Lynn Ahrens News

Big Noise Theatre Company, celebrating its 14th season of top-notch, live entertainment at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, is thrilled to announce the full line up of productions for 2013-14. Additionally, Big Noise welcomes back Stacey Flaster to direct the musical RAGTIME, which will be the company's final offering in the Spring.

Last week I began a quest to unite two quintessentially American institutions; sports and musical theatre. Though this might be nothing more than an impossible dream, this is my quest, to follow that goal, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far... I have to take this metaphor. In this week's edition of TRASLATING SPORTS, I will attempt to provide you with enough college football information so that you won't be left with nothing more than a vegetarian bratwurst and a confused look on your face at your neighbor's Labor Day cookout.

Adam Chanler-Berat (Peter and the Starcatcher, Next to Normal), Kerry Butler (Xanadu, Catch Me If You Can) and Alex Gemignani (Chicago, Assassins) will star in an upcoming staged reading of The Dogs of Pripyat Tuesday, September 10th and Wednesday, September 11th. The Dogs of Pripyat features music by Aron Accurso (Assoc. Conductor: Aladdin, Sister Act), lyrics by Jill Abramovitz (Cinderella), and book by Leah Napolin and Abramovitz.

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet, is excited to announce a new feature to its comprehensive regional coverage - the Featured Regional Theater of the Week! Each week, BWW will introduce its readers to a regional theater located in one of our (over 130!) coverage cities. By exploring these different venues, their history and showcasing the production seasons, BWW continues its commitment to expand our presence in communities and cities across the United States. This Week's Featured Regional Theater: Arvada Center for the Arts in Arvada, CO

Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration will run at 54 Below, September 26 - 28, 2013, with featured guests each night.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that ROCKY, will open on Broadway on March 13, 2014, beginning preview performances on February 11 at the historic Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway, New York, NY). ROCKY received its world premiere in fall 2012 in Hamburg, Germany, where it earned unanimous critical raves and continues to play to packed houses.

COCA announces its upcoming events, performances and exhibitions for 2013-14. Details below!

Today we are talking a phenomenally talented performer known for his decades treading the boards in a number of featured and lead roles, most recently wowing crowds with his turn as one of the title characters in THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS - the engaging and golden-voiced Norm Lewis. Discussing many of his most celebrated roles as well as some more obscure, Lewis paints a vivid picture of his career trajectory thus far and shares compelling and candid stories of working on productions as varied and diverse as the original Broadway versions of THE WHO'S TOMMY, SIDE SHOW, THE WILD PARTY, AMOUR, THE LITTLE MERMAID and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM as well as his sensational work regionally in projects such as his recent essaying of Javert in LES MISERABLES at The Muny (to say nothing of the 25th Anniversary live at the 02) as well as turns in SWEENEY TODD and THE WIZARD & I: THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ among many others. Additionally, Lewis sheds some light on his recent onscreen work, clueing us in on how he became involved with hit nighttime soap SCANDAL and how he enjoyeds working with co-stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on it - and if we will possibly see him in Season Three, perhaps. Plus, Lewis opens up about his upcoming solo gigs and performing plans - including first news on his starring part in the upcoming Public Theater musical version of THE TEMPEST - as well as touches upon a host of topics ranging from his appearances at spectacular special events - DREAMGIRLS: IN CONCERT, HAIR: IN CONCERT, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA in the Park - to his appearance in SEX & THE CITY 2 (opposite Liza Minnelli) to recording studio work, dream projects, future goals, favorite workshop/reading experiences and much, much more!

Kids and their favorite grownups will love the WST for Kids' production of Seussical Jr. Based on the works of the one-and-only Dr. Seuss, this fantastical, magical, hour-long musical extravaganza will be performed LIVE at Walnut Street Theatre, September 21 and 28, 2013. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

In the video below, Tartaglia and students from the production chat with 'CBS This Morning' about the importance of the performance to the community. Check it out below!

During the 2013/14 Season an epic slate of personalities and productions awaits you on the Quadracci Powerhouse stage! The monumental, moving, and Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime gives us a glimpse at the early 20th century life of three distinct groups of people, while the side-splitting comedy, Noises Off, peeks behind the curtain at a group of struggling actors. The tumultuous final days of Judy Garland unfold before our eyes in End of the Rainbow, a single virtuoso artist will lead a blazing, contemporary retelling of a Homer classic in An Iliad, and the dynamic birth of Superman will be explored with The History of Invulnerability, forever changing the way we look at superheroes.

For the last 5 weeks, a dedicated team of Broadway professionals - led by 3 of the same individuals who produced a Broadway tribute to the Newtown community in Waterbury last January - has been working with more than 100 Newtown area students in a production of Seussical the Musical. It is the first of what is to be many tangible practices in healing offered by the 12.14 Foundation (the foundation's president and founder, Newtown resident Michael Baroody, serves as Executive Producer of this production). It is comfort and healing in the true sense. The big event was held over the weekend and lyricist Lynn Ahrens left a special message (in rhyme) for the cast in the show's program. Check out what she had to say below!

When more than 100 students from the Newtown area go back to school in the Fall, they will have some amazing tales to tell of their summer. For the last 5 weeks, a dedicated team of Broadway professionals - led by 3 of the same individuals who produced a Broadway tribute to the Newtown community in Waterbury last January - has been working with more than 100 Newtown area students in a production of Seussical the Musical. It is the first of what is to be many tangible practices in healing offered by the 12.14 Foundation (the foundation's president and founder, Newtown resident Michael Baroody, serves as Executive Producer of this production). It is comfort and healing in the true sense. As director Michael Unger works with the cast on their roles, he encourages them to look inward to develop their characters. This is what will eventually be a hallmark program of the 12.14 Foundation as it seeks to strengthen Newtown's youth through the arts. It is something that is mentioned often among these budding artists: that sense of camaraderie and strength.

Since we're living in Houston, I promise I won't be upset with you if you tell me you don't know who Mary Testa is. What you first need to understand is that the theatrical gods divinely intervened in her creation. Imagine if Bette Midler and Patti LuPone had a child and named her Mary. Got it? Good. Now, you're beginning to understand why Mary Testa is a theatrical tour de force. With two Tony Awards and other various New York theatre awards under her belt, she has proven herself to be a phenomenal talent that you should not miss.

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.