Harold Wheeler News

Due to scheduling conflicts, Wayne Brady has withdrawn from the eagerly anticipated La Jolla Playhouse revival of The Wiz; Rashad Naylor has replaced him as Scarecrow

Variety reports the casting for the upcoming La Jolla production of The Wiz, directed by Des McAnuff. The show will feature Wayne Brady (Scarecrow), David Alan Grier (the Wizard), Nikki M. James, (Dorothy), Tituss Burgess (the Lion) and Michael Benjamin Washington (Tin Man).

On his website, Tituss Burgess--currently on Broadway in Jersey Boys--has announced his casting in the La Jolla Playhouse's upcoming revival of The Wiz, which is possibly Broadway-bound.

Broadway L.A. launches its 2006-07 season with the Los Angeles premiere of the Tony Award winning musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for a two week run this summer (August 15-27) at the Pantages Theatre. Headlining the engagement is Norbert Leo Butz who recreates his Tony Award winning role as Freddy Benson.

Over a dozen stars--among them Jason Alexander, Kate Burton, Megan Mullally and Lainie Kazan--will perform in a Funny Girl benefit in LA on March 8th

Talent abounds, but a few too many spritzes of megahold have made this stylish do a bit stiff

An immensely entertaining and informative show that positively bursts with both silliness and sincere emotions while examining an artist who tried to use his celebrity to help save the world.

Written and directed by Don Scardino, the cast includes Will Chase, Chuck Cooper, Julie Danao-Salkin, Mandy Gonzalez, Marcy Harriell, Chad Kimball, Terrence Mann, Julia Murney, and Michael Potts.

Click in for the complete list of 2005 Tony Award Winners. By the numbers, the Light in the Piazza led the pack followed by Doubt, and Spamalot (which won Best Musical).

The 50th Annual Drama Desk Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday, May 22. The big winners of the night were Doubt and The Light in the Piazza, each of whom received 5 awards. Outstanding Musical however, went to Spamalot.

700 Sundays will extend its run through June 12th, and Lennon will now begin previews on July 7, top open August 4.

The 2005 Tony Award Nominations were announced this morning, and we've got the complete list of nominees.

Spamalot leads the pack with 12 nominations, followed by Light in the Piazza with 11, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with 10. Click in to see all the nominees.

Currently running in San Francisco, the show will skip its planned Boston run, and begin previews earlier than planned on June 28th. The show opens on Broadway on July 28, 2005.

The show runs in San Francisco through May 14, followed by Boston from May 31-June 25, and then Broadway where it begins previews on July 7 for a July 28 opening.

Previews for LENNON begin tomorrow, Tuesday April 12th, at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco.

David Yazbek may be one of the great hopes for bringing in a whole new audience for the Broadway musical; the beer drinkin', butt scratchin', football and pro wrestlin' watchin' American male

Beginning February 13th, tickets go on sale to the general public for the upcoming San Francisco engagement of LENNON, the world premiere musical based on the life and songs of John Lennon.

Rehearsals begin on Monday, February 14th for the upcoming Broadway production of LENNON, the world premiere musical based on the life and songs of John Lennon.