Jonathan Larson News

SaltSpeck Productions presents a showcase production of Madam Fury's Traveling Show. Performances will take place from tonight, September 2 through September 8 at the 45th Street Theatre (354 W. 45th Street). Official Opening is set for tonight, September 2 at 8pm.

Vital Theatre Company has announced the world premiere of Fancy Nancy The Musical, opening September 29th, 2012 at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre at 2162 Broadway. With a book by Susan DiLallo, music by Danny Abosch, and direction and choreography by Sam Viverito, Fancy Nancy The Musical is based on the bestselling children's book series by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. This magnifique musical-that's fancy for great show-begins performances on September 29th, 2012 with a "pink carpet" press opening.

Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Westport Country Playhouse stages the world premiere of a new comedy, "Harbor," written by two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin and directed by Playhouse artistic director Mark Lamos, now through September 15. The cast includes Tony Award nominee Bobby Steggert (Broadway's "Ragtime"), Emmy Award nominee Paul Anthony Stewart ("Guiding Light"), Kate Nowlin and Alexis Molnar. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

The American Theatre Wing has announced the recipients of its 2012 National Theatre Company Grants. This year's recipients are: Actors' Shakespeare Project (Somerville, Massachusetts), ArtsWest (Seattle, Washington), Know Theatre of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio), NC Stage Company (Asheville, North Carolina), The New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch, New Jersey), CityRep (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), The Rogue Theatre (Tucson, Arizona), The Play Company (New York City, New York), The Theatre @ Boston Court (Pasadena, California), and Upstream Theater (St. Louis, Missouri).

Composer/lyricist Neil Bartram and book writer Brian Hill, Drama Desk Nominated authors of Broadway's The Story of My Life, will workshop their newest musical Something Wicked This Way Comes, adapted from the novel by Ray Bradbury, with the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma in October 2012.

Following its European Premiere at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Without You, written and performed by Rent star Anthony Rapp, now transfers to the Menier Chocolate Factory, London from tonight, 29th August - 15th September 2012. Press Night Wednesday 5th September.

New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Producing Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Deputy Artistic Director; Jaynie Saunders Tiller, Managing Director) in association with Irondale Center (85 Oxford Street between Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street, Brooklyn) will present the World Premiere of Kara Lee Corthron's ALICEGRACEANON, October 18-November 9.

Surflight Theatre will present the New Jersey premiere of an all-new and entirely original musical comedy Once Upon A Time in New Jersey (described as "The Sopranos" meets "Happy Days") from August 28 through September 15.

Ars Nova has announced the world premiere of Ars Nova 2011 Composer-in-Residence Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Directed by Rachel Chavkin, this production will play a limited Off-Broadway engagement October 1 - November 10. Official Opening Night is set for Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 PM.

Barrington Stage Company presents a workshop production of the new musical The Black Suits with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and book by Joe Iconis and Robert Emmett Maddock. The Black Suits is part of Barrington Stage's Musical Theatre Lab. Directed by John Simpkins, with musical direction by James Sampliner, The Black Suits runs now through September 2 at BSC's St. Germain Stage. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the show below!

Meet David Hinton-Gale as Benny, Mikel Sylvanus as Tom Collins and Jamie Birkett as Joanne Jefferson from the cast of the new London production of the multiple award-winning musical RENT in the photos below! And check back soon for more images before the show's opening on Friday, 7 September 2012 at Greenwich Theatre.

SaltSpeck Productions presents a showcase production of Madam Fury's Traveling Show. Performances will take place from September 2 through September 8 at the 45th Street Theatre (354 W. 45th Street). Official Opening is set for Sunday, September 2 at 8pm.

It's not often one gets to see a live performance by an actor who originated a role on Broadway so conclusively that every other take on the part (in this case, Mark Cohen in RENT) seems like an imitation. Visitors to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can do just that this year by attending Without You, a one-man show starring Anthony Rapp, from the original cast of Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera.

Juxtaposed against the contemporary drug-fueled club scene in Dublin, In Pigeon House weaves together vaudeville, music hall, and cinema in this love letter to traveling shows. Moving between time and genres, the itinerant players Basher, Masher, Rasher and Dolly rip up the stage with a furious tornado of language and moving pictures. A startlingly theatrical and darkly comic oeuvre, In Pigeon House at once explodes and upholds the romantic myth of the traveling show.

Michael Weber, Artistic Director of Porchlight Music Theatre, announced casting for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, February 2 - March 10, 2013 and Pal Joey, April 20 - May 26, 2013, both at Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont and the naming of new Artistic Associates and members to the Advisory Board. Alexis J. Rogers will play "Billie Holiday" in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, by Lanie Robertson to be directed by Porchlight Artistic Associate Rob Lindley.

Following its European Premiere at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Without You, written and performed by Rent star Anthony Rapp, now transfers to the Menier Chocolate Factory, London from 29th August - 15th September 2012. Press Night Wednesday 5th September.