John Tartaglia News

Samantha Barks, Josh Gad, Maggie Lakis, Rob McClure, and Andrew Rannells will join The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, for its 39th Birthday Gala, For the First Time In Forever: The Songs of Kristen and Bobby Lopez, honoring the Academy and Grammy Award winning songwriting duo Kristen and Bobby Lopez.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is set to present one of the longest running Off-Broadway productions of all time, I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE!, book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music by Jimmy Roberts, musical direction by  Ricky Pope, directed & choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan.  Comments Executive Producing Director Ellen Richard, “The song ‘Satisfaction Guaranteed’ from this joyous musical is what our subscribers and audiences will undoubtably have as we welcome this extraordinary cast and creative team to the Playhouse stage!”  I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE! begins previews on Wednesday, April 20; will open on Sunday, April 24 at 5:30pm and perform through Sunday, May 8, 2022 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach.

The New York Pops 39th Birthday Gala concert, For the First Time In Forever: The Songs of Kristen and Bobby Lopez, on Monday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall will feature 27 participants from the orchestra's Kids on Stage program.

Aging, beauty, hypocrisy, greed, sexual repression and cannibalism drive Island City Stage’s production of Tennessee William’s gothic mystery Suddenly, Last Summer, running through April 17, 2022. Suddenly, Last Summer is part of the award-winning theater company’s 10th Anniversary 2021-22 South Florida Season.

Kristen Bell (Film and Television star; voice of Anna in Disney’s Frozen), Caissie Levy (original Elsa in Frozen on Broadway) and Betsy Wolfe (originated leading role in world premiere of the Lopezes’ musical Up Here) will join The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, for its 39th Birthday Gala.

Here are my initial thoughts on the new original work by Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen and Ann McNamee.

 The New York Pops today announced an initial line-up of guest artists for its 39th Birthday Gala, For the First Time In Forever: The Songs of Kristen and Bobby Lopez, honoring the Academy and Grammy Award winning songwriting duo Kristen and Bobby Lopez on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for The Muny’s 2022 season, which opens on June 13 with the celebrated return of the 2021 hit that audiences went “Whoopee!” for, the Tony Award-winning Chicago.

Paying homage to one of America's most celebrated playwrights during his birthday month, Island City Stage will present its debut of Tennessee William's gothic mystery Suddenly, Last Summer, March 17 – April 17, 2022. Suddenly, Last Summer is part of the award-winning theater company's 10th Anniversary 2021-22 South Florida Season.

FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, will present Swingin’ With The Music of Stephen Sondheim on March 10th, 2022. For one special night, join the SWTM Band as they celebrate Broadway titan Stephen Sondheim with reimagined renditions of his great works.

Tony-nominee Lilli Cooper plays Doc in all 13 episodes the reboot, joined by the beloved original Fraggles and new voices, such as Cynthia Erivo, Daveed Diggs, Patti Labelle, and more. Cooper discuss the series' updated version of Doc, Jim Henson's impact, working with John Tartaglia, and her return to Broadway!

Keen Company has announced its first musical commission: a new musical by Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days, Scotland, PA). Keen presented Gwon’s Ordinary Days in Fall of 2018 to great acclaim, including a nomination for the 2019 Drama League Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway).

Jim Henson’s fun-loving and musical Fraggles — Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, Uncle Travelling Matt — alongside new Fraggles and Doozers voiced by special guests stars Patti LaBelle, Cynthia Erivo, Daveed Diggs, Ed Helms, Kenan Thompson, as well as an appearance by Foo Fighters, kick off the new year by embarking on epic, hilarious adventures.

Due to multiple positive COVID-19 cases in the company and staff, New 42 announced that all remaining performances of Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas have been canceled. Performances were scheduled to play through January 2, 2022. 

Hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley will be speaking tonight with CBS Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, as well as Michael Mina (Chief Science Officer at EMed) and Kim Prather, Ph.D., (Distinguished Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry, UC San Diego) about the new Omicron variant and what it means for Broadway and beyond on tonight's episode of 'Stars In The House' to benefit The Actors Fund.

Production photos have been released for Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, which opens on Friday, December 17th at the New Victory Theater.

Jacob Stuckelman and Joseph Hayes announced today the complete casting for the industry reading of Fowl Play – A New Musical Comedy. Alongside previously announced star Rosé (“RuPaul's Drag Race” Season 13 Finalist), the cast of Fowl Play will feature Michael James Scott (Aladdin), Tony Award nominee Brenda Braxton (“The Good Fight”), Nick Adams (Fire Island), JJ Niemann (The Book of Mormon), Sav Souza (1776), Kate Loprest (“Boardwalk Empire”), Chris Medlin (“Sweet Magnolias”), Maya Lagerstam, and Murphy Taylor Smith.

Today, Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas released a first look at the upcoming production with a photo  showcasing a few of the characters audiences will see onstage, including both humans and puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

In the wake of Stephen Sondheim's passing, there has been an outpouring of grief from the Broadway community and beyond. Read them all here.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13 Finalist Rosé will star in Fowl Play – A New Musical Comedy directed by Tony Award and three-time Emmy Award nominee John Tartaglia. With book by Billy Recce and Yoni Weiss and music/lyrics by Billy Recce, Fowl Play will receive an industry reading on Thursday, December 16 at Carroll Studios (625 West 55th Street).