Jonathan Larson News

This November, composer-lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver (Disney's upcoming Freaky Friday) will lead four masterclasses for new songwriters.

Prospect Theater Company will present by special arrangement with Fireboat Productions a new Off Broadway production of the 2006 hit musical Iron Curtain, winner of the Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical.

Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) continues its 2011-12 season with Three Pianos by Rick Burkhardt, Alec Duffy and Dave Malloy, with music from Franz Schubert's Winterreise, Op. 89, D911 (1828), directed by Rachel Chavkin.

Florida Studio Theatre presents the Southeastern Regional Premiere of the contemporary rock musical Next to Normal.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 10/30 for Seoul

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, and Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre announced today an evening of song, video and performance on October 30th, 2011 at 7:00pm to benefit the Freedom Theatre. Tickets are $100 and the event is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner and featuring Academy Award-winner David Byrne, Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks, Grammy-winners Aimee Mann and Angelique Kidjo, Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald, Palestinian hip-hop group DAM, as well as a special performance by the acting company of The Freedom Theatre. The entire evening is directed by Jo Bonney.

New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Associate Director; Jaynie Saunders Tiller, Managing Director) presents the acclaimed world premiere of Sylvan Oswald's Nightlands. This Off-Broadway limited engagement, kicking off their 20th Anniversary season at HERE (145 6th Avenue; entrance on Dominick, 1 block south of Spring Street) continues through October 29th only.

New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Associate Director; Jaynie Saunders Tiller, Managing Director) will present the acclaimed world premiere of Sylvan Oswald's Nightlands. This Off-Broadway limited engagement, kicking off their 20th Anniversary season at HERE (145 6th Avenue; entrance on Dominick, 1 block south of Spring Street) continues through October 29th only.

This November, composer-lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver (Disney's upcoming Freaky Friday) will lead four masterclasses for new songwriters.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present the seventh annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Jeff Blumenkrantz. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, will be presented by Bebe Neuwirth on Monday, November 28th from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lobby of The American Airlines Theater.

Todd Alan Johnson, whose credits include Broadway's Aida, Off Broadway's NEWSical and the national tour of Les Miserables, will join the cast of Prospect Theater Company's upcoming Off Broadway production of Iron Curtain. He replaces Marcus Neville, who has withdrawn from the production due to a scheduling conflict.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the eight musicals selected to be part of the 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) launched a revamped version of its legendary and long running television show, 'Working in the Theatre,' reflecting exciting changes to its look, feel, and format.

Prospect Theater Company will present by special arrangement with Fireboat Productions a new Off Broadway production of the 2006 hit musical Iron Curtain, winner of the Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical.

A talented cast, led by Broadway star STACIA FERNANDEZ, is preparing for the opening of the contemporary rock musical Next to Normal at Florida Studio Theatre. Performances begin in the Keating Theatre November 2 - January 7.

Powerhouse Broadway veteran Tovah Feldshuh stars in Gypsy at Bristol Riverside Theatre as part of its 25th Anniversary Season on December 6-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.

New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Associate Director; Jaynie Saunders Tiller, Managing Director) presents the acclaimed world premiere of Sylvan Oswald's Nightlands. This Off-Broadway limited engagement, kicking off their 20th Anniversary season at HERE (145 6th Avenue; entrance on Dominick, 1 block south of Spring Street) continues through October 29th only.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 10/23 for Seoul

New York Theatre Workshop's production of The Select (The Sun Also Rises), created by Elevator Repair Service (ERS) based on Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises, and directed by John Collins, will close on Sunday, October 23 at NYTW, 79 East 4th Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery.