John McGinty News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! This weekend's big news: Vassar & New York Stage and Film kicks off its star-studded 2017 Powerhouse season!

Berkshire Theatre Group presents the Tony Award-winning Children of a Lesser God, directed by Tony Award-winner, Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun). Children of a Lesser God runs from June 22 through July 22 at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage in Stockbridge, MA. Opening night is set for Saturday, June 24 at 8pm.     

Berkshire Theatre Group presents the Tony Award-winning Children of a Lesser God, directed by Tony Award-winner, Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun). Children of a Lesser God runs from June 22 through July 22 at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage in Stockbridge, MA. Opening night is set for Saturday, June 24 at 8pm.     

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced an incredible seven-show lineup for its 2017/18 season, which includes a mix of regional premieres, contemporary hits, a classic, a national tour direct from Broadway and a thrilling world premiere.

Berkshire Theatre Group announces the final production of its upcoming 2017 Summer Season will be Mark Medoff's Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning play, Children of a Lesser God, which will begin performances on Thursday, June 22 at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage. Opening night is set for Saturday, June 24 at 8pm.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: THE PRICE brings an all-star quartet of actors to Broadway tonight, and GROUNDHOG DAY starts performances on the Great White Way!

Berkshire Theatre Group announces the final production of its upcoming 2017 Summer Season will be Mark Medoff's Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning play, Children of a Lesser God, which will begin performances on Thursday, June 22 at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage. Opening night is set for Saturday, June 24 at 8pm.

Lisa Dennett, who was first seen at Don't Tell Mama with It's My Birthday and I'll Sing if I Want To, brings the first sign language interpreted cabaret show to the famed cabaret club.

An invitation-only reading of the new musical Other World will take place on Thursday, March 9 (2:30pm) and Friday, March 10 (11:00am) at the Lyric Theatre Studios (Lyric Theatre - Studio A, 214 West 43rd Street, NY, NY 10036).  Other World features a book by Hunter Bell, music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and Ann McNamee, and will be directed by Gabriel Barre.

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

In the last month, veteran actors from stage and screen actors have taken to YouTube to express the need for increase wages for Off-Broadway actors. Check out some of the videos from #FairWageOnStage below!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Seattle and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include FOLLIES in St. Louis, THE LAST SHIP in Salt Lake City, and PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES in Seattle, just to name a few.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT opened the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.  THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is running through Sunday, October 9, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.   BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the opening night celebration below!

Victor Hugo's monumental romantic/gothic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, published in 1831, centers in, around and on top of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. So does the new musical of the same name written by Peter Parnell, Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken, which received its U.S. premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in 2014 and is currently receiving its Los Angeles premiere at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Stephen Gifford's set replete with stained glass windows, balcony and overhanging bells is scaled down from the original but still impressive and pulls you in effectively to another world, the ethereal realm of a higher power. Catholic boy that I am, every kyrie eleison exuded by the resounding chorus moved me to tears.

Today's big news: Laura Benanti, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Andrew Rannells and more gather for Honest Accomplice Theatre's celebrity game night benefit!

Check out photos from the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale. 

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment presents the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at brand new highlights of the show below!

In the Music Circus production the role of Quasimodo is played by Deaf actor, John McGinty.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it?