Jerry Zaks News

In all honesty, I was dreading seeing Broadway Across America - Houston's presentation of SISTER ACT's First National Tour at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts last night. As a fan of Alan Menken, I was elated to get my hands on a copy of the Original London Cast Recording in 2009. After giving the disc a whirl, I was anything but impressed. The musical ran at the London Palladium from June 2, 2009 to October 30, 2010. As it journeyed across the pond, the book was significantly reworked by Douglas Carter Beane for its rather successful April 20, 2011 to August 26, 2012 Broadway run at the Broadway Theatre. Between London, New York, and Houston, magic has definitely happened. The show, as it stands now, is a divinely delightful comedy that will leave audiences pumped and gushing about how truly fabulous it is.

Articulate Theatre Company has announced the NYC premiere production of Jenny Connell Davis' DRAGON, directed by Cat Parker. DRAGON will play a limited engagement as part of the 4th Annual Planet Connection Theatre Festivity at the Robert Moss Theatre (440 Lafayette St., 3rd Floor). Performances begin tonight, May 29 and continue through Monday, June 17.

Direct from Broadway, SISTER ACT, the hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical smash, is coming to North Texas next month. Presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth, SISTER ACT makes its debut at Bass Performance Hall June 18-23. Tickets start at $38.50 and are on sale NOW!

Direct from Broadway, SISTER ACT, the hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical smash, is coming to Houston. SISTER ACT opens at the Hobby Center on May 28 and runs through June 2. Tickets go on sale to the public Sunday, January 27.

The Denver Center Theatre Company's (DCTC) world premiere production of SENSE & SENSIBILITY THE MUSICAL, with book and lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and music by Neal Hampton, is being staged by director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge, whose recent Broadway revival of Ragtime received seven Tony Award nominations. SENSE & SENSIBILITY THE MUSICAL is currently running in its world premiere production through tonight, May 26, 2013. Starring in the pivotal sister roles are Stephanie Rothenberg as Elinor and Mary Michael Patterson as Marianne. Cast member Robert Petkoff photographed the entire cast and crew from the production, and was kind enough to allow BroadwayWorld to post them below!

If you want to have fun and laugh yourself silly... Go see the Carrollwood Players production of 'LEND ME A TENOR'! You will be glad you did!

While SISTER ACT's First National Tour was playing in Durham, North Carolina, I got a chance to talk with Kingsley Leggs, who plays Curtis Jackson, Deloris Van Cartier's gangster boyfriend and the show's villain. Kingsley Legs, who originated the role of Curtis Jackson on Broadway, spoke with me about his career, SISTER ACT's rehearsal process, preparing the First National Tour, SISTER ACT itself, and life on the road.

SISTER ACT, the family friendly, over the top spectacle with nuns that rock, opens at DPAC on Tuesday, May 14 for eight performances, through Sunday, May 19!

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenko will star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written by Christopher Durang, today won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (NYDCC) for Best Play of the 2012-2013 season. Matilda received the award for Best Musical. The selections were made at the 78th annual voting meeting of the organization today at the offices of Time Out New York in Manhattan.

Articulate Theatre Company has announced the NYC premiere production of Jenny Connell Davis' DRAGON, directed by Cat Parker. DRAGON will play a limited engagement as part of the 4th Annual Planet Connection Theatre Festivity at the Robert Moss Theatre (440 Lafayette St., 3rd Floor). Performances begin Wednesday, May 29 and continue through Monday, June 17.

Despite what you might see on certain television shows, the creation of a new Broadway musical generally takes years, and there are almost always countless substantive changes across numerous productions before the show even has a chance to grace the Great White Way. Such is the case for feel-good 'Sister Act: The Musical,' which opens at Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre Tuesday, April 23rd. However, despite this first national tour starting just last August, this will not be the first trip to Atlanta for 'Sister Act.'

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the new musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Sarasota premiere tonight, April 22,2013 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

The Country Playhouse will present Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare, on our Cerwinske Stage for three weekends only, May 10 - 25. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on May 19 at 2:00 p.m., plus a weeknight show on Thursday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m.

Ta'Rea Campbell stars as nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier, the role made famous in the film by Whoopi Goldberg (who is a producer on the show). When Deloris sees her lover, gangster Curtis Jackson (Kingsley Leggs, who originated the role on Broadway), murder a snitch she's marked for execution and seeks help from the Philadelphia Police. She's taken into protection by shy, former high school classmate and cop 'Sweaty' Eddie Souther, who still harbors a crush for the flamboyant Deloris.

On April 8th, producer Marty Richards' feast of friends and loved ones gathered in celebration of his extremely accomplished life at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) where they were entertained by a star-studded retrospective of show-stopping numbers from Mr. Richards' acclaimed Broadway musicals including Chicago, On The Twentieth Century, The Life, Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Smell Of Success, The Will Rogers Follies and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out highlights from inside the concert below!

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenkowill star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, On Your Toes will have guest music direction by Encores! founding music director Rob Fisher and will play seven performances, from May 8 - 12 at New York City Center, W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). The "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" ballet, originally choreographed by George Balanchine, will be staged by Susan Pilarre, who served as a Ballet Mistress of the show's 1983 Broadway Revival.

Last night, April 8th, producer Marty Richards' feast of friends and loved ones gathered in celebration of his extremely accomplished life at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) where they were entertained by a star-studded retrospective of show-stopping numbers from Mr. Richards' acclaimed Broadway musicals including Chicago, On The Twentieth Century, The Life, Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Smell Of Success, The Will Rogers Follies and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out who was there to celebrate the legend below!

Last night, April 8th, producer Marty Richards' feast of friends and loved ones gathered in celebration of his extremely accomplished life at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) where they were entertained by a star-studded retrospective of show-stopping numbers from Mr. Richards' acclaimed Broadway musicals including Chicago, On The Twentieth Century, The Life, Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Smell Of Success, The Will Rogers Follies and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out photos from inside the concert below!

Full casting has been announced for the 2013/2014 National Tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, which will make its Fort Lauderdale premiere April 9 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale 2012-2013 Subscription Season.