Jonathan Larson News

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! It's Tuesday, May 23, 2017, and we are all so very lucky to be alive and to be engaged in the creation of live theater - in Tennessee, no less - with the ability to live life dramatically and to reflect on the world around us. And what a world it is: Last night, people in Nashville were exultant…the Nashville Predators won the Western Conference Playoffs to advance to the Stanley Cup Final of the National Hockey League!

RENT, Jonathan Larson's famed rock opera that changed the course of a generation, is open at The Gateway in Bellport Village and runs through June 3.

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, Owner) are thrilled to announce the winners of the 62nd Annual Obie Awards®. Jennifer Kidwell & Scott R. Sheppard's Underground Railroad Game, produced by Ars Nova, and J.T. Roger's Oslo, produced by Lincoln Center Theater, shared the Obie Awards for Best New American Theatre Work, which is accompanied by a $500 prize each. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel received a special Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement. Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria returned as host of this year's ceremony, which was held at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street). A complete list of the awards is given below.

New York Theatre Workshop announced today a one week extension for NYTW Usual Suspect Mfoniso Udofia's SOJOURNERS and HER PORTMANTEAU, presented in repertory and directed by NYTW Usual Suspect and former NYTW 2050 Fellow Ed Sylvanus Iskandar.

The American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice have announced that the star-studded line-up of presenters at tonight's 62nd Annual Obie Awards.

Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria will return as the host at the 62nd Annual Obie Awards, which will be held tonight, May 22, 2016 at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street). Pulitzer Prize-wining playwright Paula Vogel will receive a special Obie Award® for Lifetime Achievement. Check back at 7pm to watch the ceremony live right here at BroadwayWorld!

ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME is the epic musical adventure starring GrooveLily's fierce and funny electro-violinist Valerie Vigoda (Striking 12), and the courageous and charismatic Wade McCollum (Priscilla Queen of the Desert). This innovative, high-tech adventure tells the story of a sleep-deprived single mom who struggles to work as a video game music composer. Unexpectedly, she is contacted across time by the famous polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton. Inspired by her music, he shares his epic Antarctic journey with her in video and song. Against all odds, they discover that their greatest inspiration lies within each other.

Prospect Theater Company in association with Amas Musical Theatre will present a one-night-only concert presentation of Bridges: A New Musical on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 8pm at The TimesCenter.

Victoria Leacock Hoffman was a long-time collaborator of Jonathan Larson and original producer of tick, tick...BOOM! Help Keen Company salute her vision and incredible contribution to musical theatre history.

Abingdon Theatre Company presents its first musical with the New York premiere of THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR, with music by Tim Rosser and book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne, winners of 2015 Jonathan Larson and Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart awards. Directed by Abingdon Theatre Company Artistic Director Tony Speciale, THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR plays four weeks only, now through June 11, at the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Opening night is Thursday, May 25 at 7PM. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

For the second year in a row, I had the great pleasure of attending the Triangle Rising Star Awards at the Durham Performing Arts Center. This regional competition brings together high school musical theater students from Central and Eastern North Carolina to perform and compete for the chance to represent the Triangle in The National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City this summer on June 26th. The national competition celebrates outstanding student performances in high school musical productions from all over the United States.

On Sunday May 21st at 9:30pm, Honeck-Moss Productions is proud to present 'In The Works.'  This exciting monthly series was conceived as an opportunity for composers to try out new work in front of an audience and see how it plays in a supportive environment.  It is also an opportunity to create community among the composers and their performers.

Abingdon Theatre Company presents its first musical with the New York premiere of THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR, with music by Tim Rosser and book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne, winners of 2015 Jonathan Larson and Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart awards. Directed by Abingdon Theatre Company Artistic Director Tony Speciale, THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR plays four weeks only, tonight, May 15, through June 11, at the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Opening night is Thursday, May 25 at 7PM.

Tour production of Rent features a stellar cast that does Rentheads and Jonathan Larson proud

Today, BWW had the opportunity to speak with Dana Walden, Chairmen & CEO of FOX Television Group about the upcoming live broadcast.

Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Chairmen and CEOs, Fox Television Group, today will unveil the FOX primetime slate for the 2017-2018 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre.

FOX has announced a live musical production of the groundbreaking, Tony Award-, Grammy Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT. Acclaimed film, television and theater producer Marc Platt (GREASE: LIVE, 'La La Land,' 'Wicked'), along with the estate of writer/composer Jonathan Larson, will executive-produce the event. Additional details and auspices to be announced.

The View UpStairs - the provocative new musical written by Max Vernon, directed by Scott Ebersold and choreographed by Al Blackstone - will celebrate its 100th performance on Friday, May 19 at 8:00 PM. To celebrate this landmark, the show will harness the power of community to benefit Point Foundation, the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students of merit.

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 19 writers and 9 new musicals selected for development at this summer's Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. 

The Trouble With Doug, a new musical from award-winning writers Will Aronson and Daniel Mate, is receiving its European premiere at Denmark's Fredericia Theatre tonight, May 11th, through June 2nd.