Joan Almedilla News

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 47th Anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC. Book and lyrics are by acclaimed playwright Velina Hasu Houston, music by Nathan Wang and choreographed by Giovanni Ortega. This production is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The musical features Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), Tiffany-Marie Austin (Miss Saigon, A Little Night Music), Yumi Iwama (Our Town, South Pacific), Jennie Kwan (TV's California Dreams, Avenue Q), and Janet Song (Twelfth Night, Medea).

East West Players (EWP), the nation's largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country, has partnered with the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) and USC Center for Japanese Religions & Culture (CJRC) for the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC.

Muny staff member Barb Echele shares her favorite memory from the 2012 summer season, the moving 'Shall We Dance' scene from the classic THE KING AND I. Watch the clip below!

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 47th Anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC. Book and lyrics are by acclaimed playwright Velina Hasu Houston, music by Nathan Wang and choreographed by Giovanni Ortega. This production is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The musical features Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), Tiffany-Marie Austin (Miss Saigon, A Little Night Music), Yumi Iwama (Our Town, South Pacific), Jennie Kwan (TV's California Dreams, Avenue Q), and Janet Song (Twelfth Night, Medea).

The Muny closes their 2012 season with the revival of a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, THE KING AND I. It's an elegant end to a very entertaining season that's been full of surprises. Here, the only surprise is how well this warhorse has aged, with its "East meets West", or "mismatched mates" device still working to perfection. Of course, it helps if you have quality performances from the leads, combined with the energetic direction of Rob Ruggerio.

Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam in St. Louis' currently running production of THE KING AND I, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001). In this conversation with Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson, Gray discusses his varied career and his rexamination of this role, one he's played before, for The Muny's production. Watch the interview below!

The Muny presents the seventh and final show of its 94th season, The King and I, now through August 12, directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins. Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001). Making her Muny debut as Anna Leonowens is Laura Michelle Kelly. Rounding out the cast are Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang, Joshua Dela Cruz as Lun Tha, and Alan Ariano as the Kralahome. Check out opening night highlights in the video below!

The Muny presents the seventh and final show of its 94th season, The King and I, August 6-12, directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins. Making her Muny debut as Anna Leonowens is Laura Michelle Kelly. Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001). Rounding out the cast are Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang, Joshua Dela Cruz as Lun Tha, and Alan Ariano as the Kralahome. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in action below!

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns announces the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place tonight, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner Daniel Tatar kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites. Following intermission, Tatar will be joined by other members of the singing group The Company Men, who will mash the hits of six decades in tight four-part harmonies with choreography.

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns today announced the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner DANIEL TATAR kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites. Following intermission, Tatar will be joined by other members of the singing group The Company Men, who will mash the hits of six decades in tight four-part harmonies with choreography.

Rubicon Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director Karyl Lynn Burns today announced the next performance in the company's Broadway Cabaret Benefit Series, which takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. Ovation and NAACP Award-winner DANIEL TATAR kicks off the evening with solo renditions of Broadway hits and contemporary favorites.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY: an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists tonight, May 8, 2012, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center -- our home in historic downtown Los Angeles. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Theresa Chavez & Rose Portillo (Artistic Director and Associate Director of About Productions) and Velina Hasu Houston (Playwright) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theater community.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY: an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center -- our home in historic downtown Los Angeles. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Theresa Chavez & Rose Portillo (Artistic Director and Associate Director of About Productions) and Velina Hasu Houston (Playwright) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theater community.

The Public Theater hosted the Public Sings! benefit last night, March 5. The evening featured David Byrne, Alan Cumming, Montego Glover, Gabriel Kahane, Ethan Lipton, Kelli O'Hara, Jesse L. Martin, Benjamin Walker, Jessica Phillips and more at Joe's Pub. Check out a few production shots from the event below!

The Public Theater hosted the Public Sings! benefit last night, March 6. The evening featured Tituss Burgess, John Ellison Conlee, Lili Cooper, Matt Doyle, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Greg Hildreth, Eli James, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Justin Levine, Norm Lewis, Betsy Morgan, Jessica Phillips, Bobby Steggert, and Katie Thompson and more at Joe's Pub. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photo coverage below!

The Public Theater announced today that Tituss Burgess, John Ellison Conlee, Lili Cooper, Matt Doyle, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Greg Hildreth, Eli James, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Justin Levine, Norm Lewis, Betsy Morgan, Jessica Phillips, Bobby Steggert, and Katie Thompson will join the star-studded PUBLIC SINGS! benefit on Monday, March 5 at Joe's Pub. A limited number of $250 tickets for the performance only are available now by calling (212) 539-8554.

Ventura's Rubicon Theatre Company is delighted to announce the next evening in their Broadway Cabaret Benefit Concert Series, Lillias White in MY GUY CY on February 27, 2012 at 7pm.

Ventura's Rubicon Theatre Company is delighted to announce the next evening in their Broadway Cabaret Benefit Concert Series, Lillias White in MY GUY CY on February 27, 2012 at 7pm.

Last night, January 12th, Nightlife Award Winner Marilyn Maye, Maya Days (Aida), Joan Almedilla (Kim in MISS SAIGON), and vocalist Natalie Douglas took to the stage at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in the latest installment of Broadway Ballyhoo. As in weeks past, this cast performed Broadway show tunes in the new series that changes every Thursday night with a new cast singing entirely different songs every week.

The new cast for Scott Siegel's Broadway Ballyhoo this coming Thursday night, January 12th, at 11 PM at Feinstein's will be the Nightlife Award Winner Marilyn Maye, Maya Days (Aida), Joan Almedilla (Kim in MISS SAIGON), and vocalist Natalie Douglas.