Jerold E. Solomon News

The new incarnation of the rock musical Bare began previews Off-Broadway at New World Stages and opens tonight!

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The stirring new rock musical Barebegan previews Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Monday, November 19, 2012. Opening Night is set for Sunday, December 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you a montage of scenes from the show below!

The stirring new rock musical BARE began previews Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Monday, November 19, 2012. Opening Night is set for Sunday, December 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below!

BARE begins previews Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Monday, November 19, 2012. Opening Night is set for Sunday, December 9, 2012. The cast and creative team previewed the show for the press earlier today and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for all of the festivities. Below, get a first look at some of the numbers from the show, plus interviews with the cast and creative team!

Speaking on behalf of the producers of the new musical BARE, Paul Boskind, who is organizing the series, is proud to announce that the show will host post-performance TalkOUTs throughout the run of the show. Beginning with the first preview, audiences at select performances will be invited to stay after the show to participate in a discussion with some of the foremost leaders in the fight for LGBT equality. These special guests will include Judy Shepard (Matthew Shepard Foundation), The Clementi Family (Tyler Clementi Foundation), Chuck Wolfe (The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund), Hudson Taylor (Athlete Ally), Mitchell Gold (Faith in America), Travis Wall (choreographer of BARE, "So You Think You Can Dance") and cast members of BARE.

The producers of the new Off-Broadway musical BARE have announced an extraordinary collaboration between the musical and four of the nation's leaders in the fight for LGBT equality.

BARE begins previews Off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Monday, November 19, 2012. Opening Night is set for Sunday, December 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you the just-released poster for the show below!

Award-winning producers Randy Taradash, Paul Boskind and Martian Entertainment, and Gregory Rae have just announced the creation of BARE NATION, an audience loyalty program presented by the Off-Broadway musical BARE. Giving audience members the exciting opportunity to continue their experience with BARE after the curtain comes down, BARE NATION features exclusive benefits such as access to producer house seats at a discounted rate to future performances of BARE, VIP and priority access to BARE events including after-show parties, TalkOUTs and promotional events, priority access to digital downloads including music and behind the scenes footage, and valuable discounts from BARE retail and restaurant partners.

Award-winning producers Randy Taradash, Paul Boskind and Martian Entertainment, and Gregory Rae announced complete casting today for the original musical BARE. The company will feature Taylor Trensch (Peter), Jason Hite (Jason) and Elizabeth Judd (Ivy), with Gerard Canonico (Matt), Jerold E. Solomon (Father Mike), Barrett Wilbert Weed (Nadia) and Missi Pyle (Sister Joan). They will be joined by Casey Garvin (Zack), Ariana Groover (Vanessa), Sara Kapner (Madison), Nick Laughlin (Swing), Alice Lee (Diane), Megan Lewis (Swing), Justin Gregory Lopez (Beto), Michael Tacconi (Nick) and Alex Wyse (Alan).

Thomas Kail's athletic and inventively theatrical directing chops (In The Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird) prove a perfect match for Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' Caribbean story-theatre musical Once On This Island. The beguiling new production gracing the Paper Mill stage is full of vibrant performances and colorful stagecraft.

More than 20 years after its premiere, Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens have re-invented their first musical with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (In the Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird), choreographer Bradley Rapier (So You Think You Can Dance, Jesus Christ Superstar) and new orchestrations by music director Lynne Shankel (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Altar Boyz). Once On This Island just opened last night, June 3, and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2012.

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More than 20 years after its premiere, Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are re-inventing their first musical with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (In the Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird), choreographer Bradley Rapier (So You Think You Can Dance, Jesus Christ Superstar) and new orchestrations by music director Lynne Shankel (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Altar Boyz). Once On This Island began performances on May 30, 2012, and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge brings you video interviews and performance footage from yesterday's Once On This Island press preview at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse.

Today, May 22, Paper Mill Playhouse hosted a performance preview for its new production of Once On This Island at The New 42nd Street Studios (229 W 42nd Street, 7th Floor). BroadwayWorld was there and brings you stills from the event, featuring Thomas Kail, Bradley Rapier, Syesha Mercado, Stephen Flaherty and more. Check out the photos below!

Paper Mill Playhouse just announced full casting for the Millburn, New Jersey, theater's production of Once On This Island (book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty). More than 20 years after its premiere, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are re-inventing their first musical with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (In the Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird), choreographer Bradley Rapier (So You Think You Can Dance, Jesus Christ Superstar) and new orchestrations by music director Lynne Shankel (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Altar Boyz). Once On This Island begins performances on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2012. Once On This Island is proudly sponsored by Bank of America. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, June 3, 2012.

The Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will close on February 13. The production is directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Wendy Seyb.

I'm usually not one to sit in judgment of my journalistic colleagues but when one of them is up on stage performing, what's a theatre critic to do?  Fortunately, I can honestly report that Matt Windman, known for his snappy reviews in amNew York and on Theatremania.com, did a fine job in the small role of 'Matt Windman,' on opening night of Paper Mill's funny and heart-tugging production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  (Actually, the role would have been a little larger if he knew how to spell 'palestra' correctly.)

Directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Wendy Seyb, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opened last night at the Paper Mill Playhouse. The production began performances on January 19 and runs through February 13, 2010. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening and brings you photo coverage below.