Jack Viertel News

Broadway musicals are one of America's most beloved art forms and play to millions of people each year. But what do these shows, which are often thought to be just frothy entertainment, really have to say about our country and who we are as a nation?

On January 31, 2020, Theatre Forward presented its 17th Annual Broadway Roundtable at UBS, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, focused on the question, 'How Does Theatre Mirror Society?' with Broadway luminaries on the panel including Blair Underwood, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jacob G. Padrón, Lois Smith and Jack Viertel and moderated by Theatre Forward Executive Director Bruce E. Whitacre. Panelists shared their personal experiences and perspectives on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Topics covered a wide range of opinions and comments in an open-ended dialogue about opportunity, access, education and social justice. Panelists all shared a passion for the power of storytelling and how it reflects and influences our world. Special thanks to Gregory S. Hurst, UBS and Theatre Forward Board of Directors, for hosting the panel at UBS.

A producer cannot just license any property s/he wants. Yes, MAME is available for licensing on the Concord Theatricals website, but if I wanted to mount it on Broadway it would be a little more complicated than shelling out cash. Hurdles for non-professional productions are not substantial, but many professional productions require levels of permission. Jerry Herman, who passed away on December 26, 2019, was a man unlikely to give permission for professional productions of his shows unless he thought they would be good.

3-D Theatricals continues its 2019-2020 season with Kinky Boots, winner of six 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The production, which will be directed by Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia (Broadway's Avenue Q and Shrek The Musical) and choreographed by Linda Love Simmons (3-D Theatricals' Once The Musical) with musical direction and conducting by Benet Braun (La Mirada Theatre's Grumpy Old Men: The Musical). Kinky Boots will play February 14-March 1 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos, CA). Opening night is Saturday, February 15. 

How Does Theatre Mirror Society? will be explored along with drawing on the panelists' experiences and perspectives on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Topics of the 17th annual Theatre Forward Broadway Roundtable will include an open-ended dialogue about opportunity, access, education and social justice. Panelists all share a passion for the power of storytelling and how it reflects and influences our world.

Kevin Chamberlin is going to the prom! According to an updated cast list on IMDB, the three time Tony nominated actor will portray Sheldon Saperstein in the upcoming film adaptation of the musical, The Prom.

Ghostlight Records has announced that the new cast album of Cole Porter's The New Yorkers - The New York City Center Encores! 2017 Cast Recording is available on CD, digital and streaming formats today, Friday, December 6. The release is the first major cast album of the 1930 musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Herbert Fields, and based on a story by Peter Arno and E. Ray Goetz. The 2017 production from New York City Center (Arlene Shuler, New York City Center President & CEO) Encores! was directed by John Rando, with musical direction by Encores! Music Director Rob Berman and choreography by Chris Bailey.

Jo Ellen Pellman has been cast as the lead in the Netflix feature adaptation of the award-winning stage musical The Prom from Ryan Murphy. Pellman has previously appeared on HBO's The Deuce and Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Broadway audiences last experienced the greatness that is Victoria Clark in the 2015 revival of Gigi, and though it's been almost five years since she last graced the stage, she is keeping plenty busy.

Acclaimed costume designer Bob Mackie and theater luminary Jack Viertel laughed and cheered along with the audience when they visited The Tony Award ® winning FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, Gerard Alessandrini's hilarious musical spoof of all things theater,  which continues at the Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street).

Ariana Debose has joined the cast of Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of The Prom, according to Deadline.

According to the New York Times, Lear deBessonet, current Resident Director of City Center Encores! will officially succeed Jack Viertel as the new artistic director in 2021.  DeBessonet joined the Encores! team in January 2019 following Viertel's announcement of his retirement in July. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, 'Scandal' star and Broadway vet Kerry Washington has joined the cast of 'The Prom,' a Netflix adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The cast already includes heavy-hitters like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.

Jack Viertel, who has run New York City Center's Encores! series for the past twenty years, has just announced that he will resign from his position as Artistic Director at the end of the 2020 season.

Updated September 2023: Finding your best audition song is crucial - especially as a young performer. Check out some great audition song options for kids of all ages and find out how to pick the perfect audition song if you're a kid or teenager!

Ryan Murphy will direct and produce a feature adaptation of the Tony-nominated musical The Prom  for Netflix, and he has announced the cast for the film, according to Deadline. The Prom will star Meryl Streep, James Corden, and Ariana Grande, with Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key and Andrew Rannells in key roles. 

BroadwayWorld has learned that The Prom will have its last dance on Broadway August 11th. Upon its final performance, THE PROM will have played 23 preview and 310 regular performances.

New York City Center today announced programming for the 2019 - 2020 season, which will include Mack and Mabel (Feb 19-23), Kurt Weill's Love Life (March 18-22) directed by Victoria Clark, and a 'new version' of Thoroughly Modern Millie (May 6-10), featuring edits by the playwright Lauren Yee and led by 2018 Tony nominee Ashley Park.

How did The Prom come to be? Creators Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin tell us about the journey of the Tony-nominated musical!

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.