Lisa Helmi Johanson News

The 5th Avenue Theatre joins with producing partner Pasadena Playhouse in announcing that Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit will lead the cast of the world premiere of Waterfall, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story, featuring a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20.

Producers Southpaw Entertainment (Richard Lewis, CEO) and CJ E&M (Byeong-seok Kim, Senior Vice President) previously announced that August Rush, a new musical based on the critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated 2007 motion picture, which starred Robin Williams and Freddie Highmore, will have a developmental lab presentation today and tomorrow, December 9 and 10, 2014.

Producers Southpaw Entertainment (Richard Lewis, CEO) and CJ E&M (Byeong-seok Kim, Senior Vice President) announced today that August Rush, a new musical based on the critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated 2007 motion picture, which starred Robin Williams and Freddie Highmore, will have a developmental lab presentation in December 2014.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter, LLC present Rescue Rue, a new musical fairytale with puppets; Concept, Book and Additional Lyrics by Stacey Weingarten, and Music and Lyrics by Kate Steinberg & Joshua Zecher-Ross. Stacey Weingarten directs a cast of seven including Jennifer Barnhart* (Bway: Avenue Q), Nate Begle(Off Bway: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Sarah Liz Haines* (Off Bway: Freckle Face Strawberry), Jason Jacoby* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Lisa Helmi Johanson* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Brendan Malafronte (Nat. Tour: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), and Gretchen Wylder* (Off Bway: 'Til Divorce Do Us Part). Rescue Rue will be staged at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from July 8-20, 2014. A special TDF Autism-Friendly performance will be held at July 20th at 11am. The Pershing Square Signature Center is the official hub of The New York Musical Theatre Festival. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

Tony-nominated actress Mary Bridget Davies caught a performance of AVENUE Q at the New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Sunday, May 11th, 2014. Scroll down for photos of her with the company!

Voting is now underway for St. Louis! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for St. Louis! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for St. Louis! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for St. Louis! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for St. Louis! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Featured in this week's event were the casts of Soul Doctor, Avenue Q, Storyville, Gazillion Bubble Show and Rock of Ages. BroadwayWorld brings you full photo coverage below!

Featured in this week's event was the cast of Avenue (Darren Bluestone, Veronica Kuehn, Jason Jacoby, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Nicholas Kohn, Sala Iwamatsu, Danielle K. Thomas) performing 'Purpose/It Sucks to Be Me,' 'Everyone's A Little Bit Racist,' and 'For Now.' Check out highlights below!

Broadway Sessions is thrilled to welcome cast members from Tony Award winning musical Avenue Q and more on April 4th.

While watching playwright Amy Herzog's wonderful play, 4000 MILES, I kept being reminded of my own relationship with my grandmother (on my mother's side of the family) who passed away many years ago (unfortunately, I never met my grandmother on my father's side). I secretly wished that I had been able to speak with her with the same amount of candor and openness that the character of Leo is able to in the play, but I was simply much too young, and she was far too reserved for that to have ever happened. That being said, the experience of watching these two interact was tremendously affecting, and something that will stay with me for a very long time. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has put together a great show that's both hilarious and extremely touching, and it features a terrific cast. I found it to be a marvelous production, and I highly recommend it.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2012-2013 Studio Theatre series with the funny and moving drama 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog. This heartfelt production will be performed in the Emerson Studio Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, January 16-February 3, 2013.

American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles recently appeared as a celebrity speller in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, N.Y. This production is part of the inaugural season of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. Check out the picture below of Bareilles with the cast of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

Watching six kids all vying for a spelling bee championship title will make the audience realize that they are indeed, not smarter than a fifth grader.

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival presents SPELLING BEE at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, now playing through September 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Bringing Voices to Light A Benefit Concert to Support Global Internet Access was held at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Monday, June 13th at 7PM, featuring Alex Brightman, Adam Halpin, Nadine Malouf, Megan Reinking, A.J. Shively.The evening will feature the original music and lyrics of David Levinson (Les Enfants de Paris, Bàthory, NYMF Next Link Finalist 2009 ) along with some of Broadway's rising talents to sing on behalf of human rights and global digital access.

Bringing Voices to Light A Benefit Concert to Support Global Internet Access will be presented at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Monday, June 13th at 7PM.