Lehman Engel News

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. Special weekday Spring Break performances run Friday, April 10th at 12 pm and 2 pm and Thursday April 16th at 11 am.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out returns! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love. Hosted by The Fabulous Jennifer Wren, who made her cabaret debut in 2006 with her revue Love, Rainbows and All at Don't Tell Mama, and resident Musical Director William 'Bill' Zeffiro, singers are encouraged to try out new material, sing the roles that they aspire to play, sing the roles they will never play, or just show off for the joy of it.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce its weekday performances for Washington's Birthday and Midwinter Recess for its production of 'THE PRINCESS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE,' with book by LINDSAY JOELLE, music and lyrics by JUSTIN S. FISCHER and directed by TERESA K. POND. The production continues through March 1st, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. All tickets are $20. The show is appropriate for ages 2 - 8 and animal lovers of all ages. For reservations, visit www.vitaltheatre.org or call (212) 579-0528. VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is located at 2162 Broadway, 4th Floor, at 76th Street, on the Upper West Side.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out returns! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love. Hosted by The Fabulous Jennifer Wren, who made her cabaret debut in 2006 with her revue Love, Rainbows and All at Don't Tell Mama, and resident Musical Director William 'Bill' Zeffiro, singers are encouraged to try out new material, sing the roles that they aspire to play, sing the roles they will never play, or just show off for the joy of it.

After a successful debut in 2006 with her revue Love, Rainbows and All at Don't Tell Mama, singer Jennifer Wren returns with her critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out. Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love. Participants, with the help of resident musical director and co-host William 'Bill' Zeffiro, singers are encouraged to try out new material, sing the roles that they aspire to play, sing the roles they will never play, or just show off for the joy of it.

The American Theatre Wing today announced the recipients of the 2009 Jonathan Larson? Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality.

Masterworks Broadway celebrates the unparalleled Rodgers & Hammerstein catalogue and makes available these gems on all digital service providers and on CD exclusively through ArkivMusic.com CAROUSEL - 1965 Broadway Revival Cast Recording OAKLAHOMA! - 1952 Studio Cast Recording RODGERS CONDUCTS RODGERS The 1965 Music Theater of Lincoln Center recording of CAROUSEL, featuring its original star John Raitt, is extended with tracks from Raitt's 1952 studio recording of excerpts from CAROUSEL, as well as a 1955 studio recording of the musical with opera stars Robert Merrill and Patrice Munsel, led by one of Broadway's most authoritative maestros, Lehman Engel. Digital booklet to include exclusive rare recording session photographs shown for the first time.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce its weekday performances for Washington's Birthday and Midwinter Recess for its production of 'THE PRINCESS OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE,' with book by LINDSAY JOELLE, music and lyrics by JUSTIN S. FISCHER and directed by TERESA K. POND. The production continues through March 1st, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. All tickets are $20. The show is appropriate for ages 2 - 8 and animal lovers of all ages. For reservations, visit www.vitaltheatre.org or call (212) 579-0528. VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is located at 2162 Broadway, 4th Floor, at 76th Street, on the Upper West Side.

The BMI Foundation, Inc. has announced that Columbia University graduate student Jeffrey Simno has won the 2008 Robert Sherman Scholarship. The $1,000 award is made possible through the generosity of Mary Poppins composer Robert Sherman and is given each year to a talented student composer studying musical theatre.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is thrilled to announce that the first complete recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO will be released by Sony Masterworks Broadway on February 3, 2009. The CD is produced by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce $20 Student Rush Tickets available 30 minutes prior to curtain for all performances of the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. Performances Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Regular tickets prices are $45.00; $30 for seniors. After its New York run, LOOKING FOR THE PONY will also be presented at SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org.

I Love a Piano, an enchanting revue of the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, spans over seven decades of American history and includes 64 of Berlin's most enduring and popular favorites. Under the direction and choreography of Ray Roderick (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang national tour), who co-created the show with Michael Berkeley, these show-stopping song and dance numbers performed by a cast of talented young actors bring fresh energy to Berlin's material. I Love a Piano runs January 29-February 15, 2009 at Arena at the Lincoln Theatre.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production began previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continued Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, LOOKING FOR THE PONY will also be presented at SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org. In LOOKING FOR THE PONY, a 2008 National Endowment for the Arts OUTSTANDING NEW AMERICAN PLAY finalist, Eloisa is finally ready to leave a lifeless career in finance to pursue a childhood dream when her sister Lauren is diagnosed with breast cancer. Lauren's perfect life and Eloisa's second chance collide as the sisters join forces to cure all that ails them. As funny as it is heart-breaking, LOOKING FOR THE PONY is a rollercoaster ride through treatment, ambition, loss and acceptance. This play was originally developed and produced by Vital Theatre Company as part of its VITAL SIGNS New Works Festival in 2002. '...the play condenses five years of personal history into ... raw, emotional theatre... I don't know of a more affecting (and effective) testament to the precious human spirit than this gorgeous, compact drama.' - nytheatre.com review of the original short play

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production began previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continued Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, LOOKING FOR THE PONY will also be presented at SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org. In LOOKING FOR THE PONY, a 2008 National Endowment for the Arts OUTSTANDING NEW AMERICAN PLAY finalist, Eloisa is finally ready to leave a lifeless career in finance to pursue a childhood dream when her sister Lauren is diagnosed with breast cancer. Lauren's perfect life and Eloisa's second chance collide as the sisters join forces to cure all that ails them. As funny as it is heart-breaking, LOOKING FOR THE PONY is a rollercoaster ride through treatment, ambition, loss and acceptance. This play was originally developed and produced by Vital Theatre Company as part of its VITAL SIGNS New Works Festival in 2002. '...the play condenses five years of personal history into ... raw, emotional theatre... I don't know of a more affecting (and effective) testament to the precious human spirit than this gorgeous, compact drama.' - nytheatre.com review of the original short play

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production begins previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, LOOKING FOR THE PONY will also be presented at SYNCHRONICITY PERFORMANCE GROUP in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org. In LOOKING FOR THE PONY, a 2008 National Endowment for the Arts OUTSTANDING NEW AMERICAN PLAY finalist, Eloisa is finally ready to leave a lifeless career in finance to pursue a childhood dream when her sister Lauren is diagnosed with breast cancer. Lauren's perfect life and Eloisa's second chance collide as the sisters join forces to cure all that ails them. As funny as it is heart-breaking, LOOKING FOR THE PONY is a rollercoaster ride through treatment, ambition, loss and acceptance. This play was originally developed and produced by Vital Theatre Company as part of its VITAL SIGNS New Works Festival in 2002.

Vital Theatre Company recently announced the rolling world premiere of Looking For The Pony by Andrea Lepcio, directed by Stephan Golux and featuring J. Smith-Cameron, Deidre O'Connell, Lori Funk and Debargo Sanyal. The production begins previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, Looking For The Pony will also be presented at Synchronicity Performance Group in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY has announced the rolling world premiere of LOOKING FOR THE PONY by ANDREA LEPCIO, directed by STEPHAN GOLUX and featuring J. SMITH-CAMERON, DEIRDRE O'CONNELL, LORI FUNK and DEBARGO SANYAL. The production previews on Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at 7pm, and opens on Friday, January 23rd at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th.

Vital Theatre Company recently announced the rolling world premiere of Looking For The Pony by Andrea Lepcio, directed by Stephan Golux and featuring J. Smith-Cameron, Deidre O'Connell, Lori Funk and Debargo Sanyal. The production begins previews on Wednesday, January 21st and opens on Monday, January 26th at 7pm. Performances continue Saturday, January 24th at 4pm and 8pm, Sunday, January 25th at 4pm, and Monday, January 26th at 7pm. From January 28th, there will be performances on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7pm, Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm through February 8th. Tickets are $45.00; $30 for students and seniors (preview tickets are $35.00; $20 for students and seniors.) After its New York run, Looking For The Pony will also be presented at Synchronicity Performance Group in Atlanta in February. To purchase tickets for the New York production, please call (212) 579-0528 or visit www.vitaltheatre.org.

BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Thrives in Adverse Environment as promising playwrights sharpen their skills with expert tutoring and peer feedback. The Great White Way has encountered some challenges recently with celebrated shows closing and theatres running half-empty. Despite these trends, a well-respected workshop fully sponsored by Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) continues to nurture musical theatre scribes and showcase their works to the public.

I Love a Piano, an enchanting revue of the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, spans over seven decades of American history and includes 64 of Berlin's most enduring and popular favorites. Under the direction and choreography of Ray Roderick (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang national tour), who co-created the show with Michael Berkeley, these show-stopping song and dance numbers performed by a cast of talented young actors bring fresh energy to Berlin's material. I Love a Piano runs January 29-February 15, 2009 at Arena at the Lincoln Theatre.