Hank Williams News

Tony nominated director RANDAL MYLER will direct a staged reading of GREED! THE NEW MUSICAL. Presented by THE 92ND STREET Y in conjunction with KELVIN PRODUCTIONS, GREED! tells the story of Jonathan Arnold, a young earnest professor from the Midwest who has been tasked to raise a large, but failing New York company's stock pricewithin forty days.

Rehearsals are underway for GREED! THE MUSICAL. This new musical, with music, lyrics and book by Barry Libin asks the age old question, 'What would you do for a fortune?'

Tony nominated director RANDAL MYLER will direct a staged reading of GREED! THE NEW MUSICAL. Presented by THE 92ND STREET Y in conjunction with KELVIN PRODUCTIONS, GREED! tells the story of Jonathan Arnold, a young earnest professor from the Midwest who has been tasked to raise a large, but failing New York company's stock pricewithin forty days.

Variety reports that the Broadway-bound musical MEMPHIS has nabbed the Shubert Theater for its fall run, with a group sales announcement indicating the show will begin previews on September 23rd, 2009. The official announcement about a theatre location or for exact preview and opening dates has been made as of yet.

Weddington Street Productions presents a 'must see' country western show Hank and my Honky Tonk Heroes at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood on May 14-24. In this nostalgic look at Hank Williams and his influence on country music, Nashville veteran and Off-Broadway Obie Award winning star Jason Petty uncannily recreates the sound and the soul of Hank Williams' music.

stageFARM (Carrie Shaltz, Founder/Executive Director and Alex Kilgore, Artistic Director) announced the complete cast for the upcoming World Premiere The Gingerbread House by Mark Schultz, directed by Alex Kilgore. Performances were set to begin Friday, April 11th, but the first few previews were delayed and the production starts this evening Monday April 13th as a visiting production at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place). Opening Night is set for Saturday evening, April 18th at 8 p.m.

Wayside Theatre Artistic Director Warner Crocker announced the cast and performance schedule for the final offering in the 2008-2009 Subscription season, Cotton Patch Gospel. Written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz, Cotton Patch Gospel features the bluegrass music of recording legend Harry Chapin.

Weddington Street Productions presents a 'must see' country western show Hank and my Honky Tonk Heroes at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood on May 14-24. In this nostalgic look at Hank Williams and his influence on country music, Nashville veteran and Off-Broadway Obie Award winning star Jason Petty uncannily recreates the sound and the soul of Hank Williams' music.

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced the complete, awesome cast for Broadway's new, smash hit musical today. Constantine Maroulis, ('American Idol' Season 4, Broadway's The Wedding Singer, RENT) reprising his critically acclaimed role as 'Drew', is now joined by Broadway's best 1970's & 1980's period actors Amy Spanger (The Wedding Singer, Kiss Me Kate) as 'Sherrie' and James Carpinello (Saturday Night Fever, VH1's 'So NoTORIous') as 'Stacee Jaxx'.

TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, continues its 39th season with the sizzling, red-hot Broadway hit IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES, a foot-stomping, high-voltage journey in song. From African chants and Delta spirituals, to the urban electricity of a Chicago nightclub, IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES is a stirring retrospective of blues classics. Told with historical sweep and irresistible energy, The New York Times calls this Tony Award nominee 'rich, evocative, rousing...more than a musical feast.' Directed by co-author and original director Randal Myler, this scorching songfest features celebrated blues artists 'Mississippi' Charles Bevel andChic Street Man, TheatreWorks veterans Alison Ewing, James Monroe Iglehart, Michelle E. Jordan, and C. Kelly Wright, and making his TheatreWorks debut, Tony Marcus. IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES plays March 11-April 11, 2009 (press opening: March 14) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets ($27-$65) and information, the public may call (650) 903-6000 or visit TheatreWorks.org

the stageFARM (Carrie Shaltz, Founder/Executive Director and Alex Kilgore, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for the upcoming World Premiere The Gingerbread House by Mark Schultz, directed by Alex Kilgore. Performances begin Friday, April 11th as a visiting production at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place), with Opening Night set for Saturday evening, April 18th at 8 p.m.

It was announced today that MEMPHIS, a new musical about the birth of rock 'n' roll in the turbulent 50s which recently played a critically acclaimed and sold-out engagement at Seattle?s 5th Avenue Theatre, is aiming to open on Broadway in the fall of 2009. Based on a concept by George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce & film: My Dinner With Andre), MEMPHIS features a book & lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), and music & lyrics by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan, in his Broadway debut. The new musical is directed by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

Wayside Theatre Artistic Director Warner Crocker announced the cast and performance schedule for the final offering in the 2008-2009 Subscription season, Cotton Patch Gospel. Written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz, Cotton Patch Gospel features the bluegrass music of recording legend Harry Chapin.

In her 13 years as artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Sharon Ott led the company to new artistic heights, national prestige, and a well-deserved Tony Award. Now, after a 12-year absence, she returns with a gripping production of Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic Crime and Punishment. The scene of this Crime is Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage, where Ott earned her reputation as a dazzling director. The show begins previews on February 27, opens March 4, and closes March 29. Its executive producers are John and Helen Meyer and Richard H. Rubin and H. Marcia Smolens, with production sponsorship from the Bernard Osher Foundation. BART and Wells Fargo are the season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Fred Applegate. Sebastian Arcelus, Miguel Cervantes, Hunter Foster, Joanna Gleason, Ken Page, Robert Petkoff, Jenny Powers, Phyllis Somerville and Pearl Sun will be featured in its upcoming production of the new musical HAPPINESS.

In her 13 years as artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Sharon Ott led the company to new artistic heights, national prestige, and a well-deserved Tony Award. Now, after a 12-year absence, she returns with a gripping production of Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic Crime and Punishment. The scene of this Crime is Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage, where Ott earned her reputation as a dazzling director. The show begins previews on February 27, opens March 4, and closes March 29. Its executive producers are John and Helen Meyer and Richard H. Rubin and H. Marcia Smolens, with production sponsorship from the Bernard Osher Foundation. BART and Wells Fargo are the season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre.

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced the complete, awesome cast for Broadway's new, smash hit musical today. Constantine Maroulis, ('American Idol' Season 4, Broadway's The Wedding Singer, RENT) reprising his critically acclaimed role as 'Drew', is now joined by Broadway's best 1970's & 1980's period actors Amy Spanger (The Wedding Singer, Kiss Me Kate) as 'Sherrie' and James Carpinello (Saturday Night Fever, VH1's 'So NoTORIous') as 'Stacee Jaxx'.

Wayside Theatre's Artistic Director Warner Crocker is announcing a change in its 2008/09 Season Schedule. The next production was scheduled to be the musical review, Lies and Legends, the Songs and Stories of Harry Chapin. Instead of this offering, Crocker is programming an original musical piece of country and bluegrass flavor created just for Wayside Theatre called, Southern Crossroads. The production will star local musical sensation, Robbie Limon, and feature many of Wayside Theatre's favorite musical talents who have delighted audiences throughout the last several seasons. The performance is sponsored by Winchester Executive Suites, LLC.

LAST CALL, is a new documentary film by Christopher Ashley that explores the fascinating, cultural phenomenon of piano bars.

TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, continues its 39th season with the sizzling, red-hot Broadway hit IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES, a foot-stomping, high-voltage journey in song. From African chants and Delta spirituals, to the urban electricity of a Chicago nightclub, IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES is a stirring retrospective of blues classics. Told with historical sweep and irresistible energy, The New York Times calls this Tony Award nominee 'rich, evocative, rousing...more than a musical feast.' Directed by co-author and original director Randal Myler, this scorching songfest features celebrated blues artists 'Mississippi' Charles Bevel andChic Street Man, TheatreWorks veterans Alison Ewing, James Monroe Iglehart, Michelle E. Jordan, and C. Kelly Wright, and making his TheatreWorks debut, Tony Marcus. IT AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT THE BLUES plays March 11-April 11, 2009 (press opening: March 14) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets ($27-$65) and information, the public may call (650) 903-6000 or visit TheatreWorks.org