Ken Billington News

Make no mistake about it: everybody in Tennessee loves Dolly Parton! She's a Volunteer State treasure, a role model for people all over the world and an example of what hard work and a whole lotta heart can achieve. Hell, if Dolly (in Tennessee, no other modifier is needed to identify our favorite daughter) ran for office, she'd be a shoo-in! And it's clear - judging from audience reactions during the national touring company's Nashville kick-off at Tennessee Performing Arts Center - that Tennesseans love 'em some 9 to 5: The Musical, the retooled, refashioned and re-imagined theatrical piece based on the 1980 film in which Dolly made her own screen debut.

Beginning Friday, October 8, 2010, the Broadway company of the international musical smash CHICAGO is pleased to welcome back original cast member Leigh Zimmerman in the starring role of merry murderess Velma Kelly.

Producer John Breglio and Broadway Across America announced that tickets for the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS are now on sale as part of a Broadway Across America 10/11 Season Presentation

9 to 5: The Musical was nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards® including Original Score and received a record breaking 15 Drama Desk nominations including Outstanding Musical.

On Monday, September 13, 2010, the Broadway company of the international musical smash CHICAGO is pleased to welcome back Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt in the role of slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn.

9 to 5: The Musical was nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards® including Original Score and received a record breaking 15 Drama Desk nominations including Outstanding Musical.

On Monday, September 13, 2010, the Broadway company of the international musical smash CHICAGO is pleased to welcome back Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt in the role of slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will open on Broadway on Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). Previews will begin on Thursday, October 7. Prior to Broadway, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is playing a limited engagement at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The production opened on July 31 and runs through September 25 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will open on Broadway on Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). Previews will begin on Thursday, October 7. Prior to Broadway, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is playing a limited engagement at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The production opened on July 31 and runs through September 25 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

PS_Classics_SONDHEIM_ON_SONDHEIM_20010101 As BroadwayWorld previously reported, PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, recorded the original Broadway cast album of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM on June 6th and 7th. The production, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), began performances at Studio 54 on March 19th, opened officially on April 22nd and will close on June 27th. Today, it has been announced that the album will be available beginning August 31, 2010 in both online and retail outlets. The track list has now been unveiled on Amazon.com.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines announces tickets for the upcoming 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL tour will go on sale on Friday, August 27th at 10AM. Tickets may be purchased at the box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (800) 745-8000 and online at CivicCenter.org. Tickets range from $20 to $56. The national tour of 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL will be in Des Moines from Tuesday, October 12th to Sunday, October 17th.

Check out this video of the legendary Dolly Parton promoting the 9 to 5 national tour, which will be kicking off in Nashville at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. The first national tour of 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL featuring music and lyrics by Dolly Parton is coming to Ovens Auditorium Oct. 5-10. Charlotte is only the third stop on the tour.

British stage vet Rhydian Roberts has revealed on BBC Radio that SONDHEIM ON SONDEHIM, which concluded its limited engagement on Broadway on June 27, 2010, will be playing the West End beginning in October. While visiting Richard Bacon's program last week to promote the new stage production of WAR OF THE WORLDS in which he will be appearing, Roberts explained: 'I'm due to go into a Sondheim show in the West End in October...SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM. It's coming over from Broadway so I'll be going in there for a short stint.' Click here to hear the clip (begin at the 59min mark)! This news is allegedly confirmed by Maria Friedman, according to the official Stephen Sondheim Society website.

Nine theater artists will be honored by the Henry Hewes Design Awards Committee during the presentation of its 46th Annual Awards in a luncheon ceremony this fall. Eighty-one theater artists were nominated for outstanding artistry in 46 productions presented during the 2009-2010 New York theater season. (A complete list of nominees follows this awards announcement.)

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines announces tickets for the upcoming 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL tour will go on sale on Friday, August 27th at 10AM. Tickets may be purchased at the box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at (800) 745-8000 and online at CivicCenter.org. Tickets range from $20 to $56. The national tour of 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL will be in Des Moines from Tuesday, October 12th to Sunday, October 17th.

Producer John Breglio and Broadway Across America - Atlanta announced today that tickets for the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS will go on sale Sunday, August 29 at 12 p.m. Ticket prices start at $18.00 and will be available at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street N.E.), all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-982-2787. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. The show will play the Fox Theatre from October 12-17 as part of the Broadway Across America - Atlanta 2010-2011 season.

'We are delighted to bring the new musical comedy, 9 to 5: The Musical to Atlanta,' states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. Not only does it feature songs by the one and only Dolly Parton, a cast of incredible actors including Dee Hoty, Mamie Parris, Joseph Mahowald and more...but the role of Doralee will be played by Georgia's own Diana DeGarmo! Mark your calendar, stick a post-it on your dayrunner, or set an alert on your Android, but don't miss this show at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from September 28-October 3. Tickets are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster outlets, 800-982-2787, www.ticketmaster.com and the Fox Theatre Box Office.

Following a sold out, critically acclaimed and award-winning run Off-Broadway, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will open on Broadway on Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). Previews will begin on Thursday, October 7. Prior to Broadway, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is playing a limited engagement at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The production opened on July 31 and runs through September 25 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. BroadwayWorld was exclusively invited to capture the first SCOTTSBORO company meet and greet in New York City last month and is pleased to bring you Kander, Stroman and Thompson's official welcoming and introduction to the show, in addition to the first official footage from the Guthrie production!

9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. This is the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do -- even in a man's world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business... it's about getting credit and getting even.

Following a sold out, critically acclaimed and award-winning run Off-Broadway, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will open on Broadway on Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). Previews will begin on Thursday, October 7. Prior to Broadway, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is playing a limited engagement at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The production opened on July 31 and runs through September 25 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Below, check out this interview with one of the shows creators, John Kander.