James Magruder News

Pandora Productions, Louisville’s only theatre company dedicated and most trusted to tell the stories of the LGBTQ+ community, proudly continues their 2021-2022 Season with HEAD OVER HEELS, conceived by and original book by Jeff Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, music and lyrics by the Go-Go's.

This year, Pandora Productions will present the musical comedy HEAD OVER HEELS, conceived by + original book by Jeff Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, music + lyrics by the Go-Go's.

If you are a person who enjoys a good “out of sync,” then you belong in the turbulence-riddled realm of Arcadia by way of the Pasadena Playhouse where kings are queens, handmaids love above their station and amazons are…well, lots of things to a lot of people.

Pasadena Playhouse is now presenting Head Over Heels! The production is being directed, choreographed, and conceived by Jenny Koons and Sam Pinkleton and features music direction by Kris Kukul.

Fall has arrived and chilly weather means lots of time to snuggle under your favorite blanket with a great book. You're in luck, because this year, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind.

After a two-year hiatus from performing live before an audience, the cast and crew of the Western Connecticut State University Department of Theatre Arts newest production can once again perform live for the community. WCSU's School of Visual and Performing Arts presented 13 virtual productions since March 2020 and are now ready to perform live.

Pasadena Playhouse has announced initial casting for its production of HEAD OVER HEELS. Leading the cast will be Alaska 5000 (RuPaul's Drag Race), Lea DeLaria (Orange is the New Black), Yurel Echezarreta (Steven Spielberg's West Side Story), Tiffany Mann (Be More Chill), George Salazar (Little Shop of Horrors), Emily Skeggs (Fun Home), and Shanice Williams ('Dorothy' in NBC's The Wiz Live!).

Librettist/fiction writer/translator James Magruder, who wrote the book for the Broadway musical Triumph of Love late in the last century, and co-wrote the book (in blank verse no less) for the far more recent Head Over Heels, has a fourth book of fiction, titled Vamp Until Ready, coming out on September 28, 2021

Lovers of dark comedy and the art of theatre will enjoy the October production of “Everybody”, the runner up for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. “The Snow Queen”, Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale adapted by Tyler J. Monroe, will captivate families and friends with its magic and mysticism. “Fairview”, the winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, will evoke strong emotion and create lasting impact on viewers' thoughts and beliefs. Fans of The Go-Go's and lovers of laughter and fun alike will go crazy for “Head Over Heels” – a musical sensation by James Magruder and Jeff Whitty.

Pandora Productions has announced auditions for the 2021-2022 In Person Season to be held on Tuesday, July 13 by appointment. This open audition is for actors, singers and dancers who’ve never worked with Pandora Productions before.

New Line Theatre has announced it 30th Anniversary Season of adult, alternative musical theatre, including the return of Jason Robert Brown's brilliant, funny, and intense concept musical SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, which New Line first produced in 1998 in its American regional premiere, running Sept. 30-Oct. 23, 2021.

The Ringwald Theatre has teamed with Ferndale High School to present The Go-Go's jukebox musical Head Over Heels. Made possible by a grant from the Ferndale Community Foundation, The Ringwald will pair professional actors with high school students to perform this musical in an outdoor production at Ferndale High School's Courtyard, located at 881 Pinecrest Ferndale, MI 48220. 

Camp, corsets and Aqua Net collide in a kinetic burst of Greece lighting that meshes the intense drama of Sir Philip Sidney's 16th century literary work, The Arcadia with the seemingly frivolous power punk of The Go-Go's,

New Line Theatre presents HEAD OVER HEELS through March 28.

Set in the fantastical land of Arcadia, a fateful prophecy is delivered to the king which will send each character on a journey of self-discovery in order to save the kingdom and find their true love.

HEAD OVER HEELS is the bold new musical comedy from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with American Idiot, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q, and Spring Awakening. Conceived by Jeff Whitty, with an original book by Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, originally directed by Michael Mayer, and set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-girl rock band The Go-Go's, this high-octane, laugh-out-loud love story includes hit songs like, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.”

Head Over Heels, a jukebox musical comedy featuring music by The Go-Go's, will launch its first D.C. metro area production opening Monumental Theater Company's 2020 season.

HEAD OVER HEELS is the bold new musical comedy from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with American Idiot, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. Conceived by Jeff Whitty, with an original book by Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, originally directed by Michael Mayer, and set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-girl rock band The Go-Go's, this high-octane, laugh-out-loud love story includes hit songs like, a?oeWe Got the Beat,a?? a?oeOur Lips Are Sealed,a?? a?oeVacation,a?? a?oeHeaven is a Place on Eartha?? and a?oeMad About You.a??

Back in 2018, a little show came along to Broadway called a?oeHead Over Heelsa??. All I knew was that it was the story of Sir Philip Sydney's a?oeArcadiaa?? with the songs of the 80's pop group, The Go-Go's. OK, another jukebox musical, we'll see. Then I went to NY and it didn't quite make the list of shows I was seeing. But after I found out more about it, like it was touting having the first trans woman originating a principal role on Broadway. Cool. Maybe I'll see it next time. And then it closed. Well, now ArtsWest has picked it up for its Seattle Premiere and I find that the show itself also speaks to homosexuality and gender identities beyond the binary, but not in a documentary or preachy way. Plus, it's a ton of fun. All of which makes me kick myself for not seeing it when I had the chance. But it's here now and ArtsWest nails it!