John Rando News

Now that the 2012 awards season has come to a close, BroadwayWorld is looking ahead to an exciting season coming up. This summer/fall Broadway will welcome a plethora of productions - from star-studded revivals to exciting new musicals. Below, we bring you the line-up of officially announced upcoming shows (still subject to change). Don't forget to stay tuned for more even more opening announcements expected soon!

SILENCE! The Musical is celebrating July 4th with a special early 7 PM curtain time to allow folks to enjoy the annual fireworks display.

Theatricum Botanicum will present Deborah Brevoort's The Women of Lockerbie beginning June 30 on Theatricum's outdoor stage in Topanga Canyon, and continue through the end of September.

SILENCE! The Musical is celebrating Gay Pride weekend with a special added matinee performance today, June 23 at 3 PM at PS122. The cast of the smash hit show is scheduled to appear in Sunday's Pride March, which begins at noon at 36th St. & Fifth Ave. and ends at Christopher & Greenwich Streets. The cast will be bringing along fun surprise goodies to hand out to all their fans in the crowd.

The Los Angeles-based composers of SILENCE! The Musical, Jon & Al Kaplan, recently returned to check out their smash hit show for the first time since SILENCE! moved to its current home at PS122 in the East Village. Check out the photo of the pair with the SILENCE! team below!

Shuler Hensley is ending his limited four-week run as Dr. Hannibal Lecter this Sunday, June 24th in Off-Broadway's SILENCE! The Musical, where he has been filling in for the vacationing David Garrison.

Now we can confirm that the recent Tony-winner will be departing the show on June 30th, and taking over the role will be Matt Saldivar, most recently seen on Broadway in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Christian Borle to Depart PETER... 6/30; Matthew Saldivar to Takeover

Popular on-air TMZ personality, Peter O Riordan, attended SILENCE! The Musical on June 7th with his mother (to celebrate her birthday) and they posed for photos afterwards with the show's cast.

Ben Schwartz ('House of Lies,' 'Parks and Recreation") Linus Roache (Batman Begins, Priest), Johanna Day (Tony nominee for Proof) and Pete Simpson (Blue Man Group) all descended on SILENCE! The Musical on May 31st to catch leading man David Garrison's last performance prior to his vacation. Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley is currently filling in as Dr. Hannibal Lecter through June 24th.

As A Christmas Story, The Musical! prepares for a Broadway engagement this holiday season, the show's producers have announced that they will begin their search for young actors. An open audition for children between the ages of 8-13 will be held on Saturday June 16, 2012 at Pearl Studios (500 8th Avenue, 12th floor). Registration begins at 11:30AM with auditions from 12:00-5:00PM.

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces Venus in Fur by David Ives will concludes its 2012-2013 season May 24-June 23, 2013.

On June 1st, Broadway favorite Shuler Hensley opened as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical for four weeks only through June 24th, filling in for the vacationing David Garrison.

Theatricum Botanicum will present Deborah Brevoort's The Women of Lockerbie beginning June 30 on Theatricum's outdoor stage in Topanga Canyon, and continue through the end of September.

Beginning tomorrow, June 1st, Shuler Hensley will star as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in Off-Broadway's SILENCE! The Musical through June 24th, filling in for the vacationing David Garrison. Winner of the 2012 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, SILENCE! is the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Christopher Gattelli, and is currently playing to sold out crowds at The 9th Space Theatre at Performance Space 122, 150 First Avenue (at 9th St.)

According to an Equity casting notice, A Christmas Story, The Musical!, which toured the US last year, will land on Broadway this holiday season, playing November 6- Decmber 30. The production, which begins rehearsals in October, will be directed by John Rando, music direction by Ian Eisendrath and choreography by Warren Carlyle. A Christmas Story features a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Joseph Robinette.

Brent Barrett, SILENCE! The Musical's original Hannibal Lecter, returned to check out the show this past Saturday, May 19th and reunited with his old friends afterward. See below for a photo of Barrett and the cast!

Shuler Hensley, SILENCE! The Musical's newest Hannibal Lecter, took his first look at the show this past Saturday evening, May 19th and he visited his new friends afterward. Hensley is set to star in Off-Broadway's smash hit for four weeks only June 1st through the 24th. See the photos below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: SONS OF THE PROPHET wins big at DCC Awards, Town Hall celebrates 1975, THE NORMAL HEART cast preps for tour, and so much more!

Megan Hilty and Rachel York star in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which opened on May 9 at New York City Center. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Randy Skinner and played for seven performances, May 9 - 13, at New York City Center. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the closing reception and brings you photo coverage below!

Megan Hilty and Rachel York starred in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which opened on May 9 at New York City Center. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Randy Skinner and played for seven performances, May 9 - 13, at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Check out these photographs of the last night curtain call from BroadwayWorld's Walter McBride.