Michael John LaChiusa News

On Twitter Watch, Idina Menzel wrote 'Editing my PBS special today. And mixing the live album and DVD ! Feeling really good about it! First reported by the Toronto Star this afternoon was news that Tony-winner Idina Menzel would be filming her second PBS special in Toronto on November 17-18 with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony at Koerner Hall. Now, as an addition to her interview with BroadwayWorld.com earlier this week, the star tells us exclusively that 'I feel really flattered and honored that PBS has asked me to film my concert. We were looking for the perfect venue and the perfect night with the perfect audience, and the stars are aligning for Toronto. I'm really excited about that because when you're performing when the cameras are running and the red light is going you feel the pressure of doing your absolute best performance that you've had all year because this time it's being recorded. You want to feel like the audience is behind you and Toronto has been very, very supportive in the past.' Information on tickets for all performances will be available shortly by visiting IdinaMenzel.com. Tony Award winner Idina Menzel has a diverse career on stage and in film, television, and music. She recently appeared in the television hit Glee, and is currently on a sold-out tour, performing with leading orchestras around the country. In 2009 Ms. Menzel co-starred with Josh Groban in the concert version of Chess: The Musical, recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall and broadcast on PBS. In December 2005 she completed her role as the misunderstood Elphaba in Broadway's Wicked, for which she received a Tony Award for Lead Actress in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award nomination. She reprised the role in London's West End in September 2006, receiving the Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also starred in Michael John LaChiusa's musical See What I Wanna See, directed by Ted Sperling at The Public Theater, garnering Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations. Other honors included a Tony nomination for her debut performance as Maureen in the original production of Rent, and a Drama Desk nomination for her performance as Kate in Manhattan Theater Club's Off-Broadway original musical, The Wild Party. '

The Theater Company of Hoboken (TTC) is seeking a diverse multi-ethnic cast of at least seven women and eight men (possibly adding an ensemble cast) their next production - THE WILD PARTY as directed by Jenny Fersch.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theater company, has announced that its acclaimed production of Queen of the Mist, words and music by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa, directed by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, will be taped for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Theatre on Film and Tape Archive on December 1.

Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation's preeminent African American theatre, announces a special presentation of I Wish You Love in the 2011-2012 season. Due to popular demand, 16 performances will be staged at Penumbra Theatre November 18 - December 4, 2011

An impressive ensemble of Broadway leading men and women are traveling to Romania to perform A Medley of Sondheim, a concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim's iconic musical numbers, presented within the framework of the 4th edition of the International Festival for Musical Performing Arts 'Life is Beautiful.'

Stage 773 Artistic Director Brian Posen announces the launch of a new musical theatre company, Street Tempo Theatre, debuting at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Street Tempo Theatre is committed to creating raw, intimate, thought-provoking musical theatre in Chicago.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, has announced that the world premiere of Queen of the Mist, words and music by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa, directed by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, will play a two-week extension through Sunday, December 4 at The Gym at Judson Memorial Church, 243 Thompson Street at Washington Square South. The musical was originally scheduled to close Sunday, November 20.

The New York Pops orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke, celebrates the holidays with swinging seasonal favorites on December 16 and 17, 2011 at 8:00pm. Reineke has been heralded by The New York Times as 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude that has been a pops orchestral tradition since the heyday of Arthur Fiedler...a polished, welcoming host.' John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, the couple The New York Times called 'a musical match made in heaven,' will perform with the orchestra in a program featuring festive holiday tunes such as 'We Need a Little Christmas', 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year', 'Go Tell It On the Mountain', 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' and 'Little Bolero Boy'. Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Cluman, will also join The New York Pops in the festive concert at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

An impressive ensemble of Broadway leading men and women are traveling to Romania to perform A Medley of Sondheim, a concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim's iconic musical numbers, presented within the framework of the 4th edition of the International Festival for Musical Performing Arts 'Life is Beautiful.'

Stage 773 Artistic Director Brian Posen announces the launch of a new musical theatre company, Street Tempo Theatre, debuting at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave.

Transport Group's Queen of the Mist is a world premiere musical with words and music by 5-time Tony nominee Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Hello Again). Based on an astounding, outrageous, and haunting true story, two-time Tony nominee Mary Testa (Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, 42nd Street) stars as Anna Edson Taylor, who, in 1901, set out to be the first woman to shoot Niagara Falls, in a barrel of her own design.

Transport Group's Queen of the Mist is a world premiere musical with words and music by 5-time Tony nominee Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Hello Again). Based on an astounding, outrageous, and haunting true story, two-time Tony nominee Mary Testa (Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, 42nd Street) stars as Anna Edson Taylor, who, in 1901, set out to be the first woman to shoot Niagara Falls, in a barrel of her own design. The production officially opened last night, November 6. Click below for a chat with the company!

Idina Menzel will be making her symphonic debut in Canada on November 17 and 18 to film a PBS concert special. The director has rearranged the camera placements, freeing up new seats for both concerts.

After debuting on Broadway in an all-time classic, the musical star has done three world premieres.