Herbert Kretzmer News

A new Theatre Aspen Apprentice Program was announced today. The award-winning Equity theatre will invite ten aspiring theatre professionals to Aspen for an entire summer, to work alongside professionals in all aspects of theatre production. Theatre Aspen supporters and Aspen residents Jessica and John Fullerton will underwrite the program for its first three years. In January, the organization was named "Non Profit of the Year" in the region with hundreds of local not-for-profits.

Balagan Theatre's next mainstage season will increase from four to five productions, featuring performances by Broadway actors Louis Hobson and Steven Taylor, and including two shows co-produced in partnership with Seattle Theatre Group at the historic Moore Theatre.The new season includes the world's longest-running musical, Les Miserables, produced in the intensely intimate setting of the Erickson Theatre on Capitol Hill; Carrie: The Musical, and more.

A dazzling new production of the long-running Broadway revival CHICAGO directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Gerry McIntyre opens the season June 13-23. Traditional favorite FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, with Boston television personality and IRNE Award winner Scott Wahle reprising his critically acclaimed role as Tevye, runs July 11-21. Ending the summer season August 8-18 is a revolutionary new staging of what many have called the most popular musical of all time, LES MISERABLES, directed and choreographed by David Hugo. Additional casting and creative teams will be announced soon.

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) alumna Nadine Malouf was caught up in the fanfare surrounding Cameron Mackintosh and Tom Hooper's film adaptation of Les Miserables when she received the invitation of a lifetime to perform alongside Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and other principals from the film at the 85th annual Academy Awards on February 24 in Los Angeles.

Today we are talking to the king of the modern musical and the most successful theatrical producer in history - the man behind the original productions of countless iconic musicals, among them: LES MISERABLES, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CATS, MISS SAIGON, STARLIGHT EXPRESS and MARY POPPINS - the one and only Cameron Mackintosh. Looking back at many of his most remarkable musicals to date and also some of his lesser-known success d'estime projects - such as THE FIX - Mackintosh reveals his dedication and passion for the performing arts and discusses many aspects of his legendary shows and displays the characteristic charm and insight that has gotten him to his enviable position over his forty years producing for Broadway, the West End and around the world. Most importantly, Mackintosh and I analyze the mega-successful feature film adaptation of LES MISERABLES, directed by Tom Hooper, and Mackintosh relates many fascinating insights as to the musical's original genesis and the journey of the film from page to stage to screen - such as working with original composer/lyricist team Claude-Michel Schoenberg, Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer on creating new musical material explicitly for the movie, as well as the audition and casting process for the central characters. Looking ahead, Mackintosh shares thoughts on potential MISS SAIGON and OLIVER feature film adaptations in the future and gamely speculates on casting for each, while also giving us the scoop on a new stage production of BARNUM he is producing, set to star Christopher Fitzgerald, and the exciting enhancements being made to the well-regarded musical for this new revised and reconceived production. All of that, Mackintosh's thoughts on the enduring legacy of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the recent Royal Albert Hall 25th Anniversary Celebration and Broadway anniversary, as well as comments on the new touring productions of LES MISERABLES and PHANTOM coming later this year and next year, as well as the major 2014 LES MISERABLES and MISS SAIGON revivals set for the main-stage of the West End and Broadway - and much, much more!

Now one of the most successful movie musicals of all time, LES MISERABLES triumphantly arrives on DVD and Blu-ray today, so it is an exceptionally apropos time to assess the many vaunted virtues and the legendary history of this spectacular mega musical and pay tribute to some of the best versions of some of its famous anthems now that we can, well, bring it home.

The new Hurst Theatre is the setting for Theatre Aspen's new production of Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Les Miserables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, with music by Schonberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. The multiple Tony Award-winner opens June 21st and runs the entire summer, through August 17th.

Theatre Aspen today announced that single tickets and passes for the summer season go on sale April 1st (no fooling). Deals on sale now include season passes for both two or three shows, discounted preview passes and the popular Local's Pass (additional $20 off), for valley residents. Full season passes with early seating preference went on sale January 1st, with exclusive access to booking seats, available through April 1st.

Dallas Theater Center Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty announced today the theater's 2013-2014 season, which will take place at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. DTC's 55th season will once again include a seven-play subscription season comprised of classic plays and musicals as well as new works, including a world premiere new musical and a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Based on the masterwork by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables shares the lives of men, women, and children struggling to survive and make their voices heard against oppression and injustice. The odyssey of Jean Valjean from embittered convict to love and redemption has captivated readers and theatregoers for generations. Now, SBCT presents the musical in a homegrown production with area talent.

On tonight's 85th Annual Academy Awards, Grammy (and now Oscar winner) Adele performed her song SKYFALL from the latest James Bond film. Check out the video, via Perez Hilton, below!

The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented tonight, notoriously dubbed as 'Oscar Sunday,' at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. The telecast kicks off at 7 p.m. EST, and BroadwayWorld will be bringing you live-updates of the winners all night!

With Hollywood's biggest night just days away, BLOCKBUSTER is offering an inside peek at who 2013 Academy Awardsfans want to see take home golden statuettes on February 24. Fans from across the world have cast ballots on BlockbusterAwards.com - an interactive website designed for people to host, manage and participate in a fantasy league celebrating the Academy Awards - and now BLOCKBUSTER is opening the envelopes to share the nominees currently leading in the hearts of consumers.

Riverside Theatre's Simply Amazing Season continues with the international smash musical hit, LES MISERABLES. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, LES MISERABLES performs on the Stark Stage from February 21 through March 17, 2013 and is presented by Wilmington Trust and through the courtesy Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers.

Cameron Mackintosh announced today that his acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES will come to Broadway in March, 2014 at a Shubert theater to be announced. This newly re-imagined LES MISERABLES is breaking box-office records across the country and around the world and inspired filmmakers to make the immensely successful movie which has been nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and has won 3 Golden Globes including Best Picture, as well as 4 BAFTA's. The new production has been a sell-out since launching a U.S. national tour in November 2010, having already played in 64 cities throughout North America, grossing more than $130 million. International productions of the new LES MISERABLES have met with equal success and acclaim in the U.K, France, Spain and Korea. New productions are scheduled to open in the coming months in Japan, Canada, Australia and Brazil.

A more complete recording of the score as represented in the hit film adaptation of the international stage sensation LES MISERABLES will be released on March 18 according to a new listing on Amazon UK.

The sweeping and spectacular musical extravaganza Les Miserables has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe. Now the motion picture adaptation that grossed more than $340 million worldwide arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on March 22, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts were held today in the UK, and once again, ARGO took home the top two prizes: 'Best Film,' and 'Best Director' for Ben Affleck.

Riverside Theatre's Simply Amazing Season continues with the international smash musical hit, LES MISERABLES. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, LES MISERABLES performs on the Stark Stage from February 21 through March 17, 2013 and is presented by Wilmington Trust and through the courtesy Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers.

Claude-Michel Schönberg, co-composer of LES MISERABLES, has confirmed that 'Suddenly,' the new, Oscar-nominated song written specifically for the movie, may be added to the stage show at some point.