Michael Crawford News

Elaine Paige OBE, the beloved star of both West End and Broadway musical theatre, celebrated 40 years on stage in September 2008. To mark the occasion, the UK's Oberon Books published Memories, with a foreword by Andrew Lloyd Webber, in which Elaine, in her own words, tells the story of her remarkable stage career and shows why she remains an enduringly popular international star.

Stephanie J. Block, Broadway star of '9 to 5: The Musical,' 'Wicked,' 'The Pirate Queen,' and 'The Boy From Oz,' will star opposite Jason Alexander, Artistic Director of Reprise Theatre Company, in 'They're Playing Our Song,' the opening production of the company's 2010-2011 season, playing September 28 to October 10 (press opening September 29) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

This week, I went to see two Broadway shows, neither of which I had been to in over five years: Jersey Boys and The Lion King. My last visit to Jersey Boys was in 2005 with the original cast; and it has been over a decade since I last saw The Lion King (in 1999!).

August 2010 Concerts set for the RRazz room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco. The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is located at 222 Mason Street (between Ellis and O'Farrell) San Francisco, California 94102

North Coast Repertory Theatre is proud to present The San Diego Premiere of a two-time Tony Award winning musical. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, directed by Rick Simas

Dinosaurs once again roam the earth in a spectacular theatrical arena show, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS - The Arena Spectacular, based on the award-winning BBC Television Series.

Dinosaurs once again roam the earth in a spectacular theatrical arena show, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS - The Arena Spectacular, based on the award-winning BBC Television Series. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS - The Arena Spectacular is now on tour in North America and will perform 12 performances at Madison Square Garden in New York. More than 3.1 million Americans have already seen the production since it opened in July 2007.

Rehearsals are now underway for Dans der Vampieren in Belgium. Dans der Vampieren, an adaptation of TANZ DER VAMPIRE which was to open in Belgium, has been delayed. Reports are that multiple production companies in Belgium oppose the show being given a €2.5 million government grant, and have asked for that support to be suspended. An investigation is now underway.

Neil Berg's new cabaret show, RISE UP: The Theater Songs of Neil Berg, comes to Feinstein's, hosted by Rob Evan, and featuring a star-studded cast, including current Wicked star Mandy Gonzalez, and special guest, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, and others!

Neil Berg's new cabaret show, RISE UP: The Theater Songs of Neil Berg, comes to Feinstein's, hosted by Rob Evan, and featuring a star-studded cast, including current Wicked star Mandy Gonzalez, and special guest, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, and others for a performance July 18, 2010 at 8:30pm.

August 2010 Concerts set for the RRazz room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco. The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is located at 222 Mason Street (between Ellis and O'Farrell) San Francisco, California 94102

North Coast Repertory Theatre is proud to present The San Diego Premiere of a two-time Tony Award winning musical. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, directed by Rick Simas

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Michael Crawford has opened the brand new Eckersley House at Leeds General Infirmary. The Eckersley House is described as a 'home from home for parents of youngsters in hospital,' and the Sick Children's Trust, for which Crawford serves as president, fundraised £1.5 million for the completion of the building.

Neil Berg's new cabaret show, RISE UP: The Theater Songs of Neil Berg, comes to Feinstein's, hosted by Rob Evan, and featuring a star-studded cast, including current Wicked star Mandy Gonzalez, and special guest, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, and others!

Neil Berg's new cabaret show, RISE UP: The Theater Songs of Neil Berg, comes to Feinstein's, hosted by Rob Evan, and featuring a star-studded cast, including current Wicked star Mandy Gonzalez, and special guest, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, and others for a performance July 18, 2010 at 8:30pm.

North Coast Repertory Theatre is proud to present The San Diego Premiere of a two-time Tony Award winning musical. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, directed by Rick Simas

On June 14, 2010, four of today's best and brightest young Broadway performers will share the stage with students who represent the next generation of artists, in recognition of the 40th Anniversary of Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, a division of Boys & Girls Harbor and the only multi-disciplinary performing arts school serving East Harlem.

Today, in honor of the Tony Awards on Sunday, we close out the season with the last two recordings related to the 2009-2010 Broadway season with an exclusive First Listen to the PROMISES, PROMISES Broadway Revival Recording starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth courtesy of the kind folks at Sony, as well as the Original Broadway Cast Recording of THE ADDAMS FAMILY starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. These recordings certainly offer strong proof of the best - and worst - that Broadway has to offer in the modern age. Everything old may be new again in the case of PROMISES, but everything new is tired old-hat as far as ADDAMS goes as we will soon see.

The hit revival is Ashley's 8th Broadway show, but her first since she became a mom.

This week, we are taking a listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Green Day's rock opera AMERICAN IDIOT. The show was met with appreciative reviews, yet it seems audiences and the Tony committee are slightly less enthusiastic. So is it an American Classic, An Idiotic Delight or a 21st Century Breakdown? Let's see...