Jonathan Monro News

The long anticipated cast recording of the Drama Desk award-winning SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS has been recorded by Yellow Sound Label, produced by Michael Croiter, to be released in digital and CD formats on March 19, 2013. The album features the cast of the Summer 2010 off-Broadway premiere produced by Transport Group Theatre Company (Artistic Director, Jack Cummings III; Executive Director, Lori Fineman) at The Duke on 42nd Street. The album will be available everywhere, including iTunes and Amazon.com.

?The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Winter Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street on Thursday, January 31 at 5:00PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

Featured this week, January 7 through the 13th, at Joe's Pub at The Public are Noche Flamenca, Drew Gasparini, Bridget Everett & The Tender Moments, The Hot Sardines, Folk Wandering in Convert, Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra, Samita Sinha, Cherry Poppin Daddies, Thomas Dolby, Bettye Lavette, Nomadic Massive, Lea Delaria & Janette Mason, Globalfest 2013, JVP, del aria, Hoffman & NJJ and Marcia Ball.

David Sisco (Founder/Curator) and Lorene Phillips (Contributing Editor) will celebrate the launch of THE DIRECTORY OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE WRITERS in a star-studded concert on Monday, January 21 at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43 Street).

Good Music at 221B presents the Nov 12th and 13th readings of Dust and Shadow, featuring the talents of Mitch Jarvis (Rock of Ages) as Sherlock Holmes, J.D. Daw (Forever Plaid) as Dr. John H. Watson, Meggie Cansler (Finian's Rainbow) as Mary Ann Monk, Kevin Massey (Memphis) as Constable Bennett, George Merrick (South Pacific) as Inspector Lestrade, Jesse Swimm (Mary Poppins) as Leslie Tavistock, DC Anderson (Phantom of the Opera) as George Lusk, Beverly Ward (Billy Elliot Tour) as Mrs. Hudson, Claybourne Elder (Bonnie & Clyde) as Stephen Dunleavy, and Ethan Major (Billy Elliot) as Sean Hawkins.

Tonight, October 15, 2012, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB in the D-Lounge, its monthly concert for emerging musical theatre writers (now in its 6th year), at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The October 2012 installment of NYTB in the D-Lounge features an excerpt from the new musical Academia Nuts called Speaking Geek: The Songs of Academia Nuts, as well as a selection of songs by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. The monthly series is executive produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

On Monday, October 15, 2012, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB in the D-Lounge, its monthly concert for emerging musical theatre writers (now in its 6th year), at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The October 2012 installment of NYTB in the D-Lounge features an excerpt from the new musical Academia Nuts called Speaking Geek: The Songs of Academia Nuts, as well as a selection of songs by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. The monthly series is executive produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

Tony-nominee Jeremy Jordan will provide all nine voices for an a cappella "surprise" bonus track on the forthcoming See Rock City & Other Destinations original off-Broadway cast recording produced by Yellow Sound Label. The piece was arranged by the show's orchestrator Justin Hatchimonji and features a song from the Drama Desk-nominated score.

Transport Group Theatre Company, the winner of both a Special Drama Desk Award and Obie Award, has announced that that their award-winning 2010 production of See Rock City & Other Destinations will receive an original cast recording produced by Yellow Sound Label. The Drama Desk and Richard Rodgers Award-winning musical has music by Brad Alexander and book and lyrics by Adam Mathias. The show was directed by Transport Group Artistic Director Jack Cummings III.

Acclaimed Canadian dramatist Daniel MacIvor's new play BEST BROTHERS is a hilariously touching and emotionally compelling piece about a pair of brothers grieving the loss of their mother. The world premiere, which is directed by Associate Artistic Director Dean Gabourie, begins previews at the Studio Theatre tonight, June 26.

Much Ado About Nothing kicked off the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 60th Season Monday night, and is pleasantly about a lot more than the name might suggest. With stunning performances from Ben Carlson and Deborah Hay as well as a solid supporting cast, gorgeous set and beautiful music the show was a delight for all ages. A great introductory Shakespeare piece, Much Ado is one of those rare pieces that should please Shakespeare buffs and first-timers alike.

Beatrice and Benedick's merry war of wit and wordplay is fought on the Festival stage with the comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The production, directed by Christopher Newton, starts previews tonight at the Festival Theatre.

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Spring Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street tonight, April 26, at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Spring Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street on Thursday, April 26, at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

The West Bank Café has announced upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

In 1994, Ted and Richard formed Talking Fingers, and under this company name first workshopped 2 Pianos 4 Hands at the Tarragon Theatre, with generous support from the Ontario Arts Council. Tarragon Theatre subsequently programmed the show as part of its 1995-1996 season, where it garnered rave reviews, played a sold-out run, received the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production (Toronto's theatre awards) and the prestigious Chalmers Award (Canada's top playwriting award). Tarragon Theatre then toured the production nationally from May 1996 to September 1997.

For its 10th anniversary season, Theatre by the Bay is proud to present William Shakespeare's The Tempest, starring acclaimed stage, film and television actor Robert Joy (six seasons of CBS's 'CSI: New York,' Land of the Dead, Desperately Seeking Susan) as Prospero, with his real life daughter Ruby Joy (CBC-TV's 'Republic of Doyle') playing Prospero's daughter Miranda. This mystical and magical work opens July 2 and runs to July 16 (previews from June 30) at the brand new Downtown Theatre in Barrie, Ontario presented by TD.

Theatre by the Bay has announced that its upcoming production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, will now be performed at the Georgian Theatre in Georgian College, 1 Georgian Drive in Barrie, rather than the Downtown Theatre as previously announced.

For its 10th anniversary season, Theatre by the Bay is proud to present William Shakespeare's The Tempest, starring acclaimed stage, film and television actor Robert Joy (six seasons of CBS's 'CSI: New York,' Land of the Dead, Desperately Seeking Susan) as Prospero, with his real life daughter Ruby Joy (CBC-TV's 'Republic of Doyle') playing Prospero's daughter Miranda. This mystical and magical work opens July 2 and runs to July 16 (previews from June 30) at the brand new Downtown Theatre in Barrie, Ontario presented by TD.

BWW is thrilled to bring its readers this exclusive opportunity to win tickets to three (3) separate June concerts in Toronto this summer. We want to give you guys an awesome month of Canadian musical theatre talent, and hear about your favourite under-appreciated musical theatre gems. Enter for your chance to win tickets to Louise Pitre's La Vie En Rouge, Geoffrey Tyler's Making Other Plans and Theatre 20's Driven to Score.