Jack O'Brien News

Tarzan opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on May 10th and BroadwayWorld.com was there!

Wicked scored three Touring Broadway Awards, presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers on May 8th

Norbert Leo Butz, who recently mentioned to the New York Daily News that he was considering recreating his Dirty Rotten Scoundrels role in the upcoming national tour of the hit musical, announced in the press room of today's Drama League Awards luncheon that he has opted not to do the tour after all

Blake Hammond will succeed John Pinette as Edna Turnblad in Broadway's Hairspray on May 30th

Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz has told the New York Daily News that after his contract with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ends in July, he is most likely going to hit the road as brash con artist Freddy Benson

All Shook Up, Altar Boyz, Twelve Angry Men, STOMP, Doubt, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chita Rivera--The Dancer's Life, and The Light in the Piazza--as well as the pre-Broadway tryout of the new musical High Fidelity--will comprise the 2006-2007 Broadway Across America-Boston seaso

Harvey Fierstein and Dick Latessa will depart the Las Vegas production of Hairspary on April 30th, while Paul Vogt and Eddie Mekkla will take over on May 1st

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that Caissie Levy, currently in the National Tour of 'Hairspray' will make her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton from May 23rd - August 31st, 2006

Hairspray will spritz the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, TX from April 18th through 23rd.

Tonight, 'Theater Talk' on Thirteen will welcome Jonathan Pryce, currently starring on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Contrary to a report in the Las Vegas Sun, John Goodman will not be playing Edna Turnblad in the Las Vegas production of Hairspray; Paul Vogt will begin performances as Edna on May 1st while Eddie Mekka will begin to play Wilbur that day

Check out highlights from the new cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels featuring Jonathan Pryce, Rachel York and Mylinda Hull

According to her website, Lucie Arnaz will succeed Joanna Gleason as Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in June

NETworks will send off new national tours of The Producers and Hairspray in the 2006-2007 theatre season

Two new productions of operas by Rossini and Puccini will be helmed, respectively, by The Light in the Piazza's Bartlett Sher and Dirty Rotten Scoundrel's Jack O'Brien as part of the Metropolitan Opera's 2006-2007 season

One of the hottest topics today, in the world of theatre business, is the increasing trend of Broadway shows setting up shop in Las Vegas. BroadwayWorld.com now turns it spotlight to the desert...and it seemed like the perfect time to chat with Michael Gill. Widely considered to be the leading expert at this crossroads of Broadway and Vegas, Gill reveals what makes a Broadway show desireable for transfer. He also talks about his current and upcoming productions, such as Hairspray and Phantom. Here is an insider's take on the Vegas theatre business and much more.

On February 27th, legends Barbara Cook and Elaine Stritch will star side by side in the cabaret evening 'In Alphabetical Order' at Lincoln Center

For it is in act two that HAIRSPRAY has its finest moments in the duet Timeless to Me and in the diva moments given to the character of Motormouth

On March 13th, Manhattan Theatre Club will host a special edition of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's One-on-One Conversation series featuring directors Doug Huges and Daniel Sullivan