Lynn Ahrens News

The DOMA Theatre Company has announced its first-ever season - a line up of six Broadway-style musicals sure to 'disturb and delightz': The Who's Tommy (March 23-April 15); Songs For A New World (May 11-June 3); Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical (July 6-29); 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).

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the Winter-Spring, 2012 Season of Children's Programming.

On Monday, April 30, The New York Pops marks its 29th birthday with a grand gala evening titled 'Journey On' honoring Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning and Oscar-nominated songwriting team of such renowned Broadway musicals as Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical, My Favorite Year, A Man of No Importance, The Glorious Ones and the feature film Anastasia.

The Growing Stage's current production of the popular musical SEUSSICAL is a family affair for the Graham family, with mom Maggie Graham starring in the role of Mayzie La Bird, dad Steve Graham as The Cat in the Hat, and kids Amelia and Ethan featured as citizens of Whoville.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey is proud to present SEUSSICAL through April 1st with performances Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM.

On Friday March 9 and Sunday March 11, debonair Broadway tenor Brian Stokes Mitchell graced the stage of the Broad in Santa Monica for an intimate concert of standard tunes and Broadway favorites. Called by some critics the last Broadway leading man, Mitchell, or Stokes, as he prefers to be called, is handsome and possesses an astoundingly rich vocal instrument, but it is his warm, up-close charismatic approach to the material that is most winning. He makes you feel like you are at home with him, his wife and eight year-old son, as he shares some of his favorite tunes and embarrassing moments onstage. There's the time when he was performing Kiss Me Kate on Broadway and forgot the lyrics to 'Where Is the Life That Late I Led'. He looked down into the orchestra pit for assistance from musical director Paul Gemignani, who looked back at him and shrugged. Stokes proceeded in our presence to essay the number reading the lyrics from a tiny notebook which he pulled from the breast pocket of his suit jacket. It is this type of small human touch that characterizes the man and makes him vulnerable and totally likeable.

Gary Naylor sees the genesis of many comic characters still with us today.

Cabaret with a View returns to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Monday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. with singer/songwriter Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons in "The Next Best Thing to Love." Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the series offers audiences a chance to sit on the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion to experience music in an intimate setting and a climate controlled environment. The evening will include both pop favorites as well as a sampling of Stovall's original music.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey is proud to present SEUSSICAL from March 9th to April 1st with performances Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM. Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens, and based on the works of Dr. Seuss. SEUSSICAL is directed by TGS founder and executive Director Steve Fredericks with choreography by Jillian Petrie and musical direction by Laura Petrie.

What happens once the Ugly Duckling comes out of her shell? She takes a show business journey to become a singing swan superstar! Kansas City audiences can catch the one-night-only performance of Lucky Duck by the Coterie Theatre at 7 p.m. March 8 at the Folly Theater, 1020 Central. The musical comedy with its Kansas City cast will then take flight for its debut at the New Victory Theater in New York March 16-25.

Musical Theatre and Jazz Workshop members, friends and colleagues of Jean Banks, who managed BMI's jazz and musical theater department for more than a quarter century, will come together Thursday, March 8 at 5:30 PM at the Snapple Theater for a celebration of her life and her professional calling.

First Night Award-winning actress-cabaret artist, music director, conductor, all-around theater personality-Ginger Newman tackles the role of "Mama Rose" in the musical theater classic Gypsy to highlight the 2012-13 season at The Keeton Theatre, which celebrates its tenth year with shows to appeal to both theater and movie aficionados alike, featuring several local premieres heretofore unproduced by Nashville area companies.

Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons will hold its annual Spring Gala on Monday evening, June 11th at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Titled "The Highest Standard", the evening will celebrate its five Pulitzer Prize-winning productions and honor the creators of these memorable works for the theater. The honorees are James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George), Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park), Stephen Sondheim (Sunday in the Park with George), Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy), Wendy Wasserstein (The Heidi Chronicles) and Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife).

Casting is now complete for the European premiere of Lynn Ahrens' and Stephen Flaherty's multiple Drama Desk-nominated Off-Broadway musical, The Glorious Ones, which will play at the Landor Theatre, London, from Tuesday March 6 to Saturday April 7.

After winning major critical acclaim with a revival of Lynn Ahrens' and Stephen Flaherty's Broadway musical, Ragtime - winning 3 Off West End Theatre?Awards and nominated Best?Musical Revival in the Whatsonstage Awards - the Landor Theatre is to present the European premiere of the composing duo's multiple Drama Desk-nominated Off-Broadway musical, The Glorious Ones.

SINGERS FORUM announced the production of SHOWSTOPPERS, directed and hosted by Eric Michael Gillett.

SINGERS FORUM is pleased to announce the production of SHOWSTOPPERS, directed and hosted by Eric Michael Gillett. The event is a benefit for the Singers Forum Actors Equity Scholarship Program, which offers members of Actors Equity Association affordable vocal lessons.

StageWrite just launched its new iPad App with lots of theatre veterans in attendance including:Susan Stroman, John Tartaglia, Sierra Boggess, Joshua Henry, Will Swenson, Scott Ellis, Felipe Gamba of Disney Theatricals, Lynn Ahrens/Stephen Flaherty - composer/lyricist team for 'Ragtime', Rebecca Luker, Danny Burstein, Robert Petkoff, Matt Cavenaugh, Jenny Powers, and many more.

Musical Theatre and Jazz Workshop members, friends and colleagues of Jean Banks, who managed BMI's jazz and musical theater department for more than a quarter century, will come together Thursday, March 8 at 5:30 PM at the Snapple Theater for a celebration of her life and her professional calling.

What happens once the Ugly Duckling comes out of her shell? She takes a show business journey to become a singing swan superstar! Kansas City audiences can catch the one-night-only performance of Lucky Duck by the Coterie Theatre at 7 p.m. March 8 at the Folly Theater, 1020 Central. The musical comedy with its Kansas City cast will then take flight for its debut at the New Victory Theater in New York March 16-25.