Marius de Vries News

La La Land: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - which features songs from Lionsgate's upcoming original musical, La La Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling - is now available for pre-order via all digital retailers. The album is due from Interscope Records on December 9th, the same day the film opens with a limited engagement.

The world premiere of the Garth Drabinsky production of Sousatzka, the new musical by three-time Tony Award-nominated book writer Craig Lucas and the legendary composing team of Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Lyrics) and Academy Award winner David Shire (Music), is headed to Broadway in 2017. The show will star Tony Award winner Victoria Clark in the title role of Madame Sousatzka, a celebrated, eccentric, Polish-born piano teacher who was forced into exile. Today, Clark shared what drew her to the role in a post on the musical's Facebook page.

The much-anticipated musical version of KING KONG has lost a member of its creative team, according to the New York Times. Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman is no longer attached to the project.

Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership (Richard Stursberg, CEO) today announced the world premiere of the Garth Drabinsky production of Sousatzka, the new musical by three-time Tony Award®-nominated book writer Craig Lucas and the legendary composing team of Tony Award® winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Lyrics) and Academy Award® winner David Shire (Music). Choreographed by ten-time Tony Award® nominee Graciela Daniele and directed by Adrian Noble, Sousatzka will begin performances on February 25, 2017 at Toronto's historic Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street), and officially open on Thursday, March 23. Tickets will go on sale, via Ticketmaster, on October 17. Sousatzka's pre-Broadway strictly limited engagement is scheduled to run through April 9, 2017.

Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.

KING KONG is one giant stomp closer to conquering New York City. BroadwayWorld is excited to report that an industry reading of the new musical took place today, February 19, at Baryshnikov Arts Center, starring Robert Creighton (Benny), Lora Lee Gayer (Ann Darrow), Marc Kudisch (Carl Denham) and Euan Morton (Jack Driscoll). And to add to the excitement, Tony nominee Joshua Bergasse has also joined the production as choreographer.

Now BroadwayWorld has just learned that a  developmental reading of the new musical will take place this October in New York City. Directed by Tony Award-nominee Eric D. Shaeffer, this version features a book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman and a score by Marius De Vries and Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown.  Produced by Carmen Pavlovic and Roy Furman, a production schedule for KING KONG will be announced at a later date.

The physical CD will be available on Feb. 17. 'Strange Magic' from Touchstone Pictures will be in theaters on Jan. 23, 2015.

George Lucas, Alan Cumming (Broadway's CABARET), Evan Rachel Wood, Elijah Kelley, Meredith Anne Bull, Sam Palladio and Kristin Chenoweth (Broadway's ON THE 20TH CENTURY) attend the New York special screening of Lucasfilm's STRANGE MAGIC at the Tribeca Grand Hotel hosted by The Cinema Society. Touchstone Pictures releases the animated adventure Friday, Jan. 23. STRANGE MAGIC. Below, check out photos from the screening!

The trailer for STRANGE MAGIC is now available on Yahoo! Movies. The film, featuring the voices of Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, opens in theaters January 23, 2015!

Australia's KING KONG musical is giving away a free track from the show: 'A Simple Prayer', sung by Esther Hannaford. Click HERE to download the song!

Esther Hannaford, who plays Ann Darrow in Australia's musical spectacular KING KONG, performed one of the original songs from the show on Australian TV on Monday. 'A Simple Prayer' has not been seen outside the show before. Get a first listen below!

The new stage musical KING KONG recently opened at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye towards Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. The production, which was originally slated to run through July 28, has extended again through October 6. For tickets, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

The nominations for the 2013 Helpmann Awards have been announced simultaneously at events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth. This is the first time the Nominations events were held concurrently in 6 cities and a first for Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.

The new stage musical KING KONG just opened last weekend at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye towards Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. The production, which was originally slated to run through July 28, has just extended through August 18. Click below to watch a video interview with stars Queenie van de Zandt and Richard Piper at the premiere after party!

The new stage musical KING KONG just opened this weekend at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye towards Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. The production, which was originally slated to run through July 28, has just extended through August 18. Click below to watch the show's media call, the opening night red carpet and festivities, and extended footage from the new musical!

In response to Woodhead's comments, Australian theatre star Eddie Perfect took to Facebook, saying: 'I agree with Cameron [Woodhead], and I'd add something further. There's a convenient narrative springing up online (and elsewhere) that the creator's of Kong spent five years of developmental resources on the gorilla but neglected the book, music and lyrics. Without putting it too harshly, I think that's idiotic.'

The new stage musical KING KONG just opened this weekend at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye towards Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. The production, which was originally slated to run through July 28, has just extended through August 18. Click below to watch a video interview with star Adam Lyon at the premiere after party!

The new stage musical KING KONG recently opened at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye towards Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. The production, which was originally slated to run through July 28, has just extended through August 18. For tickets, visit http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

The new stage musical KING KONG just opened last night, June 15, at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye toward Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. Let's see what the critics had to say...