Matt Bittner News

La Jolla Playhouse opens its world premiere of Up Here, a new musical comedy featuring book, music and lyrics by the husband-and-wife composing team of Robert Lopez (The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (In Transit), recipients of the 2014 Academy Award for Best Original Song for their hit song, 'Let It Go,' from the Disney animated film Frozen. Up Here is directed by Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers (Broadway's Rocky, Off-Broadway's Here Lies Love, Playhouse's Peter and the Starcatcher) and will run July 28 - September 6 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre. Up Here is being presented by special arrangement with Scott Sanders Theatrical Productions, along with Victor Alvarez, Warner/Chappell Music, Sally Horchow International Productions, Caiola Productions, Dominion Pictures.

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez's UP HERE might be new to public audiences, but to Lopez, it's the product of a lengthy process.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Up Here, a new musical comedy featuring book, music and lyrics by the husband-and-wife composing team of Robert Lopez (The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (In Transit), recipients of the 2014 Academy Award for Best Original Song for their hit song, 'Let It Go,' from the Disney animated film Frozen. Up Here is directed by Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers (Broadway's Rocky, Off-Broadway's Here Lies Love, Playhouse's Peter and the Starcatcher) and will run July 28 - September 6 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre. Up Here is being presented by special arrangement with Scott Sanders Theatrical Productions, along with Victor Alvarez, Warner/Chappell Music, Sally Horchow International Productions, Caiola Productions, Dominion Pictures.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Nathan Lane appears for a screening of THE NANCE tonight, THE PAVILION and 10 OUT OF 12 begin off-Broadway, Marion Cotillard plays Joan of Arc and more!

Just last night, Paper Mill Playhouse opened the world-premiere musical Ever After, directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It), featuring a book and lyrics by Marcy Heislerand music by Zina Goldrich.  Ever After stars two-time Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens, 42nd Street) as Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Leonardo da Vinci, Emmy Award winner Charles Shaughnessy (Urinetown, 'The Nanny') as King Francis, James Synder (If/Then) as Prince Henry and Drama Desk Award nominee Margo Seibert (Rocky) as Danielle de Barbarac. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the after party!

'Autumn' is an extraordinary political drama now on the Crossroads Theatre stage through May 3rd. Written by Richard Wesley and directed by Seret Scott, this is a pertinent, must-see theatrical event.

The mind of someone with a mental illness is a stimulating place to visit, currently being explored in a Boulder production of Misterman by Enda Walsh.

A superb play, 'Repairing a Nation' is now on a limited engagement at Crossroads Theatre Company through Sunday, March 8th. Written by Nikkole Salter and directed by Marshall Jones, III, this family drama is a significant piece of theatre that is a must-see production for metropolitan area audience.

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing officially opened tlast night, Monday, June 16. The production will run through Sunday, July 6. Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater and Tony Award nominee Lily Rabe return to the Park as the wise-cracking, would-be lovers Beatrice and Benedick in the beloved romantic comedy. Central Park becomes sun-drenched Sicily at the turn of the last century, where the heat of summer ignites the fevered passions of lovesick ladies in corsets and pining gentlemen spying from the verandah. Three-time Tony winner Jack O'Brien directs this delightful skirmish of wit between two self-declared bachelors tricked by their mischief-making friends into falling in love against their will and in spite of their own hearts. Check out photos from opening night below!

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing officially opens tonight, Monday, June 16. The production will run through Sunday, July 6.

Back at the Delacorte for his fifth Shakespeare in the Park, the TV star talks about playing the fool, getting typecast and living in L.A. and Italy.

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING began performances on Tuesday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production!

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING began performances on Tuesday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

The Public Theater will begin previews earlier this week on June 3 for Much Ado About Nothing, the first show of The Public's 2014 season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Jack O'Brien, Much Ado About Nothing will run through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. Below, Jonathan Groff explains how to get free tickets -- and what to do while you're waiting in the queue -- for Shakespeare in the Park!

The Public Theater will begin previews on Tuesday, June 3 for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the first show of The Public's 2014 season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Jack O'Brien, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING will run through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. Below, check out a first look at the cast, including Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater and Brian Stokes Mitchell, in rehearsal!

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for KING LEAR, the second show of The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte. Featuring the previously announced John Lithgow as Lear, this enduring tragedy will begin performances on Tuesday, July 22 and run through Sunday, August 17, with an official press opening on Tuesday, August 5.

The Public Theater announced additional casting today for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the first show of The Public's 2014 season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Jack O'Brien, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING begins previews on Tuesday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16.

Wee Man Productions presents Hounds of War, a gripping new play written by Bill Holland about the a family struggling to hold on as a unit and which asks us to consider the wars we wage within ourselves. Mark Cirnigliaro directs a cast of five, including Christopher LaPanta, Margaret Curry*, Tony Head, Justin Hofstad, and Patrick Massey. Performances will be staged at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10036 from March 21-April 5, 2014. *Member, Actors' Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2013/2014 Season with Shakespeare's romantic comedy As You Like it, directed by Michael Sexton (Two River's Henry V), the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Society in New York. Performances will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, January 25, with the opening night on Friday, January 31 at 8pm. The production must close on Sunday, February 16. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. The lead production sponsor is Monmouth University.

Mile Square Theatre (MST), Hudson County's premiere professional theatre company, presents a limited run of the feel-good musical for young audiences A Year With Frog and Toad from today, October 5 through October 20 at the Monroe Theatrespace (located at 720 Monroe St. in Hoboken, 2nd Floor).