Mark O'Donnell News

John Waters' tale of hair hoppers and integrationists receives a workman-like production in Broad Brook.

Early Monday evening, the Venice Theatre announced their 2013 to 2014 theatre season at a special Kickoff gathering at their theatre located at 140 West Tampa Avenue in Venice, Florida. Hosting the event were Exective/Artisitic Director Murray Chase and Producing Director Allan Kollar. Highlighted by performances from local actors, the duo revealed their exciting upcoming schedule:

Dinah Manoff and Northwest Actors Lab present the 2013 One Act Fest, today, January 17 - 20 at Bainbridge Performing Arts. The festival showcases the very best talent Bainbridge has to offer in a selection of comedic one act plays from playwrights, familiar and obscure. Get a first look in the photos below!

Dinah Manoff and Northwest Actors Lab present the 2013 One Act Fest, January 17 - 20 at Bainbridge Performing Arts. The festival showcases the very best talent Bainbridge has to offer in a selection of comedic one act plays from playwrights, familiar and obscure. Get a first look in the photos below!

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.

Family, friends, and colleagues will gather to celebrate the life and voice of Broadway librettist Mark O'Donnell on Monday, November 12 at 3pm at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Doors will open at 2:30pm and the event is open to the public.

Beck Center Youth Theater presents Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town tonight, November 1 through 4, 2012 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is a 10 a.m. student matinee today, November 1. Tickets are now on sale.

Orange County, CA- based 3D Theatricals presents an eye-popping, high-energy production of eight-time Tony Award-winner HAIRSPRAY at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through October 28 before transferring to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, November 2-4. This truly impressive revival is so much fun that even those who've seen the show numerous times will enjoy it--thanks primarily to its story, score, songs, and characters.

The Classic Theatre in San Antonio has announced its 2012-13 season, kicking off with The Firebugs and closing with Scapin, with some great selections in between. Check out more details below!

Beck Center Youth Theater presents Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize winning play, Our Town, November 1 through 4, 2012 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is a 10 a.m. student matinee on Thursday, November 1. Tickets are now on sale.

The Classic Theatre in San Antonio has announced its 2012-13 season, kicking off with The Firebugs and closing with Scapin, with some great selections in between. Check out more details below!

The Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) announces its 2012 - 2013 season which will include a wide variety of exciting theatrical styles investigating a polarized society. For detailed information and tickets call the box office at 860-486-2113 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

Tuacahn's Hairspray is a solidly entertaining production of a Tony-award winning Broadway hit.

Today in 2002, Hairspray opened at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 2642 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. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.

According to the Associated Press, HAIRSPRAY creator Mark O'Donnell passed away today in his Upper West Side home. He was 58 years old.

A packed house of 1,100 audience members at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford leapt to their feet before the final button of New Bedford Festival Theatre's current production of HAIRSPRAY.

For more than six years on Broadway and in the popular 2007 film adaptation, Hairspray delighted audiences the world over by transporting them to a candy-colored 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out-and change is definitely in the air. Now this throw-back to the classic musicals of yesterday comes to Tuacahn for the very first time, running now through September 4 and September 8 to October 20, 2012 at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah. Get a first look at the production in the photos below.

For more than six years on Broadway and in the popular 2007 film adaptation, Hairspray delighted audiences the world over by transporting them to a candy-colored 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out-and change is definitely in the air. Now this throw-back to the classic musicals of yesterday comes to Tuacahn for the very first time, running now through September 4 and September 8 to October 20, 2012 at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Seattle Women's Chorus (SWC) kicks off its 2012-2013 Season with their Fall concert, How Sweet the Sound (October 12-20, 2012) in a spectacular new venue, Saint Mark's Cathedral on Capitol Hill. SWC celebrates 10 years of big, bold, beautiful music and their 200+ voices will fill the Cathedral as they pay tribute to the choral tradition and create new rhythms and sounds.