Howard Ashman News

Martha Wilkinson is a force of nature-onstage, offstage, no matter where she goes, the woman is a force of nature and, throughout her career, she's taken on some of musical theater's most coveted roles proving along the way that she can do virtually anything. Now, in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's staging of Little Shop of Horrors, Wilkinson adds yet another stellar performance to her resume, playing the campy musical's offbeat heroine with the ease, grace and unerring comic timing that is her stock in trade. In short, Wilkinson's performance as Audrey, the flower shop girl with a penchant for ending up with the wrong guy, is one of the best we've seen of the role and its one that yet again establishes her as Music City's queen of musical theater.

For the first time, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, produced by NETworks Presentations, is coming to the State Theatre for 3 performances, tonight, May 1 - Thursday, May 3 at 7 PM.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre presents the America cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors, music and lyrics by Alan Menken and book by Howard Ashman. Little Shop of Horrors runs tonight, April 28 - May 19 at TPAC's Johnson Theater.

The Farmington Players stage now resembles a Little Shop of Horrors, as one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows in history comes to the Barn, tonight April 27th-May 19th. Tickets are available at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955.

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the internationally renowned, award-winning Broadway musical, will bring its unforgettable characters, and dazzling production numbers including "Be Our Guest" and the beloved title song, to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, July 3-22, 2012.

For the first time, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, produced by NETworks Presentations, is coming to the State Theatre for 3 performances, Tuesday, May 1 - Thursday, May 3 at 7 PM.

California Musical Theatre announces the 2012-13 Broadway Sacramento season at Community Center Theater, featuring Tony Award-winning new Broadway musicals as well as heart-warming family favorites. Memphis, which won four 2010 Tony Awards and is still playing on Broadway, kicks off the season, followed by Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby, Rock of Ages, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and multi-Tony Award winner Billy Elliot the Musical. The final show of the season is a Broadway Mega-Hit that can't be revealed until August due to contractual obligations. That show is a brand new production of one of the most beloved and popular Broadway musicals ever, and has been highly praised by critics and audiences alike throughout its wildly successful tour.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre, under the artistic leadership of Eric Rosen, closes its 2011-12 season with a professional production of the popular musical Little Shop of Horrors; book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith. Kyle Hatley directs. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 20 - May 20 at the Rep's Copaken Stage.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Washington, D.C. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the National Theatre for two weeks only, June 12 through June 24.

The Farmington Players stage now resembles a Little Shop of Horrors, as one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows in history comes to the Barn, April 27th-May 19th. Tickets are available at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present the America cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors, music and lyrics by Alan Menken and book by Howard Ashman. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 28 - May 19 at TPAC's Johnson Theater (with preview performances April 26 - 27).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Broadway In Chicago's upcoming season, 'The Boy Scout Musical,' 'Faustus,' a rare 'Leader Of The Pack,' death of Etel Billig, a Southside 'Dreamgirls' and much more....

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh announce NETworks Presentations, LLC will bring the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, Disney'sBeauty and the Beast to Heinz Hall from April 3 through April 8, 2012. This is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Loch Raven High School has announced its annual spring musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken is to be performed March 1, 2, and 3 at 7pm.

The first ever, full-length Broadway Las Vegas season at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts features eight of Broadway's biggest hits, beginning with the world-wide phenomenon WICKED. Other titles in the season include THE ADDAMS FAMILY, BILLY ELLIOT, WEST SIDE STORY, SHREK THE MUSICAL, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANYTHING GOES and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Broadway Las Vegas at The Smith Center will also feature two season specials, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT.

Today we are talking to an iconic performer known for his decades on stages and screens around the world, from his variety show roots with sister Marie and their eponymous 70s television staple to his solo pop career in the 1980s and roles in Broadway and Hollywood and beyond since then - the one and only Donny Osmond. Osmond and I recount many of his marvelous show business memories in this all-inclusive chat, putting a particular emphasis on his theatre roles - most of all, his work in the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, filmed in 1999 and presented next week in a super-special Sing-A-Long showing with an exclusive live Q&A hosted by Osmond in Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide on March 26. In addition to all about the filming of the spectacular movie musical version of JOSEPH helmed by Steven Pimlott and co-starring Maria Friedman, Osmond and I discuss his experiences playing the title role in the show for six years throughout the 1990s and how he looks back on his experiences in the Biblically-themed pop/rock operetta. Plus, Osmond shares insights into the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as shares stories of working with legends such as Gene Kelly, Richard Attenborough, Joan Collins and touches upon his appearances in MULAN onscreen, BEAUTY & THE BEAST onstage, DANCING WITH THE STARS on TV - and much, much more!

Denver Center Attractions welcomes home James May, Denver native, as Cogsworth in DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Buell Theatre March 14-18. Tickets are now on sale at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303.893.4100.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson announced today CST's 2012/13 Season, which begins with a new production of Sunday in the Park with George by musical team Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, and also includes the Chicago premiere of The School for Lies by playwright David Ives and productions of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Henry VIII. The Theater's extensive World's Stage lineup of international programming for 2012/13 ranges from the American premiere of A History of Everything by Belgian company Ontroerend Goed to the return of the National Theatre of Scotland's internationally acclaimed Black Watch and its inventive, supernatural The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. CST's annual CST Family programming kicks off this summer with Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Additional productions will be announced for the 2012/13 Season later this summer, including an ongoing collaboration between Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Australia's one step at a time like this (en route) creating for the City of Chicago a world premiere pedestrian-based live art event inspired by Shakespeare's Measure for Measure and set in the city's urban landscape.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is coming to San Jose, California as part of the Broadway San Jose series.

'Beauty and the Beast' has captured the hearts and minds of millions of people around the globe and Broadway San Jose has brought this treasure to the stage.