Ken Billington News

Australian producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones are thrilled to announce that Australian superstar Jason Donovan will be joining the cast of the multi-award winning, record breaking musical CHICAGO this December in Melbourne. Playing the role of the cunning and charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn, this will be the first time Jason has appeared on stage in a musical in Australia.

Last night, Donna Marie Asbury played her final performance in the Broadway hit Chicago after 20 years in the ensemble role of 'June,' as well as covering the roles of 'Velma Kelly' and 'Matron 'Mama' Morton'. We've got a peek at her final bow at the iconic show. Be sure to check out the full video!

The York Theatre Company announces a one-week extension of the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, in association with Riki Kane Larimer and Keylight Productions, presents the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner. Enter Laughing: The Musical, with direction and musical staging by York Theatre favorite Stuart Ross (York's Forever Plaid, Enter Laughing), music direction by Phil Reno (Something Rotten), and choreography by Jennifer Paulson-Lee (Enter Laughing), returns to kick off The York's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, in association with Riki Kane Larimer and Keylight Productions, presents the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner. Enter Laughing: The Musical, with direction and musical staging by York Theatre favorite Stuart Ross (York's Forever Plaid, Enter Laughing), music direction by Phil Reno (Something Rotten), and choreography by Jennifer Paulson-Lee (Enter Laughing), returns to kick off The York's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Chicago is giving us a peek at all the razzle dazzle of the show's original 1975 production with this throwback to Broadway's original Velma Kelly, Chita Rivera, performing 'All That Jazz' choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse! Check out the footage below!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, in association with Riki Kane Larimer and Keylight Productions, presents the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner. Enter Laughing: The Musical, with direction and musical staging by York Theatre favorite Stuart Ross (York's Forever Plaid, Enter Laughing) , music direction by Phil Reno (Something Rotten), and choreography by Jennifer Paulson-Lee (Enter Laughing), returns to kick off The York's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration. Performances began May 7, 2019 for a limited return engagement through Sunday, June 9, 2019 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is TONIGHT, May 16, 2019 at 6:45 p.m.

Chicago announced today that actress Desi Oakley will join the Broadway production in the role of "Roxie Hart" for six weeks of performances at the Ambassador Theatre

The York Theatre Company presents the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner.

This week marks the thirteenth anniversary of the opening night of the Tony Award-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone at Broadway's Marquis Theatre! To celebrate the occasion, we're throwing it back to the show's opening night featuring Broadway favorites including Sutton Foster and 2019 Tony Award nominee Beth Leavel. Check out all the footage below!

The York Theatre Company presents the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner.

Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is proud to present the award-winning musical CHICAGO from June 4-9 in Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. SPA and CHICAGO will welcome NFL Legend, Heisman Trophy winner and former Houston Oiler Eddie George starring in the role of "Billy Flynn."

Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) and the touring company of the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical CHICAGO will welcome NFL Legend, Heisman Trophy winner and former Houston Oiler Eddie George making to the role of "Billy Flynn."

The York Theatre Company presents the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical

The York Theatre Company has announced the cast and creative team for the return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner. 

BroadwayWorld has learned that Susan Stroman (currently working on Marie, Dancing Still in Seattle) will stage DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda Spectacular Live at the Venetian Theatre in Macau, a leading destination resort in Asia.

A new StageAround production of the legendary musical West Side Story will debut at IHI Stage Around Tokyo, Japan in August 2019. West Side Story, a musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim based on a conception of Jerome Robbins, will be directed by David Saint with choreography restaged by Julio Monge, who recently staged an outdoor production of West Side Story in Sydney, Australia.

Dear Readers, in my capacity as a reviewer and as a musical theater geek at large, I've been privileged to witness more than a few out of town tryouts, those plucky wanna-be Broadway shows taking a shot in another city. Both here at home and abroad, I occasionally get a glimpse at greatness in the making, and yes, some at the 5th Avenue Theatre. I remember marveling at the glory of 'Memphis' and not being able to contain my enthusiasm or stay in my seat during the curtain call of 'Hairspray'. But not all are winners. (I'm looking at you, 'Princesses'.) So, each and every time the 5th Avenue announces their next great new musical, I'm a little trepidatious even when the show is from two of my favorite composers, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, not to mention directed and choregraphed by the indomitable Susan Stroman. So along came 'Little Dancer' which many whom I mentioned it to thought was an Elton John jukebox musical. (Wrong lyric, guys. That's 'Tiny Dancer'.) Then the show was changed to 'Marie', possibly owing to such confusion and finally to 'Marie, Dancing Still'. But whether they want to call it 'Little Dancer', or 'Marie, Dancing Still' or 'How Degas Got His Groove Back', what they have is a bona fide, must see, must cry throughout, accept no substitutes, hit in the making and a definite addition to my list of shows I was honored to catch early on.

It has been confirmed today that the multi-award winning, record breaking musical CHICAGO is coming to Melbourne next summer! Produced in Australia by John Frost and Suzanne Jones, this Australian production will premiere at Sydney's Capitol Theatre in August before the Brisbane season in November at QPAC's Lyric Theatre and culminating in a season at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne from December.

March Madness may be in town but Midlands stages are still open for business!