James Lapine News

SILENCE! The Musical will conclude its current run tonight at the Elektra Theatre, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.) Following the announcement that SILENCE! would be ending its long run today, December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume after a brief hiatus on January 19th.

Following an acclaimed, sold-out run earlier this year Fault Line Theatre will transfer its timely new play FROM WHITE PLAINS - about the lasting effects of gay bullying - to the Pershing Square Signature Center for an Off-Broadway run beginning February 8, 2013 and running through March 9, it has been announced by Fault Line Theatre Co-Artistic Directors, Aaron Rossini and Craig Wesley Divino.

SILENCE! The Musical will play a special added matinee performance today, December 26th at 2 PM at the Elektra Theatre. Following the announcement that SILENCE! would be ending its long run on December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers have determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume after a brief hiatus on January 18th. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

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.

After announcing that SILENCE! The Musical will end its run December 30th at the Elektra Theatre, ticket sales have unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers have determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume on January 18th. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

American Airlines has been announced as the official airline of the new critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Annie. Cast members from the production will perform a selection of songs from the show at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of American Airlines' JFK concert series on Friday, December 21 at 2:15 PM and 2:45 p.m.

SILENCE! The Musical will play a special added matinee performance next Wednesday, December 26th at 2 PM at the Elektra Theatre.

Two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer William Finn will appear in Palm Springs on March 16, 2013 in 'Heart and Music: A Conversation With and Tribute To William Finn'. The man behind such Broadway hits as FALSETTOS and THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE as well as A NEW BRAIN and ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE and more will be the 2103 recipient of Desert Ensemble Theatre Company's Melpomai Award, given annually to honor excellence in the development of theater nationally.

On Thursday, December 13, ABC's Good Morning America aired a live performance by Anthony Warlow and understudy Taylor Richardson from the Broadway musical Annie. Check out their performance below!

Lilla Crawford, star of the new Broadway production of Annie will perform live on ABC's 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' between 9:00AM-10:00AM EST this Tuesday. In the New York area, 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Lilla Crawford perform 'Tomorrow.'

A production spokesperson tells us Lilla Crawford 'suffered a minor injury to her foot while on stage at the December 12 matinee performance of Annie.' She is expected to return to the production next week. Understudy Taylor Richardson will take over the role in her absence.

Yale School of Drama (James Bundy, Dean; Victoria Nolan, Deputy Dean) presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, music and lyrics by Steven Sondheim, book by James Lapine, and directed by Ethan Heard, tonight, December 14 to December 20 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Performances are Friday-Thursday at 8pm.

SILENCE! The Musical will end its-month run Sunday evening, December 30th at the Elektra Theatre. The production will have played a total of 447 performances and eight previews. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

The cast of the new Broadway production of ANNIE will perform live on ABC's "Good Morning America" between 8:30AM-9AM EST this Thursday. In the New York area, "Good Morning America" airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Anthony Warlow, Lilla Crawford, and company members from ANNIE perform "I Don't Need Anything But You."

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that acclaimed film and television actor Christopher Lloyd, will star as Azdak in the company's upcoming spring production of Bertolt Brecht's THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, to be directed by Brian Kulick (who directed Brecht's Galileo last season), and featuring new music by Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik, featuring translation by James and Tania Stern with lyrics by W.H. Auden. THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE will begin performances Thursday, May 2 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, April 2.

The Los Angeles Company of the Off-Broadway smash hit Silence! The Musical at the Hayworth Theatre ends its run today, December 9, 2012.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, presents Anton Chekhov's IVANOV, starring Ethan Hawke, Joely Richardson and Juliet Rylance. Directed by Austin Pendleton, the show ends its limited run today, December 9, 2012.

Below, meet the orphans of ANNIE, all making their Broadway debuts, and find out why they believe you're never fully dressed without a smile!

This week - it's all about ANNIE! This new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, opened on November 8 at the Palace Theatre and stars two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie.