Kirsten Guenther News

Below, Constantine Maroulis talks about how much he wants audiences to see this show, and more!

The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps) announced today full casting for BREAKING THROUGH, a world premiere musical, with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz. The production is choreographed by Tyce Diorio, directed by Sheldon Epps and begins rehearsals this week. Preview performances begin October 27, 2015 with the official press opening on November 1, 2015 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena).

Transport Group, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and OBIE Award-winning theatre company, by special arrangement with Tony Award winning producer Larry Hirschhorn, will give a private developmental lab presentation of Benny & Joon, a new musical. Based on the 1993 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture starring Aidan Quinn, Johnny Depp, and Mary Stuart Masterson, written by Barry Berman and Leslie McNeil, Benny & Joon features a book by Kirsten Guenther (Breaking Through), music by Nolan Gasser (chief musicologist of pandora.com), and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein (Little Women). Under the direction of Transport Group Artistic Director and five-time Drama Desk nominee Jack Cummings III, the cast features Andrew Samonsky as 'Benny' (Queen of the Mist), Hannah Elless as 'Joon' (Bright Star),Colin Hanlon (Submissions Only), Mamie Parris (See Rock City & Other Destinations), Zak Resnick (Piece of My Heart), Tally Sessions (House of Blue Leaves), Natalie Toro (A Tale of Two Cities), and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Things to Ruin). John DiPinto will music direct.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps) announced today that, Alison Luff (Broadway: Matilda the Musical, Scandalous, GHOST the Musical, Mamma Mia!), and Constantine Maroulis (Broadway: Rock of Ages, Jekyll & Hyde, The Wedding Singer, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), will lead the cast of BREAKING THROUGH, a world premiere musical, with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz. The production is choreographed by Tyce Diorio and directed by Sheldon Epps. Preview performances begin October 27, 2015 with the official press opening on November 1, 2015 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena).

The Pasadena Playhouse announced their 2015-2016 Season today, which includes the award-winning REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES by Josefina Lopez; the World Premiere of the new musical BREAKING THROUGH with a book by Kirsten Guenther and Music and Lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz; the return of Panto at The Playhouse with Lythgoe Family Productions' PETER PAN AND TINKERBELL A PIRATE CHRISTMAS, Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan's FLY produced in association with Crossroads Theatre Company; the West Coast Premiere of Harvey Fierstein's CASA VALENTINA; and an Artistic Director's Choice to be announced at a later date.

The new musical BREAKING THROUGH with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz, will have an industry presentation today, November 5 at Carroll Studios in New York.

The new musical BREAKING THROUGH with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz, will have an industry presentation on Wednesday, November 5 at Carroll Studios in New York.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and twenty-six writers selected for the 2014 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, its fourth year of providing working retreats for musical theatre writers. For nine consecutive weeks beginning June 29th, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. They are provided with a private home, transportation, food, and a stipend. All costs are fully funded by donors including The ASCAP Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers participating this year include Broadway's Mindi Dickstein (Little Women), this year's Kleban Prize winner Nathan Tysen (Burnt Part Boys), and Peter Mills, past winner of the Kleban, Fred Ebb Award, and Richard Rodgers prize. The musicals' subjects cover 19th century nautical mysteries, 20th century fairy tales, a 1970's gay bar, and modern-day meth addicts. Every score is original and styles include 16th century Renaissance, big band, folk, rock, and electronic music.

On the evening of March 10, 2014, Lark Play Development Center held a benefit entitled 'A Transformative Moment, A Celebration with Songs and Scenes Honoring Edward Albee'. The benefit celebrated Lark's 20th anniversary, Edward Albee's inspiring work and the power of playwriting. Scroll down for photos!

Pace University's Pace New Musicals (PNM) program (est. 2007 by Program Head Amy Rogers), dedicated to the discovery of new theater works, and Ryan Scott Oliver, composer- lyricist and producer, will present a staged reading of Little Miss Fix-It (book and lyrics by Kirsten A. Guenther and music by Joy Son) today, January 23-27, 2014.

Pace University's Pace New Musicals (PNM) program (est. 2007 by Program Head Amy Rogers), dedicated to the discovery of new theater works, and Ryan Scott Oliver, composer- lyricist and producer, will present a staged reading of Little Miss Fix-It (book and lyrics by Kirsten A. Guenther and music by Joy Son) on January 23-27, 2014.

The Exchange's Artistic Director, Ari Edelson, has announced the artists and companies who participating in the 2013 Orchard Project Summer Residencies. An unprecedented twenty-one companies, teams, and individual artists have been selected from hundreds of applicants to develop new work at The Exchange's Orchard Project. The Orchard Project (Ari Edelson, Artistic Director, Dean Strober, Executive Director) runs now through June 29, 2013 in New York's Catskill Mountain Preserve.

The Dramatists Guild Fund (DGF) announces that it will begin expanding its Dramatists Guild Fellows Program through collaboration with developmental theater organizations. Each resident theater program will select one playwright or writing team to join their workshop season.

Broadway's Future - presented by Arts and Artists at St. Paul in association with N + N Productions - continues Monday, April 16th at 6PM in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

Producers Andrew Asnes and Timothy Schmidt have announced the New York Premiere of the new musical comedy Rated P for Parenthood.

Producers Andrew Asnes and Timothy Schmidt have announced the New York Premiere of the new musical comedy Rated P for Parenthood.

Joe's Pub will be home to Crazytown Presents, November 14th at 9:30 pm, an evening of musical theatre, monologues, stand-up comedy, performance art and more from the writers of Crazytown Blog, an 'artist's asylum,' interpreted and performed by some of the funniest actors from the worlds of Broadway and Improv.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the eight musicals selected to be part of the 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Joe's Pub will be home to Crazytown Presents, November 14th at 9:30 pm, an evening of musical theatre, monologues, stand-up comedy, performance art and more from the writers of Crazytown Blog, an 'artist's asylum,' interpreted and performed by some of the funniest actors from the worlds of Broadway and Improv.

The Mechanicals Theatre Group, a professional acting company (Los Angeles) has joined forces with Ryan Scott Oliver (Disney's musical adaptation of Freaky Friday) for the LA Premiere of 'Out of My Head', music by Ryan Scott Oliver , book by Kirsten Guenther, and directed by Jacob Harvey.