Howard Ashman News

In 1991, the animated feature Beauty and the Beast became the first 'cartoon' to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Prompted by the unprecedented success of the film, and by critics who likened the music to a Broadway score, Disney executives began to develop a stage version with an eye toward the Great White Way, where it would capture the heart of every child in the audience. Disney's well-deserved reputation for quality family entertainment is what prompted BRAVO@KAT to present a spectacular double cast of talent for six shows in late January at Randolph Road Theatre.

The MIT Musical Theater Guild presents Little Shop of Horrors, running tonight, January 31, February 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 8 PM and February 2 at 2 PM at La Sala De Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center.

The 2013-2014 Broadway season is particularly notable for its preponderance of screen-to-stage adaptations, ranging from ALADDIN to ROCKY to BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and more - not to mention this week's big announcement of KING KING: THE MUSICAL coming to Broadway soon, as well as BACK TO THE FUTURE hitting the West End - so today we are looking at some of the reasons why these properties in particular are perfect for the boards, and, hopefully, the box office.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS runs January 31, February 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 8 PM and February 2 at 2 PM at La Sala De Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center.

Adam Jacobs, star of Disney's upcoming Aladdin, and his wife of seven years, actress Kelly Jacobs, just announced the birth of twin boys Jack Loren Jacobs and Alex Gregory Jacobs. The twins were born early Monday morning, January 27, after a 25-hour labor, weighing in at 5 lbs, 12 oz and 4 lbs, 11 oz, respectively. Scroll down for a photo of the happy family!

Laughter is coming from the stage floor when Bristol Riverside Theatre presents Neil Simon's sidesplitting comedy Laughter on the 23rd Floor on March 18-April 13. Directed by Keith Baker, the ensemble cast features K.O. Delmarcelle, David Edwards, Bruce Graham, Benjamin Lloyd, Megan McDermott, Jason Silverman, and Carl N. Wallnau.

The MIT Musical Theater Guild presents Little Shop of Horrors, running January 31, February 1, 6, 7, and 8 at 8 PM and February 2 at 2 PM at La Sala De Puerto Rico, MIT Student Center.

The Cleveland POPS Orchestra with Carl Topilow pays tribute to the musical genius of Marvin Hamlisch in a special concert at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21st in Severance Hall. The concert will feature three of the performers who worked with Hamlisch and knew him well. Broadway legends Donna McKechnie, Jodi Benson, Doug LaBrecque, along with POPS conductor Topilow, will share behind-the-scenes experiences and personal conversations they had with Marvin.

For one weekend only, Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the Vital Theatre Company performing Fancy Nancy, The Musical based on the popular children's book. Performances are Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2 at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 both days. Tickets ($15 for children and $25 for adults) are available by visiting brtstage.org or calling the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100. All six performances are at Bristol Riverside Theatre (120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA).

The Capitol Steps bring their special brand of political satire to Bristol Riverside Theatre for one week on February 19-February 23. Featuring parodies of well-known songs from the past several decades skewering the most talked about political issues and scandals of the day, performances are February 19 at 2:00 and 7:30, February 20 at 2:00, February 21 at 8:00, February 22 at 2:00 and 8:00, and February 23 at 3:00. Tickets starting at $40 are available by visiting brtstage.org or calling the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100. Bristol Riverside Theatre is located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA.

The MIT Musical Theatre Guild is looking for people to fill positions in the run crew and to be ushers for its IAP 2014 production of Little Shop of Horrors. Performance Dates are Jan 31, Feb 1 & 6-8 at 8PM and Feb 2 at 2PM. Ushers will receive a free ticket for the night they usher.

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, begins performances at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre on February 26th, 2014 for a March 20 opening. In anticipation of the big Broadway opening, we're getting acquainted with the company. In the video below, meet book writer Chad Beguelin!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, begins performances at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre on February 26th, 2014 for a March 20 opening. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman(Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw(The Book of Mormon). In the video below, watch the full marquee installation at the New Amsterdam Theatre!

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at Segerstrom Hall from tonight, January 14 - 19, 2014.

Who would have thought that a cheap, black and white horror movie, shot in 1960 by Roger Corman in just two days, would resurface some 20 years later, to become an off-Broadway musical comedy smash hit? The show, in its new incarnation (created by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken) ran for over four years, before transferring to Broadway and from there to London's West End.

Today in 2008, The Little Mermaid opened at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre, where it ran for 685 performances. The Little Mermaid is based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. The musical's book is by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman (written for the film) and new lyrics by Glenn Slater. The musical had a pre-Broadway tryout in Denver, Colorado in July through early September 2007. The original cast featured Sierra Boggess in the title role of Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Brian D'Addario and Trevor Braun alternate as Flounder, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, and John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis.

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, begins performances at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre on February 26th, 2014 for a March 20 opening. In anticipation of the big Broadway opening, we're getting acquainted with the company. In the video below, meet director Casey Nicholaw!

Today, in honor of Disney's newest animated feature film musical FROZEN topping the charts as both the #1 film and its soundtrack becoming the #1 album in the country, we are taking a look at some of the biggest Disney blockbusters to date - and the unforgettable musical moments within them.

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the rock musical comedy LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, in which a down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, directed by Milissa Carey, with musical direction by Dolores Duran-Cefalu, and choreography by Amanda Folena, plays February 20 - March 9 in the Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills. The public may purchase tickets ($10 - $28) online at www.foothillmusicals.com or by calling (650) 949-7360.

Make way everybody, we've got some new kids in town and they're out to take over musical theatre one song at a time. Of course, I'm referring to Kritzerland's latest cabaret show at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal. On Sunday, January 5th, Bruce Kimmel's New Kids in Town! featured nine terrific up-and-coming young people ranging in age from 9 to 18.