Michael Starobin News

Transport Group has announced that its annual A Toast to the Artist gala will honor former Transport Group executive director Lori Fineman and Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall with the Transporting American Theatre Award.

The 2018 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Musical, Once On This Island will play The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas March 10-15, 2020. Tickets starting at $30 go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at TheSmithCenter.com.

There is a firm, but understated strength that permeates the atmosphere during Broadbend, Arkansas, the beautifully realized two-person chamber musical created by composer Ted Shen and librettists Ellen Fitzhugh and Harrison David Rivers, depicting an event during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in one act and its legacy in the next.

Sony Masterworks Broadway just announced the December 6 release of SUPERHERO (ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING) with music and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Emmy Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Jagged Little Pill, Next to Normal, If/Then) and book by Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning writer John Logan (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Red).  Also making its debut alongside today's preorder is the album's lead offering a?oeIt's Not Like In The Movies,a?? performed by  Tony and GRAMMY Award nominee Bryce Pinkham and Kyle McArthur a?" listen here. 

An open call will be held for the role of Sophia Loren in the new Broadway musical FLYING OVER SUNSET, produced by Lincoln Center Theater.

Musical theatre leading man Hayden Tee recently starred as Miss Trunchbull in the West End production of Matilda - for which he is nominated for a BroadwayWorld UK Award! - and he's also produced new album Face to Face. It features songs from shows like Matilda, Les Misérables, 1776 and more, and fans can catch it on tour soon.

For audience members who saw Once On This Island during its recent Tony Award-winning revival on Broadway, actress Tamyra Gray has some pointers in regard to the show's national tour, which launches tonight at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center: a?oeThere's a new set-up,a?? she explains. a?oeSince we are no longer in the round, our set has been restructured and it's really, really cool: It's like you've walked into this village and you're watching events unfold.a??

Atlantic for Kids presents The Big One-Oh!, a world premiere musical

Following their fascinating discussions with Broadway legends, Paul Gemignani and Michael Starobin, The Sondheim Project showcases a fresh perspective for its 3rd Season from internationally acclaimed contemporary pianist, Anthony de Mare. Mr. de Mare (known for his visionary album 'Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano') discusses his process for interpreting Sondheim, his experiences with Sondheim himself, and his highly anticipated new project, 'Liaisons2020'. This new season continues The Sondheim Project's in-depth journey of Sondheim discovery and is not to be missed!

The record-setting Broadway sensation, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical today confirms casting for its Cardiff run at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff from Wednesday 20th a?' Sunday 24th November 2019 and it's Christmas season at The Lowry opening on Tuesday 10 December 2019 and running through until Sunday 5 January 2020. Comedy legend Griff Rhys Jones will star as Old Max, alongside X-Factor winner Matt Terry as Young Max and Edward Baker-Duly as the world-famous mischief maker, The Grinch.

Atlantic for Kids presents The Big One-Oh!, a world premiere musical based on the novel by Academy Award Winner Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose), with lyrics by Pitchford, music by Tony Award winner Doug Besterman (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and a book by Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach). Directed and choreographed by MK Lawson, The Big One-Oh! opens on Saturday, September 28th at Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues) and runs Saturdays and Sundays through October 20th.

The newly opened REACH at Kennedy Center continues the institution's promise set forth by President John F. Kennedy of arts for all.

Transport Group has announced that the cast of its world premiere musical Broadbend, Arkansas will be Justin Cunningham (a?oeWhen They See Usa??) and Danyel Fulton. Broadbend, Arkansas, presented in association with the Public Theater, with libretto by Ellen Fitzhugh and Harrison David Rivers, and music and additional lyrics by Ted Shen, directed by OBIE-winning artistic director Jack Cummings III, begins performances Friday, October 25 at 7:30pm at at The Duke on 42nd Street in New 42nd Street Studios, 229 West 42nd Street. The opening is set for Sunday, November 10 at 7:30pm. Tickets are now on sale.

Lincoln Center Theater, under the direction of André Bishop, has announced it will produce a new musical during its 2019-2020 season. FLYING OVER SUNSET, with a book and direction by James Lapine, music by Tom Kitt, and lyrics by Michael Korie, will feature choreography by Michelle Dorrance, and will begin previews March 12, 2020 and open on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton and Tony Yazbeck will head the cast with additional casting to be announced at a later date.

Cast members from the Broadway company will lead the national tour of 2017 Broadway revival of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND!

Everything will be alright June 25 - 30 as the national tour of Falsettos will play the Knight Theater.

The American Repertory Theater's We live in Cairo is currently running at the Loeb Drama Center now through June 23.

Brothers Daniel and Patrick Lazour have found a creative home at the American Repertory Theater for the world premiere of their musical WE LIVE IN CAIRO. In collaboration with Director Taibi Magar and Choreographer Samar Haddad King, the Lazours have continued to develop the book, music, and lyrics in the supportive incubator of the A.R.T. following workshops at the Eugene O'Neill National Music Theatre Conference (2015) and the New York Theatre Workshop (2016 Richard Rodgers Award). Infused with their own cultural experiences, the knowledge gained from their research and travels, and the influence of generations of protest music, WE LIVE IN CAIRO is an amalgam of the personal and the political, combining 21st century technology with good old-fashioned songwriting and storytelling techniques.

Yellow Sound Label and Broadway Records announced today that the Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording of RENASCENCE is now available digitally and at BroadwayRecords.com, and in stores on Friday, May 31. RENASCENCE won the 2019 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical and was originally produced Off-Broadway by Transport Group. RENASCENCE has music by Carmel Dean (musical director for If/Then, American Idiot), lyrics from the poems of Pulitzer Prize Winner Edna St. Vincent Millay, and a book by Tony nominee Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Everyday Rapture). Orchestrations are by Tony winner Michael Starobin (Assasins, Next to Normal). The album was produced by Michael Croiter (Matilda, Heathers), Carmel Dean and Dick Scanlan.

We Live in Cairo opening officially last night, Wednesday, May 22, at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA.