Josh Young News

With Broadway casting details still not announced, Brent Carver has bowed out of the La Jolla run of Stratford's Jesus Christ Superstar and will be replaced by Jeremy Kushnier. Full casting details were announced today, but Carver could not be reached for comment.

Producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland, currently represented Off-Broadway with the hit play Freud's Last Session, has assembled a starry cast for the upcoming special invitational presentation of the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, on Monday, November 14th at the New 42nd Street Studios. This will be only the second public reading of AMAZING GRACE, which has been in development for the past three years. Under the direction of Gabriel Barre, the cast will feature Josh Young (Judas in Broadway's upcoming Jesus Christ Superstar) as John Newton, Laura Michelle Kelly (Olivier Award winner for Mary Poppins), Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown, Side Show), Alan H. Green (Sister Act, Spelling Bee), Chris Hoch (Spamalot, Shrek), and Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!)

On Sunday night the stars of Toronto's musical theatre scene came out to pay tribute to Des McAnuff as he received an honourary doctorate from Ryerson University for his contribution to the arts over the last few decades. Including cast members from the original Toronto production of Jersey Boys and the current Stratford Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar, the evening was filled with good music and fantastic tales from Des' extraordinary life. BWW was on hand to bring its readers exclusive photos from the performances and the after party.

The Royal Conservatory will present a Tribute Concert to honour Des McAnuff, Broadway's Canadian visionary director and Tony Award-winner.

On Sunday October 23rd the Ryerson Theatre School is holding a special one night only concert at Koerner Hall to celebrate the achievements of Tony Award Winning director Des McAnuff. It has been a banner year for McAnuff, with his production of Jesus Christ Superstar a runaway hit at the Stratford Festival and bound for Broadway in March of 2012. The concert will feature songs from many of Des' shows, as well as cast members from Jesus Christ Superstar, Toronto's Jersey Boys and more. BWW spoke to Peggy Shannon, Chair of the Ryerson Theatre School, on what we can expect at the event and on the new scholarship the school is offering in Des' honour.

After the huge success of last year's 2010 BWW Toronto Theatre Awards, we are pleased to be back again this year with a new category (Best Understudy), better nomination and voting system and more deserving shows than ever! Nominations are open until October 31st and voting will commence in November. Be sure to nominate to ensure your favourites aren't left out.

Today, in an extension of the FLASH FRIDAY column, we are sharpening our focus on the six upcoming revivals of musicals that are soon to hit the boards in the next few months (post-FOLLIES) and battle it out for the Best Revival as the Broadway season heats up just when the weather begins to cool: the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical that originally starred that star-of-stars, Barbra Streisand - FUNNY GIRL; the groundbreaking rock opera that rewrote the theatrical rulebook thanks to young creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; the hippie, flower child take on the Christ story covering some similar Biblical ground to that of SUPERSTAR, with this one being the composing debut of WICKED songwriter Stephen Schwartz - GODSPELL; another Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that won seven Tony Awards and acted as the vehicle for Patti LuPone's blazing Broadway debut in a starring role - EVITA; the significantly reworked, revised and rewritten new version of the beautifully scored time-travel musical by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, this time starring a male movie star crooner - ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER; and, the landmark American opera composed by the Gershwins with DuBose Haywerd - PORGY & BESS. While each and every one of these entities has a huge hit song or two that nearly everyone on the planet knows by heart - "Don't Rain On My Parade", "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Day By Day", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On A Clear Day…" and 'Summertime' included - each of these revivals also comes after a film version (or two) that, in more than a few of these cases, will be relatively difficult to top as far as expectations of many audience members undoubtedly will go. So, by taking a listen to the smash hit crossover songs from these musicals as well as looking at their respective film version's trailers - as well as a couple of surprises, too - perhaps we can glean some insight into what makes these generally pretty terrific properties so well worth reviving on Broadway, here, now, today, in 2011. Furthermore, all of this crystal ball commentary is not even taking into account the starry assortment of performers that have already been announced for these productions so far - especially with FUNNY GIRL's Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale, GODSPELL's Hunter Parrish, SUPERSTAR's lauded Josh Young, EVITA's Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris, PORGY's Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, as well as the leading man in what was once a leading lady's role (that of Barbara Harris) in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, Harry Connick, Jr.! What a tight race it is turning out to be for these new productions, particularly come Tony time in June! With rock to rhumba and borscht belt comedy to messianic hosannas and even full-out opera, seemingly every conceivable customer base is more than covered by this packed, potentially, well, awesome, season of shows - and many Broadway babies around BroadwayWorld are undoubtedly looking most forward to these six forthcoming revivals - with particularly good reason given the relative dearth of new musicals announced so far. So, let these revivals revive your flagging spirits as we leap into the 2011-2012 season with this comprehensive prospective and retrospective all about what makes them work so well in the first place and so worthy of another look!

It was announced today that The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will open at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway on Thursday, March 22, 2012. Previews will begin Thursday, March 1, 2012.

In light of yesterday's announcement that the Stratford production of Jesus Christ Superstar is Broadway bound in March of 2012, it seems a perfect time to feature the last in our series of profile interviews with this talented Canadian cast. Today we are speaking with Josh Young, one of Stratford's hottest leading men, who plays Judas in the production. He talks to us about the incredible Superstar journey, why people should come see this production, and (what were at that time) Broadway rumours.

In November, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will open at La Jolla Playhouse with Des McAnuff directing. However, no plans are confirmed on it's expected move to Broadway, according to Sign On San Diego.

The Royal Conservatory announced recently a Tribute Concert to honour Des McAnuff, Broadway's Canadian visionary director and Tony Award-winner.

Today, Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that the show will then head to Broadway this Spring, playing the Neil Simon Theatre.

Stratford Shakespeare Festival's new production of Jesus Christ Superstar opened at The Avon Theatre on Friday June 3rd to outstanding reviews with audiences and critics alike raving about this magnificent new take on the now four decade old show. Directed by Des McAnuff, the show tells the story of the last week of Christ's life. Since the show's opened, there has been a flood of theatre insiders travelling to Toronto to see the show to discuss moving it to Broadway.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced that the acclaimed Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus and Stratford Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will replace the previously-announced musical Finding Neverland. This thrilling revival will run in the Mandell Weiss Theatre November 18 - December 31, 2011.

Stratford Shakespeare Festival's new production of Jesus Christ Superstar opened at The Avon Theatre on Friday June 3rd to outstanding reviews with audiences and critics alike raving about this magnificent new take on the now four decade old show. Directed by Des McAnuff, the show tells the story of the last week of Christ's life. Since the show's opened, there has been a flood of theatre insiders travelling to Toronto to see the show to discuss moving it to Broadway. The cast recently visited CBC Radio, where they performed 'Heaven on Their Minds,' 'I Don't Know How to Love Him,' and 'Gethsemane.' Click here to listen to the broadcast.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice both travelled to see the show and came away from their experiences - wildly enthusiastic. Now, Michael Riedel in the New York Post has picked up on the trail this morning, and he adds fuel to the fire that has the show likely to come to Broadway in the Spring of 2012.

Now, the paper reports that 'Tim Rice, the lyricist of Jesus Christ Superstar, attended the Wednesday night performance of his show at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival less than two weeks after his composer colleague, Andrew Lloyd Webber undertook the same journey. This only served to underscore the constant rumbling since the show's June 3 opening that it was headed for Broadway - fast. If both of the show's creators give this production their blessing, then the chances of it going to Broadway have just grown exponentially.