Michael John LaChiusa News

Circle Theatre presents Marvin's Room, directed by Mary Redmon. Marvin's Room, the touching drama of family and faith by Scott McPherson, will be presented in Circle's intimate studio space, August 22 through September 30, 2012.

If you're looking for some cool cabaret/nightclub shows over the next month, try these on for size: Darren Williams (July 26) and Lauren Robert (August 7) are ready to rock Iridium, while two lovely ladies of cabaret will be featured at Feinstein's: Karen Oberlin (July 24-28) and Raissa Katona Bennett (August 21-25).

In her third Feinstein's engagement, MAC & Bistro Award winner and Broadway's Raissa Katona Bennett (Christine in "Phantom of the Opera") celebrates the release of her latest CD, Another Kind of Light. The concert version of the album premieres Tuesday August 21 at 8pm, playing five shows through August 25.

Circle Theatre presents REEFER MADNESS, directed by Matthew Gunnels, which opened last night, July 18 and runs through August 26, 2012. Check out photos from the opening night party below!

Transport Group Theatre Company, the winner of both a Special Drama Desk Award and Obie Award, has announced that that their award-winning 2010 production of See Rock City & Other Destinations will receive an original cast recording produced by Yellow Sound Label. The Drama Desk and Richard Rodgers Award-winning musical has music by Brad Alexander and book and lyrics by Adam Mathias. The show was directed by Transport Group Artistic Director Jack Cummings III.

Circle Theatre presents REEFER MADNESS, directed by Matthew Gunnels, opening tonight, July 18, through August 26, 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below.

Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the third concert of this year's summer series to the music of rock 'n roll legend Neil Sedaka.

Public Theater reecntly announced the line-up for its 2012-2013 Season, beginning in the fall with an October rededication of The Public's historic downtown building. The season continues the theater's nearly 60 year tradition of developing new theatrical voices and presenting Shakespeare to the entire New York community. In the videos below, Artistic Director Oskar Eustis chats about whats to come in the upcoming season!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, LC Productions and Julie Miller will present the world premiere of ZAPATA! The Musical, a revolutionary musical that tells the story of Emiliano Zapata, hero of the Mexican revolution, who appears in the 21st century to inspire a member of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

In a series of four beautifully scored one-act musicals by Michael John LaChiusa, First Lady Suite journeys into the lives of four First Ladies - Jackie Kennedy, Mamie Eisenhower, Bess Truman, and Eleanor Roosevelt - and the people around them. "Weird, Funny, and Wigged out," according to the NY Times, the piece meditates on finding one's identity and how we all must struggle to find our own way while in the shadow of another.

One year on from her triumphant concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, the Tony Award- winning star of Wicked and TV's Glee, Idina Menzel will return to the UK. Idina will play the West End's Apollo Theatre for one week only from Monday 8th to Sunday 14th October, followed by regional UK dates at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on Tuesday 16th October, and Manchester's Palace Theatre on Wednesday 17th October.

The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is now accepting applications for its first year composer/lyricist class. The August 1, 2012 deadline is quickly approaching and applicants are asked to send in the requested materials as soon as possible. The Workshop begins September 17, 2012, and runs through June 2013. A recipient of the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre Award, the Lehman Engel Musical Workshop consists of approximately 250 composers, lyricists and book writers who are actively writing new works for the musical theatre.

The American Repertory Theater of WNY has announced its 2012-13 season with an exciting lineup filled with WNY debuts, an original musical and a tip o' the hat to Decision 2012. ART will also be operating out of new home as the sixth season will be producing five shows at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 16 Linwood Ave (corner of North Street), where the Allentown and Linwood districts connect.

The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is now accepting applications for its first year composer/lyricist class.

Bit of a Stretch Theatre Co. presents NO EXIT by Jean-Paul Sartre at 14 Pews tonight, June 21 through June 26. Directed by Emma Martinsen, No Exit features Brandon Hobrastchk as Garcin, Betty Marie Muessig as Estelle, Jacob Perkel as the Valet, and Meg Wozniak as Inez. Original Music by Wiley DeWeese. Marc Duncan is the technical director with set design by Leslie Turner.

In the vein of recent Circle musicals Urinetown and Tommy, a Reefer Madness like you've never seen before! Matthew Gunnels, no stranger to camp classics, makes his Circle directorial debut bringing this 'high' musical comedy to our stage.

Ghostlight Records, alongside Transport Group Theatre Company, has just released the Original Cast Recording of Michael John LaChiusa's critically-acclaimed new musical, QUEEN OF THE MIST. The recording, which was made possible with generous support from The Shen Family Foundation, is available today everywhere music is sold.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, presents a one-night-only, all-star concert of the acclaimed 1983 Broadway musical Baby, taking place tonight, Monday, June 18 at 7pm at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street.