Jonathan Larson News

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

The Weathervane Playhouse in Newark has taken a shotgun approach to the musicals it is presenting this summer. The theater company opened its summer season with RENT, the edgy rock musical by Jonathan Larson. Then it staged with THE PAJAMA GAME, a light-hearted musical by Richard Alder and Jerry Ross, as its second musical of the season.

The landmark Supreme Court ruling handed down late last week instating national legalization of marriage rights for all individuals is a cause celebre for the country at large, particularly the Broadway community who has vocally and vociferously fought for equal acceptance for all for decades. Given the preponderance of LGBT people in the theatre community itself, this victory is a particular joy for many to celebrate. As a result of this momentous event, now is the ideal time to take a look back at the most important and notable musicals that have appeared on Broadway in the last several decades to shine a light on the gay community, ranging from portrayals of closeted individuals trapped and unable to find acceptance in a conservative society all the way to the out and proud representations available to see in some currently running smash hits. Additionally, who could forget all of musicals that have touched upon LGBT issues over the years - from the campy to the controversial to the highly acclaimed.

So, this month, I am taking over sole duties that I normally share with Jeff Walker, and composing a list of 10 showtunes all about births and birthdays.

In honor of the New York return of A NEW BRAIN, today we salute medically-themed moments from musicals.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series, in association with Jacob Langfelder, is excited to announce that "Love Me: Downtown and Downunder - A Pride Celebration" will take place on the historic music stage on this Sunday, June 28 at 10:30pm.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced that Golden Globe winner and six-time Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, 'Dexter') will lead the cast of LAZARUS, by David Bowie and Enda Walsh (ONCE, Tony Award), inspired by the novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis, and directed by Ivo van Hove (Hedda Gabler, More Stately Mansions, Obie Awards).  LAZARUS begins previews on November 18, with an opening night set for December 7, 2015.

Jonathan Larson's gripping rock musical is brought to life by NYC based Uncompromising Artistry Productions. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning RENT took the world by storm when it premiered on Broadway in 1996.

Help bring RENT to Edinburgh!

The award-winning musical, A Letter to Harvey Milk, based on the short story "A Letter to Harvey Milk" by Leslea Newman,  will enjoy an invite-only industry reading in New York City on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Times Square's Playroom Theatre. A Letter to Harvey Milk, has a book by Jerry James, Cheryl Stern and Laura I. Kramer, lyrics by Ellen M. Schwartz with additional lyrics by Cheryl Stern, and music by Laura I. Kramer, it has been musical directed, arranged and orchestrated by Ned Paul Ginsburg, and the reading will be directed by Evan Pappas (Performer: Parade, My Favorite Year).

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance, presents its second developing musical reading on the U of M mainstage with Midsummer Night by Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn on June 27 at 7:00 pm.

The 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival presents To Hell and Back in concert on Tuesday, July 7th. Inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this indie-rock album musical follows a broken songwriter on a madcap cab ride into a soundless world to save his muse from the hands of a lonely fangirl. Music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson Award-winning songwriter Joel B. New.

Eisa Davis, Gabriel Ebert, Nikki M. James, Joseph Keckler, Chris Sarandon, and Or Matias, on piano, lead LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater production of PRELUDES, a new musical by Dave Malloy, inspired by the music of Sergei Rachmaninov, developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin. PRELUDES, a world premiere and the first musical to be produced by LCT3 in the Claire Tow Theater, began performances on May 23 and opens tonight, June 15, running through Sunday, July 19 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65th Street).

Paper Mill Playhouse released a block of great seats today for the world premiere musical, Ever After for Father's Day Weekend including Friday, June 19 at 7:00pm, Saturday, June 20 at 7:00pm and Sunday, June 21 at 1:30pm and 7:00pm.

Actor's Express announces casting for its summer musical Rent. Jeremiah Parker Hobbs and Julissa Sabino, both seen at Actor's Express in last summer's The Rocky Horror Show, will lead the cast as struggling musician Roger and his love interest, Mimi. Patrick Schweigert, seen in Aurora Theatre's Les Miserables and Mary Poppins, will play Roger's roommate, filmmaker Mark Cohen. Both making their Actor's Express debuts, Jennifer Acker (Georgia Ensemble Theatre's One Slight Hitch) and Jeanette Illidge (Aurora Theatre's Ragtime and The Mikado), will take on the roles of performance artist Maureen and her lover Joanne. Austin Tijerina, a 2014 Suzi Bass Award winner for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in Serenbe Playhouse's Oklahoma, will play drag queen Angel, and Greg Hunter (Aurora Theatre's Mary Poppins) will be his lover Tom Collins. Rounding out the cast is Michael Stiggers (Marius in Aurora Theatre's Les Miserables) as landlord Benny and a strong ensemble of Actor's Express veterans and newcomers.

After kicking off her world tour in Seoul just a over a week ago, followed by a total of four shows in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo, Idina Menzel held Sunday her one-night-only performance in Manila capping the Asian stretch of her 53-city concert performances.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Jason Alexander comes home to Broadway, The Public fetes its founders in the park and more!

Los castings para la nueva produccion de Rent que se estrenara en Barcelona en 2016 tendran lugar a finales de junio y principios de julio.

How do you write a song when the chords sound wrong Though they once sounded right and rare? When the notes are sour Where is the power you once had to ignite the air?

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), and producers Amy Engelhardt and Heather Shields, will present the June installment of the game show for musical theatre lovers called Tune in Time, hosted by Emily McNamara, with Musical Director Nate Buccieri and annoyingly insistent timekeeper Sheila Head on Monday, June 8, 2015 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peters (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).