Lynne Shankel News

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced this year's directors and music directors for the 34th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which returns in person and takes place on Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21, 2022, at New World Stages.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the lineup of new musicals for their 34th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which returns in person and takes place on Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21, 2022, at New World Stages. See the full lineup of musicals here!

The Broadway Bares: XXX opening number set the stage with the anthem: 'community, unity and nudity.' With Broadway's Bonnie Milligan and Jason Tam as lead vocalists in bedazzled red outfits, more than 20 alluring dancers brought the XXX factor as they ushered the audience into the worlds of the show. Watch the full number her!

The 30th anniversary of Broadway Bares filled New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom on June 26, 2022, with an abundance of “community, unity and nudity” as the venerable modern-day burlesque spectacular wrapped up Pride Sunday with a raucous return to in-person performances after a pandemic-induced three-year hiatus. Watch a video of highlights!

Britta Johnson's LIFE AFTER is a deeply moving and creative new musical that beautifully probes the complexities of grief and the accompanying anxiety and unanswered questions it brings in its wake. See what our critic had to say. 

Fresh off her triumphant turn as host of this year’s Tony Awards, Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose will return to Broadway Bares as a special guest with Ramin Karimloo, Christopher Sieber and, from Broadway’s POTUS, Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura and Julie White.

Out of 163 submissions, the San Diego State University New Musical Initiative has chosen In a Sunshine State as this year's selection. Writers T.C. Lind, Derek Gregor, and Phoebe Kreutz will join with director Stephen Brotebeck, music director Robert Meffe and the SDSU MFA Musical Theatre cohort for a two-year development process and world premiere in the spring of 2024.

The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) will host a showcase to formally launch a new program that broadens the school's offerings: the Carole Caplan Lonner Musical Theatre Writing Program.

Goodman Theatre announced casting for Life After by rising star writer/lyricist/composer Britta Johnson, directed by Annie Tippe. Leading the cast of nine is Samantha Williams as teenaged Alice—a young woman who, in search of facts, uncovers a more complicated truth as she pieces together events of the fateful night that changed her family forever.

The newest production in SDSU’s New Musical Initiative, Postcard American Town will have its world premiere from April 29 – May 5, 2022. Written by Lynne Shankel and Crystal Skillman, this world premiere production will be directed by Professor Stephen Brotebeck, and music directed by Professor Robert Meffe from the School of Theatre, Television, and Film. 

Maestra Music, the not-for-profit organization supporting the women and nonbinary musicians in the musical theater industry, held its second annual concert and community event on March 28.

The winners of the 2022 Richard Rodgers Awards for Musical Theater were announced today by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Both musicals received Staged Reading Awards.

New York Theatre Barn will launch the 9th season of its Choreography Lab on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 7PM ET.

Come in from the cold and check out what’s hot at the 16th Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals. The much-anticipated three-day festival of brand-new works returns to the Goodspeed campus after having been canceled in 2021 due to Covid-19. 

Filled with enchanting performances and inspiring presentations, the upcoming ASCAP Foundation Honors 2021 online event promises to delight audiences near and far while recognizing this year's gifted award winners.

Artists Striving to End Poverty is celebrating its Twelfth Annual New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP, taking place on Monday, December 13th at 7:00 PM at Joe’s Pub at The Public in New York City.

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is having a 10th anniversary virtual fundraiser November 18th at 7:00pm EST, 'Celebrating a Decade of Writers & New Musicals.'

Theatre Aspen will present its second annual one-person show festival, Solo Flights, as the third act of this year’s 38th summer season, launching next Wednesday, August 25 and running through Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at the Hurst Theatre in Aspen, Colorado. 

Drew and Dane Productions has announced that it is moving forward to lead the production of Rain and Zoe Save the World, written by Crystal Skillman with original music by Bobby Cronin.

Ahead of the start of the 38th Season, Theatre Aspen announced today that after a successful first flight, the organization will present its second annual one-person show festival, Solo Flights, as the third act of this year’s summer season, August 25 – 31, 2021 at the Hurst Theatre in Aspen, Colorado.