Eric Schaeffer News

 'Tis the season to celebrate as A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage brings holiday cheer to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Sunday, November 25 at 1 pm and 4 pm. Tickets are $29-$69.

Maplewood thespian turned producer has caught the bug! Late June, Gregory Omar Osborne produced a rousing production of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE. It was a successful first for Osborne, with ticket sales at 70% over a four show weekend. Less than six months after closing FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE Osborne will present the world premiere of A PARK AVENUE CHRISTMAS written by Ed Dickson at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, December 20th - 23rd, 2018, in Maplewood, NJ.

Signature Theatre has partnered with The Shen Family Foundation to create the SigWorks: Signature Theatre/Yale Composer Partnership, a new and unique program for young musical theatre writers.  Each year the new program will award one senior from Yale University's Shen Curriculum for Musical Theater a 3-week workshop to develop their own musical upon graduation together with a Shen Artist Internship for the Signature Theatre season. As a Shen Artist the award recipient will work alongside Signature's artistic team in the preparation for a world premiere production on Signature's mainstage season. In addition, one recent graduate (within the past five years) of Yale University and a participant in the Shen Curriculum for Musical Theater will be awarded a 2-week workshop of a musical they are currently writing.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at the trailer for Signature Theater's Billy Elliot the Musical directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Passion, West Side Story). Based on the powerful and acclaimed film, all 11-year-old Billy wants to do is dance. Initially facing opposition from society and his father, Billy's passion instead unites the community and changes his life in extraordinary ways. The original production with book and lyrics by Lee Hall and music by Tony, Grammy and Academy Award® winner Elton John was universally lauded, sweeping the Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards for Best Musical. Billy Elliot the Musical will run from October 30, 2018 - January 6, 2019 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

Theater stalwart Jamie Du Mont, Lucille Lortel Award winner Leslie Kritzer, writer and theater critic Rob Russo, and Tony Award nominee Jennifer Simard just launched their brand-new Broadway-centric podcast, The Fabulous Invalid.

Roy Orbison 'returns' to the stage in the first-of-its kind Hologram concert tour. Performing his greatest hits, accompanied on stage by a live orchestra, the iconic hall of musician is set to return with In Dreams: Roy Orbison In Concert - The Hologram Tour.  This unique concert event will be staged at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Monday, November 12 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $69-$109.

Good Grief, it's twice the fun! The holiday sell-out, A Charlie Brown Christmas, is back and playing in a special double bill feature with You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Signature Theatre announces the full cast and creative team for Billy Elliot the Musical directed and choreographed by Signature Theatre Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Passion, West Side Story).

Rep Stage Producing Artistic Director Joseph W. Ritsch Directs, Choreographs, and does the Set Design for a 'hair-raising' rendition of this Stephen Sondheim classic musical.

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for the DC premiere of Heisenberg by Tony Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and directed by Signature Theatre Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's The Flick, The Scottsboro Boys). The production will star Michael Russotto (Rep Stage's The Whale, Signature's Art) as Alex and Rachel Zampelli (Signature's The Gulf, Midwestern Gothic) as Georgie. Heisenberg will run September 18 - November 11, 2018 in Signature Theatre's ARK Theatre.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories includes tons of new Broadway casting! Jennifer Simard will join the cast of Mean Girls, Ryan McCartan joins Wicked, and Rosemary Harris joins My Fair Lady, all tonight!

According to a recent Equity casting notice, a revival of Titanic may be setting course for Broadway in the 2019-2020 season.

The Magik Theatre will present three shows at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre (226 N. St. Mary's St.) in its 2018-2019 Season. The Magik Theatre has produced shows at the venue since spring 2015, and historically has presented two shows a year, one during the holidays and one in the summer months. This year, the theatre expands its programming to include a Spring Break performance. Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, September 7 at 10AM.

Signature's 29th season begins with record-breaking 29th Sondheim production!

Signature Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for the DC premiere of Heisenberg by Tony Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and directed by Signature Theatre Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's The Flick, The Scottsboro Boys). The production will star Michael Russotto (Rep Stage's The Whale, Signature's Art) as Alex and Rachel Zampelli (Signature's The Gulf, Midwestern Gothic) as Georgie. Heisenberg will run September 18 - November 11, 2018 in Signature Theatre's ARK Theatre.

Natascia Diaz (Signature's Crazy for You, City Center Encores! Grand Hotel), Claybourne Elder (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Broadway's Sunday in the Park with George) and Steffanie Leigh (Broadway's War Paint, Gigi, Mary Poppins) are set to star in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Passion.

Natascia Diaz, Claybourne Elder and Steffanie Leigh are set to star in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Passion. This new production will be directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner.Passion runs August 14 - September 23, 2018 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre.

Today's subject, John Leslie Wolfe, has been living his theater life to the fullest for many years now. His credits include Broadway, national tours, television, and film. Local theatergoers might remember him from his performances at Signature Theatre in Titanic, The Threepenny Opera, and West Side Story or in 1776 or Ragtime at Ford's Theatre. Currently, John is back at Signature Theatre in rehearsal for the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Passion directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. Performances begin on August 14th in Signature's MAX Theatre space. The production runs through September 23rd.

Ovens Auditorium will host 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' on Sunday, December 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Bojangles' Coliseum Box Office located at 2700 E. Independence Blvd. Tickets cost between $25 and $65 (plus applicable service charges).

Natascia Diaz (Signature's Crazy for You, City Center Encores! Grand Hotel), Claybourne Elder (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Broadway's Sunday in the Park with George) and Steffanie Leigh (Broadway's War Paint, Gigi, Mary Poppins) star in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Passion.