Melody Butiu News

As the company prepares for rehearsals to begin, Simon chatted with BroadwayWorld about her sweeping score, choosing the new cast, and so much more! Check out the full interview below!

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO will begin performances on Friday, March 27, 2015, and open on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at 6:30pm, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). DOCTOR ZHIVAGO is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys), with a book by Academy Award nominee Michael Weller (Ragtime), music by Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden), lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens) and Emmy Award nominee Amy Powers (Ella Enchanted), and choreography by Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine (Rocky).

It's that time of year, and everyone is making their lists. For me, this task is always harder than it probably should be. I wrestle with myself and debate the merits of everything. I worry about who might get their feelings hurt, and whom I may accidentally overlook. So, for 2014, I promised myself to make a simple list of the 10 albums from 2014 that I simply couldn't get enough of. Naturally, that list is actually 15 items long. (Surprise!)

Tam Mutu, who is making his Broadway debut as the passionate Doctor and poet Yurii Zhivago, Kelli Barrett (Wicked), Tony Award nomineeTom Hewitt (Rocky Horror Show), and Paul Nolan (Jesus Chris Superstar) will be joined by Lora Lee Gayer as Tonia Gromeko, Zhivago's devoted wife, in the new Broadway musical DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. Based on Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning 20th-century epic Russian masterpiece, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO will feature Jacqueline Antaramian and Jamie Jackson, with Heather Botts, Wendi Bergamini, Melody Butiu, Josh Canfield, Julian Cihi, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Bradley Dean, Michael Brian Dunn, Drew Foster, Kira Guloien, Robert Hager, Ericka Hunter, Denis Lambert, David McDonald, Joseph Medeiros, Pilar Millhollen, Gary Milner, Spencer Moses, Julius Sermonia, Jacob L. Smith and Jesse Wildman in a cast of 32.

The Public's HERE LIES LOVE kicked off its 'Summer Friday' performances on Friday. On the Friday, July 11th kickoff, guests in attendance included Alan Rickman, Tommy Tune, Anika Larsen, After Midnight's Karine Plantadit, Andrew Andrew and Sirius XM's Julie James. After the show, they partied with the cast at The Library Restaurant at the Public Theater. Check out photos below!

Imelda Marcos is a ripe public figure for having a biographic musical written about her. Personally, I always expected a musical about her life would have that grand and epic cinematic sound of Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA. However, I couldn't be more pleased with David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's rich pop score for HERE LIES LOVE.

Joan Rivers was seen dancing along with cast of the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim hit musical HERE LIES LOVE, directed by Alex Timbers at the Public Theatre. Joan opted not for the seated balcony but actually brought flats and joined the audience on the disco floor where the show takes place. She loved the show so much that she raved about it two days later on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York' as well as at her new book signing at Barnes & Noble on Union Square, telling fans, 'If you see one show this year, you must see HERE LIES LOVE. It is phenomenal!' Scroll down for photos of Rivers with the cast!

George Takei attended The Public Theater's production of David Byrne, Fatboy Slim and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love, and stopped backstage afterwards to chat with the cast. Check out photos from his visit below!

The 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway will be handed out tonight at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed husband and wife actors and comedians, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund. BroadwayWorld will be bringing you live updates of the winners! Check back throughout the night to see if your favorites won!

The 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway will be handed out on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed husband and wife actors and comedians, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

Alex Timbers, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim offer an innovative and exhilarating look at Imelda Marcos.

The Public Theater's production of David Byrne, Fatboy Slim and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love opened last night, May 1st at the Public Theater's LuEsther Hall for an open-ended commercial run. The principal cast from the 2013 world premiere of Here Lies Love returns, including Ruthie Ann Miles and Jose Llana as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 18 categories and one special award for the 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed husband and wife actors and comedians, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

The Public Theater's production of David Byrne and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love, begins performances on April 14th with an opening night set for May 1st at The Public Theater's LuEsther Hall for an open-ended commercial run. The principal cast from the 2013 world premiere of Here Lies Love returns, including Ruthie Ann Miles and Jose Llana as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino. Below, check out an extended sneak peek at the production!

Joey Parnes Productions and EMURSIVE (Jonathan Hochwald, Arthur Karpati, and Randy Weiner, principals) today announced casting and dates for The Public Theater's production of David Byrne and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love. Performances will begin on April 14th with an opening night set for May 1st at The Public Theater's LuEsther Hall (425 Lafayette Street, New York City) for an open-ended commercial run. The principal cast from the 2013 world premiere of Here Lies Love returns, including Ruthie Ann Miles and Jose Llana as Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, and Conrad Ricamora as Ninoy Aquino.

The original cast of the Public Theater's acclaimed musical HERE LIES LOVE performs a one-time-only special benefit concert in support of the people of the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) today. All proceeds for the special show tonight, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. at Terminal 5 (610 W. 56th Street) will go to support Doctors Without Borders Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) relief efforts in the Philippines.

The Public Theater announced today that David Byrne and the original cast of the acclaimed musical HERE LIES LOVE will perform a one-time-only special benefit concert in support of the people of the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). All proceeds for the special show on Monday, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. at Terminal 5 (610 W. 56th Street) will go to support Doctors Without Borders Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) relief efforts in the Philippines.

Now, the two girls take center stage in Ivy+Bean: The Musical, adapted by Scott Elmegreen and coming to South Coast Repertory Nov. 8-24. Tickets are available online at www.scr.org for this Theatre for Young Audiences production on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

The Public Theater presents the critically acclaimed world premiere musical Here Lies Love, with concept and lyrics by David Byrne, music by David Byrneand Fatboy Slim, additional music by Tom Gandey and J Pardo, and choreography by Annie-B Parson. Directed by Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love officially opened on Tuesday, April 23 and was extended a fourth and final time to today, July 28.

Organized by Filipino Mundo-NYC, a meetup group of young professionals and visual/performing artists, and the Filipino American Press Club of New York, The Public Theater's 'Here Lies Love' cast members: Ruthie Ann Miles, Jose Llana, George Salazar, Jaygee Macapugay, Debralee Daco, Jeigh Madjus, Renee Albulario, Melody Butiu, Nathaniel P. Claridad, Carol Angeli and Maria-Christina Oliveras engaged in a public conversation about the infamous legacy of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, during a coffee break (kapihan) held at Ugly Kitchen in the East Village Saturday, July 20.