XANADU in Chicago will star Elizabeth Stanley as 'Kira' (played in the film version by Olivia Newton-John), Max Von Essen as 'Sonny,' Sharon Wilkins and Joanna Glushak as the evil Muses 'Melpomene' and 'Calliope,' respectively, and Larry Marshal as 'Danny' (played in the film version by Gene Kelly). XANADU's cast also features Tallia Brinson, Amy Goldberger, Vince Rodriguez III, Jason Michael Snow, Kristofer Stock, JB Wing and Chicagoland-natives Julius Thomas III and Tiffany Topol.
Casting is announced for the anticipated Chicago and Midwest premiere of the surprise hit Broadway musical XANADU at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. Performances are scheduled to begin January 16, 2009 and individual tickets are now on sale.
New York Musical Theatre Festival (Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Producer) has commissioned a new dance piece, 'Wild About Harry,' to be presented in their fifth season at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center 248 West 60th Street (between Amsterdam & 11th Avenues) September 19th, 20th, 21st, and 28th.
Arena Stage presents the world premiere of Daniel Beaty's Resurrection, a drama with a unique blend of music, poetry and dance. A co-production with Connecticut's Hartford Stage, Resurrection explores the interwoven lives of six African-American men struggling to make a living and to make their lives worth living. Beaty dazzled Arena audiences last summer with sold-out performances of his award-winning solo show Emergency (formerly Emergence-SEE!). He now returns to Arena with his first ensemble production-a talented cast of six actors led by director Oz Scott (director of Broadway's original for colored girls... and the Goodman Theatre's recent premiere The Ballad of Emmett Till). The production harmonizes with an innovative score by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), a Haitian-American composer who blends classical violin with piano and bass. To keep the interplay between text and score dynamic, Roumain's original score will be musically styled live each performance by his collaborator Elan Vytal a.k.a. DJ Scientific. Resurrection runs August 29-October 5, 2008 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, September 4 at 8:00pm.
Les Misérables in Concert makes its Hollywood Bowl debut in a production featuring Melora Hardin as Fantine, Maddie Levy as Young Cosette, Tom Lowe as Enjolras, Michele Maika as Cosette, Michael McCormick as Thénardier, J. Mark McVey as Valjean, Lea Michele as Éponine, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Javert, Sage Ryan as Gavroche and John Lloyd Young as Marius. Rosie O'Donnell, who was to play the role of Madame Thenardier, has withdrawn from the performances in order to care for her eldest son, who broke his wrist. She will be replaced by veteran actress Ruth Williamson.
Producer Robert Greenblatt announced today that 9 To 5: The Musical, based on the 20th Century Fox motion picture, will begin previews on Broadway Tuesday, March 24, 2009, and will open Thursday, April 23, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). 9 To 5: The Musical marks the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. The musical's book by Patricia Resnick is based on her original story and screenplay for the smash 1980 film comedy.
The Cathedral of St. John The Divine in support of Gay Pride 2008 presents 'Matthew Passion' A New Play (with music) by Phil Hall on Wednesday, June 18th at 7:00 pm at The St. James Chapel.
The Cathedral of St. John The Divine in support of Gay Pride 2009 presents 'Matthew Passion' A New Play (with music) by Phil Hall on Wednesday, June 18th at 7:00 pm at The St. James Chapel.
Jennifer Maloney, one of the producers of the Broadway hit, Spring Awakening, presents the NYC premiere concert of NATEKid. NATEKid, along with an ensemble of prodigious musicians, will be premiering a new genre of music, a fusion of hip-hop and jazz at NYC's legendary club The Cutting Room located at 19 W. 24th St. (between Broadway & 6th Avenue) on April 2, 2008 promptly at 7:30pm.
The ever charming Brian Stokes Mitchell is the Tony Award winning stage star of Ragtime. He is also a renowned recording star and is the president of the Actor's Fund of America. We take you back to 1994 when we caught up with Stokes during his run in the Broadway production of Kiss of the Spider Woman to talk about stepping into that show and replacing Gregory Hines in Jelly's last jam.
Further casting has been announced for the two night only concert version of the smash hit London musical Jerry Springer The Opera which will play Carnegie Hall for two nights only on January 29 and 30, 2008. Joining Harvey Keitel are Max von Essen, Emily Skinner, Linda Balgord, Lawrence Clayton, Luke Grooms, Sean Jennes, Patricia Phillips, Sam Kitchin and Laura Shoop.
In a stroke of good-timing for Broadway fans, Reba McEntire, who's new 'Reba Duets' album just hit #1 on the Billboard Charts, will be joining Brian Stokes Mitchell for his debut concert at Carnegie Hall on October 15. Click in for the scoop on what audiences can expect from this almost-sold out event!
'Blues in the Night,' now playing 8-weeks at San Francisco's Post Street Theatre, offers an evening from the loneliest pages of the American song-book performed by three stunning ladies in a dimly-lit hotel.
Tony Award winning choreographer Dr. Henry LeTang, who choreographed the movies Tap, Bojangles, and The Cotton Club, died last week in a Las Vegas hospital.
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present the NY Premiere of Split Ends, a multi-media, multidisciplinary solo performance piece written and performed by Dr. Venus Opal Reese, and directed by Liesl Tommy
San Francisco's PBS affiliate, KQED TV9 and DT9, has several great up-coming Broadway and theatre-related broadcasts planned for the month of December, including Great Performances of 'Kiss Me, Kate' and 'Cinderella,' plus Audra McDonald Live at Lincoln Center!
