Howard Ashman News

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Thousand Oaks as part of the Theater League 2014 - 2015 season. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza December 4-7. For information on the production, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati kicks off its 90th MainStage season today, October 17 through October 19, and October 25, 2014 at the Taft Theatre with DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR., one of the company's most requested shows.

NETworks and Broadway Entertainment Group open the first ever International Tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in Istanbul on Friday 10th October 2014. The English-language tour will open at Istanbul's Zorlu Center and will tour to diverse international markets including United Arab Emirates, Greece, Italy, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Macau and beyond.

Imagine Productions of Columbus will present Little Shop of Horrors, Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken today, October 8-19, 2014.

The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati kicks off its 90th MainStage season October 17-19 and October 25, 2014 at the Taft Theatre with DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR., one of the company's most requested shows. The brainy and beautiful Belle yearns to escape her provincial life...and her brute of a suitor, Gaston. However, Belle gets more adventurous than she wanted when she becomes a captive in the Beast's enchanted castle! Dancing flatware, menacing wolves, and singing furniture fill the stage with thrills in this beloved fairy tale about very different people finding strength in one another and learning how to love.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey is proud to open its 2014 - 2015 season with Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. This production runs today, October 3rd through the 26th.

Today in 2003, Little Shop of Horrors opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 372 performances. Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, 'Skid Row (Downtown)', 'Somewhere That's Green', and 'Suddenly, Seymour'.

I HEAR VOICES: SONGS FOR PSYCHOSIS, a benefit concert with proceeds going to Medicinal Missions, produced by Kevin Field and Adam Kern with music direction by Kevin Field and Bryan Blaskie, is set for tonight, September 30, 2014 at 8:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM at Rockwell Table and Stage.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Seattle as part of the KeyBank Broadway at The Paramount series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at The Paramount Theatre from October 21 - 26, 2014. For information on the production, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Shiki Theatre Company just announced the first international production of Disney's Aladdin, the smash Broadway musical comedy. Performances will begin in May 2015 at The Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in Tokyo.

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) honors Tony and Emmy Award-winning playwright and librettist Terrence McNally, whose art and activism have profoundly affected the visibility and understanding of HIV/AIDS.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey is proud to open its 2014 - 2015 season with Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. This production runs October 3rd through the 26th with performances Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM.

Today we are talking to a multi-award-winning stage and screen musical master all about the forthcoming Fathom presentation of his new musical FROM HERE TO ETERNITY premiering in movie theaters nationwide early next month, the sharp and affable Sir Tim Rice. Outlining his impetus for pursuing a musical adaptation of the acclaimed novel upon which the multi-Academy Award-winning film is based, Rice reveals what drew him to the project as well as what viewers can expect from the dense, complex and majestic score created along with composer Stuart Brayson for the enterprise. Additionally, Rice sheds some light on the specifics of crafting the show, with a special emphasis on the controversial elements contained within the material. Plus, Rice shares specific examples of how some of the biggest showstoppers in the rich and varied score were crafted, as well as his impressions of the impeccable cast featured in the stage version, and, now, the Fathom film - and preliminary prospective plans for an American production, too. Furthermore, Rice reflects on his work with recently deceased entertainment icons Robin Williams, on ALADDIN; Lauren Bacall, on THE FAN; and Richard Attenborough on the JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT film. Also, Rice shares new details on the forthcoming 30th anniversary 3-disc special edition of CHESS set to be released next month. All of that and much, much more awaits!

The LEGENDARY Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was in the house last night at Disney's hit production of ALADDIN on Broadway and after the show posed with the excited cast -- and BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the magic moment (no lamp required!).

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

The Broadway musical cult favorite SMILE, by Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch, returns to New York for a one-night-only reunion concert performance tonight, September 22, 2014 at 7PM & 9:30PM.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: SMILE : A Broadway Reunion Concert, Celebrating Adolph Green - 100 Years of Wonderful, Jamie deRoy and Friends, Randy Graff: Re-Made In Brooklyn, and The Songs of Scott Evan Davis, featuring Karen Mason, Lisa Howard & more.

I HEAR VOICES: SONGS FOR PSYCHOSIS, a benefit concert with proceeds going to Medicinal Missions, produced by Kevin Field and Adam Kern with music direction by Kevin Field and Bryan Blaskie, is set for Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 8:00 PM.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, premieres in Riverside as part of the Broadway in Riverside 2014-15 Season. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Fox Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, November 18 and Wednesday, November 19 at 8:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. doors).

Little Shop of Horrors at the Sioux Empire Community Theatre will have you bopping in your seats and singing all the way home.