John Rando News

The American Theatre Wing today announced the recipients of the 2009 Jonathan Larson? Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality.

Tony Winner John Rando returns to Houston's Alley Theatre to direct Two-time Tony Nominee Josie de Guzman as Maggie Cutler, Theatre World Award Winner James Black as Sheridan Whiteside and Alley Company Member Elizabeth Heflin as Lorraine Sheldon in Kaufman and Hart's classic comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner, beginning performances on February 20 on the Alley's Hubbard Stage.

The Toxic Avenger will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages. Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th. BWW TV's STAGE TUBE brings you the AMC feature on The Toxic Avenger's World Premiere at the George Street Playhouse to get you ready as 'Toxie' prepares to invade New York City!

Jean Cheever and Tom Polum, producers of The Toxic Avenger, announced today that casting is complete for the upcoming new musical about New Jersey's first superhero. Joining the previously announced Nancy Opel are Sara Chase, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Matt Saldivar. Ms. Opel, Mr. Cordero and Mr. Green all starred in the George Street Playhouse production of the show, while Ms. Chase appeared in the initial workshop production. Tony Award-winner John Rando directs. Featuring book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and music by David Bryan (Bon Jovi), The Toxic Avenger will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th.

Each year, The Drama League's one-night-only gala concert at NYC's famed Rainbow Room boasts an incredible roster of Broadway's biggest and brightest stars, performing favorite songs from Broadway seasons past and present. The musical revue is the highlight of The Drama League's annual benefit gala at Rockefeller Center's breathtaking Rainbow Room.

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler, Nancy Opel, Cady Huffman, Keith Carradine, Julie Halston, Bailey Hanks, Cady Huffman, Lee Roy Reams, the original 'Cagelles' from from the 1983 Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, the original Broadway cast of The Will Rogers Follies and more will take part in The Drama League's 25th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Tony and Drama League Award winners Christine Ebersole and Donna Murphy will host The Drama League's annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB will present its annual Winter Benefit: An Intimate Night, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring the fresh faces of 2009, on Monday, January 26, 2009 at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor). Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton will host, introducing three exciting young Broadway performers -- Renee Elise Goldsberry, Cheyenne Jackson, and Leslie Kritzer. Tony Award winner John Rando will direct the show.

Tony Award-nominee Nancy Opel will be reunited with her Tony Award-winning Urinetown director, John Rando, when she stars in the new musical, The Toxic Avenger. The casting was announced today by the show's producers, Jean Cheever and Tom Polum. Ms. Opel, who created her role in the show's world premiere at George Street Playhouse (New Brunswick, New Jersey), plays the mayor of a mythical small New Jersey town (not dissimilar to a real-life former mayor of a small Alaska town).

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB will present its annual Winter Benefit: An Intimate Night, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring the fresh faces of 2009, on Monday, January 26, 2009 at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor). Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton will host, introducing three exciting young Broadway performers -- Renee Elise Goldsberry, Cheyenne Jackson, and Leslie Kritzer. Tony Award winner John Rando will direct the show.

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler, Nancy Opel, Cady Huffman, Keith Carradine, Julie Halston, Bailey Hanks, Cady Huffman, Lee Roy Reams, the original 'Cagelles' from from the 1983 Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, the original Broadway cast of The Will Rogers Follies and more will take part in The Drama League's 25th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

McCarter Theatre Center announces the complete cast of George Bernard Shaw's still provocative Mrs. Warren's Profession, the third show of the theater's 2008-2009 season. Directed by McCarter Artistic Director Emily Mann, the production will feature Suzanne Bertish, Robin Chadwick, Edward Hibbert, Madeleine Hutchins, Michael Izquierdo, and Rocco Sisto. Mrs. Warren's Profession begins performances in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, January 9 and runs through February 15. (Press opening Friday, January 16).

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2008-09 season with John Guare's Rich & Famous, directed by John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical and Wedding Singer on Broadway) in its first major revival since its 1976 New York debut. From the ingenious mind of John Guare, who brought Six Degrees of Separation and The House of Blue Leaves to the American stage, this delicious dark comedy springs to life with twisted humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and outrageous plot twists. The revival script includes significant rewrites to the original text, as well as hilarious songs freshly scribed by Guare himself. In Rich and Famous, playwright Bing Ringling yearns to savor the sweet taste of celebrity, and he's hoping play number 844 will be his lucky break. But on opening night, he slips into a nightmarish phantasmagoria that shows him just how wrong things can go.

McCarter Theatre Center announces the complete cast of George Bernard Shaw's still provocative Mrs. Warren's Profession, the third show of the theater's 2008-2009 season. Directed by McCarter Artistic Director Emily Mann, the production will feature Suzanne Bertish, Robin Chadwick, Edward Hibbert, Madeleine Hutchins, Michael Izquierdo, and Rocco Sisto. Mrs. Warren's Profession begins performances in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, January 9 and runs through February 15. (Press opening Friday, January 16).

Grammy Award and Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Harry Connick, Jr.'s holiday musical, The Happy Elf completes scheduled run today, December 24th at Milwaukee's Todd Wehr Theater.

Soon there'll be another 'Jersey Boy' in town! The Toxic Avenger, a new musical by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) & David Bryan (Bon Jovi), with direction by John Rand0 (Urinetown), will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), it was announced today by the show's producers Jean Cheever and Tom Polum. Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2008-09 season Koret Visiting Artist Series with a conversation with leading American playwright John Guare, author of Six Degrees of Separation, The House of Blue Leaves and A.C.T.'s upcoming Rich & Famous. Guare will talk about four decades in the American theater and his new version of Rich and Famous that includes significant rewrites in preparation for the show's first revival since 1976. A.C.T. Dramaturg and Director of Humanities Michael Paller moderates. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience. The event is free and open to the public and takes place on the A.C.T. stage on Saturday, December 13, 2009, at 10 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by visiting www.act-sf.org/koret or by calling 415.749.2ACT.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2008-09 season with John Guare's Rich & Famous, directed by John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical and Wedding Singer on Broadway) in its first major revival since its 1976 New York debut. From the ingenious mind of John Guare, who brought Six Degrees of Separation and The House of Blue Leaves to the American stage, this delicious dark comedy springs to life with twisted humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and outrageous plot twists. The revival script includes significant rewrites to the original text, as well as hilarious songs freshly scribed by Guare himself. In Rich and Famous, playwright Bing Ringling yearns to savor the sweet taste of celebrity, and he's hoping play number 844 will be his lucky break. But on opening night, he slips into a nightmarish phantasmagoria that shows him just how wrong things can go.

Grammy Award and Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Harry Connick, Jr. presents his holiday musical, The Happy Elf starting today, November 28th at Milwaukee's Todd Wehr Theater.

On the Town, the opening production of New York City Center's 2008-09 Encores! season, opened, November 19th and played a final performance on Sunday November 23rd. On the Town, the first Broadway musical written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with a score by Leonard Bernstein, was directed by John Rando with music direction by Todd Ellison and choreography by Warren Carlyle. BroadwayWorld's cameras joined the starry cast at the closing night party!