Jeff Calhoun News

Over the second weekend of February, thousands of students and educators from around the globe gathered at the 4th annual Junior Theatre Festival (JTF) West here in Sacramento. For many, the highlight was hearing the incredible voices that come to the Festival each year to share their experiences and hard-earned wisdom. One such voice was best-selling author Jodi Picoult, who believes in the mission of the Junior Theatre Festival so much that she strives to be at both the Atlanta and Sacramento events each year. This year, however, was even more special. The musical, Between the Lines, which is based on a book written by Picoult and her daughter, Samantha van Leer, opens Off-Broadway on April 21. Much of the talent responsible for bringing the novel to the stage was at JTF West talking about their journey and showcasing songs for the first time for the lucky young thespians. Included were composing team Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson, Tony-nominated director Jeff Calhoun, and book writer (and JTF founder) Timothy Allen McDonald. Broadway World Sacramento was able to sit down with Picoult and speak to her about the challenges of getting a show to Off-Broadway, women in theatre, and all things Between the Lines.

Play on Players (Gainesville, GA) and Red Phoenix Theatre Company (Buford, GA) performed highlights from Disney's Newsies JR. at the 2020 Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta.

Forget that other show. I was in the REAL room where it happened last weekend at the 4th Annual Junior Theater Festival West (JTF), which celebrates youth theatre and encourages students and teachers to keep theatre alive in their community. Each year it follows the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, which just finished its 15th season. Over 2,200 people participated in the three-day festival, some coming from as far away as Australia, England, and South Korea. Students and educators benefited from the knowledge of top Broadway professionals in the form of adjudications, workshops, and a discussion panel entitled Pathways to Success, in which the featured guests shared how they forged their own paths to Broadway and beyond.

New York Theatre Barn will produce a reading of the new musical A Complicated Woman: The John Kenley Show on February 27th, 2020 in New York City. The reading will be directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde, Big River). New York Theatre Barn serves as a home for new musicals during incubation.

Dolly Parton's phenomenally successful 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL has released a West End Cast Recording, which is available to stream and download now. It can be found on all streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. https://slinky.to/9to5-TheMusical

ROMEO & BERNADETTE opened this week at the Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T./New York Theatres. Check out photos from opening night!

'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' stars Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo performed at the Junior Theater Festival Atlanta this past weekend. Over 6,500 musical theater kids attended to watch Olivia and Joshua perform!

that 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL will return for a second tour in 2020. The tour will play at The Bristol Hippodrome from 11 a?" 15 August 2020 and ATG TheatreCard tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday January 25th, followed by general tickets at 10am on Monday January 27th.

Last Saturday, during Goodspeed's 15th annual Festival of New Musicals, the two-time Tony Award-winning theatre announced plans for a fresh approach to its new musical development at The Terris Theater in Chester, CT.

The Duluth Playhouse and its Board of Directors have announced that Phillip Fazio will become the NorShor Theatre's next Artistic Director. Fazio will succeed Christine Gradl Seitz, who has served as both the Artistic and Executive Director for the organization for the past 20 years.

The new Off-Broadway musical BETWEEN THE LINES has released its first music video for a?oeSomething to Hold Onto,a?? performed by Jason Gotay.

Louise Redknapp and Brian Conley will return to play Violet Newstead and Franklin Hart Jnr respectively in 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL at The Savoy Theatre from February 2020.

President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions Thomas Schumacher; Caissie Levy (Frozen on Broadway); Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton on Broadway); Jennifer Locke (Hamilton national tour); creator/Executive Producer Tim Federle, Olivia Rodrigo, and Joshua Bassett (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney +); Luca Padovan and Isabella Russo (School of Rock); Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Between The Lines); Rob Rokicki (The Lighting Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical); and Lotte Wakeham (Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical) are some of the stars and creatives confirmed for the 2020 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival Atlanta (#JTF).

Producer Daryl Roth announced today full casting for the new Off-Broadway musical Between the Lines . The production will star Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin, Wicked), Jason Gotay (Evita, Bring It On: The Musical), Morgan Siobhan Green (Be More Chill), Vicki Lewis (Damn Yankees, Anastasia), Will Burton (Kiss Me, Kate; Hello, Dolly!), Jerusha Cavazos (The Prom), Pierre Marais (Aladdin), John Rapson (Les Misérables), Carrie St. Louis (Kinky Boots, Wicked), and Julia Murney (Wicked).

We're getting an exclusive look behind the scenes at at the new musical Between the Lines, which is set to begin performances at Off-Broadway's Tony Kiser Theater at Second Stage this April! Check out the video to see the show's songwriting team, Elyssa Samsel & Kate Anderson, giving us a look at what the show is all about and what audiences can expect!

Following a sell-out 2019 tour that ends in Dublin this Saturday, Dolly Parton announced today that 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL will return for a second tour in 2020. The tour will open at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 29 May 2020 where it will play until 6 June 2020, before visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (9 a?" 13 June 2020), Nottingham Theatre Royal (16 a?" 20 June 2020), Southampton Mayflower (22 a?" 27 June 2020), Leeds Grand Theatre (29 June a?" 4 July 2020), Theatre Royal Plymouth (14 a?" 18 July 2020), Regent's Theatre Stoke on Trent (21 a?" 25 July 2020), Southend Cliff's Pavilion (28 July a?" 1 August 2020), Marlowe Theatre Canterbury (4 a?" 8 August 2020), Bristol Hippodrome (11 a?" 15 August 2020), Llandudno Venue Cymru (18 a?" 22 August 2020), Manchester Palace Theatre (25 a?" 29 August 2020), Eden Court Inverness (1 a?" 5 September 2020), King's Theatre Glasgow (8 a?" 12 September 2020) and Sheffield Lyceum (15 a?" 19 September 2020). Casting for the 2020 tour will be announced soon.

Caroline O'Connor, Marina Prior, Samantha Dodemaide and Erin Clare have been entrusted with the much-loved lead roles in Dolly Parton's 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL. Direct from London's West End, the hilarious smash-hit musical will have its Australian Premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in April 2020.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature Dear Evan Hansen West End, Mrs. Doubtfire in Seattle and More!

The new musical LAST DAYS OF SUMMER opened this past Friday, October 25th to unanimous rave reviews at George Street Playhouse. Under the direction of Jeff Calhoun (NEWSIES, GREASE, BIG RIVER), LAST DAYS OF SUMMER features book & lyrics by Steve Kluger (based on his best-selling novel) and music by Grammy Award winner Jason Howland (LITTLE WOMEN).

George Street Playhouse (GSP) is kicking off their 2019/2020 Season with a new musical that is a sure-fire hit. 'Last Days of Summer' has everything going for it. The show presents a captivating story, stellar cast, a memorable score, and spirited dance numbers. Directed by Jeff Calhoun, it features a book and lyrics by Steve Kluger with music by Jason Howland.