Howard Ashman News

Fresh from his Tony Award winning, nightly show-stopping performance in as the beloved Genie in Disney's Aladdin, as well as Broadway performances in Memphis and Spelling Bee, James Monroe Iglehart makes his 54 Below debut with How the Heck Did I Get Here? tonight, May 4th at 7 pm.

This past Wednesday and Thursday, South Bend was graced with the National Tour of "Beauty and the Beast" presented by NETworks. By far one of the best Disney animated films of its time, "Beauty and the Beast" presents the tale of a princess who is smart, confident, and doesn't need saved by Prince Charming. With a more mature theme and characters, Disney presented us with one of the best love stories of all time. "Beauty and the Beast" came roaring with beauty onto the Morris Performing Arts Center stage, and fans and audience members couldn't get enough of this stunning performance. I absolutely loved the revamped production of NETworks, "Beauty and the Beast" with direction by Rob Roth.

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to South Bend as a special engagement to the Broadway Theatre League 2014-2015 Broadway in South Bend season. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at The Morris Performing Arts Center for two performances only this week, April 29 and 30.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to announce a season to satisfy musical theatre lovers everywhere with their 2015-16 season of shows!

Party like you're ALADDIN!

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Playhouse Square as part of the Star Performance Series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at Playhouse Square this weekend, April 24-26, 2015. For information on the production, visit BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Aurora Theatre Academy's extensive array of Summer Camps for 2015 are right around the corner. Enrollment is now open for a coveted spot. Aurora Theatre Director of Education, Jaclyn Hofmann, has put together an incredible team of teaching professionals, most of whom you will recognize from professional theatrical productions around Atlanta or from the screen anywhere from Georgia Lottery commercials to HBO. This summer, Aurora Theatre Academy will prepare students of all skill levels to perform like professionals.  Located on the square in downtown Lawrenceville, all classes will culminate in a showcase in Aurora's exquisite facility. Aurora will also offer students both financial need and talent-based scholarship opportunities. 

While Broadway is heaven for theatergoers around the world, especially when the season reaches its fever pitch as it is right now, it can also be hell in the right hands. And, that's a good thing. As the exceedingly well-received new play HAND TO GOD which opened earlier this month proves, audiences adore a good scare - particularly when it is supported by a rich and dynamic dramatic basis upon which the horror-show can play out, which HAND TO GOD undoubtedly has in spades (and pitchforks). Needless to say, many of the most popular and successful musicals of all time have also dealt with demonic presences - even if in the case of Broadway's two biggest hits, they are misunderstood monsters. Indeed, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA remains the longest-running show in Broadway history, approaching its 20th year on the Great White Way, while Oz-themed witch-centric musical mega-hit WICKED remains one of the hottest tickets in town. With this week's news of Hollywood heartthrob Jake Gyllenhaal starring in an upcoming Encores! special limited-run production of cult hit and famous Off-Broadway mainstay LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - not to mention the big news of a brand new small screen version of the ultimate cult movie musical, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, being revived for a new generation - it seems more than merely appropriate to turn our attention to the scariest, bloodiest and best horror-themed musicals to date.

Back by popular demand, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) invites you to take a trip back under the sea for the return engagement of Disney's The Little Mermaid! This fun-filled, timeless tale will play for five performances only September 10 - 13 at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Today we are celebrating this week's news announcement of Jake Gyllenhaal's musical theatre debut.

Fountain Hills Theater will present its 2015-16, 29th season for its three venues, Mainstage, Mainstage Too and Youth Theater as well as our Sizzlin' Summer Stock. Tickets go on sale May 1st, 2015.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST is coming to the big screen again in a whole new way, with brand new songs!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Jake Gyllenhaal is set to lead the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running July 1-2, 2015. The production will be directed by Dick Scanlan, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox. Jeanine Tesori is the Artistic Director of Encores! Off-Center, and Chris Fenwick is Music Director. The show will mark his musical theater debut and we can't wait to see what he can do! Click below to watch his performance of 'And I'm Telling You' from when he hosted SNL in 2007.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Chuck Cooper and Taran Killam will join the previously announced Ellen Greene in the Encores! Off-Center concert production ofHoward Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running July 1-2, 2015. NOTE: A third performance has been added at 2pm on Thursday, July 2 in order to meet ticket demand. The production will be directed by Dick Scanlan, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox. Jeanine Tesori is the Artistic Director of Encores! Off-Center, and Chris Fenwick is Music Director. The show will mark the musical theater debuts of both Gyllenhaal and Killam.

Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Simpkins and Managing Director Justin Ball, has announced initial casting and creative teams for its 2015 Season with the musicals My Fair Lady, Merrily We Roll Along, and Little Shop of Horrors on the Mainstage; Ed Dixon's new play Georgie: The Life and Death of George Rose and True Love on Stage 2 in the Bok Gallery. The Youth Theatre will present the Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher.

California Musical Theatre announced the 2015-16 Broadway Sacramento season at the Community Center Theater, featuring six shows not previously presented on the series, two of which were produced in the round at Music Circus but never before part of Broadway Sacramento.

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati ends its 90th MainStage Season with DISNEY'S ALADDIN JR., this weekend, April 10-12 and April 18, 2015 at the Taft Theatre.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Playhouse Square as part of the Star Performance Series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at Playhouse Square April 24-26, 2015. For information on the production, visit BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, concludes its 2014/2015 season with 'Little Shop of Horrors' the hit rock musical comedy about a hapless florist shop worker, the girl of his dreams and one very voracious plant. With book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Performances are April 17-May 3, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, at The Melissa & Doug Theatre at The New MTC, 509 Westport Avenue (behind the Jones New York and Nine West Outlet) in Norwalk, CT. Tickets range from $30-$50 ($5 discount for seniors/students) and are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Pittsburgh. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, from tonight, March 31 to Sunday, April 5, 2015, as a season special part of the 2014-2015 PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series. This production is presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Broadway Across America.