Howard Ashman News

Continuing its season "The Best of Times is Now," The Ziegfeld Theater presents Disney's The Little Mermaid, a theatrical experience for the whole family.

American Blues Theater continues its 30th Anniversary Season - "Seeing is Believing" - with the comedic rock musical Little Shop of Horrors, with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, directed by Jonathan Berry, and music direction by Ensemble member Austin Cook. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 29 - May 29, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. 

Artistic Director Blake Robison announced the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2016-17 season today with a richly layered collection of world premieres, a joyously entertaining musical, adaptations of beloved novels, a comedy-tinged detective caper, new and classic dramas, a salute to a bestselling Ohio author and the return of The Second City with a holiday-themed revue. The Playhouse is celebrating its 57th season as the region's preeminent professional theatre and Robison's fifth season as artistic director.

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents the under-the-sea spectacular, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, on March 12, 13, 19 and 20 at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Palm Desert. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the McCallum Theatre on Friday March 25, at 8:00pm, Saturday, March 26 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday, March 27, 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Disney's Beauty and the Beast features the Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton. 

'Tale as old as time' nails the complex simplicity of Beauty and the Beast the quintessential story of true love, the most difficult to obtain and sustain.  Disney's adaptation of the fairy tale with its sweepingly imaginative spectacle won over even the hardest of hearts. The animated film was such a tremendous hit in 1991 that it was adapted for the stage in 1994 with new songs by Tim Rice added to the Academy Award-winning movie score by deceased Howard Ashman. It ran worldwide until 2007 and proves undoubtedly that fairy tales retain a popularity that never dies... and that the story  translates beautifully to the stage with vibrant actors recreating all the animated figures.. This new production by 3-D Theatricals of Beauty and the Beast, which closed Sunday at the Redondo Performing Arts Center, was every bit as joyful and elegant as the original. I cannot say enough about T. J. Dawson's fabulous direction and casting and Mela Hoyt-Heydon's spectacular costumes that were built completely from scratch by 3-D Theatricals.

A group of Australia and New Zealand's most outstanding musical theatre performers and fresh faces has been announced for Disney's new musical comedy, Aladdin, it was announced today. They will be joined by Broadway performer Michael James Scott in the role of the Genie.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the dark and twisted rock musical about love, desire and a mysterious pot plant thrilled the opening night audience at Hayes Theatre.

Disney's Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, will welcome new principal cast members Brad Weinstock (Omar) and Major Attaway (Standby Genie/Babkak/Sultan) to the cast beginning this month, it was announced today.

L/A Community Little Theatre is excited to announce the cast for their upcoming production of the cult classic "Little Shop of Horrors." 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. This production is being directed by Vincent Ratsavong, with musical direction by Rebecca Caron.

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO, Kate Maguire, have announced the 2016 Summer Theatre Season and an assortment of lively presented acts at The Garage and The Colonial Theatre. An announcement with casting will be made within the next several weeks.

Dive on in with the dazzling cast of Dallas Summer Musicals' production of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID! The fun-filled, timeless tale will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park March 11-27, 2016, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. This colorful production will make its Fort Worth debut at Bass Performance Hall March 29 - April 3, 2016, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to San Jose as part of Broadway San Jose's 2015-16 season. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on-stage at the Center for the Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd.) for five performances only - April 1 - 3, 2016. Tickets for Disney's Beauty and the Beast are available now online at www.ticketmaster.com, in-person at the City National Civic Box Office (150 West San Carlos Street), or by calling 800-982-ARTS (2787). Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling 669-242-8557. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) invites audiences to fall in love this summer with Disney's Beauty and the Beast & West Side Story, running July 6 - August 20, 2016 (performances alternate evenings) at Stanley Park's picturesque Malkin Bowl. A beloved Vancouver tradition since 1940, TUTS' two-show subscription packs go on sale TODAY through May 6 (single tickets on sale May 17).

?Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning, worldwide, smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Columbus' Palace Theatre. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Palace Theatre March 15-20.

Broadway In Chicago has announced its next season line-up: the Broadway musical HAMILTON, the North American tour premiere of Disney's ALADDIN, 2014 Tony Award-Winning Best Revival of a Musical HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, the 2015 Tony Award-Winning Best Play THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME and THE BODYGUARD.

The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center announced today that tickets for the return engagement of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, will go on sale Monday, February 15 at 10 a.m. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage for a limited one week engagement June 22 through June 26, 2016 at the Winspear Opera House in the Dallas Arts District as part of the Broadway Series. For information on the production, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Leave it to the creative folks over at 3-D Theatricals, Orange County's award-winning Broadway-caliber theatrical company, to be the entity responsible for this splendid new regional production of DISNEY's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST---the 1994 stage adaptation of the studio's gorgeous Academy Award-winning 1991 animated film that features music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. 3DT's rather complex mounting---directed by 3-DT co-founder and artistic director TJ Dawson---is a marvelously-enchanting reboot, even despite the myriad of unfortunate opening night technical gaffes and (almost) forgotten/missed lines of dialogue that occasionally interrupted some of the wonderment. Of course, surely the kinks will be ironed out for the remainder of its scheduled run at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through February 21 (which will then transfer for a weekend of shows at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from February 26-28).

?The buzz for Drayton Entertainment's 2016 Season continues to grow with the announcement that Canadian R&B singer Divine Brown will appear in the award-winning theatre organization's production of Little Shop of Horrors at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse beginning March 8.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to San Francisco from June 29 through July 10, 2016. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the SHN Orpheum Theatre. For information on the production, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.