Jonathan Larson News

Casting controversies, the role of reviewers and another Broadway great turning 80 were among the stories that fired up theatre chat boards and fueled cocktail conversations at Sardi's during the past twelve months. Here are ten of the big issues theatre lovers talked about in 2011.

The indie pop-rock band GrooveLily returns to New York City this holiday season for the first time in three years to spread some holiday warmth on cold winter nights, performing their critically acclaimed musical, STRIKING 12.

NCTC will present the San Francisco Premiere of The Story of My Life by Brian Hill and Neil Bartram.

Cal que nevi?, es un espectáculo musical representado con éxito durante seis navidades consecutivas en el café teatro Llantiol de Barcelona. En él, seis intérpretes y un pianista, cantan temas conocidos y otros que no lo son tanto, sobre las fiestas navideñas y lo que éstas representan para gente de todo tipo.

The indie pop-rock band GrooveLily returns to New York City this holiday season for the first time in three years to spread some holiday warmth on cold winter nights, performing their critically acclaimed musical, STRIKING 12.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY, the award-winning theatre company and producer of the long running family show PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL, and HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children's entertainment, are pleased to present ANGELINA BALLERINATM THE VERY MERRY HOLIDAY MUSICAL with book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Ben Morss and directed and choreographed by Sam Viverito, based on the famous dancing mouseling and her friends created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig.

The Eagle Theatre and Collaborative Stage Productions (CSP) are excited to announce that the two organizations will join forces to present CSP's entire 2012 professional theatrical season at The Eagle Theatre, located at 208 Vine Street in Hammonton, NJ. Subscriptions for this season are currently available, as are gift cards, and can be obtained by calling the Eagle Theatre at (609) 704-5012.

A regional production of RENT doesn't open until January at Coeur d'Alene's Lake City Playhouse, but locals are already protesting the show because it 'promotes vulgarity and sets a bad example.' Watch the video below to check out the full story.

The New York Times reports today that a FINDING NEVERLAND musical has been greenlighted by The Weinstein Company for further development following successful readings in London last week. The project was last workshopped in New York this past spring and was scheduled to premiere at the La Jolla playhouse this fall. The Weinstein's pulled the project at the last minute (which was replaced at La Jolla by the Startford Festival's Jesus Christ Superstar, currently running) to develop further. Tony Award winner Rob Ashford helms the project, which has Broadway apsirations. The project marks the first musical on which the Weinstein company is lead producer.

The cast of the landmark musical Rent performed on CBS's 'The Early Show' yesterday. Adam Chanler-Berat and Matt Shingledecker sang the show's title number, and were joined by the cast to perform Rent's signature song, 'Seasons of Love.' Check it out below!

Controversy is never too far offstage in any Simon Cowell production - manufactured, actual or otherwise - and the debut season of the US edition of his international smash reality singing competition THE X FACTOR on Fox has been overloaded with drama, meltdowns, breakdowns and buckets of tears. Stars have been made and dreams have been broken - par for the course, as always, on a singing show like this. Yet, no one on the show, whether judge or participant - no, not even Paula Abdul, Rachel Crow or the flasher himself - has been met with the irate hate and all-around ire of fans and critics alike quite like new judge Nicole Scherzinger. Sure, Simon cajoles her and criticizes her too much - to much winning effect - amping up the competition amongst the four judges, as is his wont - and, really, that's the whole hook of the show, anyway. The ex-Pussycat Dolls front-woman (remember 'Don't Cha'?), Scherzinger has had middling success in her solo career post-Pussycats in the US, yet she has racked up #1 hits overseas, and, had her last album not been plagued with stateside release issues, perhaps there would be a larger audience more aware of her repertoire and irreproachable talent here on these shores. Alas, many are meeting her for the first time in her new role as an X FACTOR judge - responsible for the most difficult category, no less; the Over 30s - and perhaps that is not the best light to make first impressions under. No matter what her judging abilities are, the girl can clearly sing - and sing well - which is more than can be said of many in similar roles on other singing-centered shows (or even this one). In addition to that, she has shown a remarkable stage presence - particularly in her essaying of the role of Maureen (made famous in the original Broadway cast by WICKED Tony Award winner Idina Menzel) in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Neil Patrick Harris - and, even more recently, has displayed her legit side with her stunning performance of the title song from Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - alongside four famous Phantoms - at the Royal Variety Performance last week for the queen. Just last night, Scherzinger took center stage on the X FACTOR's results show to sing her surprisingly strong new single, 'Pretty' - an episode which also saw the final remaining contestant under her tutelage remaining in the competition, Josh Krajcik, survive another week and make it into the Top 4 - and proceeded to positively set the night alight. Haters can hate, but Scherzinger undoubtedly proved any naysayers wrong insofar as her fierce talent and reason for appearing on the show as a judge is concerned - no question. Post-Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger seems to be flying high - lest we forget: she also won DANCING WITH THE STARS early last year - and the stages of New York and London seem a perfect place for her to show off her considerable triple-threat abilities in the future, whether near or far. Plus, if she can make it in show business with that last name, you have to at the very least appreciate her striving for authenticity at all times - like it or not. Scherzinger not only sings like an angel, she looks like one, too. She is the whole package and definitely possesses the X factor - and maybe a Y and Z, too.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) has announced the return of The Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular.

The cast of the landmark musical Rent will perform on CBS's "The Early Show" on Saturday, December 17, 2011. The cast will perform the show's title number as well as its signature song, "Seasons of Love." "The Early Show" airs in New York 7am - 9am with the Rent performances scheduled to begin at approximately 8:45am.

Gerald Goehring, Michael F. Mitri and Dorothy Berloni are developing BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, a new Broadway musical based on the popular 2000 novel by Kate DeCamillo. A developmental reading will be staged in early 2012, followed by an out of town engagement and Broadway production, the timing of which will be confirmed at a later date.

Powerhouse Broadway veteran Tovah Feldshuh stars in Gypsy at Bristol Riverside Theatre as part of its 25th Anniversary Season through January 15. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, the production is directed by Keith Baker and also features Robert Newman, Amanda Rose, Brittney Lee Hamilton, Joe Grandy, Bethe B. Austin, Kathryn Kendall, and Demetria Joyce Bailey. Check out performance highlights from the show below!

Powerhouse Broadway veteran Tovah Feldshuh stars in Gypsy at Bristol Riverside Theatre as part of its 25th Anniversary Season through January 15. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, the production is directed by Keith Baker and also features Robert Newman, Amanda Rose, Brittney Lee Hamilton, Joe Grandy, Bethe B. Austin, Kathryn Kendall, and Demetria Joyce Bailey. Check out a photo preview of Feldshuh in action below!

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) has announced the return of The Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular.

After a run in Spring 2010 as a co-production between Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) and Vineyard Theatre (Artistic Director, Douglas Aibel; Executive Director, Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell), the critically-acclaimed score of THE BURNT PART BOYS has been recorded by Yellow Sound Label, produced by Michael Croiter in conjunction with Playwrights Horizons, to be released in digital and CD formats on December 6, 2011.