Lynn Ahrens News

The new musical ROCKY begins previews February 11 at Broadway's historic Winter Garden Theatre ahead of an official bow on March 13. In the video below, a slew of celebrities and Broadway casts celebrate the start of ROCKY on Broadway by belting out the iconic theme song.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)'s world premiere production of musical WITNESS UGANDA, which begins performances tonight, February 4, is the winner of the 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater. The award was announced yesterday by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Richard Rodgers Awards.

The new musical ROCKY begins previews February 11 at Broadway's historic Winter Garden Theatre ahead of an officialy bow on March 13. Below, check out just-released rehearsal photos with stars Andy Karl, Terence Archie and Margo Seibert!

The winner of the 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater was announced today by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Richard Rodgers Awards.

Therefore, Bob O'Hare's Recovery at Don't Tell Mama on the evening of November 17th may well be one of the greatest surprises beheld in many a moon....It's not simply the fact that O'Hare's truly-lovely voice emerges as never over-coached and with a really terrific natural sound. It's not simply that he's made truly impeccable choices in terms of material, both for not being terribly precocious but also very carefully selected. It is, in point of fact, that this really is what an act is supposed to represent both as what cabaret was in its heyday and what the art form is supposed to be from this point on....The evening's first true high-point rears its head with 'One Step' by Malby and Shire, featuring a spectacular patter sequence, followed shortly thereafter by 'Journey to the Past' by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Award-winning director Eric Michael Gillett once again proves himself as a master of the genre here...O'Hare emerges as triumphant at every turn. The guy has very simply been through hell and back, and it never shows. He couldn't be more quick with a smile or generosity of spirit, and it's truly one of the feel-good evenings of this or any other of the several last cabaret seasons. Should Bob O'Hare and Recovery return, please visit the process. It couldn't possibly be more worth visiting.' - Andrew Martin, NiteLifeExchange

ROCKY just revealed on its official Twitter page a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals for the show's Broadway debut. Scroll down for a photo of Margo Seibert and Andy Karl onstage!

The 2013-2014 Broadway season is particularly notable for its preponderance of screen-to-stage adaptations, ranging from ALADDIN to ROCKY to BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and more - not to mention this week's big announcement of KING KING: THE MUSICAL coming to Broadway soon, as well as BACK TO THE FUTURE hitting the West End - so today we are looking at some of the reasons why these properties in particular are perfect for the boards, and, hopefully, the box office.

The star-studded list of Broadway stars and A-list cabaret performers keeps growing for the 2013 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards Show, to be staged at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street near Astor Place in Manhattan) on February 23 from 6:30-8:40 pm. Added to a stellar group that includes Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Terri White, Jane Monheit and Jason Robert Brown, are Tony Award Winner (now also a cabaret performer) Alice Ripley (photo left), who will perform representing Sondheim Unplugged at 54 Below, which won the BWW Cabaret Award for Best Variety Show or Recurring Series. Broadway favorite Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, Xanadu, Adams Family) will appear to perform and accept her BWW Award for Best Musical Comedy Performance for her show at 54 Below.

Set deep in the heart of the French Antilles, Once On This Island is a love story for all ages. When the dark skinned Ti Moune falls in love with Daniel, a lighter-skinned upper-class man, the gods send her on a journey which tests the power of love against the fear of death. With a joyful Caribbean infused score, dazzling choreography, and stunning theatrical staging, this Olivier award-winning musical will whisk you away on a journey you will not soon forget.

Co-Founders Abby Felder and Robbie Jaeger announce the continuation of Asheville Creative Arts' (ACA) 13/14 season with a concert of SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! Live (March 8 and 9 at the Asheville Masonic Temple) with proceeds to benefit their summer production of the musical version of EB White's classic, CHARLOTTE'S WEB (July 17-27 at NC Stage as part of the Catalyst Series).

Winter in Westchester heats up with the regional community theatre premiere of the contemporary, Caribbean-flavored musical, Once on This Island. With a book and score penned by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Broadway-bound ROCKY, Ragtime), Once on This Island is a highly original and theatrical adaptation of the popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid. In almost non-stop song and dance, the show tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. Fun for the whole family!

Friends in Theater Company will soon present Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Once on this Island, one-night-only production benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York onMonday, January 20, 2014 at 7:30pm at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014). In the video below, Billy Porter, Stark Sands, Annaleigh Ashford, Ann Harada, Santino Fontana, Ryan Steele and more show their support for the cause!

Laura Benanti, Terri White, Jane Monheit, Jason Robert Brown, and the Callaway Sisters Among First Wave of Performers Slated for BroadwayWorld Awards NY Cabaret Show, 2/23

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the rock musical comedy LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, in which a down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, directed by Milissa Carey, with musical direction by Dolores Duran-Cefalu, and choreography by Amanda Folena, plays February 20 - March 9 in the Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills. The public may purchase tickets ($10 - $28) online at www.foothillmusicals.com or by calling (650) 949-7360.

It's finally official. After more than a month of voting--following a month-long nomination process--approximately 7,000 voters have selected the winners of the BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards for 2013. Self-proclaimed cabaret “Diva” Ann Hampton Callaway and her Broadway baby sister Liz Callaway are either the principals or connected to four awards out of this year's 18 categories, including “Best Duo or Group Show” for the return after 18 years of their critically-acclaimed sister act Sibling Revelry, and “Best Tribute Show” to Ann for her exciting homage to Sarah Vaughan, From Sassy to Divine. Ann's musicians for her Sarah Vaughan show at Dizzy's Jazz Club at Lincoln Center took the Award for “Best Band or Orchestra,” and Alex Rybeck received the most votes as “Best Musical Director” for Sibling Revelry, which was staged in August at 54 Below.

Performers from the Musical Theatre and Classical communities will gather to raise funds and awareness for Broadway Impact (www.broadwayimpact.org), the organization of theatre artists and fans mobilized in support of marriage equality.

My Favorite Year with book by Joseph Dougherty, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, opens February 21 and plays through March 16, with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets are only $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and students. Group rates and SelecTickets available. Reservations: 898-9222 (weekdays) or www.adobetheater.org (anytime).

Bailiwick Chicago will launch its 2013-14 season with the Chicago premiere of the thrilling musical drama DESSA ROSE by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning team behind Ragtime, Once on This Island and Seussical!, directed by Artistic Director Lili-Anne Brown with music direction by Collective Member James Morehead. DESSA ROSE plays March 6 - April 5, 2014 at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at and www.victorygardens.org, by calling (773) 871-3000 or in-person at the Victory Gardens Box Office. The press performance is Sunday, March 9 at 7 pm.

For the past week, BroadwayWorld has been counting down the final days of 2013 with video tributes to our 13 favorite musical moments of this year. Now that the ball has dropped and 2014 has officially arrived, we shift gears and look ahead to what is to come in 2014. Below, we count-up to the 14 theatrical events of 2014 that we are most excited for!

Dr. Seuss has given generations of children, and those who read to them, the gift of imagination. In his world, elephants can hatch eggs, entire towns can exist on a speck of dust, and one person can have the courage to save an entire world. In his world, a bird with just one feather can learn the hard way to be satisfied with the blessings she has. In his world, the good inside the human soul is challenged and emerges triumphant, time after time. It is a beautiful world.