Lynn Ahrens News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings the humor and magic of Dr. Seuss to life onstage this summer for young audiences and their families in the Broadway musical comedy Seussical. Playful, energetic and full of whimsy, Seussical engages the imagination with clever lyrics and melodies, unforgettable characters and the colorful world of Dr. Seuss. Seussical is written by the Tony Award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, whose works include Ragtime, Once on This Island and the current Broadway production of Rocky, The Musical. Eric Idle of Monty Python and Spamalot fame co-conceived the musical. Directed by Scott Weinstein with musical direction by Michael Mahler, Seussical will be performed July 5 through August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater.

Cynthia Erivo (I Can't Sing!, The Color Purple) returns to the West End alongside Cassidy Janson (Avenue Q, Wicked, Candide) in the European premiere of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Dessa Rose, running at Trafalgar Studios (Studio 2), Tuesday 29th July - Saturday 30th August 2014. Press night is Thursday, 31st July, 7pm.

Playwrights Horizons has announced initial casting for its upcoming 2014/2015 Season. The announcement includes casting for the first two shows of the season: initial casting for BOOTYCANDY, the New York premiere of a new play written and directed by Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara (In the Continuum, Antebellum, Insurrection: Holding History); and initial casting for GRAND CONCOURSE, the World Premiere of a new play by playwright and two-time Obie Award-winning actress Heidi Schreck (There Are No More Big Secrets, Creature), directed by Kip Fagan (The Revisionist, Asuncion).

The Madison Recreation Department and Playwrights Theatre present ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, A Musical, Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Music by Stephen Flaherty (based Upon The Novel "My Love, My Love" By Rosa Guy).

The Act Too Players (ATP), Williamson County's premier training program for all youths interested in the performing arts will take the stage in June with the production of SEUSSICAL. The productions will run from July 19th and July 20th at the historic Franklin Theatre located in Downtown Franklin, Tennessee.

The cast of ROCKY, including Tony Nominee Andy Karl, Terence Archie and Margo Seibert just welcomed a special guest to the Winter Garden Theatre. Medal of Honor recipient Cpl Kyle Carpenter joined the company on stage during the curtain call, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special night below!

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO, Kate Maguire have announced the Summer 2014 Theatre Season offering classic works coupled with contemporary plays.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Phoenix Entertainment has on its agenda a touring revival of RAGTIME to commence in the Fall of 2015. It will be helmed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who received a Tony Nomination as Best Director for the 2009 Broadway revival. This new tour will be much in the spirit of that production which was nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 2010.

This July, the European premiere of the uniquely stirring musical drama Dessa Rose is coming to London's West End. Dessa Rose is based on the book by Sherley Anne Williams with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical and Rocky The Musical) who have won Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards and been nominated for Grammys, Academy Awards and a Golden Globe.

COCA has announced its events, performances and exhibitions, now through August 2014. Details below!

DR SEUSS's most famous books will come alive at Carine Senior High School this June as part of the popular Seussical musical.

Peggy Eason is one of those characters who seem to have been made for the New York cabaret scene. She's a bodacious woman who is ubiquitous at the local clubs, possesses a passion for singing, and bills herself as the 'Chocolate Diva,' although on stage she's more like a Red Hot Mama. Eason opened her third solo cabaret show, I'll Show Them All, at Don't Tell Mama on Monday night (she's appearing again at the club on Sunday at 7pm) with the decidedly politically incorrect titled song written especially for her by David Conforte, 'Black, Blind and Beautiful' (Hey, 'African American, Visually Challenged and Beautiful' doesn't have the same ring to it.). But there was little that was incorrect about her fast-paced and entertaining show that was often poignant and funny at the same time.

The New York Musical Theater Festival, Stella Entertainment and Quill & Quaver Associates will present the world premiere of the new Australian Musical, THE MAPMAKER'S OPERA, based on the novel "The Mapmakers Opera" by Bea Gonzalez, with a dynamic score based on Gypsy Flamenco, Latino and regional Mexican infused musical styles, July 9-20 at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd St. A moving love story set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, and an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project, THE MAPMAKER'S OPERA is directed by Donald Brenner with book and Lyrics by Victor Kazan and music by Kevin Purcell.

The cast of ROCKY, including Tony Nominee Andy Karl, Terence Archie and Margo Seibert just celebrated a major milestone- 100 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre. The celebration included a special cake by Carlo's Bakery, setting of the hit TLC Show CAKE BOSS, and BroadwayWorld was there for the special event. Check out photos below!

Christopher Barreca won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for ROCKY. This is Christopher Barreca's first Tony nomination. His past scenic design work on Broadway includes Search and Destroy, Marie Christine, and The Violet Hour.

This year's Tony Awards will literally be a knockout! According to the Associated Press, Broadway's Rocky will be preforming the iconic boxing match between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed right on the Radio City Music Hall's stage.

It's that time of year, and I can't help but wonder if your CD collection and iPod are Tonys ready. This Broadway season has some really interesting contenders in the musical categories, and to get you ready for the big night, I'm recapping the albums you should be listening to (or at the very least pre-ordering).

A fascinating collection of cut material from many of this season's new Broadway musicals is now available to peruse via an audio now available of a recent New York Public Library discussion series event, titled CUT.

The Warner Theatre has announced the Warner Stage Company's 2014-15 Season. Season Subscriptions are now available. Other ticket purchases are available in July. Call the Warner Theatre Box Office at 860-489-7180 for more information.

La actriz, que actualmente protagoniza 'El Rey Leon' en Madrid en el papel de Nala, sera Sarah en la produccion de 'Ragtime' del Teatro Comunale di Bologna del 14 al 18 de julio.