John-Michael Lyles News

Dear Readers, you may recall that several years ago there was a new musical that came through town, about Princesses (even called that), that many consider, including myself, to be one of the worst things they've ever seen. But as bad as it was, it had three things going for it. First, there was a story built around a Father's love for his daughter. Second, there was a hunky boy-band type, who may have creeped many out with his utterly rapey song a?oeJust Say Yesa??, but he was still pretty. And third, and most importantly, the show featured one truly great song that spotlighted the quirkier and subordinate a?oePrincessesa?? of the bunch. Cut to 2020 and enter the 5th Avenue Theatre's latest new musical venture, a?oeBlissa?? that, while having no real connection to that other one, blissfully and coincidentally contains those three elements and runs with them, while tossing the rest of that dreadful show into the infernos of musical theater hell (along with the likes of a?oeFlashdancea?? and a?oeLove Never Diesa??). And while a?oeBlissa?? may still have some work to do to make it truly shine (which we'll get to in a minute), it's still a delightfully fun romp into the woods with some Princess archetypes who aren't the norm but should be.

WE'RE GONNA DIE is a non-musical/non-play/non-concert that is not about dying. It's a celebration of the things we do, say, and sing to keep ourselves going as we hurtle toward the finish line. Through a series of stories and songs both hilarious and heartbreaking, WE'RE GONNA DIE offers proof positive that being alive is about more than just awaiting the inevitable.

New York City Center today announced complete casting for the Encores! production of Love Life. Joining previously announced cast members Kate Baldwin (Susan Cooper) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Sam Cooper) are John Edwards (Hobo), Sara Jean Ford (Miss Ideal Man), Isabella Houston (Elizabeth Cooper), Owen Tabaka (Johnny Cooper), and Clarke Thorell (Bill/Mr. Cynic).

Very Intense Productions will present RSO AT F/54, an evening retrospective of musicals by multi-award-winning composer-lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver at Feinstein's/54 Below. Show time will be 7:00pm on March 31, 2020.

Second Stage Theater will soon present WE'RE GONNA DIE, a show performed by Janelle McDermoth (A Bronx Tale), will be part of the company's current 41st season. WE'RE GONNA DIE is written by Young Jean Lee (Straight White Men) and directed & choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly, featuring original music by Young Jean Lee and Tim Simmonds, additional music by John-Michael Lyles, and lyrics by Young Jean Lee. Music supervision and arrangements are by Remy Kurs with orchestrations by Cian McCarthy.

Second Stage Theater will soon present WE'RE GONNA DIE, a show performed by Janelle McDermoth (A Bronx Tale), will be part of the company's current 41st season. WE'RE GONNA DIE is written by Young Jean Lee (Straight White Men) and directed & choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly, featuring original music by Young Jean Lee and Tim Simmonds, additional music by John-Michael Lyles, and lyrics by Young Jean Lee. Music supervision and arrangements are by Remy Kurs with orchestrations by Cian McCarthy.

Very Intensive Productions is pleased to announce the release of Rope: Fibers, a new E.P. featuring songs from the musical, ROPE, by Ryan Scott Oliver. The new recording is available now via Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced complete casting for the world premiere of Bliss, an empowering original musical fantasy that flips the traditional princess narrative upside down.

On Monday, November 18th, LGBTQIA+ stars from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and television will come together in support of The Fund for College Auditions (TFCA) at The Secret Room as part of the Hidden Cabaret series. The evening will be headlined by Andy Mientus (Les Miserables, Spring Awakening, Smash), Anastacia McCleskey (The Secret Life of Bees, Waitress), John-Michael Lyles (A Strange Loop) with Host and Musical Director, Joel Waggoner (Be More Chill, School of Rock).

Second Stage Theater has announced that WE'RE GONNA DIE, a show performed by Janelle McDermoth (A Bronx Tale), will be part of the company's current 41st season. 

A Strange Loop in Concert, a performance celebrating the release of the original cast recording of Michael R. Jackson's immensely acclaimed musical, will come to Joe's Pub at the Public on Monday, October 14.

Ucross, a prestigious artist residency program and creative laboratory for the arts in northeast Wyoming, premiered its "Ucross Spotlight" series on Wednesday, June 19, with a bold, intimate conversation between playwright alums Michael R. Jackson, Billy Porter, and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, as well as choreographer Raja Feather Kelly on the themes present in Jackson's provocative new musical A Strange Loop. The panel took place at the world-famous Playwrights Horizons theater following a performance of the show, with major themes of the conversation including reconciling with religion as a member of the LGBTQ community and "watering down" queer art for straight audiences. It is the first of many planned Ucross Spotlight events, which will celebrate its alumni's art and offer a first-hand look at their creative process.

In response to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons , in association with Page 73 is pleased to announce a three-week extension of the world premiere production of Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop, to July 28 (from the initially-announced closing date of July 7).

'Don't roll your eyes at me,' a person of influence instructs a promising young musical theatre writer. 'I'm the chair of the Second-Coming-Of-Sondheim Award so I know what the f... I'm talking about!'

Ghostlight Records has announced that the new musical The Man in the Ceiling - with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Jules Feiffer, based on his novel - is available on CD online and in stores today, Friday, June 14.

Ucross, a prestigious artist residency program and creative laboratory for the arts in northeast Wyoming, is proud to announce the debut of "Ucross Spotlight": a nationwide series of performances, live readings, moderated panels, and cultural events featuring its esteemed alumni. "Ucross Spotlight" will debut on Wednesday, June 19, at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street), with a conversation between Michael R. Jackson, Billy Porter and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, moderated by Jacobs-Jenkins.

Highlights from the award-winning fan favorite new musical has been released on Spotify, as well as a complete version with behind-the-scenes interviews as the premiere episode of the new musical theater podcast, THE SCORE.

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus), will, from today, May 13, through Thursday, May 16, accept entries for the Live for Five online lottery, giving out $5 tickets to the world premiere production of 2019 Whiting Award Winner Michael R. Jackson's A Strange Loop, (May 24-July 7), presented in association with Page 73 (Producing Artistic Director Michael Walkup, Managing Director Amanda Feldman). Directed by Stephen Brackett (Be More Chill, Buyer and Cellar) and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly (Playwrights: If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf**ka; Ugly (Black Queer Zoo), Fairview), A Strange Loop explores the thoughts of Usher, a black, queer writer working a job he hates while writing his original musical: a piece about a black, queer writer, working a job he hates while writing his original musical. Michael R. Jackson's blistering, momentous new musical (and his professional debut) follows a young artist at war with a host of demons-not least of which are the punishing thoughts in his own head-in an attempt to capture and understand his own strange loop.

Ghostlight Records has announced that the new musical The Man in the Ceiling - with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Jules Feiffer, based on his novel - is available for digital download and streaming today, Friday, April 19.

Below, we're excited to bring you an exclusive first listen of the new album, featuring Andrew Lippa himself- 'I Do What I Do.'