Harold Prince News

Casting rumors have been swirling regarding who will nab the leading roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber's upcoming 'Phantom: Love Never Dies', the sequel to his worldwide mega hit musical The Phantom of the Opera.

The wait is over! Victoria Theatre Association has announced the 2009-2010 Miami Valley and Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series, and it includes the Dayton Premiere of Broadway's biggest blockbuster, WICKED!

The New York Times has turned its attention to Andrew Lloyd Webber's upcoming 'Phantom: Love Never Dies', the sequel to his worldwide mega hit musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Two longtime veterans of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera will be headlining a star-studded Benefit Evening, MASQUERADE: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S GREATEST HITS, on Saturday, April 18, at the Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road, in Morristown, NJ.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group Limited has launched the official website for Love Never Dies, the highly anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

ASU Gammage announced the 2009-2010 Broadway Across America - Arizona season. The seven show series includes the 2008 Tony? Award winner for Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS, Best Play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and the family hit MARY POPPINS. The full series includes: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL - September 22 - 27, 2009

Tony winning Broadway director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, fresh off the recent news of his joining the creative team of the upcoming Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman musical Catch Me If You Can, will also be bringing his inspired choreography to Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to his mega hit The Phantom of the Opera, PHANTOM: Love Never Dies.

Two longtime veterans of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera will be headlining a star-studded Benefit Evening, MASQUERADE: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S GREATEST HITS, on Saturday, April 18, at the Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road, in Morristown, NJ.

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.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Bill Rauch unveiled the 2010 75th anniversary season at a member event today in the New Theatre.

Dances Patrelle, 20th Repertory Season, will be presented April 16-19, 2009 at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues) NYC. The diverse and exciting program celebrating 20 years of creativity will include 2 dramatic ballets by Francis Patrelle: a World Premiere as well as a past dance classic staged by Cynthia Gregory.

On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees. Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.' Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.

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.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is thrilled to present the return of composer John Bucchino, along with some very talented associates, in 'John Bucchino & Friends,' part of the Nightlife Award-winning series Broadway at Birdland. The event will take place on Monday, March 9 at 7pm. Joining John onstage will be Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ann Hampton Callaway, Daisy Prince, Brian Lane Green, Jessica Phillips, Lucas Steele, Jamison Stern, Joan Almedilla, Jacqueline Hester, cellist Yair Evnine, and composers Justin Paul and Benj Pasek.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party presents John Bucchino & Friends in concert, as part of the Nightlife Award-winning series Broadway at Birdland. The event will take place on Monday, March 9 at 7pm.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party presents John Bucchino & Friends in concert, as part of the Nightlife Award-winning series Broadway at Birdland. The event will take place on Monday, March 9 at 7pm.

Performances begin March 5, 2009 for a limited engagement through March 22, 2009 at the White Plains Performing Arts Center (11 City Place, White Plains), Westchester's professional regional theatre, as part of the theatre's Bank of America Broadway Classics series. Opening Night is Friday, March 6, 2009.

Pittsburgh Public Theater turns up the heat with The World Goes 'Round, a song & dance revue of music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the team who wrote hits such as 'All That Jazz,' 'Cabaret,' and 'New York, New York.' Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and featuring a cast of five plus six musicians, The World Goes 'Round runs March 5 - April 5, 2009 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.

Performances begin March 5, 2009 for a limited engagement through March 22, 2009 at the White Plains Performing Arts Center (11 City Place, White Plains), Westchester's professional regional theatre, as part of the theatre's Bank of America Broadway Classics series. Opening Night is Friday, March 6, 2009.

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.