Hugh Wheeler News

CABARET, Bob Fosse's ground-breaking Oscar-winning musical drama starring Liza Minnelli (Arthur, The Sterile Cuckoo), Michael York (the Austin Powers films), Joel Grey (TV's 'Oz'), Helmut Griem, and Marisa Berenson (I am Love), celebrates its 40th anniversary with a Blu-ray debut today, February 5, 2013.

Liza Minnelli and the cast of CABARET are featured in the new doucmentary CABARET: THE MUSICAL THAT CHANGED MUSICALS. The film is included as part of the 40th anniversary Blu-ray release available from Warner Brothers beginning tomorrow, February 5th. Click here to get a first look!

Dopo il grande successo riscosso a Broadway e nel West End londinese dal 1973 ad oggi, arriva finalmente anche in Italia in anteprima esclusiva A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, il pluripremiato musical di Stephen Sondheim con libretto di Hugh Wheeler, prodotto dalla compagnia nascente “I perFORMErs” con “Atti Sonori” in collaborazione con “BSMT-Bernstein School of Musical Theatre”.

Today in 1976, Pacific Overtures opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran for 193 performances. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a libretto by John Weidman, and additional material by Hugh Wheeler, the musical is set in 1853 Japan and follows the difficult Westernization of Japan, through the lives of two friends caught in the change. The original Broadway production of Pacific Overtures in 1976 was presented in Kabuki style, with men playing women's parts and set changes made in full view of the audience by people dressed in black. A Broadway revival ran at Studio 54 from December 2, 2004 to January 30, 2005, directed by Amon Miyamoto and starring B.D. Wong as the Narrator and several members of the original cast.

As 2012 comes to a close, many Austin theater companies are putting together their 2013-2014 season. Given the incredible talent in this town and the large number of daring, courageous theater groups in the Austin area, here are my picks for 13 musicals that I'd love to see produced in the 2013-2014 season.

Today in 2009, A Little Night Music opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre, where it ran for 425 performances. A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Since its original 1973 Broadway production, the musical has enjoyed professional productions in the West End, by opera companies, in a 2009 Broadway revival, and elsewhere, and it is a popular choice for regional groups. It was adapted for film in 1977, with Harold Prince directing and Elizabeth Taylor, Len Cariou, Lesley-Anne Down and Diana Rigg starring.

Seacoast Repertory Theatre announces its 25th Anniversary 2013 Season. After another record breaking year of performances, attendance and contributions The Rep continues to delight audiences of all ages. Given the life expectancy of a new theatre is only 5 years, Seacoast Repertory Theatre has made that mark, in strides, and as of 2013 The Rep celebrates its 25th year as the Seacoast's largest year round professional live theatre. The Rep is a gathering place for actors, musicians, fellow non-profits, and performance artists from all over the country. The success of The Rep is made possible through the generosity of its members, sponsors and patrons. Seacoast Repertory Theatre is proud to announce its 2013 Mainstage lineup.

Join Performance Network Theatre during the holidays for the fervent tale of six-time Tony Award- Winning romantic musical, A Little Night Music with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler tonight, November 15 through December 30, 2012 starring Naz Edwards as Desiree and John Seibert as Fredrik. Please note there is no performance on Thanksgiving. The final preview performance will be held on Wednesday, November 21 at 7:30pm.

When I heard that RED would run briefly at Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town after a successful premiere at the National Arts Festival three months ago, I made sure that I would be able to see it. And, I am pleased to say, that the wait was worth it.

Join Performance Network Theatre during the holidays for the fervent tale of six-time Tony Award- Winning romantic musical, A Little Night Music with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler on November 15 through December 30, 2012 starring Naz Edwards as Desiree and John Seibert as Fredrik. Please note there is no performance on Thanksgiving. The final preview performance will be held on Wednesday, November 21 at 7:30pm.

CABARET, Bob Fosse's ground-breaking Oscar®-winning musical drama starring Liza Minnelli (Arthur, The Sterile Cuckoo), Michael York (the Austin Powers films), Joel Grey (TV's "Oz"), Helmut Griem, and Marisa Berenson (I am Love), celebrates its 40th anniversary with a Blu-ray debut on February 5, 2013.

Hard to believe, but Sweeney Todd first bowed on Broadway in late 1979 and I was in New York to witness the brilliant achievement of Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou and the entire creative team. It is difficult to find just the right words to express how very much this show affected me when I first saw it. Unlike some, who were abhorred by the subject content, I was mesmerized by much more than the twisted tale of revenge, which did indeed appeal to my dark side. It was the unbelievable staging and brilliant score, which to this day, I believe to be Stephen Sondheim's finest work, which grabbed hold of me and blew me away. It is opera in its most grotesque hour, an overwhelming and overpowering experience. Moonlight Amphitheatre is presenting the masterwork now onstage in Vista through October 6. And there's something to be said for seeing this musical outdoors in the night air, it's even more eerie and chilling: especially if it's a spectacular endeavor, which it truly proves to be with new artistic director Steven Glaudini's clockwork staging, and the exceedingly brilliant work from every member of the top-notch ensemble.

Sweeney Todd, with Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by Hugh Wheeler, is directed by Steven Glaudini with musical direction and conducting by Elan McMahan at Moonlight Stage Productions' Moonlight Amphitheatre, now through October 6th. Check out a photo of the cast below!

Today in 1989, the first Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd opened at the Circle inthe Square Theatre, where it ran for 188 performances. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 musical thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and libretto by Hugh Wheeler. Set in 19th century England, the musical tells the story of Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after 15 years' transportation on trumped-up charges. When he finds out that his wife poisoned herself after being raped by the judge who transported him, he vows revenge on the judge and, later, the whole world. He teams up with a piemaker, Mrs. Lovett, and opens a barbershop in which he slits the throats of customers and has them baked into pies.

Little Radical Theatrics of Armonk, NY brings Stephen Sondheim to the forefront once again with its summer offering of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, running from tonight, August 23rd to August 26th.

Little Radical Theatrics of Armonk, NY brings Stephen Sondheim to the forefront once again with its summer offering of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, running from August 23rd to August 26th.

Today in 1974, A Little Night Music closed at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for 601 performances. A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Since its original 1973 Broadway production, the musical has enjoyed professional productions in the West End, by opera companies, in a 2009 Broadway revival, and elsewhere, and it is a popular choice for regional groups. It was adapted for film in 1977, with Harold Prince directing and Elizabeth Taylor, Len Cariou, Lesley-Anne Down and Diana Rigg starring.

Cabrillo's impressive reproduction of the 1989 Broadway version of Meet Me in St. Loui is so charmingly rendered, that one puts the movie, Judy Garland and company on a back burner... at least for 2 hours.

The M.G.M. classic comes to life on the Kavli stage in the Civic Arts Plaza premiere of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the heartwarming finale to Cabrillo Music Theatre's 2011-2012 Season. The show makes its Kavli Theatre premiere tonight, July 20th, 2012, and plays until Sunday, July 29th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Twenty years ago founder and artistic director Lani Brockman opened a small studio on the Eastside with one theater program for teens.