Maury Yeston News

Could noted director Rob Marshall be next in line to helm the 'Pirates Of The Carribean' film franchise? Trade paper Variety is reporting this could indeed be the case.

On Friday, July 24 Broadway and Wicked star Eden Espinosa made a triumphant return to Los Angeles with her pop/rock concert entitled 'ME' which was directed by Billy Porter with Music Direction by Christopher Lloyd Bratten. The nearly sold-out audience was treated to a dazzling array of song selections which included highlights like the Tina Turner hit 'River Deep, Mountain High,' Cyndi Lauper's 'I'm Gonna Be Strong,' Dolly Parton's 'Here You Come Again,'...

Upright Cabaret (www.uprightcabaret.com), L.A.'s premier theatrical showcase featuring an eclectic mix of artists from stage, screen and recording, presents the second of their amazing 'evenings under the stars' at the Ford Amphitheatre as they present the electrifying star of 'Wicked' at the Pantages and also as Maureen in the recent filmed stage version of 'RENT' - EDEN ESPINOSA starring in 'ME' with musical direction by James Sampliner (Broadway: BKLYN: The Musical, The Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde) and Chris Bratten.

Kopit and Yeston's thrilling musical 'Phantom,' a new and character-based telling of the famous Paris Opera House legend, opens August 12 on the newly rebuilt Moonlight Amphitheatre stage for Moonlight Stage Productions' 2009 Summer Season.

The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is now accepting applications for its first year composer/lyricist class. The August 1, 2009 deadline is quickly approaching and applicants are asked to send in the requested materials as soon as possible.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce that noted stage and television actress Ana Gasteyer will return to Manahattan Theatre Club to appear as 'Kitty Dean' in the upcoming Broadway production of THE ROYAL FAMILY by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber featuring direction by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Maritius, Doubt).

UGO MovieBlog reports that Big screen heartthrob Antonio Banderas is eyeing a return to the Broadway stage in the stage adaptation of the classic film Zorba the Greek.

Auditions for the musical Phantom with Garland Civic Theatre (GCT) are taking place Jun. 27-28 at 108 N. 6th St., Garland, Texas. Written by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit and considered the inspiration to Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera', Phantom is a rapturous and entrancing musical masterpiece.

Upright Cabaret (www.uprightcabaret.com), L.A.'s premier theatrical showcase featuring an eclectic mix of artists from stage, screen and recording, presents the second of their amazing 'evenings under the stars' at the Ford Amphitheatre as they present the electrifying star of 'Wicked' at the Pantages and also as Maureen in the recent filmed stage version of 'RENT' - EDEN ESPINOSA starring in 'ME' with musical direction by James Sampliner (Broadway: BKLYN: The Musical, The Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde) and Chris Bratten.

UnsungMusicalsCo. is proud to announce the development of a new production of How Now, Dow Jones (www.HowNowDowJones.com) starring Sarah Litzsinger (Beauty and the Beast), Colin Hanlon (Rent) and Fred Berman (The Normal Heart). With book by Max Shulman, music by Academy Award winner Elmer Bernstein and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Carolyn Leigh, this newly revised version will be presented as part of the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival.

Join Porchlight Music Theatre for A PLACE FOR US: Chicago Sings Bernstein, a very special one-night-only benefit performance supporting Porchlight's upcoming 15th anniversary season. Chicago Sings Bernstein will be presented Monday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at The Greenhouse Theatre, 2257 N. Lincoln.

New York City is filled with lovely parks. There's a particularly charming one tucked into a triangle on 106th Street and Broadway. It's planted with daylilies, impatiens, lacecap hydrangeas and dogwoods. One end of this peaceful oasis is dominated by a recumbent bronze sculpture which sits atop a flowing fountain. The park is dedicated to the memory of Isidore and Ida Strauss, the loving couple who perished together on the Titanic in 1912. Therefore it's appropriate to meet Victoria Clark for an interview at a café only a short distance from Strauss Park. After all, Ms Clark originated the role of Alice Beane in Maury Yeston's Tony Award winning musical TITANIC and sang Adam Guettel's 'Statues and Stories' in LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, which won her the 2005 Tony Award as Best Actress in a Musical. This fine lady is never really far from statues, stories and the Titanic.

Join Porchlight Music Theatre for A PLACE FOR US: Chicago Sings Bernstein, a very special one-night-only benefit performance supporting Porchlight's upcoming 15th anniversary season. Chicago Sings Bernstein will be presented Monday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at The Greenhouse Theatre, 2257 N. Lincoln.

On behalf of the Kleban Foundation, New Dramatists presented the 19th Annual Kleban Award for the most promising musical theater lyricist has to Beth Falcone and the award for the most promising musical theater librettist has to Kait Kerrigan. The 2009 awards were presented on June 1, 2009, in a private ceremony at BMI.

Fresh from the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie, Michael LaMasa returns to the Arizona Broadway Theatre stage to lead ABT's production of Bye Bye Birdie, which opens on June 5, 2009, and continues through July 19, 2009.

After sold out shows last year, veteran actor/singer Frank Torren returns to Don't Tell Mama for two special encore shows on Sunday, May 24 at 3:00 and Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 with his special must see show 'First Times.' Again, Back Stage Bistro winner Rick Unterberg is arranger/musical director for both shows.

Andrea Marcovicci ? popularly dubbed 'The Queen of Cabaret' ? celebrated her 60th birthday gala concert this past Saturday, May 16th at 8PM at New York?s The Town Hall. The event coincided with the release of her first-ever 'greatest hits' collection, As Time Goes By: The Best of Andrea Marcovicci on Andreasong, her own label. BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photos of the after party at Saju Bistro with Andrea and her special guests for the concert.

Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc. who represents Broadway writers including Maury Yeston, Leslie Bricusse and Jason Howland, has announced a multi-year, worldwide administration agreement for the score from Shrek The Musical, the first theatrical production from DreamWorks Theatricals. Based on William Steig's classic book and the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure. Cherry Lane has been music administrator for DreamWorks Animation since 1997.

The Town Hall (123 West 43 Street), Times Square's landmark concert venue, will present ANDREA MARCOVICCI?s 60th birthday gala concert on Saturday, May 16th at 8PM. The celebrated singer and actress is lauded as 'the greatest cabaret star of her generation' by The International Herald Tribune and 'the epitome of elegance and showbiz savvy' by Variety.

The big screen adaptation of NINE THE MUSICAL starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman, is set to hit cinemas November 25, 2009. The official trailer has been released and we are exctied to bring it to you right here on BWW TV!