Hal Prince News

Sergei Polunin (Slave Master) and The Ballet Chorus of the Opera Populaire perform the ballet from Hannibal, as seen in Cameron Mackintosh's staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

A song and dance filled afternoon musical revue is coming to the Manatee Players for one performance on Saturday December 10.

If only for originating the title role in the longest-running and most successful musical in world history - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - which is merely one of the many impossibly impressive moments in a fifty-year career that truly defies description - Michael Crawford is known and loved the world over. From the Broadway and West End stage to the concert stage; the recording studio to the movie studio; performing everywhere imaginable - he has conquered it all. In a resume-spanning conversation that takes us from Broadway to Hollywood and to the stage of the London Palladium where he is now starring as the eponymous WIZARD OF OZ in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new theatrical adaptation of the classic film, Crawford and I take a look back at his many notable stage roles - among them, BILLY, BARNUM, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and, most recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WOMAN IN WHITE - and he also generously shares stories and recollections of the esteemed figures he has collaborated with over the years, including Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, Oliver Reed, David Foster, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Sarah Brightman and many more! Additionally, Crawford shares his insightful opinions on the state of theatre today and how it has changed over the course of his decades spent in show business, as well as looks ahead to returning to the concert stage following his departure from THE WIZARD OF OZ in the West End in February. So, catch Crawford while you can - and your little dog, too!

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders have announced additional casting and the creative team for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA, opening April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). Previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012. Joining the previously announced stars of EVITA - world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Peron and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Peron - are Max Von Essen as Magaldi, Rachel Potter as the Mistress, and Christina DeCicco as the alternate/standby for Eva Peron. Alternate performances to be announced.

Broadway's Teri Dale Hansen (The Boys from Syracuse, West End's Show Boat) and Nat Chandler (The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Phantom of the Opera) will appear in concert with a trio of musicians led by Mike Petry on Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00pm. The pair will perform Swingin' Holiday Celebration (produced by Broadway Pops International) featuring holiday favorites by Ellington, Guaraldi, Fitzgerald, Mercer and more.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-rayTM - with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. On October 2, 2011, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh marked the 25th anniversary of their beloved musical extravaganza, "The Phantom of the Opera," with a lavishly staged production at London's legendary Royal Albert Hall that was beamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe.The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall marks the first time a live performance of the blockbuster musical has been made available for home viewing, making it a must-have anniversary release for fans everywhere.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Boggess and Karimloo's performance of 'The Point of No Return' as featured in the special DVD!

Charles Dickens' beloved holiday classic returns to Princeton with McCarter Theatre Center's annual production of A Christmas Carol. Adapted by David Thompson and directed by Michael Unger, the production runs December 4 through December 24.

The Hangar Theatre's acclaimed 2011 CabarETC series comes to a close with Home for the Holidays, a celebration of the season starring Jeremy Webb and Nat Chandler.

Next up in its continuing series Dark Nights, The New Group presents Hamlet at Home, with readings from Shakespeare's Hamlet featuring Lisa Emery, Mamie Gummer, Josh Hamilton and Wallace Shawn, directed by Scott Elliott.

The Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced that Broadway stars (and real-life couple) Sarah Pfisterer and Rick Hilsabeck have been added as special guests to the company's annual holiday revue "Christmas Time," now in its 29th spectacular season.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Boggess' performance of 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again' as featured in the special DVD!

Ghostlight Records is releasing the debut album from Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Linda Lavin, entitled 'Possibilities.'

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's Professional Theatre Company, will open the 25th Anniversary MainStage Season with one of the most popular and beloved American musicals of all time, 'Cabaret.'

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre (CityRep) continues their Tenth Anniversary Season with the 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, with Music by Tom Kitt and Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey.

Modern-day master of musical theatre Stephen Sondheim is about to release the second book of his complete collected lyrics - covering mostly everything written in the last three decades and in this one so far - titled after a line from what may very well be his ultimate masterpiece, the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - LOOK, I MADE A HAT; Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany. So, today, we are going to be taking a look at a litany of the finest moments from Sondheim's post-SWEENEY TODD musicals that are highlighted in LOOK, I MADE A HAT and perhaps discover a few of the many reasons why Sondheim's musicals - whether late-period or early on- are the best of the best Broadway has to offer - now or ever. And, what an absolutely mind-blowing list it is - and what a masterpiece of a book!

Broadway's Teri Dale Hansen (The Boys from Syracuse, West End's Show Boat) and Nat Chandler (The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Phantom of the Opera) will appear in concert with a trio of musicians led by Mike Petry on Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00pm. The pair will perform Swingin' Holiday Celebration (produced by Broadway Pops International) featuring holiday favorites by Ellington, Guaraldi, Fitzgerald, Mercer and more.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Karimloo's performance of 'The Music of the Night' as featured in the special DVD!

As 'Chicago' celebrates 15 years on Broadway, we profile its longest-running cast member.