Max von Essen News

Tess's spirited and innocent life unravels when her impoverished family's desperate need to connect to a once mighty bloodline results in an act of violence and shame. Desired by two men, forsaken by Victorian society, and burdened by secrets and duty, Thomas Hardy's dark heroine struggles to remain pure in a stained world as she is pulled towards her ultimate fate.

My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding is a true story musical comedy for anyone who's ever been in love. What do you get when a straight white male from Canada discovers that his mother's a lesbian? A hilarious and heartfelt story that celebrates love in all its forms. The hit of the 2009 Toronto Fringe, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding is based on a true story that will make you laugh, cry and realize that nothing's impossible. Click below for the preview!

Aspiring writer Keith has been a temp in a wacky office's soul crushing cubicle for six years. When an evil nemesis emerges to squash his coffee-stained hopes and dreams, Keith makes a decision that causes him to get summarily fired… with security escorts and everything! Naturally he retaliates by writing a musical. Based on a true-ish story. Some names have been changed to protect the guilty.

Locked inside the Tenth Floor, the Miami-Dade Correctional Facility's juvenile division, 16-year-old Victor Alvarez escapes into fantasy to escape the harsh realities of prison and his home life. Fueled by a contemporary rock, hip hop, and salsa-influenced score, this high-energy musical follows Victor as he struggles to come to terms with both the truth of his present and the ramifications of his past.

The History Of War is spun from the imagination of a 12 year old boy - a megalomaniac in training. As he struggles with homework assignments and peculiar visions, he conjures up seven of the most famous tyrants of all time. They did horrible things. He wants to do horrible things. His parents are worried. ...and everybody sings! ... well, almost everybody. Reality and pathology neatly converge in this terrifyingly subversive new musical.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presented a special preview of the 2010 offerings, featuring musical selections from: The Tenth Floor, I Got Fired, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, Tess, Above Hell's Kitchen, The History of War, Without You, and The Great Unknown. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage of the preview event below.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced casting for the 2010 festival. Some of Broadway's and Off-Broadway's favorites are participating in the three week festival including Adinah Alexander (The Wedding Singer), Farah Alvin (Nine)

In celebration of Westport Country Playhouse 80th season, an audience of over 500 attended the historic theater's annual fundraising gala, 'The Magical Music of Stephen Schwartz,' honoring the musical theater composer, on Monday evening, September 13. Gala proceeds will support artistic and education programs of the Playhouse - with a special focus this year on the Woodward Internship program.

Some of Broadway's best and brightest talents will perform in a one-night-only salute to theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz at Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Annual Gala on Monday, September 13.

Westport Country Playhouse's 80th anniversary gala on Monday evening, September 13, honoring Stephen Schwartz has been re-imagined with the influence of Lead Corporate Sponsor, Virgin Atlantic Airways, based in Norwalk.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

Some of Broadway's best and brightest talents will perform in a one-night-only salute to theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz at Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Annual Gala on Monday, September 13.

A number of stars perform songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber in a new recording that pays tribute to the acclaimed musical theatre composer.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

Sacramento Music Circus has announced the casting for its sixtieth summer season. The seven-show season will include the Music Circus premieres of 'Spamalot,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' and new stagings of 'Oklahoma!,' 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,' '42nd Street' and 'Funny Girl,' the latter returning to Music Circus after an 18-year absence.

The reviews are in and the critics are raving about the Music Circus production of Monty Python's 'Spamalot.'