Jason Robert Brown News

A big thank you to the folks at New Line Theatre for bringing this entry from Jason Robert Brown's blog to my attention.  It seems the Tony-winning composer/lyricist was involved in a lengthy email exchange with a young fan who didn't understand why it was wrong for her to be offering free Internet sheet music downloads of his songs.  If you've seen Sherie Rene Scott's Everyday Rapture, prepare for some déjà vu.

Producers Jed Bernstein and Adam Zotovich announced today that Tony Award-winners James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave will return to the New York stage this Fall to star opposite one another in the Broadway Premiere of Alfred Uhry‘s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Driving Miss Daisy. Directed by David Esbjornson (The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?), Driving Miss Daisy will begin performances on October 7, 2010, at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), with an official opening on Monday, October 25, 2010.

Please send a letter of application specifying the show you are interested in directing, and give a general outline of your concept of the show for our space at The Barn Players. Please include a resume highlighting your past directing experience. Deadline for application is July 15th, 2010. Interviews will take place the last two weekends in July. Application and resume should be sent to: Eric Magnus, Artistic Director of The Barn Players at emagnitude@yahoo.com.

Emmy-winning actor, Kevin Mambo, who stars in the title role in the Broadway production of the of Tony winning musical 'Fela!' has joined the roster of artists scheduled to perform at the Second Annual Tommy Awards on Monday, June 28 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. Produced by the USC Alumni Club of New York with the support of the USC Alumni Association and other university partners, the Tommy Awards- named for Tommy Trojan, the University of Southern California's collegiate symbol - honors extraordinary contributions made by USC alumni to New York's business, cultural, sports and philanthropic communities.

Bestselling financial author David Bach (The Automatic Millionaire), The Blackstone Group Senior Managing Director Timothy Coleman, urban designer and architect Jonie Fu, painter/art critic Peter Plagens and Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jekyll & Hyde, The Civil War) will be honored at the Second Annual Tommy Awards - named for Tommy Trojan, the University of Southern California's collegiate symbol - on June 28, 2010 at the NYU Skirball Center.

After a brief hiatus from any major productions, STAGED! Portland's Musical Theatre Series is back with an ambitious summer line-up. STAGED! is presenting an in-depth look at one of the most dynamic musical theatre composers working today, Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown.

Carey Anderson and Jeff Scot Carey are set as the cast for Playhouse On Park's production of The Last Five Years, directed by Kyle Fabel.

Carly Ozard, voted 'Best Cabaret Performer 2009', presents six diverse showcases and will co-host four evenings of open mics featuring talented performers from professional Bay Area musical theatres and groups including 42nd Street Moon, Lamplighters, The SF Gay Men's Chorus and vocal artists from the local cabaret and performance oeuvre. This is part of the SOMETHING C.O.O.L. - THE SUMMER CABARET FESTIVAL, which runs MAY 27 - JUNE 27, 2010. All shows are at the Eureka Theatre - 215 Jackson St. in SF 94102.

Saturday will mark the opening of Main Stage shows for BTF's 2010 season with Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years.

Contemporary Classics will revive their hit summer production of ZANNA, DON'T! for a third time this summer June 25-July 3 at Seattle Repertory Theatre's PONCHO Forum, coinciding with the 2010 Seattle Gay Pride Festival.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and Upright Cabaret are thrilled to announce the performers for their fifth and final 'American Icon Series' concert experience for the 2009/2010 season at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Today, we are taking a listen to five of the greatest and most deservedly classic-status cast albums of all time, with all five selections also being Tony-winning Best Musicals recently remastered, repackaged and re-released by Masterworks Broadway in time for Tony Award season which this week is finally coming to a close. In salute of Broadway now - and as it was fifty years ago when the first of these scores premiered - we take stock of what we have got, for better or worse. Surely, the strength of these shows' scores speak and sing out loud for themselves: 42nd Street, 1776, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, MAME and CITY OF ANGELS. From Herman to Coleman to Loesser and beyond we go, with a glance to the future and the all-to-recent past...

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for their fifth and final UPRIGHT CABARET experience for the 2009/2010 season at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Emmy-winning actor, Kevin Mambo, who stars in the title role in the Broadway production of the of Tony winning musical 'Fela!' has joined the roster of artists scheduled to perform at the Second Annual Tommy Awards taking place Monday, June 28 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU.

If you had to choose just one song to represent an entire Broadway year, what would you pick?

Last night, Monday June 21, the Kleban Foundation hosted a cocktail reception honoring the winners of the 20th Annual Kleban Awards for the most promising musical theater lyricist and librettist. 2010 Kleban Award winners are Peter Mills (the most promising musical theater lyricist) and Barry Wyner (the most promising musical theater librettist). The event also included performances of the winners' material. BroadwayWorld was there to capture the evening and brings you full coverage of the celebration below.

Julie Reiber and Paul Anthony Stewart will be kicking off the 2010 Main Stage season in The Last Five Years. Written and composed by Jason Robert Brown and directed by Anders Cato, this musical tells the story of the relationship of Jamie and Cathy in a unique way: Cathy starts the show at the end of the relationship and moves back through to the start, whereas Jamie begins at the couple's first meeting and moves forward through time. This unique and touching musical features incredible music and an intimate look at two people seeking nothing more than love.

Adam Pascal, RENT's original Roger, will perform at Feinstein's at Loews Regency again on June 21.

According to Variety, Peter Mills and Barry Wyner will be awarded the 2010 Kleban Prize in Musical Theater on June 21. Each will receive a prize of $100,000 at the ceremny which will be held at ASCAP.

The 1st National Tour of IN THE HEIGHTS arrived in Phoenix this week. A talented cast performs the fantastic score expertly. But as the show gets farther from its New York roots, its generic characters and storyline are less forgivable. The show's innovative advancement of the Broadway sound still makes the show a must-see.