Jonathan Larson News

Throughout 2017, Joe's Pub at The Public will present artists Michael Mwenso and Shaina Taub in respective yearlong residencies, both occurring on a monthly basis.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons will hold its annual Spring Gala on Monday evening, May 8 at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Titled A CELEBRATION OF SONG, the evening will honor three of the company's exceptional alumni writers: Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven at Playwrights), Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven at Playwrights) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife and Grey Gardens at Playwrights).

BroadwayWorld San Francisco spoke with Christian Thompson, who plays Benny in the 20th anniversary tour of RENT, coming to San Francisco February 7 - 19. Thompson tells us about the universal themes found in the musical, his own favorite Bohemian activity for each tour stop and, of course, love.

THE OBJECT LESSON, the third production of the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) 2016/17 Season, by NYTW Usual Suspect Geoff Sobelle (all wear bowlers), is directed by NYTW Usual Suspect David Neumann (Restless Eye), with scenic installation design by Steven Dufala. THE OBJECT LESSON opens tonight, February 9, at New York Theatre Workshop (79 E. 4th Street New York, NY 10003) for a limited run through Sunday, March 5, 2017.

Master composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim will receive the 2017 PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award at PEN America's annual Literary Gala on April 25 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Actress Meryl Streep, who starred in the 2014 film adaptation of Sondheim's Into the Woods, will present the prize.

The Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University announce Stephen Bray, Tony, and Grammy-nominated songwriter for The Color Purple, will join the 12th annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project as a Master Teacher.

Adirondack Theatre Festival (ATF) announces its 23rd season - the third for Producing Artistic Director, Chad Rabinovitz.  Rabinovitz will again bring an entire season of major new works to ATF with a team of top-level professional artists, offering experiences that cannot be found anywhere else in the world - only in Glens Falls. 

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the 2017 Jonathan Larson Grants recipients are Ben Bonnema (book, music and lyrics), Maggie-Kate Coleman & Erato A. Kremmyda (music and lyrics), Ty Defoe & Tidtaya Sinutoke (book, music and lyrics), and Michael R. Jackson (book, music and lyrics).

George Street Playhouse today announced the cast of American Son, an award-winning, ripped-from-the-headlines drama, on stage February 7-26, 2017, at the New Brunswick theatre.

Packed with songs that rock, and will rock your world, the autobiographical musical of the late composer of Rent will be performed in the intimate setting of the Trust Performing Arts Center's Black Box Theater, 37 North Market Street. PRiMA Theatre's production of Tick, Tick . . . Boom! marks the musical's Central PA premiere of the show that tells the story of Jonathan Larson, before he made it big as the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent. Fittingly, Larson's big break-Rent-marks its 20th anniversary this year.

In the premiere of Something New's fifth season, award-winning songwriter Joel B. New sat down with comedy juggler Marcus Monroe. Dubbed 'the rock star of jugglers' by the New York Press, Marcus Monroe combines innovative juggling with a high-energy original take, making him one of the most sought-after variety performers today. Marcus is the recipient of the prestigious Andy Kaufman Award, awarded once a year to a performer who exhibits an original and creative performance with the spirit and execution of Kaufman. His original one-man show, THE RISE & FALL OF MARCUS MONROE, was presented at Ars Nova last month.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America announce the roster of shows that will arrive in the Walt Disney Theater during the FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando 2017 - 2018 season.  The new season launches with the acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I. Following the engagement of that celebrated revival is On Your Feet!, the irresistible true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Next, the ultimate love story continues in Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber's spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

The Wagner College Theatre has announced that the winner of this year's Stanley Drama Award is Elisabeth Karlin for her play, "The Showman and the Spirit."

The 20th Anniversary tour of Rent comes to the capital region-and to the intimacy of Harris Center's Stage One.

Lexi Lawson, currently playing 'Eliza Schuyler' in Broadway's Hamilton, will join starry alumni of the Broadway, National Tour, and Off-Broadway companies of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical RENT.

This month, Noce continues its inaugural season of theatre with an immersive production of Tick, Tick... BOOM! Local actors Charlie Reese (Hand to God, Murder Ballad, Avenue Q) and Jill Ziegler (Shrek, Rent) are joined by songwriter and recording artist Madison Ray in Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... BOOM!, running for five performances in Noce Jazz Cabaret, February 17-25.

The View UpStairs - the provocative new musical written by Max Vernon, directed by Scott Ebersold and choreographed by Al Blackstone - is teaming up with the New York LGBT Community Center (208 West 13th Street in New York) for a special event exploring the musical tonight, February 1 at 7:00 PM.

Peter Mills, composer of the the Broadway bound The Honeymooners, and Cara L. Reichel, producing artistic  director of Prospect Theater Company, have joined nine other real life couples for Love! I Hear!: Broadway's Love Letter To Valentine's Day, on Tuesday, February 14th, 2017  (7:00pm & 9:30 pm) at Feinstein's/54 Below.

THE OBJECT LESSON, the third production of the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) 2016/17 Season, begins previews tonight, January 31, 2017, and will open on Thursday, February 9 at New York Theatre Workshop (79 E. 4th Street New York, NY 10003) for a limited run through Sunday, March 5, 2017.

The producers of the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour announce the upcoming tour engagement in Seattle at The Paramount Theatre from February 21 - 26.