Harvey Schmidt News

How do we make a list of the 101 greatest show tunes from the past 100 years? Well, we did the near-impossible task.  Check out our full list here! 

Broadway veteran, Edward Watts will star as El Gallo in The Link Theatre's inaugural production of Tom Jonesand Harvey Schmidt's The Fantasticks. Watts previously played the role for more than 1,000 performances in the Off-Broadway production in New York City. The first professional theatre company in Northeast Arkansas, The Link is a new non-profit theater company located in Jonesboro, AR. Broadway veteran Matt Cavenaugh will direct the musical, which will play for three nights only starting Friday, March 6, 2020 at The Glass Factory (313 W Huntington Avenue, Jonesboro, AR). Watts replaces the previously announced Ben Davis who had to exit the production due to conflicts with his shooting schedule.

Why did Stages choose THE FANTASTICKS to open The Gordy, their sparkling new home? Because it is perfect. There is no neater, lovelier piece of musical theatre. To christen a new theatre with this show makes absolute sense.

The Roxy Regional Theatre's production of THE FANTASTICKS, originally scheduled to open Valentine's night, has been postponed until the following week, due to illness. The show's lead actress recently tested positive for the flu, and the extra time needed for her rest and recovery has made it impossible to get in enough rehearsal time to be ready for the original opening.

Anyone wishing to treat their special someone to an unforgettable evening this upcoming Valentine's Day weekend need look no further than Clarksville's oldest professional theatre.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, as part of its 50th Anniversary season, presented a special York Legacy Concert of the 1969 Broadway musical Celebration, written by the revered songwriting team of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones for two performances only on January 27th at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's.  

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, as part of its 50th Anniversary season, has announced the cast for the York Legacy Concerts of the 1969 Broadway musical Celebration, written by the revered songwriting team of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, as part of its 50th Anniversary season celebration, will present two special events during the month of January: A York Chat: '50 Years of The York,' first in a series of panel discussions, and a staged concert of the 1969 Broadway musical Celebration written by the legendary songwriting team Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Both special events will take place at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Citadel Theatre has announced the cast and crew for the third production of its 17th season - THE FANTASTICKS. The world's longest running musical, THE FANTASTICKS tells the story of Matt and Luisa, young next-door neighbors who fall in love precisely because their scheming fathers, knowing the kids will do exactly what they're told NOT to do, have been keeping them apart.

After spending a year on an extended visit to his original hometown of Chicago, Illinois, veteran and award-winning stage actor and play director Darryl Maximilian Robinson, The Founder, Artistic Director and Producer of the multiracial, non-Equity professional chamber theatre, The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Los Angeles-based theatre artist, has returned to The City of Angels, and will discuss both his most recent on-and-off stage endeavors in Chicago and Los Angeles on the Monday December 30, 2019 edition of the internet performing arts program 'The Actor's Choice' hosted by long-time entertainment journalist Ron Brewington in a program that can be viewed live on Youtube at 11:00 am PST.

Tony Award nominated actor Ben Davis will star as El Gallo in The Link Theatre's inaugural production of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's The Fantasticks. The first professional theatre company in Northeast Arkansas, The Link is a new non-profit theater company located in Jonesboro, AR. Broadway veteran Matt Cavenaugh will direct the musical, which will play for three nights only starting Friday, March 6, 2020 at The Glass Factory (313 W Huntington Avenue, Jonesboro, AR).

After spending a year on an extended visit to his original hometown of Chicago, Illinois, veteran and award-winning stage actor and play director Darryl Maximilian Robinson, The Founder, Artistic Director and Producer of the multiracial, non-Equity professional chamber theatre, The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago and Los Angeles-based theatre artist, has returned to The City of Angels, and will discuss both his most recent on-and-off stage endeavors on the Monday December 30, 2019 edition of the internet performing arts program 'The Actor's Choice' hosted by long-time entertainment journalist Ron Brewington in a program that can be viewed live on Youtube at 11:00 am PST.

Updated September 2023: When BWW asked me to come up with a guide on 'How To Prepare Your Audition Book,' I was more than happy to oblige. The following bits of advice and at-the-piano and behind-the-table wisdom have been distilled from my 30+ years of playing auditions. While I make no claim stating that 'my way' is 'the only way,' 'the right way,' I can safely say that much of what I share below has been discussed with many other audition pianists over the years, and we are all in agreement on many of the topics.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, recently honored Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with the 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre and producer Riki Kane Larimer (Cagney) with The York Theatre Company Founders' Award on Monday evening, November 11, 2019 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Tune in to WFAA's Midday News on Channel 8 Thursday, November 14 at 11 AM to see Mirette stars Emma Grace Freeman and Christopher J. Deaton.

I Do! I Do! even with this updated book, is an old-fashioned two-hander musical that never fails to please, without ever challenging the traditional approach to the union between a man and a woman.

Gemma Maclean and Ben Morris will star in the new production of the 1966 Tony Award-Winning musical I Do! I Do! which will run at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London this Autumn.

Michael Colby and Paul Katz, the creative team behind Tales of Tinseltown, have another Hollywood musical in the offing. On Saturday, November 2nd at 7 pm, The Green Room 42 presents Slay It With Music In Concert a?" to benefit International Rescue Committee. The original musical, acclaimed in both London and off-Broadway, is an ode to Grande Dame Guignol, the genre of 1960s horror movies in which stars like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford made screen comebacks, in the tradition of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Sunset Boulevard, and Psycho. It's a sharp way to cap off Halloween weekend, promising laughs, thrills and chills. The Green Room 42 is on the 4th Floor of YOTEL at 42nd Street and 10th Avenue. The concert version features an all-star cast, directed by Charles Repole with musical direction by Phil Reno. Tickets range between $22.50 and $62.50, and are available now online at: https://tinyurl.com/yyyo4vhn. There is no minimum required at GR42.

Gemma Maclean and Ben Morris will star in the new production of the 1966 Tony Award-Winning musical I Do! I Do! which will run at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London this Autumn.

On August 1, N. Richard Nash's daughter, Amanda, who lives in Massachusetts, came to see East Lynne Theater Company's 'The Rainmaker' and brought four cousins, including Lois, the daughter of Nash's sister Mae, who was the inspiration for 'Lizzie' in this comedy-drama. They all loved the play, which again received a standing ovation. Amanda thanked director Gayle Stahlhuth for 'bringing this family back to life' in such 'a wonderful production.' She grew up with this play and the profits from it paid for her college education.