Lynn Ahrens News

The Olathe Civic Theatre Association (OCTA) Board of Directors has announced its 41st season for 2015-2016, unveiling a balance of genres and directors that promise to propel the theatre into the next phase of its success.

Previews begin tomorrow, today, March 20 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) world premiere of IOWA, a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz. Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt; next season's Antlia Pneumatica at PH), the musical play will be the fifth production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.

Based on the 1994 Albert Finney film, the musical A Man of No Importance played at New York's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Lincoln Center in 2002, then earned 2003's Outer Circle Critics Award for authors Lynn Ahrens (Lyrics), Stephen Flaherty (music), and Terrance McNally (Book.) This past Sunday (for two performances), 54 Below staged a concert version of A Man of No Importance as part of their popular 54 Below Sings . . . series.

Bristol Riverside Theatre explores what it means to be an American with its production of Ragtime tonight, March 17-April 12.

The Old Globe today announced that Broadway veteran David Turner (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Arcadia, Sunday in the Park with George) will star in Jonathan Tolins's (The Twilight of the Golds) acclaimed Off Broadway hit Buyer & Cellar, directed by Ron Lagomarsino (The Last Night of Ballyhoo, My Favorite Year, 'Homefront,' 'Ravenswood').

La Coral Ditirambo, junto a la orquesta del Conservatorio de Música de Molina de Segura, presentará próximamente en Murcia un concierto escenificado del musical 'Ragtime', ganador de 4 premios Tony y considerado como uno de los mejores musicales de la última época.

Tony Award-winning writing team Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty and Tony Award winner Terrence McNally's musical A Man Of No Importance comes to 54 Below on March 15, for an all-star concert presentation. The show played off-Broadway at Lincoln Center in 2002, winning the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Since then it has become a beloved piece done by theaters all over the world. The score of A Man Of No Importance, including songs such as "Princess," "The Streets of Dublin," and "Love Who You Love," is treasured by musical theatre fans.

'Seussical Jr.' - a triumphant journey of excitement, trepidation, fun, amazement and joy based on the books of Dr. Seuss - hits the stage at the Olmsted Performing Arts Center (OPAC) on March 20.

Lynn Ahrens, David Burtka, Erin Davie, Kurt Deutsch, Robert Fairchild, Stephen Flaherty, Marc Kudisch, Susan L. Schulman, Chip Zien and more to appear on show.

The Jewish Channel will broadcast the latest edition of its popular theater-oriented monthly TV show, 'Row J,' to begin airing on demand today, March 10. 'Row J' is hosted by TJC correspondent Meredith Ganzman. The executive producer is Brian Scott Lipton.

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Northern Kentucky University is proud to announce its 2015-2016 Academic Season.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: The Cast of Side Show: Added Attractions; Maureen McGovern: Celebrating Women Singer/Songwriters at 54 Below; Columbia University Songbook featuring David Henry Hwang & More; A Sophisticated Ladies Reunion at 54 Below; and 54 Sings A Man of No Importance.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

On April 8, 2015 at 7:30 pm, Essential Voices USA (EVUSA) will present BEYOND BROADWAY: COMPOSERS GO CHORAL at the DiMenna Space for Classical Music, 450 West 37 Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues), New York City.

North Carolina Theatre is thrilled to announce their 2015/16 Season - bringing some of the very best from Broadway to Downtown Raleigh. This season includes the NC Theatre premiere production of Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, along with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's classic musical Into the Woods, eternal audience favorite Grease and the poignant and powerful play Wit by Margaret Edson. Rounding out the season are two tours presented in association with Broadway Series South; Dirty Dancing-The Classic Story on Stage and Ragtime.

?The Jewish Channel will broadcast the latest edition of its popular theater-oriented monthly TV show, 'Row J,' to begin airing on demand on Tuesday, March 10. 'Row J' is hosted by TJC correspondent Meredith Ganzman. The executive producer is Brian Scott Lipton.

Remember when you were a child and hated to think? Or were you like JoJo with excessively brilliant thinks? No matter! Put yourself into a Dr. Seuss...ical mode and get on down to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center from Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8 only for the final weekend of performances of 3-D Theatricals' exhilarating Seussical the Musical. David Engel, an original member of the Broadway cast, directs with panache and Cathy Rigby leads a delightful cast in a show for youngsters young and old.

Meet Tom, a nerve-wracked school teacher on the eve of his first day of class. Will his students like him? How can he inspire them? His solution is a collection of songs that are none other than the educational, catchy, and, beloved Schoolhouse Rock classics! Kids will have a blast with "Conjunction Junction;" "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly;"and "Verb: That's What's Happening"-and parents will love to revisit favorites like "I'm Just a Bill," (written by local Jazz legend Dave Frishberg). Adults will love this nostalgic trip back to 70's Saturday morning television.

Actress/singer Cathy Rigby is finishing her run with one more weekend as the Cat in the Hat in 3-D Theatricals' production of Seussical The Musical at Redondo Performing Arts Center March 6-8. Rigby talks about her love of this role and other theatrical delights. Why is the Cat in the Hat a favorite role of yours? I saw you play it at your theatre many years ago. Although the Cat seems to create chaos… His main objective in this play is to help 'Jojo' understand that his imagination and creativity are wonderful!!! As well as valuable, and practical! In this story, Jojo's 'Thinks' help him to save 'Whoville' and all the people who live there.