Hal Prince News

The London theatre scene is set to have a strong 2010 season. Already announced is a mix of both revivals and original shows, as well as a solid combination of plays and musicals. In addition, a few hit Broadway transfers are set to travel across the pond and open along with UK originals this season. Variety reports on the upcoming season.

Stage and screen star Obba Babatunde will return to the CHICAGO stage next week as Billy Flynn while Brent Barrett (who re-assumed the role last fall) is on vacation. His run will last from January 10 - January 17. Brent Barrett will return on January 18.

Take some of the greatest songs of the 1940s; add a healthy dose of comedy and romance; mix it all together with an award-winning cast and some of Southern California's finest creative staff, and what do you get?

Stage and screen star Obba Babatunde will return to the CHICAGO stage next week as Billy Flynn while Brent Barrett (who re-assumed the role last fall) is on vacation. His run will last from January 10 - January 17. Brent Barrett will return on January 18.

A CABLE FROM GIBRALTAR, the unusual new comedy by Daniel Meltzer about the intersecting lives of two couples over a lifetime, their good fortune and bad choices, literally from cradle to creeping decrepitude, opens Saturday evening, February 6, 2010, at 8 PM for 17 performances at the Medicine Show Theatre.

Broadway legend Hal Prince, producer and director of 50 Broadway musicals and winner of 21 Tony Awards, spoke to Variety about director Kathryn Bigelow, most recently of the film 'The Hurt Locker.' Prince praised Bigelow's direction and collaboration on the film, calling it 'a masterpiece.'

Happy Holidays to all the wonderful readers at BroadwayWorld.com! No doubt this has been quite the year for everyone, including me. With so many changes in our lives due to social and economic issues all over the world, this is a time of year when we have to look inside ourselves and find the simple things in life that we have to be thankful for and celebrate the joy of the season. Family and friends gathering and sharing some very special time with each other, reminiscing of times past and creating new ones.

Niamh Perry and Liz Robertson join Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Summer Strallen in the cast for the long-awaited show.

Following a triumphant December 2008 benefit concert, ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) and Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records have announced the album release of 'New York City Christmas.' In addition, ASTEP will present a concert to celebrate the release of the CD on December 14th. The evening will feature Broadway stars Sierra Boggess, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Lindsay Mendez, Orfeh, Tory Ross, Anya Singleton and Sally Wilfert.

A concert from the 40th Anniversary Tour of British theatre star Elaine Paige will be released on DVD in January of 2010. The concert, entitled 'Live in Australia,' was filmed during the New Zealand/Australian tour that took place earlier this year. This specific concert took place on October 31st, 2009.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will bring Broadway uptown for four weeks only with Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the new production of the groundbreaking musical. The national tour of Dreamgirls will kick-off at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday, November 7, 2009, and opening Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009.

Niamh Perry who was a finalist on the BBC's I'd Do Anything reality show to cast Oliver! and who is currently appearing in Mamma Mia! in the West End tells the UK Daily Mail that she'll be creating the role of 'Fleck' in the upcoming The Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies.

Ventura's new holiday tradition 'A RUBICON FAMILY CHRISTMAS' Conceived and Directed by Brian McDonald With Musical Arrangements by Steven Cahill Opens Saturday, December 6th at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura! Move over Scrooge...here comes Santa Claus! From December 4 through December 28, Rubicon Theatre Company swings and sings its way through the holidays with the delightful musical presentation of A Rubicon Family Christmas. Enjoy complementary warm cider and sweet treats as the stellar cast of Broadway performers and a choir of the region's brightest young stars serenade you with fanciful renditions of traditional Christmas classics and favorite holiday songs. This magical concert, framed in a glorious wintery wonderland is sure to bring a smile to the face and warmth to the heart.

Internationally renowned musical theatre producer/director Hugh Wooldridge will lead a master class on musical theatre for Tennessee Repertory Theatre on Monday, November 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. Most recently, Wooldridge adapted and directed the Tim Rice/ABBA musical, Chess in Concert, at London's Royal Albert Hall, with a cast that included Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Marti Pellow.

Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular hosted the first annual Phantom Fans Week through Sunday, September 16th through 20th. This unprecedented gathering of all things Phantom gave fans from around the globe insider access to the show like never before.

Ventura's new holiday tradition 'A RUBICON FAMILY CHRISTMAS' Conceived and Directed by Brian McDonald With Musical Arrangements by Steven Cahill Opens Saturday, December 6th at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura! Move over Scrooge...here comes Santa Claus! From December 4 through December 28, Rubicon Theatre Company swings and sings its way through the holidays with the delightful musical presentation of A Rubicon Family Christmas. Enjoy complementary warm cider and sweet treats as the stellar cast of Broadway performers and a choir of the region's brightest young stars serenade you with fanciful renditions of traditional Christmas classics and favorite holiday songs. This magical concert, framed in a glorious wintery wonderland is sure to bring a smile to the face and warmth to the heart.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will bring Broadway uptown for four weeks only with Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the new production of the groundbreaking musical. The national tour of Dreamgirls will kick-off at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday, November 7, 2009, and opening Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will bring Broadway uptown for four weeks only with Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the new production of the groundbreaking musical. The national tour of Dreamgirls will kick-off at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday, November 7, 2009, and opening Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009.

S. N. Behrman's sophisticated comedy 'Biography' is being produced Off Broadway this Fall by staff members of the famed Broadway restaurant and regular celebrity haunt - Orso, including General Manager Kevin Albert.

On Thursday 8 October, Andrew Lloyd Webber unveiled his brand new production 'LOVE NEVER DIES' at a global launch in London. Andrew Lloyd Webber's long awaited new show will have its World Premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 9 March 2010 followed by New York on Thursday 11 November and in Australia in 2011. Go behind the scenes in this video as star Ramin Karimloo is put through the process of having the makeup team create the new look of 'The Phantom.'