Lynn Ahrens News

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld, ANASTASIA - A New Musical is being brought to the stage in a 29-hour reading, which entered rehearsals last week, based on the hit 1997 animated motion picture from Fox Animation Studios. The musical, which is in its early stages of development, will feature the five songs from the film along with fifteen new songs written for the stage. Joining the creative team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will be bookwriter Terrence McNally and music director Ben Cohn. Joining the previously announced cast is Kelli Barrett in the title role of Anya (Anastasia). Patrick Page once again dons the role of the villain, Vladimir. Angela Lansbury will reprise her role from the film as the Empress Maria, and Aaron Tveit will play Dimitri.

Rubicon's Summer Youth Theatre programs continue with the much anticipated Musical Theatre Camp production. Last Summer's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was honored with an Indy Award from the Santa Barbara Independent for Musical Direction by John Enrico Douglas. This Summer, Douglas joins the artistic team again for Once On This Island, a highly original and theatrical Caribbean fairy tale.

In her third Feinstein's engagement, MAC & Bistro Award winner and Broadway's Raissa Katona Bennett (Christine in "Phantom of the Opera") celebrates the release of her latest CD, Another Kind of Light. The concert version of the album premieres Tuesday August 21 at 8pm, playing five shows through August 25.

A 31-member cast, the largest ever assembled for an SCR Players show, will appear in the Summer Players production of Seussical, August 11-12 and 18-19 on South Coast Repertory's Julianne Argyros Stage.

Selections from SYMPATHY JONES - The New Secret Agent Musical includes 11 songs from the new 1960s-set adventure comedy about a young woman who wants to be a spy, written by Masi Asare (composer/lyricist) and Brooke Pierce (bookwriter).

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. Roald Dahl'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays tonight, July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

Scroll down to watch ROCKY's star, Drew Sarich, sing along with heavyweight champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko in a new promo!

Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (LUCKY STIFF, MY FAVORITE YEAR, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, and RAGTIME) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and a little boy with a big imagination--JoJo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Who's.

The producers of the new musical CHAPLIN have just announced full casting for the production, which will star Rob McClure in the title role, as previously announced. The production will also feature Jim Borstelmann (Alf Reeves), Jenn Colella (Hedda Hopper), Erin Mackey (Oona O'Neill), Michael McCormick (Sennett, McGranery, Emcee), Christiane Noll (Hannah Chaplin), Zachary Unger (Young Charlie, Jackie) and Wayne Alan Wilcox (Sydney Chaplin).

The DOMA Theatre Company previously announced its first-ever season - a line up of six Broadway-style musicals sure to 'disturb and delightz'. The series continues with Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical (tonight, July 6 through July 29); Xanadu (Aug. 17-Sept. 9); Once On This Island (Sept. 21-Oct. 14), and a surprise, Tony Award-winning musical to be revealed at a later date (Nov. 2-Dec. 9).

Summer youth programs have begun once again at Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC), with nearly one-hundred students celebrating with events and performances that are perfect for the entire family.

Summer youth programs have begun once again at Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC), with nearly one-hundred students celebrating with events and performances that are perfect for the entire family.

Currently set for the reading are Angela Lansbury and Aaron Lazar, along with the newly announced Aaron Tveit. Tveit - whose Broadway credits include NEXT TO NORMAL and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and who will be seen as Enjolras in the highly anticipated LES MISERABLES film this December - will play Dimitri, the con man who brings Anastasia to the Empress (Lansbury) in an attempt to collect a reward.

The new musical adaptation of ROCKY met the German press, including a mini-concert by the show's stars! The show will open this November in Hamburg under the direction of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Tony nominee Alex Timbers.

Fountain Hills Theater has announced its exciting 2012-13 Season. In what may be the most ambitious season yet presented, FHT brings six great Mainstage shows, four shows mounted in the all-new Mainstage Too, four productions in the Youth Theater and two special engagements. Note that Mainstage Too is brand new this season - when the Youth Theater is dark, FHT will be presenting smaller comedies, plays and musicals in this venue. See full details below.

Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairytale, "The Princess and the Pea," comes to the stage as a musical comedy in Once Upon a Mattress tonight, June 19 - August 5 at the Coterie Theatre in Crown Center.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that casting is now under way for a 29-hour reading of ANASTASIA - A New Musical, based on the hit 1997 animated motion picture from Fox Animation Studios. The musical, which is in its early stages of development will feature the five songs from the film along with fifteen new songs written for the stage.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: KChen takes on City Center, POTTED POTTER comes to America, MAMMA MIA! gets new leads, and so much more!

Atlanta Lyric Theatre, the metro area's only local professional musical theatre company, is pleased to announce its 2012-13 season! With five fantastic shows - Cole Porter's tap-dancing musical extravaganza Anything Goes; Irving Berlin's holiday classic White Christmas; the 1960's pop music revue Beehive; the powerful portrait of life in of turn-of-the-century America in the Tony Award winning Ragtime; and the delightfully eclectic score of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - we look forward to continuing to deliver unforgettable theatrical experiences to our patrons.