Gregg Barnes News

There are certainly plenty of movie-to-stage adaptations that have appeared (and continue to pop up) on Broadway, but few can boast being one of the most jubilant and unabashedly open-minded as the gloriously glam 2012 hit KINKY BOOTS, the Tony Award-winning stage musical adaptation of Geoff Deane and Tim Firth's 2005 independent cult film inspired by actual true events. The critical and audience favorite---which features memorable music from Grammy-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein---enjoyed a healthy run on Broadway and in several national tours that followed, spreading its genuinely heartwarming yet cheekily-delivered message of acceptance and empathy. Now back in Southern California for its flashy, beautifully remounted West Coast regional premiere for 3-D Theatricals, KINKY BOOTS---now continuing performances through March 1, 2020 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts---is just as fun and fabulous as ever.

3-D Theatricals continues its 2019-2020 season with Kinky Boots, winner of six 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The production, which will be directed by Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia (Broadway's Avenue Q and Shrek The Musical) and choreographed by Linda Love Simmons (3-D Theatricals' Once The Musical) with musical direction and conducting by Benet Braun (La Mirada Theatre's Grumpy Old Men: The Musical). Kinky Boots will play February 14-March 1 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos, CA).

Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) has announced that their 2020 national convention is being held in the Kentucky International Convention Center and surrounding theatres and hotels for this year's event. With an estimated 5,000 attendees, this gathering has become the main place for connecting those working, teaching or training in theatre, to opportunities in the industry.

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premier nonprofit professional theatre, presents Kinky Boots, playing February 11-16, 2020 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. Eric Woodall is NC Theatre's producing artistic director, and Broadway performer Nathan Peck directs and choreographs the production.

The MEAN GIRLS National Tour is trying to make fetch happen at DPAC this week. If you like high school drama, big flashy vocals, and lots of pink costumes, then it's the perfect show for you. Everyone probably knows of the 2004 comedy film a?oeMean Girls,a?? written by Tina Fey, that starred Lindsey Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried. It absolutely took over pop culture and is still considered one of the most quotable movies today.

Disney's Aladdin has announced new principal cast members ahead of the company's sixth anniversary. Ainsley Melham, star of the original Australian production of Aladdin, will return to the title role on Broadway in March. The exact date will be announced in the near future. Melham previously played the role on Broadway in 2019. Rodney Ingram will re-join the Broadway company to play the role starting Monday, February 17th until Melham's return. Marina Pires (On Your Feet! National Tour) will make her Broadway debut as Jasmine.

With friends like The Plastics, who needs enemies? That's the basic premise for the surprisingly fresh and sometimes scathingly funny high school musical MEAN GIRLS written by Emmy Award winner Tina Fey based on her 2004 hit film. Treading the familiar teen angst territory of cafeterias, locker rooms, gymnasiums and shopping malls, Fey puts her characteristically satirical spin on the tensions between the cool kids, the athletes, the math wizards and theater nerds all vying for allegiance from Cady, an innocent newly arrived from the African savanna where her parents worked and home schooled her with only animals for companions.

3-D Theatricals continues its 2019-2020 season with Kinky Boots, winner of six 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The production, which will be directed by Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia (Broadway's Avenue Q and Shrek The Musical) and choreographed by Linda Love Simmons (3-D Theatricals' Once The Musical) with musical direction and conducting by Benet Braun (La Mirada Theatre's Grumpy Old Men: The Musical). Kinky Boots will play February 14-March 1 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos, CA). Opening night is Saturday, February 15. 

Casting has been announced for the Greenville engagement of Disney's Aladdin. The hit Broadway musical will begin performances in Greenville at the Peace Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12 for a limited, two-week engagement through Sunday, Feb. 23.

Direct from the Mean Girls National Tour, Mariah Rose Faith, Jonalyn Saxer, and Megan Masako Haley get In Too Deep with T.J. Pieffer as they contemplate Sondheim, Luigi, and Giordano's Deep Dish Pizza. Check out the video here!

The First National Tour of Mean Girls-the musical comedy based on the hit film-will play The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas April 14-19 as part of the 2019-2020 Broadway Las Vegas Series® season. Tickets starting at $40 go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17 at TheSmithCenter.com and at The Smith Center box office.

The full cast has been announced for the West End production of PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL. Joining the previously announced Aimie Atkinson as 'Vivian Ward' and Danny Mac as 'Edward Lewis' are Rachael Wooding as 'Kit De Luca', Bob Harms as 'Happy Man/Mr Thompson', Neil McDermott as 'Philip Stuckey' and Mark Holden as 'James Morse'. PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL begins performances at the Piccadilly Theatre on 13 February 2020, where it will play for a strictly limited engagement.

Hancock Whitney Broadway in New Orleans is has announced that tickets for the New Orleans premiere of the First National Tour of Mean Girls will go on sale Friday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. The record-breaking new musical comedy produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman and Paramount Pictures based on the hit film-will be coming to the Saenger Theatre from March 17-22, 2020. Presented by the New Orleans Theatre Association, Mean Girls is part of the Hancock Whitney Broadway in New Orleans 2019-2020 season.

Something magical is flying into the Straz Center. Disney's Aladdin is landing its magic carpet at Morsani Hall on December 19, 2019 a?' January 5, 2020. Based on the on the Academy Award-winning 1992 animated film, Aladdin combines adventure, comedy and romance, featuring a full score, with familiar songs and more written specifically for the stage adaption. Aladdin ensemble actress Carissa Fiorillo is especially excited to be returning to Tampa. Aladdin at the Straz means Christmas with the family that she hasn't seen since the beginning of the year.

Aimie Atkinson will play 'Vivian' and Danny Mac will play 'Edward' in the smash hit PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL at the Piccadilly Theatre from 13 February 2020 where it will play for a strictly limited engagement of 46 weeks. Full casting to be announced soon.

Mean Girls a?" the record-breaking new musical comedy produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures based on the hit film a?" opens on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus at the Academy of Music on Tuesday, November 19, running through December 1. The Mean Girls First National Tour features Philadelphia native, Mary Kate Morrissey.

Casting has been announced for the East Lansing engagement of Disney's Aladdin. The hit Broadway musical will begin performances in East Lansing at Wharton Center on Wednesday, December 4, for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 15. The press opening night is Friday, December 6, at 8:00 p.m.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The Mean Girls National Tour which launched on September 21 in Buffalo, NY. Mean Girls features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the film, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond; and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

Playhouse Square has announced the First National Tour of Mean Girlsa?"the record-breaking new musical comedy produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures based on the hit filma?"will be coming to the Connor Palace from December 3 to 22 as part of the 2019a?"2020 KeyBank Broadway Series. Mean Girls features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the film, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond; and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin.

Disney's 'Aladdin' is currently flying around America, entertaining audiences nationwide with the Agrabah glitz and glamour. What are critics in the various cities saying about the tour? Check out their reviews from tour stops like Tempe, Salt Lake City, San Diego and more below!