Jim Sharman News

On Friday, September 2nd at 8:00 PM, The Orpheum invites everyone to a little tantalization during the Summer Movie Series finale and annual screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced that Matt McGrath will appear in the role of Frank ‘N' Furter in The Old Globe's upcoming production of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. McGrath appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in Sam Mendes' hit revival of Cabaret and in the international tour of Tom Waits and William S. Burroughs' The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets directed by Robert Wilson. He has also appeared Off Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Itch and A Fair Country at Lincoln Center Theater. McGrath replaces the previously announced James Barbour, who has departed the production.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for The Old Globe's revival of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for The Old Globe's revival of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. Oanh Nguyen directs the classic cult musical with book, music and lyrics by Richard O'Brien, choreography by JT Horenstein and music direction by Mike Wilkins. The Rocky Horror Show will run in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, Sept. 15 - Nov. 6. Preview performances run Sept. 15 - Sept. 22. Opening night is Friday, Sept. 23 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are currently available by subscription only. Single tickets will go on sale online on Friday, Aug. 19 at midnight. Single tickets will go on sale at the Globe Box Office on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The full cast for the Australian debut of Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES has been announced. Sharon Millerchip will reprise the role of Meg Giry, a part she originally created for the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera in Melbourne. Sharon is no stranger to playing strong-sassy women in musical theatre, having portrayed both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in Chicago (winning Helpmann Awards for both), Anita in West Side Story, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced that The Old Globe will produce the World Premieres of four new plays and musicals in its 2011-12 Winter Season. The season will feature the World Premiere musicals Some Lovers by music legend Burt Bacharach and Tony Award winner Steven Sater and Nobody Loves You by Gaby Alter and Itamar Moses, as well as the West Coast Premiere of John Kander and Fred Ebb's The Scottsboro Boys, recently nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical, directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. The two plays receiving World Premiere productions are Somewhere by Globe Playwright-in-Residence Matthew Lopez and The Recommendation by Jonathan Caren. The new season also includes revivals of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show and the Eugene O'Neill classic Anna Christie directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner David Auburn. Special events include the World Premiere of Odyssey by Todd Almond, a music theater event conceived and directed by Lear deBessonet celebrating the Globe's 75th Anniversary, The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program production of Twelfth Night and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which returns for its 14th consecutive year.

It's just been announced that taking principal roles in the new Australian production of LOVE NEVER DIES are Maria Mercedes, Sharon Millerchip and Simon Gleeson, joining the previously announced Ben Lewis as The Phantom and Anna O'Byrne as Christine. They will join the rest of the cast, which are yet to be announced, when rehearsals start in just a few weeks.

The continuation of Broadway's longest-running musical The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies will open in May 2011 at the Regent Theatre. It's now been announced that starring as The Phantom and Christine will be Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O'Byrne as Christine. Nearly 900 entertainers are said to have had auditioned for the parts.

In this SOUND OFF SPECIAL EDITION we are taking a comprehensive look at Tuesday's premiere of THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW on Fox and the accompanying soundtrack that was released last week, GLEE: THE MUSIC: THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW, as well as analyzing how the show and soundtrack stacks up to previous GLEE-ful tributes - Madonna, Gaga/Journey, Britney, etc. - and in comparison to the second season, and entire series, thus far! So, what did you think of THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW by the time the credits rolled? Was it a tart and terrific time warp romp or a warped and twisted time-consuming stink bomb? A jump to the right or a step to the left? Is it always all or nothing? With ROCKY HORROR, going over-the-top is just the very start of beginning to see what's weird and wild on the other side.

This week we are taking a listen to the soundtrack for the forthcoming ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW homage ala GLEE with a rundown of the second season of the hit Golden Globe-winning musical dramedy series and how it stacks up to last season. Additionally, we take a peek at one of the most famous musicals numbers from the cult classic score - 'Time Warp' featuring all of the central Glee club cast-members of the show, among them Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron and Chris Colfer. The soundtrack also contains a special appearance by John Stamos - late of Broadway's recent BYE BYE BIRDIE, and the other Roundabout revivals of NINE and CABARET - who sings the song made famous by a then unknown Meat Loaf in 1975 who will be making an appearance himself on the episode when it airs October 26th on Fox. So, come up to the lab and see what's on the slab a whole week early as we take a peak at the soundtrack and some special video clips from THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW.

Who has more style? More flair? More imagination? More sheer visual power in each and every frame of every single one of his films than the master of the modern movie musical - and director of the greatest Shakespeare film adaptation ever created, bar none - the fabulously talented and extremely entertaining film genius otherwise known as Baz Luhrmann. In this BWW World Premiere Exclusive InDepth InterView we talk everything from Broadway to Hollywood to Oz - with chairing this year's NYMF, Blu-Rays of his previous films, WICKED onstage and onscreen, GLEE, (the other) Oz, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Beyonce, Andrew Lloyd Webber and much, much more in-between - so follow the digital yellow brick road to the cyber emerald kingdom in the wonderful world of Baz.

They have however now revealed the songs that'll appear on the episode: 1. Science Fiction Double Feature 2. Damn It, Janet 3. Whatever Happened To Saturday Night? 4. Sweet Transvestite 5. Touch-A Touch-A Touch-A Touch Me 6. There's A Light (Over At The Frankenstein Place) 7. Time Warp

According to a report by Fancast, Tim Curry has turned down an offer to appear in the upcoming Rocky Horror tribute on GLEE. While the original Frank-N-Furter has opted out, Meat Loaf and Barry Bostwick have confirmed their participation, and rumors continue to circulate about Susan Sarandon's possible involvement.

E!online reports today that Meat Loaf and Barry Bostwick will appear on GLEE's October 26 Rocky Horror tribute episode. E!online reveals that 'The pair will play station managers who have an 'interesting proposal' for Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester.' This news comes on the heels of the announcement that Susan Sarandon had an interest in appearing on the episode. Fox has yet to confirm any casting for the Rocky Horror tribute show.

As previously announced, GLEE creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed that a Rocky Horror episode is in the works for season 2. According to PerezHilton.com Susan Sarandon is game to guest star if she were asked. Sarandon said, 'Depending on what they wanted me to do. I'm not really a singer, so I wouldn't be very out there. I'm a terrible singer. But I'm flattered they want to do it.'

At Comic- Con, GLEE creator Ryan Murphy announced that next season, the show will present a 'Rocky Horror' episode.

Producers Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish have welcomed Simon Burke to their Toronto production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Burke, a versatile star of stage and screen originally from Australia but with a large body of work in the U.K., will take over the role of Captain von Trapp, having played the role in the West End London production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, opposite the 'Marias' of Connie Fisher and Summer Strallen.

Producers Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish have welcomed Simon Burke to their Toronto production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Burke, a versatile star of stage and screen originally from Australia but with a large body of work in the U.K., will take over the role of Captain von Trapp, having played the role in the West End London production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, opposite the 'Marias' of Connie Fisher and Summer Strallen.

The 2009 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony will be held next Monday 27 July at 6.30pm at Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, whilst the After Party will be held at The Argyle in The Rocks. Jonathan Biggins and Julia Zemiro, both acclaimed actors, broadcasters and comedians, will jointly MC the Awards Ceremony. The Ceremony will include performances by the casts of Avenue Q, Candy Man, Chicago, Jerry Springer - The Opera, Metro Street, Shane Warne - The Musical, Spamalot, 7 Fingers and Wicked, as well as performances from The Australian Ballet, David Campbell, Kate Miller-Heidke, Scared Weird Little Guys, Sydney Dance Company, Tyler Coppin, and Emma Matthews from Opera Australia.