Lynn Ahrens News

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the Broadway cast of The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

Earlier this year, on March 18, Van Dean, Kenny Howard, and Michael J. Moritz, Jr. brought together a melange of Broadway's most impressive young talent for WHEN I GROW UP: BROADWAY'S NEXT GENERATION, a cabaret concert at 54 BELOW. Kenny Howard says that this group inspired him 'not only with their talents but also with a maturity that is far beyond their years.' For this cabaret concert, the children tackle the adult repertoire of their heroes, taking on music from SPRING AWAKENING, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AVENUE Q, [TITLE OF SHOW], and more.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater has announced the dynamic directors and creative teams selected for the 2013/14 Season, The Rep's 60th Anniversary. These talented directors and creative teams will help The Rep continue in its commitment to offer brave, challenging, entertaining, stimulating, thought-provoking and vital works with a distinctive aesthetic.

Travel into the magical musical world of Dr. Seuss and see the author's cherished characters bounce from the page to the stage. Stagecrafters Youth Theatre presents Seussical Jr. July 18th through 21st at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak.

Enjoy the world of Dr. Seuss as The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including JoJo, a Who child who gets in trouble for thinking too many 'thinks.' 'Seussical, Jr.,' a whimsical musical comedy will be performed by Cockpit's Court Jesters Young People's Theatre during today, July 12-21. Performances will be held in the Administration Building (formerly the J Bldg.) Lecture Hall at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Rosedale. All seats are $8 and tickets are available from the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787).

An audience of theatre enthusiasts waited in anticipation at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts last night, when Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, unveiled the thrilling line-up for its 2013-2014 season. Opening with a groundbreaking World Premiere developed at last season's New Works Festival, the line-up will also give Bay Area audiences their first look at a Broadway hit by playwright Jon Robin Baitz (The Substance of Fire, A Fair Country, Three Hotels); an Off-Broadway smash by Kenneth Lin (Fallow, Po Boy Tango); and a historical drama from Lauren Gunderson (Exit, Pursued by a Bear). Also announced is an enchanting musical journey told through little-known Stephen Sondheim gems.

The 12.14 Foundation has just announced that Emmy Award, Tony Award, and Drama Desk Award nominated John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Shrek, Johnny and the Sprites) will portray 'The Cat in the Hat' and lead a cast comprised of 86 Newtown area students in Seussical: The Musical written by Tony Award winning team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The production will be presented August 9, 10 and 11 at Newtown High School.

Magic, mystery, laughter, and three New York premieres are the highlights of the 2013-2014 season at The Centenary Stage Company in their fourth year at the David and Carol Lackland Center. This year will feature eight diverse theatre events in the Lackland Center in addition to the New York premieres.

Julie Atherton, best known for her roles in Avenue Q and Sister Act, will join Keith Jack (BBC Any Dream Will Do), David Hunter (ITV's Superstar) and Stacey McClean (S Club Juniors) for a two-night performance of musical theatre songs at the Greenwich Theatre on 19th and 20th July.

Enjoy the world of Dr. Seuss as The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including JoJo, a Who child who gets in trouble for thinking too many 'thinks.' "Seussical, Jr.," a whimsical musical comedy will be performed by Cockpit's Court Jesters Young People's Theatre during July 12-21. Performances will be held in the Administration Building (formerly the J Bldg.) Lecture Hall at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard, Rosedale. All seats are $8 and tickets are available from the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787).

Seussical: The Musical, one of Broadway's most joyous musicals, written by the esteemed, Tony Award winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, will be presented at the Newtown High School this summer. Authors, Ahrens and Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, My Favorite Year, A Man of No Importance and the upcoming Rockymusical) have expressed their joy that this musical has been selected as the inaugural production of the 1214 Foundation.

It is summer in Houston. The heat index is soaring more and more each day. Moreover, many of our local theatre companies are producing family friendly fare that allows each and every one of us to beat the heat for fun theatrical treats. Championing this campaign is Country Playhouse with their whimsical and captivating production of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' SUESSICAL. The Broadway incarnation tried out in Boston before moving into the Richard Rogers Theatre late in 2000. It was met with lukewarm reviews and closed on May 20, 2001 after 198 performances and 34 previews. Before hitting the road on its first of two national tours, the book underwent extensive revisions because of its marginal showing on Broadway.

Hale Centre Theatre West Valley's production of RAGTIME is exquisite in every way. It could easily be the best theatrical production in Utah this year.

The problem with GENESIS TO BROADWAY is how interesting its proposition is. You find yourself leaning forward, wanting to know more when a particular anecdote is shared, only for it to be replaced by another brief story - like a medley where your favourite song is cut off that moment too soon.

Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith announced the company would scrap its traditional subscription format while producing an ambitious slate of three seasons and nine productions for the Theatre's 2014 76th Anniversary Season. Three "mini-seasons" will feature Rolling World Premieres, 20th century American classics, four extraordinary musicals and an outdoor Shakespeare production beneath the stars.

What a treat to see a brand new theatre company present such a fine opening show like A Man of No Importance! Winner of the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award in New York as Best Off-Broadway Musical, Man..., based on a 1994 film starring Albert Finney, tells a simple but rich story of an ordinary bus conductor in Dublin in 1964 who invests his poetic soul in the spirit of Oscar Wilde and comes up all the richer. Now onstage at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood, A Man of No Importance is a triumph for Good People and director Janet Miller, who has assembled a fantastic cast.

Rebecca Luker announced on the Tonys red carpet tonight: 'I'll be doing THE LITTLE DANCER musical at The Kennedy Center in about a year and a half.' According to the AP, the show is inspired by a Degas sculpture called 'Little Dancer Aged Fourteen', and features book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, with music by Stephen Flaherty and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman.