Marc Shaiman News

Billy Crystal, who 22 years ago served as Leno's very first guest, gave a monologue of his own to close out his good friend's run on the show.

Sheryl Crow, Carol Burnett, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Jack Black, NBA star Chris Paul and Jim Parsons and Billy Crystal surprised Jay with a musical performance!

The West End is getting a new Willy Wonka. Taking over for Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Douglas Hodge in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be fellow Olivier-winner Alex Jennings, according to the Daily Mail. Directed by Sam Mendes, the production opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 25 June 2013 and recently extended through May 20, 2015. Hodge's last performance is set for May 17, with Jennings taking over May 19, 2014.

On Monday, April 28, 2014, The New York Pops marks its 31st birthday with a grand gala evening celebrating the work of musical honoree Marc Shaiman and musical honoree Scott Wittman, as well as the leadership and mentorship work of corporate honoree Paul J. Massey, Jr., CEO and Founding Partner of Massey Knakal Realty Services. Gala Co-Chairs include Neil Heilberg, Todd Korren, William C. Montana, and James A. Read. Serving as Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are stars Matthew Broderick, Debra Messing, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Applications are now open for five 'Golden Ticket' week-long, paid work experience placements on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which will provide five people with a unique insight into the working world of theatre. What's more, at the end of the week, the most promising candidate will be rewarded with a life-changing three-month paid placement as production intern, working alongside some of the most experienced people in the business.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced this week's performances (Jan. 27 - Feb. 3), including LAPHAM'S QUARTERLY, EWALT & WALKER, GRAHAM REYNOLDS & THE GOLDEN ARM TRIOFLOANNE & THE THIRD SET, LAURA CANTRELL, BRIDGET EVERETT RIVER WHYLESS, NEVER SLEEP ALONE, PAULETTA WASHINGTON VINCENT D'ONOFRIO & DANA LYN, BRIDGET BARKAN, PAM ANN DAVID AMRAM WITH THE AMIGOS BAND, CHARLOTTE MARTIN TONY TRISCHKA, and THE CIVILIANS.

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory today announced that it is extending its run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 20 May 2015. The new booking period will go on sale on 7 February 2014.

Debbie Allen and Jenifer Lewis are set to team up for an homage to SUNSET BOULEVARD to be titled 'Ventura Boulevard'. Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner Marc Shaiman (Sleepless in Seattle, The American President, Hairspray) will compose the score.

Earlier this month, BroadwayWorld uncovered a vintage video featuring Broadway legend Patti LuPone in 'Love Cycle: A Soap Operetta', a 'mini-musical' made for PBS in 1984 which was never broadcast. The mini-musical also featured a full cast of up-and-coming stars of the 1980's, including: Walter Bobbie, Lonny Price, Martin Vidnovic, Priscilla Lopez and Ellen Foley. If you missed it the first time, catch the full operetta below!

Don't Quit Your Night Job, returned to its new home at 54 Below in New York City on Thursday, January 16th, 11:30pm. Scroll down for photos!

Katharine McPhee performed some of the songs from NBC's SMASH in Florida concerts last January 11 and 13, 2014. McPhee of course is known for playing the ingenue Karen Cartwright in the Broadway-filled TV show.

On March 21, 2014, The New York Pops continues its 31st season at Carnegie Hall with On Broadway, an evening celebrating some of Broadway's most unforgettable hits from the past and present, featuring Tony Award nominees Stephanie J. Block and Andrew Rannells. Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley were previously slated to perform but are unable to appear due to scheduling conflicts.

Don't Quit Your Night Job, returns to its new home at 54 Below in New York City on Thursday, January 16th, 11:30pm. Joining creators STEVE ROSEN, SARAH SALTZBERG and DAN LIPTON will be DERRICK BASKIN (Memphis), Tony nominee JOHN ELLISON CONLEE (The Watson Intelligence), LILLA CRAWFORD (Annie, upcoming 'Into The Woods' film), LEA DeLARIA (Orange is the New Black), ALEXANDER GEMIGNANI (Les Miserables), JASON KRAVITS (Relatively Speaking, 'The Michael J. Fox Show'), Tony nominated composer lyricists BENJ PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL (A Christmas Story, Dogfight), EPHRAIM SYKES (Motown, Newsies), Tony nominee MARY TESTA (Disaster! Queen of the Mist), and stage, tv, film icon, and the star of the critically acclaimed and soon to arrive on broadway - Honeymoon in Vegas... TONY DANZA! With DJ's Andrew Andrew (Girls), and a special visit from DAVID ROSSMER. Featuring DAMIEN BASSMAN (The Addams Family) on drums, RACHEL MAIER (Soul Doctor) on stage management; and presented by LIPTON, ROSEN, SALTZBERG and SHOSHANA FEINSTEIN

Today in 2009, Hairspraiy closed at the Neil Simon Theatre after 2,641 performances. Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and 'downtown' rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show.

When it comes to the question of what I'm most looking forward to in 2014, I have but three words: Grease. Two. Live.

Top theatre I had the pleasure of seeing in San Diego in 2013!

Continuing December 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM, The New York Pops will present an evening full of holiday cheer at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with Ashley Brown and Essential Voices USA. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke - described byThe New York Times as a 'polished, welcoming host' who is 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude' - will lead the orchestra and guest artist Ashley Brown in a festive concert featuring traditional favorites and new holiday hits. Below, check out photos from the show!

Continuing December 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM, The New York Pops will present an evening full of holiday cheer at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with Ashley Brown and Essential Voices USA. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke - described byThe New York Times as a 'polished, welcoming host' who is 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude' - will lead the orchestra and guest artist Ashley Brown in a festive concert featuring traditional favorites and new holiday hits. Below, check out photos from rehearsal!

Don't Quit Your Night Job returns to its new home at 54 Below in New York City on December 19th, 11:30pm. Joining creators Steve Rosen, Sarah Saltzberg and Dan Lipton are a slew of Broadway performers.

Don't Quit Your Night Job recently returned to New York City at its new home, 54 Below. Joining creators Steve Rosen, Sarah Saltzberg and Dan Lipton were Derrick Baskin (Memphis), Jen Cody (The Frog Princess), Lea DeLaria (Orange Is The New Black), Tony Nominee Hunter Foster (Hands On A Hardbody),Asmeret Ghebremichael (The Book Of Mormon), Jackie Hoffman (Xanadu), Tony Nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger(Glass Menagerie), Jason Kravits (Relatively Speaking) ,Zachary Levi (First Date), Caleb McLaughlin (The Lion King), Maurice Murphy (Motown), Brynn O'Malley (Annie, Honeymoon In Vegas) and Emily Rosenfeld (Annie), with DJ's Andrew Andrew (Girls), and a special visit from David Rossmer. Check out photos from the concert below!