Jonathan Larson News

What would you do if one day you could no longer use the letter Z? Then Q? Then E? Goodspeed Musicals, the first two-time Tony Award-winning theatre in the country, announced today that the compelling new musical L M N O P -a tale about a town thrown into chaos after that very scenario becomes a reality -will round out their three-show season at The Norma Terris Theatre.

On Monday, April 8, 2013, Broadway's CHICAGO welcomes Tony Award nominee Adam Pascal in the role of slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn.

In all honesty, there really is nothing more fun than seeing the next generation of musical theatre talent put on a great production of one of Broadway's mega-hits. Fortunately for Houston audiences, that's exactly what is happening in HSPVA's Black Box Theatre, as the school presents Jonathan Larson's RENT. Even with some altered lyrics and cut songs, the edgy production pushes envelopes as far as a public high school production can. Please note, the production is still recommended for mature audiences only.

Beyond the Stage Productions has announced a special, three-night-only engagement of Rent, Jonathan Larson's legendary Broadway smash hit, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Proceeds will benefit The Stigma Project, a Los Angeles HIV/AIDS outreach and education organization.

New York's Rattlestick Playwrights Theater presents the Los Angeles premiere of the critically-acclaimed play Slipping, written and directed by Daniel Talbott, which begins previews tonight, April 4, 2013 at Elephant Stages' Lillian Theatre in Hollywood, CA. The five-week limited engagement is scheduled to open Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 7:00pm and run through Sunday, May 5, 2013.

As an undergraduate theater major in the early 1970s, I heard music everywhere. It seemed to pour out of every office and workspace around the department. (And in the LP era, if you wanted more than the radio, this meant schlepping a twenty pound record player and a dozen or so albums from your home to the campus, sometimes requiring back-and-forth trips from the car. If you go to that much trouble, you want to keep the music playing.) In the hushed costume shop with its quietly industrious all female staff, Broadway ruled, with Stephen Sondheim's recent Company and Follies in heavy rotation. It was 'men only' in the scene shop where I listened to male balladeers like James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot while unhappily working off assigned crew hours. Jazz classes (my favorites) in the dance department were conducted to the pre-disco sounds of Isaac Hayes and the Temptations. And late night cast parties were never complete without spins of Bette Midler's first two albums.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit which brought new life to the historic Theatre By The Sea for the past five years, and AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS), which has been providing essential services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in Rhode Island since 1990, teamed up for a fundraising week which coincided with OSTC's recent production of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical RENT.

This spring, Libra Theater Company presents the world premiere of The Thirteenth Commandment, a new play by Joshua H. Cohen.

The American Theatre Wing has just announced that its annual Gala, to be held Monday, September 16 at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), will honor legendary director and producer Harold Prince. Anki Leeds and CeCe Black will serve as Gala co-chairs.

Quien es Quien en el Teatro en Mexico, permitira conocer y reconocer a los talentos que han hecho o hacen posible esta industria en el pais. Hoy: Marco Anthonio.

Ghostlight Records has announced the digital release of THE JOE ICONIS ROCK AND ROLL JAMBOREE on April 16, 2013. The new album is a collection of songs performed by Joe and his merry band of musical theater misfits. Epic theater ballads, simple folk songs, heavy rock rave-ups and bar room sing-alongs coexist in this eclectic, borderline-insane line up of tunes. The album will be available through all digital music outlets.

Argus Eyes Drama Society of Saint Peter's University will open their production of 'RENT' in April.

Burke-Cohen Entertainment/Jimmy Burke, Jeff Cohen presents American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox and Oscar and Emmy Award nominee Annette O'Toole starring in the Broadway premiere of Ted Swindley's Always… Patsy Cline, directed by Tony Award winner John Rando. The scenery will be designed by Anna Louizos, who is currently represented on Broadway with 'Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.' Performances begin in July with an August opening.

A Finborough Theatre commission, the European premiere of the hit Off-Broadway musical ROOMS - A Rock Romance, plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from Tuesday 23 April 2013, directed by multi-award-winning director Andrew Keates.

Broadway Gives Back presents a concert entitled 'Broadway Charity Songs!' 'Broadway Charity Songs' has paired a group of award-winning musical theatre composers with a group of outstanding charities and tasked them with composing an original piece that each prospective charity could use for fundraising purposes. The result is a group of songs gifted to the charities - with the hope that the songs 'go viral' while increasing awareness for these outstanding organizations. The concert will take place tonight, March 25th, 2013, 7:30pm at Le Poisson Rouge.

Bay Area Cabaret will present the singer, songwriter, and actress Nellie McKay in a special performance with San Francisco's multiple Grammy winning a cappella ensemble, Chanticleer.

Broadway Gives Back has announced an upcoming concert entitled 'Broadway Charity Songs!' 'Broadway Charity Songs' has paired a group of award-winning musical theatre composers with a group of outstanding charities and tasked them with composing an original piece that each prospective charity could use for fundraising purposes. The result is a group of songs gifted to the charities - with the hope that the songs 'go viral' while increasing awareness for these outstanding organizations. The concert will take place on March 25th, 2013, 7:30pm at Le Poisson Rouge.

Don't miss this 54 Below debut on Sunday April 7th at 7pm. Described as equal parts James Taylor and Stephen Sondheim, Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen's songs have been performed everywhere from East Village rock clubs, to Off-Broadway theaters, to Sesame Street. The concert will feature some of Broadway's best talent including Carolee Carmello, Kyle Dean Massey, Michael McElroy, Molly Hager, Sadie Sink, Taylor Trensch, and Barrett Wilbert Weed.

NYU Steinhardt's Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions will present a workshop production of the new musical 'All The Kids Are Doing It,' a contemporary pop-rock musical that explores the reality of young adults today who exploit themselves and others in order to achieve personal gain.

El espectáculo bajará el telón definitivamente tras una exitosa temporada, con una gran acogida de público y excelentes críticas, que ha obligado a prorrogar hasta en dos ocasiones la estancia prevista inicialmente.