John Rando News

9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick will be rockin' every night beginning September 24 with music and laughter. George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced casting for the opening production for the venerable theatre's fortieth season. Gettin' The Band Back Together (formerly titled Garage Band) is a rockin' valentine to the Garden State, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando - who also helmed The Toxic Avenger in New Brunswick (and New York) a few seasons back. Gettin' The Band Back Together will rock the house beginning Tuesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, October 27. Opening night is set for Friday, October 4. Gettin' The Band Back Together is performed by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. and Roy Putrino.

The self-professed Queen Of Mean herself, outrageous stand-up comedian Lisa Lampanelli, presents the first public workshop of her new one-woman play this weekend, titled SKINNY B*TCH: NOT A STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW.

Downtown York's historic Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center will host a developmental production of Lisa Lampanelli starring in her new one-woman show, Skinny Bitch: NOT A Stand-Up Comedy Show, in the Capitol Theatre for four shows only: Thursday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 4 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale to Strand-Capitol members on Tuesday, August 13 at 10:00 a.m. and to the general public on Tuesday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m.

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, opens at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC.

"Me and Miss Monroe" starring Rachel York as Marilyn Monroe, features a book and lyrics by Charles Leipart and music by William Goldstein. "Me and Miss Monroe" was directed at AMAS Musical Theatre by John Rando, choreographed by Christopher Gatelli, and presented in association with Chase Mishkin. Check out two songs from the show below!

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical have announced that original cast members will return to star in the production when it arrives at The Theater at Madison Square Garden for its December 11 – 29, 2013 engagement. Reprising their roles will be Dan Lauria(Lombardi, “The Wonder Years,” “Sullivan and Son”) as Jean Shepherd, John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, “Boardwalk Empire,” “Gossip Girl') as the Old Man, Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother, Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields, and talented newcomer to the production Jake Lucas (Newsies, Far From Heaven), donning the famous spectacles as he takes on the lead role of Ralphie.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today additional casting for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Academy Award winner William Hurt will play the role of Friar Laurence; Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight has been cast as Mercutio and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as the Nurse. CSC also announced that Finn Wittrock, previously announced to co-star as Romeo, has withdrawn from the production due to a film offer. A new Romeo and complete casting will be announced shortly. CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed by Tea Alagi? (Jackie). The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, September 5 at 12pm.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will host a developmental production of a new one-woman show, Skinny Bitch: NOT A Stand-Up Comedy Show, starring self-titled equal opportunity offender, Lisa Lampanelli. The production, which is written by Ms. Lampanelli and 700 Sundays writer Alan Zweibel, is a departure from her signature 'insult comedy,' and will be helmed by Tony Award-winning director John Rando. The production will play the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio for four nights only: October 10 - 12 at 8 p.m. and October 13 at 3 p.m.Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, July 26 at noon.

Classic Stage Company has announced that Deb Radloff, who appeared in the company's recent production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle, is this year's recipient of the Rosemarie Tichler Fund grant. The Fund was established in 2010 with the mission to assist young actors who have appeared at CSC and who have recently made the transition from their training into the profession. The $3000 grant can be used by the young artist to continue training or to offset loans they may have incurred while studying their craft. With the grant, CSC hopes to make a difference in the lives of young actors at the start of their careers as well as to heighten awareness in the community to the specific needs of actors. The recipient was selected by a panel of judges which included Rosemarie Tichler, CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and CSC Casting Director James Calleri.

Eight exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country will work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 4th Annual FREDDIE G BROADWAY EXPERIENCE July 10th - 14th.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership ofJulianne Boyd Artistic Director and TriStan Wilson Managing Director, presents the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town now through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The show just opened and you can check out photos from opening night below!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, today announced plans for its upcoming season. The esteemed off-Broadway company, which is wrapping up one of its most successful seasons ever, will kick off its 2013/2014 Season in September with the previously announced new production ofShakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET, featuring acclaimed rising film actress Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Finn Wittrock, who won raves last season on Broadway in Death of a Salesman. ROMEO & JULIET will be directed by Tea Alagi? (Jackie).

The full Bernstein score honors ON THE TOWN, not the truncated movie version, on stage with a great cast, stunning choreography and a fresh new approach under the artful hand of John Rando, director.

Tony winner John Rando (Urinetown) will direct two private industry staged readings of Strange Faces, a new musical by Andrea Grody.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, presents the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town now through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The press opening is Sunday, June 16 at 5pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks in Massachusetts

Dixon Place & The Apothetae present The Penalty, written by Clay McLeod Chapman and directed by Kris Thor, with music and lyrics by Robert M. Johanson and Clay McLeod Chapman. The inaugural show for a company devoted to theatre featuring disabled artists begins previews tonight, June 13 at 7:30, and continues Fridays and Saturdays: June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29 at 7:30 at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street, New York, NY. Tickets: $15 GA / $18 door / $12 Students & Seniors. Visit www.dixonplace.org or call 212 219­0736. Run time: 70 minutes,­ no intermission.

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical, have announced that the three-time Tony nominated production will return for the holiday season with engagements at the The Bushnell in Hartford, CT (November 12-17) and The Wang Theatre in Boston, MA (November 20 - December 8) before returning to New Yorkat The Theater at Madison Square Garden (December 11 – 29). Tickets are now on sale for the New York engagement. Single tickets for the general public go on sale for the Boston engagement June 16, and for the Hartford engagement on September 9.

Most people expected after last night's Tony Awards that A CHRISTMAS STORY would be headed back to Broadway, but it turns out that they had a slightly different plan in mind.

Get a glimpse at some of the original choreography being created by Emmy Award winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse (NBC's 'SMASH') for Barrington Stage Company's production of On The Town. Click below!