Maria Knasel News

Casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements. THE SOUND OF MUSIC premieres at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on December 29, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

Casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements. THE SOUND OF MUSIC premieres at Atlanta's Fox Theatre March 1-6, 2016, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2015/2016 season.

Below, watch as director Jack O'Brien previews what's to come!

In honor of today's big casting announcement for the new brand new national tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, BroadwayWorld introduces you to the star of the production, PACE student Kerstin Anderson! Check out videos from her official YouTube page below!

BroadwayWorld has just learned that casting has been announced for the brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. This lavish new production launches this September at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, under the auspices of the Center Theatre Group, and will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and week-long engagements.

The feature length animated film, THE ARISTOCATS (1970), was the last project Walt Disney approved before his death in 1966. My son and I watched it several years ago on DVD, when he was just a little tyke. And then, in 2010 we attended Stages St. Louis' wonderful production of the show. Five years later I was little hesitant to bring him to their latest presentation, just because he's that much older, but I think he actually enjoyed it more the second time around. He's now at an age where he can really appreciate the work that goes into bringing these shows to the stage. He loved the performances and music, and so did I. Stages has put together an excellent show that, obviously, has appeal for kids of all ages (and adults as well), and it's currently gracing the stage of The Westport Playhouse. I think the intimacy of the venue acts to enhance the experience, bringing the audience that much closer to the action.

STAGES St. Louis takes you on a feline adventure in Disney's The Aristocats today, June 3, through June 28 at the Playhouse at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights.

STAGES St. Louis takes you on a feline adventure in Disney's The Aristocats this June 3-28 at the Playhouse at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights. With an unforgettable mix of colorful characters, amusing antics, and swingin' music, this modern version of the familiar Disney classic is just purrrrrr-fect for the entire family.

STAGES St. Louis has announced casting for its exhilarating 29th season: Smokey Joe's Cafe, Anything Goes, and The Full Monty. This season's exceptional talent voyages through songs and stories of diverse relationships, the bonds of friendship, and strength found in community. STAGES also announces the cast for its Theatre for Young Audiences production, the purrrrr-fect family classic, Disney's The Aristocats. All season and single tickets are on sale now.

Big League Productions presents the 2014-2015 national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical. The beloved holiday movie will be brought to life on Broadway stages across the country. This sparkling new production will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park tonight, December 2, through December 14.

Big League Productions presents the 2014 - 2015 national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical. The beloved holiday movie will be brought to life on Broadway stages across the country. This sparkling new production will launch with one performance in Owensboro, KY followed by engagements in Appleton, Memphis, Dallas, and culminating over the Christmas holidays with a three week run at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

Big League Productions has announced casting for the 2014-2015 national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical. The beloved holiday movie will be brought to life on Broadway stages across the country. This sparkling new production will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park December 2-14.

Big League Productions is thrilled to announce casting for the 2014 - 2015 national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical. The beloved holiday movie will be brought to life on Broadway stages across the country. This sparkling new production will launch with one performance in Owensboro, KY followed by engagements in Appleton, Memphis, Dallas, and culminating over the Christmas holidays with a three week run at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

(ST. LOUIS) - STAGES St. Louis is pleased to announce the opening of the timeless Tony Award ® winning musical Fiddler on the Roof. The treasured tale of family and tradition plays at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood through October 5th. Due to an unprecedented advance in sales, STAGES has added a performance to the original schedule on Sunday, September 28 at 7:30 pm. Check out a first look at the opening night celebration below!

STAGES St. Louis has announced the opening of the timeless Tony Award winning musical Fiddler on the Roof. The treasured tale of family and tradition will play at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood, September 5th through October 5th . Due to an unprecedented advance in sales, STAGES has added a performance to the original schedule on Sunday, September 28 at 7:30 pm.

Tonight, August 2, at 7:30 p.m., a performance entitled Kids' Kabaret: A Broadway Inspired Benefit for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center will be held at the beautiful Ivory Theatre at 7620 Michigan Ave, St Louis, MO 63111.

Another St. Louis tradition continues this summer with the start of the MUNY's 96th season. The opening show is BILLY ELLIOT the Musical, and there are some absolutely electric moments to be found here. Adapted from the excellent film of the same name, the story follows a young boy who would rather dance in the ballet than take boxing lessons, drawing the ire of a strict father who's coping with the loss of his wife, and the possible loss of his livelihood due to the current politics of the time. The story is set in the early 1980's during the time that union-busting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in power, and personally orchestrating the swift decline of a once thriving British coal industry. Despite this rather dire backdrop, this is an inspirational show that's well worth seeing under the stars in Forest Park.

The Muny is currently presenting the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Starring as Billy Elliot, and making his Muny debut, is 11 year-old Tade Biesinger. Co-starring are Emily Skinner as Mrs. Wilkinson, Daniel Oreskes as Dad, and Patti Perkins as Grandma. Joining them are Ben Nordstrom as Tony, Steve Isom as George,Michael Harp as Michael, and Maria Knasel as Debbie. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The Muny is currently presenting the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Starring as Billy Elliot, and making his Muny debut, is 11 year-old Tade Biesinger. Co-starring are Emily Skinner as Mrs. Wilkinson, Daniel Oreskes as Dad, and Patti Perkins as Grandma. Joining them are Ben Nordstrom as Tony, Steve Isom as George, Michael Harp as Michael, and Maria Knasel as Debbie. Check out highlights from the production below!

On August 2, at 7:30 p.m., a performance entitled KID'S KABARET: A Broadway Inspired Benefit for SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center will be held at the beautiful Ivory Theatre at 7620 Michigan Ave, St Louis, MO 63111. Young actor Sam Poon is turning thirteen years old, and instead of a party, he is returning to St. Louis from NYC to perform in a show with many of his friends to raise money for the hospital that saved his life as an infant. Sam suffered from pertussis (whooping cough) and was septic as a young infant, and suffered a cardiac arrest. The doctors and nurses at SSM Cardinal Glennon saved his life. Rather than receiving gifts for his first teenage birthday, he would much rather give a gift to the children cared for by SSM Cardinal Glennon.