Maggie Anderson News

The musical theatre classic Brigadoon, with music by Frederick Loewe and book/lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, is the fourth show in the 2014 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 64th season for the venerable Sacramento institution. Performances are today, August 5 - 10.

Akin to a revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe is made up of songs, songs, and more songs without a single word of dialogue. Like the final tune says 'That Is Rock & Roll'; it's the music of Leiber and Stoller who gave us some of the biggest hits of the 50s like 'Hound Dog', 'Love Potion # 9' and 'Jailhouse Rock'. In a lively revival at Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, the smoke, the cafe and its music are ecstatically displayed by a cast of 9 thrilling vocalists.

The musical theatre classic Brigadoon, with music by Frederick Loewe and book/lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, is the fourth show in the 2014 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 64th season for the venerable Sacramento institution. Performances are August 5 - 10.

California Musical Theatre released casting for the remaining shows in the 64th Music Circus season, a roster of actors including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons, as well as actors with Sacramento-area ties. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes the Music Circus premiere of the beloved Disney classic Mary Poppins, which runs through July 13, as well as other Tony Award-winning shows including Rodgers and Hammerstein's lush South Pacific, Lerner and Loewe's mystical Brigadoon, Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's hilarious La Cage aux Folles, and the singular sensation A Chorus Line, which ended its week-long run on June 29. Music Circus casting for the season is determined after auditions are held in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Goodman Theatre presents Brigadoon. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's legendary musical of Broadway's Golden Age, under director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, tells the enchanting tale of an 18th century Scottish village that appears every century for one day only -- and the complications that arise when it's discovered by two 20th century Americans. Book writer Brian Hill revisits the libretto for this production, while music director Roberta Duchak and an orchestra of 13 use new orchestrations to enhance Loewe's lilting score. Brigadoon runs June 27 to August 10 in the Albert Theatre. Check below for photos from the production!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Brigadoon' and 'The Last Ship' bust their moves, 'Kinky Boots' and 'Jersey Boys' announce returns, midsummer closings loom, 'Marvelettes,' 'Spelling Bee' and 'Seussical' open, the new shows 'Jim And Dave' and 'Apes Of Wrath,' plus a noteworthy trio at Davenport's and more!

Bye Bye Birdie/book by Michael Stewart/music by Charles Strouse; lyrics by Lee Adams/directed by John LaLonde/choreographed by Hector Guerrero/Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, Claremont/through July 13

Casting is complete and rehearsals begin May 20 for Goodman Theatre's new production of Brigadoon-Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's big, beautiful and beguiling song and dance fantasy. Chicago director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, hailed as a "brilliant, insightful, mistress-of-grand-scale musicals" (Chicago Sun-Times) and named "2012 Chicagoan of the Year" by the Chicago Tribune, makes her Goodman debut. Brigadoon runs June 27 - August 3 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, July 7). Tickets ($25 - $93; subject to change) are on sale now, available atGoodmanTheatre.org/Brigadoon, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). JPMorgan Chase is the Major Corporate Sponsor. Allstate Insurance Company and PwC are Corporate Sponsor Partners. Towers Watson is the Opening Night Sponsor. Chicago Tribune is the Media Partner. A full performance calendar follows.

Victor Legra presents a new concert in the Ryan Scott Oliver series THE REHEARSAL ROOM: New Writers Premiering New Work, featuring some of the best new composers and writers of contemporary musical theatre tonight, December 7.

Victor Legra presents a new concert in the Ryan Scott Oliver series THE REHEARSAL ROOM: New Writers Premiering New Work, featuring some of the best new composers and writers of contemporary musical theatre on December 7.

Lysistrata Jones gets back in the game! This time at Pace University. A modern retelling of Aristophanes's 411 B.C. comedy, Lysistrata, Lysistrata Jones tells the story of a group of college cheerleaders refusing to "give it up" until their boyfriends win a basketball game. Penned by Tony Award Nominee Douglas Carter Beane (Cinderella, The Little Dog Laughed, Sister Act, As Bees in Honey Drown) with music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn, this pop musical is presented by PACE University's BFA Musical Theater Program headed by Amy Rogers. The show runs through November 17th at the Schimmel Theatre at Pace University.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 205TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's family musical, ELF. Based on the Hollywood hit, and directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will bring the Sparklejollytwinklejingley to Philadelphia audiences this holiday season. ELF began previews on November 5th, opens tonight, November 13th and runs through January 5th on the WST Mainstage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 205TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's family musical, ELF. Based on the Hollywood hit, and directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will bring the Sparklejollytwinklejingley to Philadelphia audiences this holiday season. ELF began previews on November 5th, opens on November 13th and runs through January 5th on the WST Mainstage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 205TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's family musical, ELF. Based on the Hollywood hit, and directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will bring the Sparklejollytwinklejingley to Philadelphia audiences this holiday season. ELF begins previews on November 5th, opens on November 13th and runs through January 5th on the WST Mainstage. Check out photos below and a behind the scenes video from the photo shoot, right here!

Bellevue Little Theatre will present the musical 'Brigadoon', the first show of our 2013 - 2014 season, on three consecutive week-ends opening Friday Sept. 13, closing on Sunday, Sept. 29. Bellevue Little Theatre is located at 203 W Mission Avenue, Bellevue

On Jan. 21, 2013, Larson and Rodgers Award winning composer-lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver returned to Joe's Pub with a collection of work from his musicals Out of My Head (2005), Mrs. Sharp (2007), Darling (2009), 35mm (2010), Jasper in Deadland (2011), The Frog Prince Cont. (2012). Watch a sampling of performances from the concert below!

This summer, California youth and the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (est. 1995) workshopped Ryan Scott Oliver's brand new Jasper in Deadland, August 5 and 6.

This summer, California youth and the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (est. 1995) will workshop Ryan Scott Oliver's brand new Jasper in Deadland, August 5 and 6.

This summer, California youth and the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (est. 1995) will workshop Ryan Scott Oliver's brand new Jasper in Deadland, August 5 and 6. 'Jasper in Deadland tells the story of 16-year-old Jasper, who loses his best friend Agnes and travels into the afterlife to retrieve her. But this afterlife-'Deadland'-is some kind of freakish, a hybrid of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse and Judeo-Christian mythologies, divided into seven 'circles' where Jasper encounters Cerberus, the demoness Ammut, Loki and his daughter Hel, a psychotic redneck named The Chuckster, and the ever mysterious Mr. Lethe. Will Jasper retrieve his best friend Agnes? Or will he join the Dead forever?'

This summer, California youth and the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (est. 1995) will workshop Ryan Scott Oliver's brand new Jasper in Deadland, August 5 and 6. 'Jasper in Deadland tells the story of 16-year-old Jasper, who loses his best friend Agnes and travels into the afterlife to retrieve her. But this afterlife-'Deadland'-is some kind of freakish, a hybrid of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse and Judeo-Christian mythologies, divided into seven 'circles' where Jasper encounters Cerberus, the demoness Ammut, Loki and his daughter Hel, a psychotic redneck named The Chuckster, and the ever mysterious Mr. Lethe. Will Jasper retrieve his best friend Agnes? Or will he join the Dead forever?'