Marquette News

Sonia Friedman Productions is delighted to announce further casting for the long-awaited UK premiere of Dreamgirls which will have preview performances at the Savoy Theatre from 19 November and Opening Night on Wednesday 14 December 2016.

According to The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Liisi LaFontaine and stage vet Ibinabo Jack will join Amber Riley in the upcoming West End production of DREAM GIRLS. LaFontaine will take on the role of Deena Jones, with Jack playing Lorrell Robinson. As previously announced, Riley has been tapped to star as Effie White.

Producer Kevin McCollum is pleased to announce Something Rotten!, the ten-time Tony-Award nominated smash hit musical comedy, directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Grammy Award® winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe Award® nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O'Farrell, will launch a national tour at the Boston Opera House January 17-29, 2017, following a preview period at Proctors in Schenectady, NY. The New York production recently celebrated its one-year anniversary on Broadway and continues performances at the St. James Theatre.

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and Milwaukee Public Schools continue to partner for the Center's performing arts outreach program - Arts Connect.  The Center is thrilled to announce this program is continuing to grow with its second Mini Arts Camp during the run of the Broadway show, Kinky Boots. This opportunity is free of cost and has expanded this year to include students from both MPS' Riverside University High School and Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School who have a strong interest in the performing arts. This program gives these students access to arts professionals and the chance to experience various aspects of the performing arts industry first hand.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that back by popular demand, Kinky Boots, the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Best Score for Kinky Boots), returns to Chicago at the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) for one week only August 30 - September 4, 2016.

With 315 hours of rehearsals now complete; 68 tonnes of scenery hung at the Prince Edward Theatre; and 337 custom-designed, hand-made costumes created from over 1,225 varieties of fabric, adorned with millions of Swarovski crystals, Disney's new musical Aladdin will begin previews in the West End tonight.

In the midst of the world's largest yearlong celebration of Shakespeare, which brings 850 events to more than 500,000 Chicagoans and visitors throughout 2016, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. In its fifth anniversary year, the FREE FOR ALL tour is the largest citywide event of the Shakespeare 400 Chicago festival. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris, 25 performances of Shakespeare's delightful romantic comedy Twelfth Night tour to 19 neighborhood parks across the City, July 14-August 14, 2016. Adapted and directed by Kirsten Kelly, this jubilant, music-infused production features some of Shakespeare's most beautiful poetry and riotously comedic characters-in a 75-minute theatrical event for audiences of all ages.

Trip of Love, New York's high-voltage 1960's Pop Music Spectacular, proudly welcomes Bahiyah Hibah to the company.  Starting May 24, Hibah assumes the role of 'Jennifer.' Hibah's Broadway credits include The Color Purple, The Little Mermaid, Rock of Ages, Memphis, Pal Joey, Evita, Chicago (Velma), After Midnight, and On The Twentieth Century.

After an exciting weekend in college lacrosse during first-round play, ESPN's exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship continues with the quarterfinals on Saturday, May 21 (ESPNU), and Sunday, May 22 (ESPN2/ESPNU).

SCHOOL OF ROCK is officially headed to London this autumn!

?Green Space is pleased to offer a diverse roster of new/emerging artists in June.

Following great critical success in New York, innovative and ground breaking theatre company Fiasco bring their enchanting reinvention of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's masterpiece Into The Woods to the Chocolate Factory this Summer. The production opens on 12 July, with previews from 1 July, and runs until 17 September.

The Daily Mail reports that the West End production of School of Rock - The Musical, previously announced for a May 2017 bow at the New London Theatre, might be bringing the Gods of Rock to London sooner.

GLEE's Amber Riley has quite the backup power for her nights off in DREAMGIRLS the West End. THE VOICE UK contestant Ruth Brown and THE X FACTOR's Karen Mav will alternate in the role of 'Effie' on Wednesdays in London, according to the Daily Mail.

ESPN will provide exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship Presented by Northwestern Mutual, beginning with the preliminary round today, Wednesday, May 11, from the campus of Quinnipiac in Hamden, Conn., on ESPN3

Although the Royal Alexandra Theatre will close for six months for a major renovation as soon as the show closes, the producers of KINKY BOOTS have managed to squeeze in one more final performance of the immensely popular musical.  The extra show, added to keep up with demand, will be performed on Sunday, May 15 at 7PM. 

NBC is proud to announce that Comcast Cares Day, the nation's largest single-day corporate volunteer effort and a culmination of Comcast NBCUniversal's year-round commitment to community service, is incorporating the broad support and amplification of two other Company partnerships

If you could live forever, would you? Take a journey you'll never forget in this powerful new musical about love, family and living life to the fullest. With direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw (Something Rotten!, Aladdin, The Book of Mormon), Tuck Everlasting just opened last night at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) and BroadwayWorld has on hand for all of the festivities. Check out who made appearances on the red carpet below!

The Actors Fund recognized its 2016 Medal of Honor recipients at its annual gala, last night, April 25, 2016 (6pm) at the Marriott Marquis. Honorees included actor and producer Michael Douglas, producer and singer/songwriter Emilio and Gloria Estefan, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt, American prima ballerina Cynthia Gregory, and director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw. Check out photos from the big night below!

ESPN released the final rankings for the class of 2016 with Duke commit Harry Giles remaining No.1 overall in the ESPN 100, while Kansas commit Josh Jackson jumps to the No. 2 spot.