Fifth Avenue Theatre News

Surflight Theatre Board President Gene Hammond announced today that Broadway producer (and Surflight alum) Roy Miller has been appointed to the leadership position of Producer at Surflight Theatre.

"Bewitched, The Songs of Rodgers and Hart" will be performed on Thursday, October 14th at 7:00 pm at The Triad Theatre 158 West 72nd Street NYC (east of Broadway) by The Philhallmonic Society.

Moonlight Stage Productions concludes its 30th Anniversary Summer Season at the Moonlight Amphitheatre with the international sensation MISS SAIGON. Performances are September 8-25 at 7:30 pm. Tickets, priced $22-$45, are on sale through the VisTix Ticket Office at (760) 724-2110 and online at moonlightstage.com. MISS SAIGON is intended for mature audiences as it contains mature themes, situations, and language. The creative team on the production includes Steven Glaudini, Director; Carlos Mendoza, Choreographer; Charlie Reuter, Musical Director; and Kenneth Gammie, Conductor.

Moonlight Stage Productions concludes its 30th Anniversary Summer Season at the Moonlight Amphitheatre with the international sensation MISS SAIGON. Performances are September 8-25 at 7:30 pm. Tickets, priced $22-$45, are on sale through the VisTix Ticket Office at (760) 724-2110 and online at moonlightstage.com. MISS SAIGON is intended for mature audiences as it contains mature themes, situations, and language. The creative team on the production includes Steven Glaudini, Director; Carlos Mendoza, Choreographer; Charlie Reuter, Musical Director; and Kenneth Gammie, Conductor.

Metropolitan Playhouse, 'theatrical archaeologist extraordinaire' (Backstage), presents a revival of Under the Gaslight, by Augustin Daly. First presented at the New York Theatre in1867, Under the Gaslight will be revived in Metropolitan's home at 220 E 4th Street November 20th through December 19th, 2009.

Metropolitan Playhouse, 'theatrical archaeologist extraordinaire' (Backstage), presents a revival of Under the Gaslight, by Augustin Daly. First presented at the New York Theatre in1867, Under the Gaslight will be revived in Metropolitan's home at 220 E 4th Street November 20th through December 19th, 2009.

Metropolitan Playhouse, 'theatrical archaeologist extraordinaire' (Backstage), presents a revival of Under the Gaslight, by Augustin Daly. First presented at the New York Theatre in1867, Under the Gaslight will be revived in Metropolitan's home at 220 E 4th Street November 20th through December 19th, 2009.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre brings the swashbuckling romp THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, to The Strand Theatre: Home of Atlanta Lyric Theatre (117 N. Park Sq., Marietta). April 24 through May 10, 2009. This production is your chance to get carried away by pirates, bumbling British Bobbies, frolicsome Victorian maidens, and the delightfully dotty 'modern Major-General,' for a rollicking romp over the rocky coast of Cornwall.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre brings the swashbuckling romp THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, to The Strand Theatre: Home of Atlanta Lyric Theatre (117 N. Park Sq., Marietta). April 24 through May 10, 2009. This production is your chance to get carried away by pirates, bumbling British Bobbies, frolicsome Victorian maidens, and the delightfully dotty 'modern Major-General,' for a rollicking romp over the rocky coast of Cornwall.

The Armonk Players Present PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Music by Arthur Sullivan, Libretto by W. S. Gilbert, directed by George Puello, musical Direction by Howard Kilik

The Armonk Players Present PIRATES OF PENZANCE Music by Arthur Sullivan, Libretto by W. S. Gilbert, Directed by George Puello, Musical Direction by Howard Kilik

Based on the classic 1985 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger premiered this past fall at The George Street Playhouse, where the show became the biggest grossing musical in the theatre's 34 year history.

The Toxic Avenger, based on the cult-film favorite by Lloyd Kaufman and Troma Studios, is fast-tracking the production of its highly anticipated cast recording to be available in time for the show's opening night in New York City (Monday, April 6th). Therefore, the cast took a break from rehearsal to hit the Avatar recording studios and laid down final tracks of the David Bryan/Joe DiPietro score. BroadwayWorld.com sent in our cameras to grab all the 'Toxie' fun!

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Aaron Tveit announced at last night's MISCAST benefit that they indeed will be playing the leading roles in the upcoming Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Tveit will portray young con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. while Butz will play FBI agent Carl Hanratty, his tireless pursuer.

Tony Nominee Kerry Butler has been cast in the the upcoming musical adaptation of 'Catch Me if You Can,' by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind 'Hairspray.'

Shelly Burch has returned to New York with a vengeance. Last month she costarred at the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists: Rodgers & and this month she is starring in a weeklong cabaret engagement at the Metropolitan Room, February 25 thru March 2. The evening is produced and directed by her husband, Martin Charnin. This new act takes a musical look at the many aspects of love-from those exciting first moments made in a new relationship, to the choices a woman makes as she confronts a career and children, to the wonderful calm that comes when love is allowed to enter one's life, with no holds barred and no questions asked...when love and love alone becomes the answer. Shelly Burch received critical acclaim as the original Claudia in the musical Nine directed by Tommy Tune. Now some 20 years later, Shelly returns to New York and the cabaret scene, in her brand new entertainment, aptly titled Second Coming.

The Toxic Avenger will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages. Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th. BWW TV's STAGE TUBE brings you the AMC feature on The Toxic Avenger's World Premiere at the George Street Playhouse to get you ready as 'Toxie' prepares to invade New York City!

Jean Cheever and Tom Polum, producers of The Toxic Avenger, announced today that casting is complete for the upcoming new musical about New Jersey's first superhero. Joining the previously announced Nancy Opel are Sara Chase, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Matt Saldivar. Ms. Opel, Mr. Cordero and Mr. Green all starred in the George Street Playhouse production of the show, while Ms. Chase appeared in the initial workshop production. Tony Award-winner John Rando directs. Featuring book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and music by David Bryan (Bon Jovi), The Toxic Avenger will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th.

La Jolla Playhouse productions heading for national exposure fared well as the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, presented the annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, honoring the best local stage work of 2008. Noel, the 93-year-old founding director of the Old Globe Theatre, was in attendance for his namesake awards, which were presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla, attended by some 350 theater industry members and supporters. Moises Kaufman's '33 Variations,' about to open on Broadway with Jane Fonda in the lead role, was honored for David Lander's lighting and Derek McLane's set. The Playhouse's premiere of Joe DiPietro and David Bryan's 'Memphis' (now in production at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre) was honored as outstanding new musical and for Chad Kimball's lead performance. A fresh staging of 'Xanadu,' which Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley first directed on Broadway, was named outstanding resident musical, and Bill T. Jones won for his choreography in the Playhouse's hip-hop musical 'The Seven.' Old Globe productions garnered four mentions, including Steven Drukman's boxing-themed drama about Joe Louis, 'In This Corner,' which was named outstanding new play. 'Dancing in the Dark,' a debut musical with Broadway aspirations (based on the classic film 'The Band Wagon'), won for Patrick Page's featured performance and Larry Hochman's orchestrations. A revival of 'The Women,' directed by Old Globe resident artistic director Darko Tresnjak, was honored for Anna Oliver's costumes. And the national touring production of 'Spring Awakening,' produced by Broadway/San Diego, a Nederlander Organization, won for best touring show.

Tony Award-nominee Nancy Opel will be reunited with her Tony Award-winning Urinetown director, John Rando, when she stars in the new musical, The Toxic Avenger. The casting was announced today by the show's producers, Jean Cheever and Tom Polum. Ms. Opel, who created her role in the show's world premiere at George Street Playhouse (New Brunswick, New Jersey), plays the mayor of a mythical small New Jersey town (not dissimilar to a real-life former mayor of a small Alaska town).