John Rando News

My theatre life subject for today is one I've wanted to interview for a long while now. Tiler Peck is one of those performers that automatically brings any stage to life from her first entrance and keeps you captivated until her final bow.

Playing On Air announced today the three winners of the inaugural James Stevenson Prize for comedic short plays. First Prize ($7,500, plus a Playing On Air recording for radio and podcast distribution) has been awarded to Hate Baby by Gracie Gardner. (Gardner is also the winner of the 2017 Relentless Award and author of the New York Times Critic's Pick Athena.) Second Prize ($2,000) has been awarded to Hedgehog Years by Lily Akerman. Third Prize ($1,000) has been awarded to Horse Latitudes (Who Wants to be an Equine Extra?) by Elizabeth Logun.

This week the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association is voting on the final award list in preparation for the Third Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held on Monday, November 12 at 7 pm at the Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First Street (Route 7) in Pittsfield, MA.

The Drama League (Executive Artistic Director, Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) has announced the roster of special guest performers for its 35th Annual Benefit Gala: A Musical Celebration of Broadway honoring film, television, theater icon and three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane. The black-tie evening, which will also celebrate theater producer Fran Weissler for Visionary Leadership in American Theater, will take place on Monday, November 5, 2018 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in New York City at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue). The Gala Co-Chairs are Kathy Henderson, Janet M. Kagan, and Joseph Pizza.

How do you transfigure $10 into the ultimate Harry Potter Broadway experience? Playing On Air today announced the start of a Prizeo raffle for a magical prize: a pair of tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, travel to New York, and a meeting with a surprise member of the Potter cast. The digital fundraiser benefits Playing on Air's mission of bringing the best in American theater to audiences nationwide, for free and on demand. The sweepstakes is part of the acclaimed theater podcast's 'Harry Potter Month,' which celebrates all that is spooky, magical, and delightfully British, including a classic audio play whodunit starring Jim Dale, narrator of the Potter audiobooks.

The New Group has just announced complete casting and the design team for Clueless, The Musical by Amy Heckerling.  This world premiere production, with choreography by Kelly Devine, directed by Kristin Hanggi, features Ephie Aardema, Lori Alan, Sara Andreas, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Dove Cameron, Will Connolly, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Tessa Grady, Talya Groves, Chris Hoch, L'ogan J'ones, Darius Jordan Lee, Justin Mortelliti, Brett Thiele, Dave Thomas Brown and Zurin Villanueva; with Scenic Design by Beowulf Boritt; Costume Design by Amy Clark; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Gareth Owen; Projection Design by Darrel Maloney; Music Supervision, Arrangement and Orchestration by Ethan Popp and Music Direction by Matthew Smedal.  Previews begin November 20 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Tuesday, December 11.  A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through January 12 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

The Drama League opened its applications today for the 2019 Directors Project Fellowship Programs, which offer unique opportunities for early and mid-career stage directors to advance their artistry, learn new skills, stage new work, and develop their careers.  The only program of its kind in the nation, it boasts 12 different fellowships, including a new initiative in community-based theater and a new immersion in the development of new musicals.  The deadline for completed applications is 12:00 p.m. (US EST) on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.

Gettin' The Band Back Together cast members reunited to sing their faces off at Broadway Sessions this past Thursday night. Performers included cast members Becca Kotte, Garth Kravits, Lindsey Brett Carothers, Ian Ward, Scott Foster, Noa Solorio and Mitchell Jarvis.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS has announced that Gettin' The Band Back Together - Original Broadway Cast Recording has been released in digital and streaming formats today, Friday, September 28.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical comedy Gettin' The Band Back Together in digital and streaming formats today, September 28.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical comedy Gettin' The Band Back Together will be available in digital and streaming formats on Friday, September 28. Get an exclusive first listen to the track 'I Just Want Real'!

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical comedy Gettin' The Band Back Together in digital and streaming formats on Friday, September 28.

The cast of GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER have had many guests from the Broadway community throughout its run. Among those were Lori Tan Chinn, Baayork Lee, Paul Shaffer, Andre De Shields, Denise Burse, Tracie Thoms, Jose Llana, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Marsha Mason, Alex Newell, Daniel K. Isaac, the kids from SCHOOL OF ROCK, Eric William Morris and his cast members from KING KONG.

Last night, GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER welcomed some high-profile guests, including Jose Llana, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Marsha Mason, Jaygee Macapugay, Nikka Graff Lanzarone and ONCE ON THIS ISLAND's Alex Newell. GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER is playing through September 16 at The Belasco Theatre on Broadway. Scroll down for photos of the visitors backstage.

The producers of Broadway's Gettin' The Band Back Together, announced today that the show will close on Sunday, September 16 following the evening performance. It will have played 30 previews and 40 performances at the Belasco Theatre (111 W 44thStreet). Previews began on July 19 and the show opened on August 13. Producer Ken Davenport writes about it on his blog here.

Roundabout Theatre Company's premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Bernhardt/Hamlet begins previews today. Get to know the cast as they begin Broadway performances!

BroadwayWorld is sad to report that legendary playwright Neil Simon has died at 91. 

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS has announced it will record the new musical comedy, Gettin' The Band Back Together for an Original Broadway Cast Album to be released later this year. The production, currently running at The Belasco Theatre, is directed by Tony Award winner John Rando and choreographed by Chris Bailey.

The past several Broadway seasons have seen extraordinary developments in musical theatre, with a steady stream of new shows, usually transferring from non-profit Off-Broadway, offering smart writing, inventive storytelling and expanded notions of the subject matter and musical styles that can be welcomed into the art form.