in one act in the middle of the night, music by Philip Seward, libretto by Joan Mazzonelli and Philip Seward. The reading is tonight, February 18, at 7:30 pm, at the Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston.

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, a concert reading series of original musicals, with EVE, a contemporary opera in one act in the middle of the night, music by Philip Seward, libretto by Joan Mazzonelli and Philip Seward. The reading is on Monday, February 18, at 7:30 pm, at the Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston.

This fall, PBS KIDS will premiere PEG + CAT, a new animated preschool series that follows the adorable, spirited Peg and her sidekick Cat as they embark on adventures and learn foundational math concepts and skills. Co-creators Billy Aronson (Rent, Postcards from Buster) and Jennifer Oxley (Little Bill, The Wonder Pets!) have teamed with The Fred Rogers Company to bring young viewers a new way to experience math through Peg and Cat's relatable, and often hilarious, adventures. This multiplatform media property premieres this fall on PBS KIDS with a special one-hour broadcast of two back-to-back episodes, along with integrated online and mobile content. Each episode features fascinating stories in which Peg and Cat encounter a problem that requires them to use math and problem solving skills in order to move forward. The series will air daily following its premiere (check local listings).

Like fine chocolate, Jason Spickler's production yields something not too sweet, a bit on the dark side, but with plenty of promise for a smooth finish.

McGovern creatively opens and closes the musical with an image that evokes all the glitter and glamor of old Hollywood: the presentation of the Academy Awards in 1941, the year that Ginger Rogers beat out such adversaries as Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine and Martha Scott for the best actress Oscar for her performance of "knocked-up shopgirl" Kitty Foyle.

Nancy Johnston will replace Allyce Beasley and co-star with Lynne Wintersteller in Kari Floren's two-hander Revisiting Wildfire about two college roommates, best friends for life, who re-unite after thirty years, which begins previews Off-Broadway tonight, June 1.

Nancy Johnston will replace Allyce Beasley and co-star with Lynne Wintersteller in Kari Floren's two-hander Revisiting Wildfire about two college roommates, best friends for life, who re-unite after thirty years.

Allyce Beasley and Lynne Wintersteller began rehearsals today as two college roommates, best friends for life, who re-unite thirty years later in Revisiting Wildfire by Kari Floren, directed by Eve Brandstein.

Acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Artistic Director Michael Boyd will receive the Samuel H. Scripps Award at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's 448th Birthday. The celebration, tonight, May 7, is at the Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street.

Acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Artistic Director Michael Boyd will receive the Samuel H. Scripps Award at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's 448th Birthday. The celebration, Monday, May 7, is at the Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street.

Allyce Beasley and Lynne Wintersteller star as two college roommates, best friends for life, who re-unite thirty years later in Revisiting Wildfire by Kari Floren, directed by Eve Brandstein. Produced by Right Down Broadway, Revisiting Wildfire begins previews Friday, June 1, at 8:00pm for an opening Wednesday, June 6, at 7:00pm at ArcLight Theatre, 152 West 71st Street.

This year, on March 17th at 11:00 p.m., Hurley presents 'My Wild Irish Roses: An intimate evening of Irish Ballads, Singalongs, Rabble Rousers, and Rebel Songs' featuring Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris, Laura Cantrell, Annie Golden, Colum McCann, Sam Bisbee, Ed Rogers, Don Fleming, Ellen Foley, Mary Lee Kortes, and many more.

Joe's Pub has announced the following upcoming events.