Jason Forbach News

Broadway's Future Songbook Series - presented by Arts and Artists of Tomorrow - continues its 2019-20 season on Monday, November 25th in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center located at 111 Amsterdam Avenue and 65th Street. Produced and Hosted by John Znidarsic, the evening spotlights the new musical - MANDELA. Show time is 6PM and ADMISSION IS FREE.

Currently appearing in The Phantom of the Opera, actor and writer Jason Forbach will receive the Hidden River Arts Playwriting Award on September 9th alongside a 29 hour industry-only reading of his play, Heathen Hill. The reading will be directed by Kevin Newbury (Bel Canto, Kansas City Choir Boy) and will star Dan Amboyer (Younger). Additional casting will be announced at a later date. 

Earlier this year, on April 22, The Phantom of the Opera, reached a milestone that no other Broadway show has even come near. Phantom, the longest-running show in Broadway history, became the first Broadway show EVER to reach #13,000 performances. This is just one of many incredible achievements made by the show since it opened on Broadway over three decades ago.

A private, invitation only industry reading of the new musical Mandela will be held on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15, 2019. Mandela has music and lyrics by two South African composer/lyricists signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Greg Dean Borowsky and Shaun Borowsky, with a book by Laiona Michelle (Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical). This reading is directed by Schele Williams (Rent, Motown: The Musical), with music direction by Alvin Hough, Jr. (Once On This Island). Fifth Estate Entertainment (Nathan Gehan/Jamison Scott) serves as general manager for the reading. The reading will be attended by Nandi Mandela, Nelson Mandela's granddaughter, on behalf of the Mandela family who have officially partnered with the show.

Below, check out exclusive photos of Hugh Panaro, Ali Ewoldt and the cast of The Phantom of the Opera as they record their track, 'Silent Night.'

As BroadwayWorld has sadly reported, legendary playwright Neil Simon has died at 91. He passed away last night at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City due to complications from pneumonia. Stars of stage and screen have taken to social media to pay their respects and remember the legendary playwright. Read a sampling of the posts below.

BroadwayWorld reported today that trailblazing dancer, director, and choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne has passed away. According to a tweet sent by her official Twitter account, she passed away tonight, July 1, at 6:20pm at the Princess Grace Hospital. The Broadway community took to social media to share memories and condolences. See some of the tributes below.

Feinstein's/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, welcomes director Laura Josepher to the creative team of Departures: The Songs of Gualtieri & Sisco. The concert is set for Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 9:30pm and will feature, under Josepher's direction, Ta'Rea Campbell (Hamilton, Sister Act), Alexandra Foucard (Les Mis rables, Guys and Dolls), Amy Justman (Carousel, A Gentleman's Guide ), Kevin Massey (A Gentlemen's Guide , Memphis) and Dennis Stowe (Aladdin, Annie), along with Wagner College Theatre students Alexis Eldredge and Harper Levy on backup vocals.

Feinstein's/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, welcomes new cast members to Departures: The Songs of Gualtieri & Sisco, a collection of new works by songwriting team Tom Gualtieri & David Sisco. The concert, Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 9:30pm, has added Ta'Rea Campbell (Book of Mormon, Leap of Faith) and Dennis Stowe (Aladdin, Annie) to a cast that currently boasts Alexandra Foucard (Les Mis rables, Guys and Dolls), Amy Justman (Carousel, A Gentleman's Guide ), and Kevin Massey (A Gentlemen's Guide , Memphis)along with Wagner's School of Music students Alexis Eldredge and Harper Levy on backup vocals.

THE SECRET GARDEN runs at Theatre Under The Stars in Houston through October 22, and the critics are weighing in!

Opening their 49th Season with the enchanting storybook tale THE SECRET GARDEN, Theatre Under the Stars has welcomed Dan Knechtges as Artistic Director to take over the season that predecessor Sheldon Epps put in place. The musical, directed and choreographed by 5th Avenue Theatre's Artistic Director David Armstrong is based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's fairytale classic and a book by Marsha Norman, infused with music by Lucy Simon. As part of a pre-Broadway co-production, this Tony Award winning musical will be undergoing refinements made by Armstrong and his creative team.

THE SECRET GARDEN runs at Theatre Under The Stars in Houston through October 22! Watch the video to listen to director David Armstrong discuss working on THE SECRET GARDEN, and why it is important to him.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at the Broadway-Aimed 5th Avenue Theatre Company and the Shakespeare Theatre Company co-production of THE SECRET GARDEN presented by Theatre Under The Stars.

Theatrical talent from across the country will converge on Houston to bring the 5th Avenue Theatre Company and the Shakespeare Theatre Company co-production of THE SECRET GARDEN presented by Theatre Under The Stars.

Theatrical talent from across the country will converge on Houston to bring the 5th Avenue Theatre Company and the Shakespeare Theatre Company co-production of THE SECRET GARDEN presented by Theatre Under The Stars.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's highly anticipated production of Evita will open with record-breaking ticket sales at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's highly anticipated production of Evita will open with record-breaking ticket sales at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa.

Jason Forbach, who was recently featured in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables and Phoenix Best who made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple will star in this summer's production of Evita at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.

Broadway and West End star Tam Mutu will star as Archibald Craven in The 5th Avenue Theatre's enchanting Broadway-bound revival of The Secret Garden. Mutu joins a phenomenal cast including Tony Award winner Daisy Eagan, Tony Award nominee Josh Young, Lizzie Klemperer, Charlie Franklin and Sean G. Griffin.

Later tonight, Feinstein's/54 Below will present an epic night of selections from the studio album of An American Victory.