Harold Prince News

Legendary producer/director Harold Prince speaks to the Hartford Courant about the current state of Broadway, the need for creative producing and the lasting power of his massive hit, The Phantom of the Opera.

Stephen Sondheim, whose musical, A Little Night Music is currently playing in the West End at the Garrick Theatre in a production directed by Trevor Nunn, spoke to the UK's Times Online. The legendary composer spoke on a variety of subjects, including his celebrated body of work, his personal regrets and his joy at finding love, it is a candid interview and a must read for fans of musical theater.

Ryan Silverman, who previously starred as 'Raoul' in the Las Vegas production, will take over the role on Broadway starting Friday evening, April 24. He succeeds current and long-time star Tim Martin Gleason, whose final performance will be Thursday evening, April 23.

The New Group proudly presents the US premiere of Ian Bruce's thrilling drama Groundswell as the third production in its 2008-2009 season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production plays a limited Off-Broadway run May 4 - June 27 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street), with Official Opening Night on Monday, May 18 at 8:00 PM.

The Mirror Repertory Company will present John Colton's THE SHANGHAI GESTURE, an epic story of love and revenge -- and the culture clash of blood and ethnicity, April 21, 2009 thru May 17, 2009 at the Julia Miles Theatre, 424 West 55th St. Previews begin April 23rd and the official opening will be on April 30, 2009 at 7PM.

SunTrust Broadway Across America - Orlando is proud to present its 2009 - 2010 subscription series offering Broadway's hottest hits in your backyard. The 2009 - 2010 Season is the 20th presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with the City of Orlando and features the triumphant return of The Phantom of The Opera, as well as productions of Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, The Color Purple, In the Heights, Xanadu and Spring Awakening.

Opening tonight - Thursday, April 16th at 7:300 pm is Dances Patrelle, 20th Repertory Season, through April 19, 2009 at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues) NYC. The diverse and exciting program celebrates 20 years of creativity that includes 2 dramatic ballets by Francis Patrelle: a World Premiere as well as a past dance classic staged by Cynthia Gregory.

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has once again revealed some exciting information on the The Phantom Of The Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, in his newest column. He reports that the show might have four companies in rehearsal this summer instead of the earlier announced three, as Toronto may end up staying put and not heading for a Broadway bow if it proves successful. It now appears the Great White Way will have its own cast in the mix!

Andrew Lloyd Webber's international award-winning musical, The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, returns to Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre May 13-June 7, 2009. Winner of seven 1988 Tony Awards including Best Musical, this captivating production is the longest-running show in Broadway history. Hennepin Theatre Trust welcomes the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of The Phantom of the Opera as a special addition to its 2008/09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America-Minneapolis season

Elton John (Billy Elliot: The Musical) will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, Arthur Laurents (West Side Story) will be honored with the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing, and Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit) will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award. In addition, Broadway producer Herb Blodgett will receive The 75th Anniversary Leadership Award.

Dances Patrele 20th Anniversary Celebration begins at Barnes & Nobel Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway (at 65th Street) on Monday, April 13th at 7:00 pm. The Free event is a celebration, talk and CD/book signing in honor of the company's 20th Anniversary and the premiere of MURDER AT THE MASQUE.

The critically acclaimed, sell-out Menier Chocolate Factory production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical A Little Night Music, directed by Trevor Nunn, transfers to the Garrick Theatre for a strictly limited season.

Dances Patrele 20th Anniversary Celebration begins at Barnes & Nobel Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway (at 65th Street) on Monday, April 13th at 7:00 pm. The Free event is a celebration, talk and CD/book signing in honor of the company's 20th Anniversary and the premiere of MURDER AT THE MASQUE.

On Tuesday, May 26, Tim Martin Gleason will return to the U.S. National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera and, for the first time, slip behind the mask as the elusive Phantom who lurks beneath the stage of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all its occupants. The international award-winning musical, directed by Harold Prince, is currently at the Music Hall in Kansas City through April 19.

IMBD has the news that Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street is leading the nominations for the 2009 Empire magazine film awards.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's sell out production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music is to transfer to the West End for a strictly limited run. Trevor Nunn's critically acclaimed production will transfer to the Garrick Theatre from 28 March, with press night on Tuesday 7 April and is booking until 25 July 2009. A Little Night Music is produced in the West End by David Babani for Chocolate Factory Productions, Andrew Fell and Nica Burns and Max Weitzenhoffer for Nimax Theatres.

Tony Award nominees and husband and wife team, Jason Danieley and Marin Mazzie, join together for engagement at Feinstein's.

Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning waltz musical A Little Night Music returns to Michigan Opera Theatre for the first time in over 25 years, and the fall 2009 production will represent the first time since 1992 that Michigan Opera Theatre has presented a musical as part of the main stage opera season. Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams and Broadway and television star Ron Raines have been announced to star as Desiree Armfeldt and Frederik Egerman in the production, set to run November 14-21. No other casting has been announced at this time.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Theatre on Film and Tape Archive is to tape for its archives The Irish Repertory Theatre's production of Aristocrats. It was announced previously that Aristocrats has been extended until March 29, 2009.

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye is revealing a huge amount of exciting information on the The Phantom Of The Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, in his newest column. He reports that the show will open in the West End first, rather than on Broadway, as the show's composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has decided it to be the best way to launch the project.