Lauren Pritchard News

Today's top stories: The Spongebob Musical: Live on Stage is available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video, and more!

Artists Striving to End Poverty is celebrating its Eleventh Annual New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP, taking place on Monday, December 9 at 7:00 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public in New York City. A special auction through Charitybuzz will feature exclusive experiences from Moulin Rouge, Jagged Little Pill, Hadestown in addition to Hamilton, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Mean Girls, and so many more!

Lively McCabe Entertainment President Michael Barra proudly announces that Allison Bressi has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Theater.  Since April 2019, Ms. Bressi has worked with the production company as a Creative Development Consultant, assisting on the development of select stage musicals.

To date, Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood, CA has enjoyed record-breaking attendance during its 2019 Winter, Spring and Summer seasons, thus the coming of Fall sets high expectations and comparable goals for Executive Producer Michael Sterling.

It was a banner year for the cutting-edge ensemble of artists led by Founding Artistic Director, Jonathan Judge-Russo. Animus Theatre Company is gearing for an equally exciting Fall 2019.

We're getting an upgrade thanks to Andrew Keenan-Bolger's performance at Be More Chill's final post-show hang! Check out the video to see the Broadway favorite sing 'Blue Hair' alongside the show's Tony-nominated composer Joe Iconis!

Last night, June 19, following the performance of Be More Chill, Lolo (Lauren Pritchard) joined Gerard Canonico on stage for a performance of Joe Iconis' song 'Anymore.' The pair previously starred in Spring Awakening together.

Favorites of stage and screen took to the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center last night to help The 24 Hour Plays mark its 24th anniversary with an intimate production of The 24 Hour Musicals. Erich Bergen, Jessica Hecht, Alex Moffat, Bonnie Milligan and Anthony Rapp were just a few of the exceptional group of artists who joined forces to write, compose, direct and perform four original musicals within 24 hours.

Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team that features original music from six-time Grammy nominee, Sara Bareilles, Waitress is playing until May 19th at the Fisher Theatre. Jenna is an expert pie maker and as the title suggests, a waitress, who dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest could be chance at a new start along with possibly the town's new doctor, but Jenna has to find to find the courage and strength to try. 'We have pie! There's pie in the lobby,' answered Ephie Aardema, who plays Jenna's friend and fellow waitress in the show, when asked about why Detroit audiences should see the show. 'It also has a lot of heart - more than most musicals.' See what else Ephie had to say about Waitress, tour life, and more below:

Lively McCabe Entertainment Co-President Michael Barra proudly announces the expansion of their Columbus Circle office with the hiring of two key executives, Darnetha Lincoln M'Baye and Molly Israel Paul. Ms. M'Baye has joined the company as VP, Head of Music and will be responsible for managing the company's content partnerships with the major music publishers, as well as overseeing the packaging of all music intellectual property elements into the company's stage, film, and television development slates. Also joining Lively McCabe this month is Molly Israel Paul, who will serve as Creative Executive, focusing on the development of new plays adapted from existing IP for the company's exclusive HollyWay collection at Dramatists Play Service. Lively McCabe is also pleased to announce that Jen Bender and Allison Bressi will begin working with the company this month as Creative Development Consultants and will each oversee the development of select stage musicals on behalf of the company.

Lively McCabe Entertainment Co-President Michael Barra proudly announces a slate of three new stage musicals in partnership with licensing agency Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and music powerhouse BMG. These initial three projects, all which will have premiere productions in 2020 (TBA), will feature select music from the BMG catalog, as part of their previously announced partnership with Lively McCabe.

MAX VERNON - the songwriter described by The New Yorker as 'equal parts Bohemia and Broadway' - will conclude his first residency at Joe's Pub, Existential Life Crisis Lullaby, on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00 PM. Following five sold out shows in the last year, he returns with special guests Michael Longoria, Frenchie Davis, Jo Lampert, Lauren Pritchard, Andy Mientus, Fancy Feast, and Sophia Ramos. The spring shows are directed by Ellie Heyman. Vernon received the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, three Drama Desk Award nominations, a Jonathan Larson Grant and the Richard Rodgers Award for his musicals The View UpStairs and KPOP, both of which had critically-acclaimed extended Off-Broadway runs in 2017. KPOP is planning a major new production later this year, and The View UpStairs will have its UK premiere in London this summer. Following a sold-out debut at the Kennedy Center in 2017, Vernon has returned to the New York nightclub stage for an exclusive engagement of high spectacle, high fashion, and high belted F sharps.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) announces the performer and composer lineup for two of their concert events: Intersecting Chords and How The Light Gets In.

Animus Theatre Company (Jonathan Judge-Russo, Founding Artistic Director) in association with the Circle in the Square Professional Workshop, has announced the schedule and casting for its annual 12-Hour Reading Festival, which returns to Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre this Thursday, July 19, beginning at 11:00am. This year's festival, which will showcase the repertoire of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart), will feature company artists will include Haley Bond, Sara Canter, Jonathan Judge-Russo (A Rainy Day in New York, "Law & Order: SVU"), Trevor Kluckman, Alan Langdon, Brad Lemons, Amy Northup, Courtney Shaw and Karen Sours Albisua ("The Chi," "The Bridge").

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW - Broadway's Supper Club - will present the return of BENJAMIN EAKELEY and his jazz band in an encore performance of his acclaimed solo concert "BROADWAY SWINGER, VOLUME 2" on Tuesday, August 14 at 7:00 PM. "BROADWAY SWINGER, VOLUME 2," which chronicles the birth of swing music in the 1930s and the rise of the big bands that lifted American spirits out of the Great Depression, features timeless standards by Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern and other greats who established the 1930s as the Golden Age of American Songwriting.

Animus Theatre Company (Jonathan Judge-Russo, Founding Artistic Director), an artist-driven company whose mission is to explore and illuminate the resilience of the human spirit, is thrilled to announce that their annual 12-Hour Reading Festival will return once again to Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre on Thursday, July 19, beginning at 11:00am. Having previously presented two successful 12-Hour Reading Festivals, the company is excited to announce that this year's festival will showcase the repertoire of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart).

Not to be missed! Two River Theater is now presenting 'Songbird.' Set in Nashville, Tennessee, it is an intriguing story based on Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull' that deals with the complexities of human relationships. Written by Michael Kimmel, with music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard, the show features the finest direction by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, choreography by Marc Kimelman, and musical direction by Kris Kukul.

Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias, Managing Director Michael Hurst) presents Songbird, based on Chekhov's The Seagull, written by Michael Kimmel, with music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch. The choreography is by Marc Kimelman. Music direction and arrangements and orchestrations are by Kristopher Kukul. The press opening is Friday, June 15 at 7pmand performances will continue through Sunday, July 1 in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ.  Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org.

Two River Theater (TRT) is presenting 'Songbird' from June 9 to July 1 in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater. Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, it is written by Michael Kimmel with music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard. Broadwayworld.com had the pleasure of interviewing Deon'te Goodman who plays Rip in Songbird.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.