Howard Ashman News

Get set to be swept away on a magic carpet ride as Disney's Aladdin officially opens in Queensland Performing Arts Centre's, (QPAC's) Lyric Theatre today Friday 23 February, running until Sunday 3 June 2018.

A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop Of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatre goers for over 30 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world. 

Schimmel Center-located in the heart of downtown Manhattan at Pace University-today announces programming for its 2018-2019 season, featuring 30 events spanning multiple genres including award-winning comedy, dance, cabaret, folk and rock, documentaries, world music, and family programming.

Chapin bids adieu to Ariel, CCT says hello to Harold Hill, and Trustus has one wild and crazy day!

Drury Lane has announced the cast for Little Shop of Horrors, with music by Alan Menken, book by Howard Ashman, direction and choreography by Scott Calcagno, and music direction by Roberta Duchak. Little Shop of Horrors runs September 6 - October 28, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is Thursday, September 13 at 8:00 p.m.

Disney Theatrical Productions and the Fabulous Fox Theatre announced today that tickets for the long-awaited engagement of Disney's Aladdin will go on sale to the public on Friday, August 17 at 10 a.m. The hit Broadway musical will begin performances in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox on Wednesday, November 7 for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, November 25. The opening night is Friday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Lissa deGuzman will be taking over the role of Jasmine in the North American touring production of Disney's Aladdin beginning Wednesday, August 8 in Buffalo. DeGuzman, who previously understudied the iconic role on tour, succeeds original tour cast member Isabelle McCalla, who will play her final performance as Jasmine on August 5 in Boston at The Boston Opera House.

According to the annual high school play survey conducted by the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), Beauty and the Beast; Almost, Maine; and Check Please clinched top billing for most produced musical, full-length play, and short play, respectively, during the 2017-18 school year.

Disney's enduring classic The Little Mermaid is heading to the stage in Charleston, WV! The Charleston Light Opera Guild is excited to bring this fairy tale masterpiece to life at the Clay Center Theater. The hit musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2007, is based on the 1989 animated classic film and features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a book by Doug Wright. Children of all ages will be delighted as they watch the story of Ariel, Flounder, Ursula, Sebastian, and Prince Eric unfold by the talented professionals in the Charleston Light Opera Guild.

Disney's The Little Mermaid/book by Doug Wright/music by Alan Menken/lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater/directed by John LaLonde/choreographed by Chelsea Morgan Stock/musical director: Julie Lamoureux/Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, Claremont/through September 1 Disney's The Little Mermaid is an entertaining treat ... it's aglow and scintillating for kids of all ages. Young kids laugh and hiss at Ursula and her mad pranks; older ones love Ariel's romantic reverie with the Prince. All the color and splendor of the ocean is onstage without water, and that has a lot to say about the creative team who strive to make us believe where we are. As technical aspects of the show are working smoothly, and splend

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From starry Shakespeare and a new musical to family entertainment, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!

It's always a treat to see something familiar come to life in a fresh and exciting way. Mixing the expected with the unexpected adds a certain thrill to any creative endeavor. This is the way it is with Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, which is being brought to life on stage (or, rather, under the sea) by the Warner Stage Company at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, Connecticut. The production, which plays through August 5th is every bit as magical and engaging as the original 1989 Disney film by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. On stage at the Warner, THE LITTLE MERMAID is bubbly, bright and a treat for both the young AND the young at heart.

A decade since her last Sydney visit, Celine Dion fans were primed for a fabulous return of the French Canadian singer and Celine Dion ensured that they were treated to an incredible evening of music and stories.

Three closings and one opening make for a busy weekend on Soda City stages!

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

Relive the 1986 Warner Bros. Pictures cult classic rock musical with this Pop! line that will have you singing “Feed me, Seymour.” The collection will be released this August.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated Disney film, this musical is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. This fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including 'Under the Sea', Kiss the Girl' and 'Part of Your World'.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at Susan Egan reprising her Broadway performance of Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at 5-Star Theatricals in California! Check out the video below!

Disney's Classic Film and subsequent Broadway Musical are not easy to recreate and to do justice to as well, both to the animated film version and the original stage production. Five Star Theatricals has opened this past weekend at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza/Kavli Theatre with a most lavish, charming and authentic version! I had the opportunity to speak with the Choreographer, Cheryl Baxter, of this delightful musical, and learned what it takes to be able to tackle this type of exciting but daunting project. I was not at all surprised to learn that it takes a careers'-worth of experience and dedication to be at this level.

Disney Theatrical Productions, Broadway in Columbus, and CAPA today announced that tickets for the long-awaited Columbus premiere of Disney's Aladdin will go on sale to the public on Thursday, August 16, at 10 am. The hit Broadway musical will begin performances at the Ohio Theatre on Wednesday, October 24, for a limited engagement of two weeks through Sunday, November 4.