Jessica Phillips News

he New York Musical Theatre Festival, Laura Brandel and Patrice Miller have announced Broadway and R&B star Billy Porter to direct a cast that includes Tony-Award Winner Chuck Cooper (The Life, Caroline or Change), Natalie Venetia Belcon (Avenue Q, The Glorious Ones, TV's Johnny and the Sprites) and Adam Halpin (Glory Days) in the world premiere musical Twilight in Manchego. The show, with music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson Award Winner Matt Gould, will play six performances at the ATA Theater (314 W. 54th Street) September 25th - October 4th, 2007.

This summer, real-life Broadway brothers Matthew Bogart and Dan Bogart will star as stage-brothers in Sam Shepard's 'True West,' directed by Lauren Kennedy at Hot Summer Nights in Raleigh, NC from July 2-13, 2008.

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys and Understudies with its next edition of At This Performance…™ to be held on Sunday, April 20th and Monday, April 21st at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, (above the Promenade Theatre- Broadway at 76th Street), 3rd Floor at 8 PM.

Disney's High School Musical will embark on its first ever UK theatre tour, through towns and cities across Britain throughout 2008.

Deaf composer Jay Alan Zimmerman ('Jay Alan Zimmerman's Incredibly Deaf Musical' at DC's Capital Fringe Festival) launches his unique and dynamic variety show at The Zipper Factory, playing two shows this winter: Monday, November 19 and Monday, December 17 at 9:30PM.

The Zipper Factory proudly announces 'Words and Music By…', a celebration of the singer-songwriter, a new ongoing series that showcases new composer-performers, as well as musical artists on the verge of breaking out. The series commences in November, and in the coming weeks The Zipper