James D Sasser News

Village Theatre is excited to announce an unprecedented expansion to its Village Originals program of readings and workshops. The new Beta Series, headed by Associate Artistic Director Brandon Ivie, is a testing ground for musicals in the middle stages of development, consisting of a three-show series of performances throughout the year. 

Transcendence Theatre Company, now in its 4th season presenting summer concerts in Sonoma Wine Country, is perhaps best known for 'Broadway Under the Stars,' an award-winning series of Broadway-inspired concerts featuring performers from Los Angeles and New York - artists who come to the Sonoma stage directly from recent Broadway appearances. More than a standard musical revue, each show weaves popular Broadway songs into a spectacular themed performance presented in the open-air 150-year-old Winery Ruins at Jack London State Historic Park.

The 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, presented by the National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT), kicked off with THE 46TH MINUTE, a concert hosted by Lindsay Mendez and featuring performances by Heidi Blickenstaff, Doreen Montalvo, Mamie Parris, Bryce Ryness, and more. Musical presentations started October 23 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) and included Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton. The Festival concluded on October 24, 2014. Scroll down for photos!

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals today, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) is proud to announce final casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Online Festival registration ends Friday, October 17.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) just announced initial casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the all-star lineup of directors and musical directors participating in the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Premier development hub and acclaimed new work producer Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Renee Blinkwolt, Managing Director) is now accepting applications for Uncharted, its residency program for burgeoning music/theater makers.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

After receiving critical acclaim and overwhelming demand by sold out New York audiences, Larry Kirwan's Stephen Foster musical 'Hard Times' will extend performances thru February 16th at the the cell, A Twenty First Century Salon (Founding Artistic Director, Nancy Manocherian) (338 West 23rd Street). The production will play the following ten additional performances: Wednesdays thru Saturdays 2/5-8 and 2/12-15 at 8pm; Sundays 2/9 and 2/16 at 3pm.

A new musical based on the 2008 movie Bottle Shock is now in development as part of the Ars Nova Uncharted program by writers James D. Sasser and Charles Vincent Burwell. Director Kent Nicholson helms the process.

Ars Nova announces its December lineup which will feature new work from 2013 Artists-in-Residence and a climactic New Year's Eve fundraiser event to close out its 10th Anniversary Season. All shows are at 8pm unless otherwise noted. Details below!

Ars Nova announces its December lineup which will feature new work from 2013 Artists-in-Residence and a climactic New Year's Eve fundraiser event to close out its 10th Anniversary Season. All shows are at 8pm unless otherwise noted. Details below!

A new musical based on the 2008 movie Bottle Shock is now in development as part of the Ars Nova Uncharted program by writers James D. Sasser and Charles Vincent Burwell. Director Kent Nicholson helms the process.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) will begin accepting applications for Uncharted, it's newly expanded program for burgeoning musical theater writers, on September 3. The Uncharted program, initially co-conceived with Ars Nova's first Composer-in-Residence Andrew Lippa, has grown this year to include two-year residencies in a writers group designed to support the development of first drafts of new musicals. The Uncharted writers group brings together four writing teams for monthly meetings, providing them with peer and artistic support as they work on new pieces. First year group members will also receive public concerts produced by Ars Nova as a chance to debut their new material in front of a live audience. During the second year of the residency, the writers will receive weeklong workshops of their musicals, culminating in full public readings.

Casting is complete for CUBAMOR, a new musical romance by James D. Sasser and Charles Vincent Burwell which will receive staged readings August 10, 14, and 17 as part of TheatreWorks' 2013 New Works Festival. In this saucy new musical, diverse paths meet in modern-day Havana, where love erupts to an irresistible Latin beat.

Continuing its commitment to developing new works, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the lineup for its 2013 New Works Festival, including a new comedy from Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest).

Continuing its commitment to developing new works, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the lineup for its 2013 New Works Festival, including a new comedy from Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest).