Frank Wildhorn News

The 2009 session of Broadway Theatre Project culminates in an exciting new festival taking place in Theatre 1 at USF from July 30th to August 1st. Numbers in the four festival performances have been directed and choreographed by members of the BTP faculty including Artistic Director Debra McWaters, So You Think You Can Dance's Ryan Kasprzak, Radio City Rockette Kelly King, and Broadway Fight Director Ron Piretti (West Side Story, In the Heights).

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director; Stephen Eich, Executive Director; and Tom Ware, Producing Director) today announced the theatre's 2010 Season. The season will include two world premiere musicals, a world premiere play, a fresh look at a favorite musical, a revival of a sultry farce and an award-winning contemporary play.

The Fordham University Alumni Theatre Company announced the details of its second annual production, ONCE THERE WAS A BOY, a new play by Jason Pizzarello. The production is a collaboration of thirty Fordham University alums, including Pizzarello and director Aaron Rhyne, and will begin its special limited engagement on August 1, 2009 at Fordham University's Pope Auditorium (113 W. 60th Street, NYC).

Tampabay.com reports the news that IN THE HEIGHTS star Janet Dacal will play the leading role of Alice in the upcoming Wonderland, the Frank Wildhorn musical which is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and is slated to premiere at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in December. Other casting for the musical includes Karen Mason, Nikki Snelson and Eugene Fleming.

The 2009 session of Broadway Theatre Project culminates in an exciting new festival taking place in Theatre 1 at USF from July 30th to August 1st. Numbers in the four festival performances have been directed and choreographed by members of the BTP faculty including Artistic Director Debra McWaters, So You Think You Can Dance's Ryan Kasprzak, Radio City Rockette Kelly King, and Broadway Fight Director Ron Piretti (West Side Story, In the Heights).

This bold venture of fusing rock, pop, Broadway and opera is bound to have people buzzing in Philly and beyond for quite a while.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Double Oscar and Grammy winning author-composer-lyricist Leslie Bricusse announced today that he is withdrawing from the intended stage musical of 'Sleepless in Seattle,' due to creative differences with the shows producer and director.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Broadway Theatre Project announces comprehensive summer musical theatre arts education program. Creates New Festival to Include Students Parents; Underscores Commitment to the Theatre Arts Community

BROADWAY THEATRE PROJECT ANNOUNCES REVISED COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER MUSICAL THEATRE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM--Creates New Festival to Include Students Parents; Underscores Commitment to the Tampa Theatre Arts Community--Debra McWaters' New Book - Musical Theatre Training: The Broadway Theatre Project Handbook - Available from Major Booksellers Worldwide--

Broadway Theatre Project announces comprehensive summer musical theatre arts education program. Creates New Festival to Include Students Parents; Underscores Commitment to the Theatre Arts Community

The Rock Tenor makes its debut this summer beginning July 8, starring vocalist Rob Evan (Broadway performer and lead singer for the multi-platinum band The Trans-Siberian Orchestra), who conceived the show with director Vincent Marini (former Producing Artistic Director of New Jersey's Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center) officially opens July 15 and closes August 23. The Rock Tenor fuses rock and roll anthems, Broadway classics, opera favorites, country rhythms and classical melodies in a unique performance that showcases these familiar works in a whole new light. The Rock Tenor will be performed at The Wilma Theater, located at 265 South Broad Street. Tickets are $25-$40 and are available at www.therocktenor.com or by phone at (215) 546-7824.

Jake Macapagal, who is currently playing the role of Narrator/El Gallo in Repertory Philippines THE FANTASTICKS, will open as the debonair King Marchan in the Asian Premiere of VICTOR/VICTORIA at the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore from 11/9 to 11/29

In addition to 2 B'way shows, Brandi has chalked up several regional credits as a 'quirky character actress.'

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.

The festival will include performances by the faculty and students, as well as seminars by faculty members including Jed Bernstein and Dave Clemmons. Workshops taking place during the project will also be featured including directors such as Frank Wildhorn, David Loud and Christopher D'Amboise.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz will hold two free post-matinee talkbacks and audience Q&A sessions with Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel and members of the company on Wednesday, June 24 and Wednesday, July 1 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue).

BROADWAY THEATRE PROJECT ANNOUNCES REVISED COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER MUSICAL THEATRE ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM--Creates New Festival to Include Students Parents; Underscores Commitment to the Tampa Theatre Arts Community--Debra McWaters' New Book - Musical Theatre Training: The Broadway Theatre Project Handbook - Available from Major Booksellers Worldwide--