Jose Llana News

Broadway's best filled a sold-out Al Hirschfeld Theatre with laughter, tears and cheers during the unforgettable ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards on Monday, March 24, 2014, raising a record-breaking $423,182 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

A limited number of $40 rush tickets for the much-anticipated ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards will be released for sale at 6:30 PM Monday, March 24, 2014. The rush tickets will be sold outside the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). They will not be available at the box office. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, cash only and are limited to two tickets per person. The show begins at 8 PM.

The roster of stars continues to expand for Broadway Backwards with today's additions of Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, TV's 'Scandal'), Roger Rees (co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby), Julie White (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Little Dog Laughed), and Rachel York (Encores! Little Me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

The Public Theater's production of David Byrne and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love, begins performances on April 14th with an opening night set for May 1st at The Public Theater's LuEsther Hall for an open-ended commercial run. The principal cast from the 2013 world premiere of Here Lies Love returns, including Ruthie Ann Miles and Jose Llana as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino. Below, check out an extended sneak peek at the production!

Joey Parnes Productions and EMURSIVE (Jonathan Hochwald, Arthur Karpati, and Randy Weiner, principals) today announced casting and dates for The Public Theater's production of David Byrne and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love. Performances will begin on April 14th with an opening night set for May 1st at The Public Theater's LuEsther Hall (425 Lafayette Street, New York City) for an open-ended commercial run. The principal cast from the 2013 world premiere of Here Lies Love returns, including Ruthie Ann Miles and Jose Llana as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino.

Merman's Apprentice, a new musical fable with Book and Lyrics by Stephen Cole (Inventing Mary Martin, After the Fair, The Night of the Hunter, The Road to Qatar!) and Music by David Evans (Birds of Paradise, Children's Letters to God) has been chosen to be the opening show as part of London's Landor Theatre's 'From Page to Stage Festival' today, February 11th and 12th at 7:30pm.

Merman's Apprentice, a new musical fable with Book and Lyrics by Stephen Cole (Inventing Mary Martin, After the Fair, The Night of the Hunter, The Road to Qatar!) and Music by David Evans (Birds of Paradise, Children's Letters to God) has been chosen to be the opening show as part of London's Landor Theatre's 'From Page to Stage Festival' on February 11th and 12th at 7:30pm. There will be an additional presentation for industry professionals on Feb. 13th at 2:30pm at The Concert Artistes' Association at 20 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HP.

Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire are among the top songwriting teams working in the musical theatre today. Their shows written together, including Starting Here Starting Now, Baby, Closer Than Ever, Big, Take Flight, Love Match, and How Do You Do I Love You will be celebrated by Broadway's best in story and song. Their work was just celebrated at 54 Below with WHAT COULD BE BETTER, which was performed earlier this month. Check out highlights from the concert below!

Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire are among the top songwriting teams working in the musical theatre today. Their shows written together, including Starting Here Starting Now, Baby, Closer Than Ever, Big, Take Flight, Love Match, and How Do You Do I Love You will be celebrated by Broadway's best in story and song. Their work was just celebrated at 54 Below with WHAT COULD BE BETTER, which was performed last night, December 17. Check out photos from the concert below!

Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire are among the top songwriting teams working in the musical theatre today. Their shows written together, including Starting Here Starting Now, Baby, Closer Than Ever, Big, Take Flight, Love Match, and How Do You Do I Love You will be celebrated by Broadway's best in story and song. Expect original cast performances recreated, as well as brand new interpretations, and even a world premiere song!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire are among the top songwriting teams working in the musical theatre today. Their shows written together, including Starting Here Starting Now, Baby, Closer Than Ever, Big, Take Flight, Love Match, and How Do You Do I Love You will be celebrated by Broadway's best in story and song. Expect original cast performances recreated, as well as brand new interpretations, and even a world premiere song!

While more Americans would be familiar with Bart's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist from its Oscar-winning film version, the stage show is a craftier invention.

'Oliver' at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn is a musical theater treasure for audiences of all ages during the holiday season.

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! features David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! also features 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! plays the Millburn, New Jersey theater through December 29. The official press opening was last night, December 1, 2013, and BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities. Check out photos from the after party below!

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! features David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! also features 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! plays the Millburn, New Jersey theater through December 29. The official press opening was last night, December 1, 2013, and BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities. Check out photos from the curtain call below!

In a one night only performance in New York City on Monday night, the disco musical 'Here Lies Love' concert for the Philippines raised more than $100,000 to benefit the survivors of supertyphoon Haiyan.

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! plays the Millburn, New Jersey theater through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire are among the top songwriting teams working in the musical theatre today. Their shows written together, including Starting Here Starting Now, Baby, Closer Than Ever, Big, Take Flight, Love Match, and How Do You Do I Love You will be celebrated by Broadway's best in story and song. Expect original cast performances recreated, as well as brand new interpretations, and even a world premiere song!

The original cast of the Public Theater's acclaimed musical HERE LIES LOVE performs a one-time-only special benefit concert in support of the people of the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) today. All proceeds for the special show tonight, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. at Terminal 5 (610 W. 56th Street) will go to support Doctors Without Borders Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) relief efforts in the Philippines.