James Young News

Complete casting has been announced for the national tour of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY which will launch this September.

"Please, sir. I want some more." These are the iconic words are spoken by young Oliver Twist at the beginning of Lionel Bart's classic musical OLIVER! This simple ask for more to eat sets Oliver out on a dangerous but exciting journey into a world where his innocence and positive outlook impacts all he meets. These words also sum up the experience of watching OLIVER!, which is the second show in Goodspeed Musicals current season. OLIVER! is a show that excites, enthralls and leaves you, in the end, simply wanting more. OLIVER! is one of those shows that doesn't get produced that often, possibly due in part to the number of children needed to pull it off appropriately, which is why it is thrilling to see Goodspeed give its signature treatment to this classic musical that many may not have experienced before (this reviewer included.)

While tropical cyclone Henry was leaving the country, United International Pictures, via Columbia Pictures, held the Philippine premiere of “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” in Makati City last Tuesday, graced by a sizable crowd, some members of the press and MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) signed artists Sabrina, Elha Nympha, and Noel Comia Jr.

Charles Dickens' beloved orphan makes his Goodspeed debut in the hope-filled musical set in the dark shadows of Victorian London. Bounced from workhouse to forced labor, Oliver Twist escapes to the streets where he meets Fagin, the Artful Dodger and a band of child pickpockets. Will he find love, home and happiness before it's too late?

Despite being birthed in the early 1990's, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG-the late Pulitzer Prize-winning Wendy Wasserstein's acerbically witty and vibrantly poignant play about a trio of fascinating, strong-willed Jewish-American sisters-has a remarkably timeless, relatable quality, evidenced by South Coast Repertory's delightful and beautifully-acted OC revival production now continuing performances in Costa Mesa through June 2. Thanks to its naturally appealing characters that don't feel like stock archetypes trapped in a retro bubble, the play-under the keen direction of Casey Stangl-comes across as a contemporary-leaning, very thoughtful theatrical piece populated by strong, three-dimensional female characters.

Spectra Venue Management at the Casper Events Center is pleased to announce that the ELI YOUNG BAND will perform in the arena on Saturday, June 30 at 8:00 pm as the finale for the inaugural Buckin' Summer Nights presented by Sinclair Casper Refinery. Tickets are $25 each and are on sale Friday at 11:30 am.

Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Van Morrison's new 39th studio album, You're Driving Me Crazy, a musical collaboration with Hammond organ virtuoso and trumpet master Joey DeFrancesco, on Friday, April 27.

Lively Production of Once Wows Sarasota Audiences

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) kicks off the Mainstage Season with the eight-time Tony Award Winning musical Broadway smash-hit, Once, running in FST's Gompertz Theatre from November 10 through December 31, 2017.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) kicks off the Mainstage Season with the eight-time Tony Award Winning musical Broadway smash-hit, Once, running in FST's Gompertz Theatre from November 10 through December 31, 2017.

Musical comedy Aliens Coming returns to New York City's The People's Improv Theater following a previously sold out run in March, and is better than ever.

Musical comedy Aliens Coming returns to New York City's The People's Improv Theater following a previously sold out run in March, and is better than ever.

The newest work commissioned for a Buffalo Philharmonic musician will receive its world premiere on Nov. 15.

The newest work commissioned for a Buffalo Philharmonic musician will receive its world premiere on Nov. 15.

'Songs In The Night' is a heart wrenching account of a woman, who after the loss of her husband, and with him her very purpose for living, returns home to search for meaning amidst the memories of her youth. 'Songs In The Night' is the creation of published author, Dottie Rexford, recipient of the 2014 Writer's Digest Self-Published Awards in the inspirational category and the 2013 Royal Palm Literary Awards in the categories Women's Fiction and Book of the Year.

The November through January 1 programming schedule at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust has been announced. Highlights are:

While I was watching FOLLIES, I was reminded of our own beloved Fox Theatre, and how it had tread a similar path during the 1970's. Like the fictional Weismann Theatre where this story's action takes place, it had been fallen on hard times, reduced to screening Kung-Fu and exploitation film fare before being renovated and reopened. But there is no restoration in the cards for the Weismann, and the people that come to it for one final celebrated glimpse may be nearing the point of being past reclamation themselves. This is superior Sondheim, and though it's not revived as often as some of his other works, it's full of the kind of interweaving melodies and motifs that this master composer is so adept at creating. Find out for yourself just how compelling and engaging this musical is by seeing The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' stunning production that opens their 50th season.

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time launches The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, opened September 7 and runs through October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at highlights of the show below!

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time launches The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, runs tonight, September 7, through October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time will launch The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, runs tonight, September 7, through October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.