Meredith Willson News

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the most fantasmagorical Broadway musical in the history of everything, flies into Pittsburgh's Benedum Center beginning Tuesday, March 10, 2009, for eight performances only! Based on the timeless novel by famed James Bond author and creator Ian Fleming, the production features the music and lyrics by the legendary Sherman brothers, composers of Mary Poppins. The national tour features an original script and fresh adaptation directed by Ray Roderick.

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival opens its 74th year the weekend of February 20-22 and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Elizabethan Stage. In honor of that milestone, OSF is dedicating the 2009 season to principal theatre and scenic designer, Richard L. Hay, acknowledging his creative work that spans more than 50 years at OSF and includes the design of all three theatre spaces, beginning with the current Elizabethan Stage in 1959, half a century ago. 'I am deeply moved as I reflect on the achievement and commitment of our extraordinary theater artist, Richard Hay,' OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch said, 'whose dedication to our artform and to OSF is an inspiration to all of us. The remarkable spaces he designed allow for a connection between actors and audiences that make OSF's theater experience unique and richly satisfying. And he remains an unstoppable creative force, designing scenery for two world premiere adaptations this season: The Servant of Two Masters and Don Quixote.' The 2009 season opens at 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 20, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre on the battlefields of Scotland with William Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth, directed by guest artist Gale Edwards. On Saturday, February 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, theatergoers will have the opportunity to see the rarely produced Death and the King's Horseman,, written by Nigeria's Nobel Laureate playwright Wole Soyinka and directed by Goodman Theatre resident artist Chuck Smith. At 8:00 p.m. that evening, audiences will be treated to Meredith Willson's classic American musical The Music Man, directed by Rauch.

The Denver Center Theatre Company has announced casting for the 2009 Colorado New Play Summit readings, which includes top talent from Denver and across the country. The Summit, which will gather theatre enthusiasts and industry professionals in Denver February 12-14, will feature the reading of a new adaptation of the classic musical THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and readings of four new plays - EVENTIDE, WHEN TANG MET LAIKA, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER and FLOODED. For more information on these shows, please visit www.denvercenter.org.

The Denver Center Theatre Company has announced casting for the 2009 Colorado New Play Summit readings, which includes top talent from Denver and across the country. The Summit, which will gather theatre enthusiasts and industry professionals in Denver February 12-14, will feature the reading of a new adaptation of the classic musical THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and readings of four new plays - EVENTIDE, WHEN TANG MET LAIKA, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER and FLOODED. For more information on these shows, please visit www.denvercenter.org.

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival opens its 74th year the weekend of February 20-22 and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Elizabethan Stage. In honor of that milestone, OSF is dedicating the 2009 season to principal theatre and scenic designer, Richard L. Hay, acknowledging his creative work that spans more than 50 years at OSF and includes the design of all three theatre spaces, beginning with the current Elizabethan Stage in 1959, half a century ago. 'I am deeply moved as I reflect on the achievement and commitment of our extraordinary theater artist, Richard Hay,' OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch said, 'whose dedication to our artform and to OSF is an inspiration to all of us. The remarkable spaces he designed allow for a connection between actors and audiences that make OSF's theater experience unique and richly satisfying. And he remains an unstoppable creative force, designing scenery for two world premiere adaptations this season: The Servant of Two Masters and Don Quixote.' The 2009 season opens at 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 20, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre on the battlefields of Scotland with William Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth, directed by guest artist Gale Edwards. On Saturday, February 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, theatergoers will have the opportunity to see the rarely produced Death and the King's Horseman,, written by Nigeria's Nobel Laureate playwright Wole Soyinka and directed by Goodman Theatre resident artist Chuck Smith. At 8:00 p.m. that evening, audiences will be treated to Meredith Willson's classic American musical The Music Man, directed by Rauch.

Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner for 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and Tony Award nominee for originating the role of Glinda the Good Witch in 'Wicked,' will now perform her Benefit Concert at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on March 28th instead of the original date of February 7th, 8 p.m.

The Denver Center Theatre Company's fourth annual Colorado New Play Summit continues its climb to the top tier of American new play festivals with the announcement of four readings of new American plays and a musical that will join the world premieres of Inana by Michele Lowe and Dusty and the Big Bad World by Cusi Cram at the February 2009 event.

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.

Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner for 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and Tony Award nominee for originating the role of Glinda the Good Witch in 'Wicked,' will appear in a Valentine's Benefit Concert at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on Saturday, February 7, 8 p.m. A pre-show champagne welcome will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets for the fundraising event are $100, $150, $250.

The Denver Center Theatre Company's fourth annual Colorado New Play Summit continues its climb to the top tier of American new play festivals with the announcement of four readings of new American plays and a musical that will join the world premieres of Inana by Michele Lowe and Dusty and the Big Bad World by Cusi Cram at the February 2009 event.

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced today that Craig Bierko (Tony Award nominee for The Music Man; Scary Movie 4) will star as 'Sky Masterson' and Kate Jennings Grant (Proof) will also star as 'Sarah Brown' in the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS.

Tony Award winners Barbara Cook and Audra McDonald will star in a one night only concert event, Audra McDonald & Barbara Cook: Broadway Voices For Change, to benefit America Votes on Sunday, October 19, at 8pm at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

Tony Award winners Barbara Cook and Audra McDonald will star in a one night only concert event, Audra McDonald & Barbara Cook: Broadway Voices For Change, to benefit America Votes on Sunday, October 19, at 8pm at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

Banjo Boy (formerly 'Banjo Boys') goes to full production this summer in Fairfield, Iowa, at the Stephen Sondheim Performing Arts Center. August 8th through 17th!

Banjo Boy (formerly 'Banjo Boys') goes to full production this summer in Fairfield, Iowa, at the Stephen Sondheim Performing Arts Center. August 8th through 17th!

Grammy Award and Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Harry Connick, Jr. will return to Broadway in Spring 2009 in Nice Work If You Can Get It, a new musical comedy with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, and book by Joe DiPietro ( I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, All Shook Up). Two-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town) will direct and choreograph.

The Bushnell's fully staged concert version of Meredith Willson's 'The Music Man' proves timeless for the audience and its stars

Broadway legend Tammy Grimes is extending the premiere of her new solo show 'Miss Tammy Grimes,' which has been playing a hit run at The Metropolitan Room since opening on April 4.

New Discount! A new audition notice! Two new theatres! A new Best Bet!

Chicago ticket winners announced! Your letters answered! Coming Soon to Baltimore.BroadwayWorld.com!