Hal Prince News

Lead producers Aubrey Dan, Martyn Hayes and Peter W. Lamb for Dancap Productions Inc., have announced the creative team for PRINCE OF BROADWAY, a new musical celebrating legendary Broadway director and producer Harold 'Hal' Prince. PRINCE OF BROADWAY is in development now, aiming for a Toronto production in the summer of 2012, prior to opening on Broadway that fall.

Baritone Andre Solomon-Glover is remembered by many as the strikingly handsome, charismatic lead in Hal Prince's Broadway revival of Showboat. Others may remember his exciting international career - singing with Leipzig Gewandhaus and Philadelphia Orchestras, or making solo appearances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Others may remember his generous community service in local performances.

A memorial service will be held for long-time production stage manager Beverley Randolph Thursday, June 30 at 2:00 pm at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). Friends, family, colleagues are welcome to attend the memorial.

Baritone Andre Solomon-Glover is remembered by many as the strikingly handsome, charismatic lead in Hal Prince's Broadway revival of Showboat. Others may remember his exciting international career - singing with Leipzig Gewandhaus and Philadelphia Orchestras, or making solo appearances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Others may remember his generous community service in local performances.

This summer, Broadway actors Darlene Love, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp and Matt Dengler star in 'Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey,' a concert specially adapted for Colonial Williamsburg. Television personality Willard Scott also lends his recorded voice to the program, which showcases the people and places that make up the fabric of America with musical styles from country, rock and pop to swing and the blues. It is a compilation of pieces by Grammy-winning composer Doug Katsaros and two-time Emmy-nominated lyricist William Schermerhorn. A nine-piece band accompanies the singers.

Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY is in over five hundred movie theaters starting on Wednesday and that simple fact is enough to make one want to celebrate with a thousand vodka stingers - and imbibe in the delectable Sondheim zingers. I was lucky enough to see COMPANY last week and I can tell you that not only is it the best live representation of the show that any audience could ask for - Broadway babies, Sondheim neophytes and everything in between and far, far beyond - but a considerable reexamination of the themes, elements, emotions and the steely, chrome machinations ringing within the heartbeat of the show's cynical core. Lonny Price's COMPANY is something unique in modern entertainment, on Broadway, on film or anywhere else - it is multi-dimensional in a revolutionary way that is, frankly, unprecedented. This is Broadway in the 21st century at its best with a cast led by the brightest stars in the Broadway and TV universe on full display for a film audience and if this enterprise is successful, the mind marvels at the endless possibilities this format could afford in the future, both near and far. Yes, this is what you have been waiting for - whoever you are. If you love music, if you love wit, if you love comedy, if you love to laugh and think simultaneously - COMPANY is for you. Yes, this is that kind of review - and, thank goodness it is. It's due all the praise of a birthday boy like Bobby - with a generous dose of icing black as death; or, night. Icing

The American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 13, 2011 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.

Considering the fact that it is Broadway's longest running show - and, not only that, but also the most successful entertainment of all time - the top spot in our 2011 31 Days of the Tony Awards Countdown should be, must be and is: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and its multi-Tony-winning composer and producer, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, its director, Hal Prince - the King of the Tony Awards with 21 wins - as well as the original Phantom himself, Tony-winner Michael Crawford. Now that original PHANTOM composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has written a sequel to the smash hit musical juggernaut - the wildly different LOVE NEVER DIES; two different versions of it, to be exact: one in the West End, and, the exceptionally elaborate Simon Phillips production in Australia - a dicey proposition for a show that, for me, delivers on its premise and possesses a score with the potential to be just as classic as PHANTOM's iconic score undoubtedly is - the world of PHANTOM is reaching a new generation in a whole new way. With clips of Michael Crawford performing alongside Lord Lloyd Webber's then-wife Sarah Brightman - the score's inspiration and the original Christine in the West End and on Broadway - on that year's Tony Awards, as well as the 2006 Tony Awards tribute to PHANTOM's legendary director - as well as EVITA's, also by Andrew Lloyd Webber - the one and only Hal Prince, twenty-one-time Tony Award winner - we also can boast a bevy of clips featuring Tony-winner Michael Crawford singing the show's most famous song, "The Music Of The Night". What a trio - and what a note to go out on -Crawford's in "MOTN" and otherwise!

Having designed the stage sets for the Broadway productions of THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, LOVEMUSIK, JAY JOHNSON: TWO AND ONLY, SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, ROCK OF AGES, and his Tony-nominated work on THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS this season, through his revolutionary and spare designs Beowulf Boritt has positioned himself as one of the most creative and sought-after stage innovators of the twenty-first century. Discussing all aspects of the Off Broadway and Broadway productions of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and tracing the progress of the design of the show from inspiration to model to actual set, we also discuss some of his past accomplishments - working with the great directors Hal Prince, James Lapine, SCOTTSBORO's Susan Stroman, and Lynne Taylor-Corbett; the latter his collaborator on THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS with the New York City Ballet last month - and some enticing new productions he is developing and has coming up in the near future - PARADISE FOUND, REEL-TO- REAL, THE TOXIC AVENGER in Houston, THE TEMPEST in Dallas, the ROCK OF AGES tour and West End mounting, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS in San Diego, and more!

Nashville's Blackbird Theater, fresh off its successful, critically lauded premiere season, is offering two rarely produced shows for audiences in the company's eagerly anticipated second season - G.K. Chesterton's Magic (running August 12-27) and Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning Pacific Overtures (February 9-19, 2012) - creating a buzz that other theater companies can only envy and hope to create for their own season announcments.

Today, we are talking to GLEE fan favorite - as Jesse St. James - and theatre superstar - from SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway to DEATHTRAP in the West End - the charismatic and magnetic Jonathan Groff. In this world exclusive interview, Jonathan and I discuss all things GLEE and all about working on the second season of the hit show - and, most importantly, everything about the season finale - with GLEE stars Lea Michele, Cheyenne Jackson, and Charice, in addition to working with Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and GLEE creator/show-runner Ryan Murphy. Additionally, in this complete conversation, we take a look back at Groff's many stage roles ranging from HAIR and THE BACCHAE in Central Park for the Public Theater, to SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, DEATHTRAP in the West End, as well as his debut in IN MY LIFE - a show whose composer/lyricist/writer, Joe Brooks, was just in the news following his apparent suicide this weekend. Jonathan and I also touch on his blazing feature film debut in Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK co-starring Liev Schreiber, as well as his work on the pilot for Ryan Murphy's PRETTY/HANDSOME, co-starring Joseph Fiennes and Blythe Danner, and his participation in the new independent film TWELVE THIRTY. We also take a look ahead to the future and deduce what is next for one of the brightest talents on Broadway - all of that and much, much more!

Nicolas King returns to the New York scene in a new show 'Nicolas King - In Concert!' at Don't Tell Mama's from June 4-7th.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming reading of the new musical comedy Summer Schlock, with book, music, and lyrics by Kevin Carter (That's Andy), directed by Tony Award-winning director/producer Andy Sandberg (Hair, The Last Smoker in America) with music direction by Andy Einhorn.

If I Were a Rich Man, Little Tin Box, Til Tomorrow, She Loves Me, Will He Like Me and Sunrise, Sunset are just a few of the tunes that were be brought to life on Monday, May 16, 2011, at New York's legendary National Arts Club. The Theatre Museum paid tribute to legendary Broadway lyricist Sheldon Harnick -- the Museums 2011 Career Achievement Award recipient. The award was presented from longtime colleague Hal Prince, winner of an unprecedented 21 Tony Awards.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming reading of the new musical comedy Summer Schlock, with book, music, and lyrics by Kevin Carter (That's Andy), directed by Tony Award-winning director/producer Andy Sandberg (Hair, The Last Smoker in America) with music direction by Andy Einhorn.

Classic tunes from Fiddler on the Roof, Fiorello!, She Loves Me, The Apple Tree, and others will fill the air at New Yorks legendary National Arts Club on Monday May 16, 2011 as The Theatre Museum pays tribute to famed Broadway lyricist Sheldon Harnick -- its 2011 Career Achievement Award recipient.

Yesterday, May 9, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center presented its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway and screen actor James Earl Jones, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community. The award was presented to Mr. Jones at a gala dinner that included special guests and performers Tony Award-nominee Michael Berresse ([title of show], Kiss Me Kate); Chris Chalk (Fences),; Academy Award-winner Michael Douglas (Wall Street); Emmy Award-winner Charles S Dutton (The Piano Lesson, 'Roc'); Tony Award nominee Penny Fuller (Dividing the Estate, The Dinner Party); Tony Award-winner Boyd Gaines (Driving Miss Daisy, Gypsy); Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award-winner Vanessa Redgrave (Driving Miss Daisy, Long Days Journey Into Night); Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Seven Guitars); Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams (On Golden Pond, King Hedley II); and Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Executive Director Preston Whiteway.

If I Were a Rich Man, Little Tin Box, Til Tomorrow, She Loves Me, Will He Like Me and Sunrise, Sunset are just a few of the tunes that will be brought to life next Monday -- May 16, 2011-- at New Yorks legendary National Arts Club as The Theatre Museum pays tribute to legendary Broadway lyricist Sheldon Harnick -- the Museums 2011 Career Achievement Award recipient.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

The new Broadway musical Baby It's You! tells the inspiring story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who changed the recording world forever when she discovered The Shirelles and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry's first female powerhouse. Starring Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Greenberg, conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, Baby It's You! began performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) Saturday, March 26, 2011, and opens TONIGHT, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Baby It's You! features a cast of 19 that includes Allan Louis, Geno Henderson, Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra DaCosta, Crystal Starr Knighton, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Brandon Uranowitz, Alison Cimmet, Erica Dorfler, Berlando Drake, Adam Heller, Jahi A. Kearse, Annette Moore, Zachary Prince, Ken Robinson and Chelsea Morgan Stock.