John L. Balderston News

This time, the reader question was: With Merrily We Roll Along back on Broadway as a hit, how many musicals are flops in their original Broadway production and then return as smashes?

What did our critic think of DRACULA at Elmwood Playhouse?

What did our critic think of DRACULA at Elmwood Playhouse?Set in England in 1914, the overall look of the show is nicely evoked by Set Designer, Rob Ward; Seward’s office in the Sanatorium, Lucy’s Bedroom and Dracula’s lair are all effective and opulent. Janet Fenton’s costumes capture the period, and are a wonder to behold. The entire crew, led by stage managers Nancy Logan and Kathy Simpson, excels in propelling the story with their technical precision. @elmwoodplayhous

Listen to stories by Chester Himes, O. Henry, Katherine Anne Porter, and other well-known American authors while taking in the breeze on the porch of an historic bed and breakfast, drinking lemonade, and enjoying homemade desserts. Learn more about the upcoming lineup as part of Tales at the Dormer House!

Elmwood Playhouse of Nyack, NY will be presenting Dracula, written by By Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston and directed by Michael Edan. 

Jay James-Moody’s (adaptor, director, performer) adaptation of Burton Lane (Music) and Alan Jay Lerner’s (Book & Lyrics) ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER puts a queer lens and feminist undertone to absurd story of past lives and unusual talents.

Little Theatre of Virginia Beach opened its 75th Anniversary season with the Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston play adaptation of Bram Stoker‘s novel, Dracula. The play sold out all performances. See photos here!

As is often the case the BTG production is a high-quality production where seemingly everyone involved has played their role and done their work well. There is, however, one aspect I certainly did not expect. Laughter. At several points throughout the three acts in 2-hours, audience members responded with giggles, which I found rather confusing

Professor Van Helsing investigates the mysterious illness of a young woman, Lucy Seward, whose father is the doctor in charge of an English sanitorium.

​​​​​​Berkshire Theatre Group has announced casting for shows in BTG’s Late Summer 2022 Season. The full season will feature B.R.O.K.E.N code B.I.R.D switching, a world premiere play and an award recipient of the GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECTS from the National Endowment for the Arts; Once, a Tony Award-winning musical; Songs For a New World, the first musical by a Tony Award winner; Dracula, a classic gothic tale of horrors; and Edward Albee's Seascape, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play. 

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced BTG’s 2022 Summer Season. Find out what shows are coming, how to get tickets and more.

In spite of not being able to perform as usual, East Lynne Theater Company's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth, figured out how two of its programs can continue: 'Tales of the Victorians' and the 'Student Theater Workshop.'

On September 23, the Long Beach Playhouse opens its 2017 Mainstage Season. This year's season combines perennial favorites like My Fair Lady, Arsenic and Old Lace and Agatha Christie's Black Coffee with newer plays like Peter and the Starcatcher, Flight and Pack of Lies.

On September 23, the Long Beach Playhouse opens its 2017 Mainstage Season. This year's season combines perennial favorites like My Fair Lady, Arsenic and Old Lace and Agatha Christie's Black Coffee with newer plays like Peter and the Starcatcher, Flight and Pack of Lies.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the fourth season of Chicago's hit "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, music by Burton Lane, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and based on the book Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston with direction by Lili-Anne Brown, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and starring Sharriese Hamilton and Karl Hamilton. Porchlight Revisits On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 9 through Thursday, May 11 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Marry Me a Little (previews begin Friday, April 14) at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Weber that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the final production in the fourth season of Chicago's hit "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, music by Burton Lane, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and based on the book Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston with direction by Lili-Anne Brown, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and starring Sharriese Hamilton and Karl Hamilton. Porchlight Revisits On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, May 9 through Thursday, May 11 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's Marry Me a Little (previews begin Friday, April 14) at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Weber that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are thrilled to share that Andrew Hinderaker's The Magic Play will round out Actors Theatre of Louisville's 2017 - 2018 Season.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber have announced the final production in the fourth season of Chicago's hit "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, music by Burton Lane, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and based on the book Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston with direction by Lili-Anne Brown, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and starring Sharriese Hamilton and Karl Hamilton.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the continuation of the fourth season of Chicago's hit "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Little Me, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and book by Neil Simon based on the novel by Patrick Dennis, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Linda Madonia, choreography by Craig Miller with special guest choreography by veteran Bob Fosse dancer Jane Lanier and starring Jeff Award-winner Matt Crowle. Porchlight Revisits Little Me is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, Feb. 28 through Thursday, March 2 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's The Scottsboro Boys (previews begin Friday, Feb. 3) at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Little Me are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Weber that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets to Little Me are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252. 

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the continuation of the fourth season of Chicago's hit "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Little Me, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and book by Neil Simon based on the novel by Patrick Dennis, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Linda Madonia, choreography by Craig Miller with special guest choreography by veteran Bob Fosse dancer Jane Lanier and starring Jeff Award-winner Matt Crowle.