John Schuck News

As is frequently noted by lovers of strong book musicals, part of the brilliance of Sherman Edwards (score) and Peter Stone's (book) 1776, their 1969 Broadway tuner about the efforts of John Adams to convince the continental congress to vote for independency from Great Britain, is that the audience walks into the theatre knowing full well how it's going to end, and yet the authors (and history) keep you on The Edge of your seat wondering how the devil it's going to happen. With a unanimous vote necessary ('So that no colony be torn from its mother country without its own consent.') and Pennsylvania's John Dickinson leading the arguments for property-owners whose personal economy is protected by loyalty to the crown and South Carolina's Edward Rutledge keeping the deep south unified in favor of individual states rights that protect their practice of slavery, June of '76 concludes with half the congress against independence.

With three different directors placing their marks on the material during its pre-Broadway tryouts and two actors who were not quite up to the vocal demands of the dramatic score playing the leads (Shirley Booth and Melvyn Douglas), Marc Blitzstein (music and lyrics) and Joseph Stein's (book) Juno, based on Sean O'Casey's Juno And The Paycock, limped into the Winter Garden in March of 1959 following high expectations (West Side Story had been ousted from the theatre to make room for it) and quickly closed up shop two weeks later.

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel will star as Miss Hannigan in The Muny's production of ANNIE. The show has subscription performances June 22 through 28, with additional performances June 29 and 30. All performances begin at 8:15pm. Ticket prices range from $9 - $66.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Broadway star Lee Roy Reams received The Friars Club Thespian Award while honored by friends and colleagues in a star-studded musical tribute on Monday, April 20th at 8:30PM at The Friars Club (57 East 55th St). BroadwayWorld.com was there to cheer the theatre favorite on as he was joined by the starry crowd!

The production officially opened, Sunday, April 19th. and BWW was there to join in on all the 'historic' celebration!

Paper Mill Playhouse's 1776, Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. The production officially opens tonight, Sunday, April 19th.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for 1776. Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, 1776 will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. Press Opening is Sunday, April 19th at 7:30pm

Paper Mill Playhouse's 1776, Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

1776 held a press 'meet and greet' rehearsal yesterday at the New 42nd Street Studios in Times Square, BroadwayWorld.com was there to spend the day with the group of 'historical' greats!

'LOVE SONGS' continued to seduce New Yorkers every Saturday evening for the last number of weeks, on Saturday, March 28th, Barbour played his final concert before heading into rehearsals for Paper Mill Playhouse's 1776. He was joined by special guests including John Schuck, Georgia Warner, Jessica Grové, and Aaron Ramey. SARDI'S is located at 234 West 44th Street - between Broadway & Eighth Avenue.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for 1776. Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, 1776 will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Due to the overwhelming audience and critical response Sardi's management has scheduled even more additional Saturday evening concerts with Broadway star and vocal power house, JAMES BARBOUR. 'LOVE SONGS' will continue to mesmerize New Yorkers every Saturday in March with an additional Sunday matinee concert on March 15.

The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce that it has received six Independent Reviewers of New England Award (IRNE) Nominations for its stunning 2008 production of the Lerner and Loewe musical, My Fair Lady. Nominations were received for Best Musical; Best Actor (Musical), Jefferson Mays; Best Director (Musical), Shaun Kerrison; Best Music Director, Catherine Stornetta; Best Costume Design, Gregory Poplyk; and Best Choreography, Jennifer Werner. 'We were fortunate to have such a talented international team of directors and designers,' noted Bradford Kenney, Executive Artistic Director.

Theatrical Producers Jeff Gardner and Ken Denison, are pleased to announce that they have assembled an all-star cast for a reading of their new musical GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL to be presented in New York City in October. The reading is not open to the public, and is by invitation only.

Two days of new private readings of the Broadway bound Grumpy Old Men: The Musical have been scheduled for October 29 and 30th featuring F. Murray Abraham, George Hearn, Marilu Henner, Carol Kane, Vicki Lewis, Joshua Malina and Conrad John Schuck.

Respected NY actor Tim Jerome Reprises Role of Doolittle At Ogunquit Playhouse

The Ogunquit Playhouse is please to announce a star-studded cast for its stunning production of the magnificently romantic Lerner and Loewe musical, My Fair Lady, opening on August 13th and running through September 6th. This beloved musical tells the tale of a stringent linguist, Professor Henry Higgins, who bets a colleague he can turn flower vendor Eliza Doolittle from a guttersnipe into a duchess.

On Wednesday, June 4 at 4pm there was a CD signing celebrating ANNIE: The 30th Anniversary Cast Recording (Time Life) at Virgin Megastore Times Square.

Juno played its final performance on March 30th, 2008. The play starred Victoria Clark and Conrad John Schuck. Juno tells the story of the and Irish family in Dublin in the early 1920's.