Michael Starobin News

'Next to Normal' Star Aaron Tveit and Quincy Tyler Bernstine of 'Ruined' are winners of the 2009 Clarence Derwent Awards, which are given each year to the most promising performers on the New York stage. The Associated Press first reported the news of the duo's win.

The new Broadway musical, Next to Normal, which has been nominated for 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will celebrate the retail release of their Original Cast Recording with an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) on Tuesday, May 12th at 4:00p.m.

BroadwayWorld Presents The 2009 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Orchestrations'

Nominations in 27 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced today by Tony Award Winners Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

J. ROBERT SPENCER, one of the stars of the new Broadway musical NEXT TO NORMAL, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from his alma mater, Shenandoah University. Spencer is a 1991 cum laude graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory's musical theatre program.

In his New York Post column today Friday, April 24th, Michael Riedel writes that the new Stephen Sondheim show 'iSondheim' may have been saved from the 'never been' bin by the Roundabout Theatre Company.

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, will present Mary Testa and Emily Skinner in special one-night-only events, at 220 East 4 Street, between Avenues A & B. On Sunday, April 5 at 7pm two-time Tony Award nominee Mary Testa will perform her new one-woman show, Sleepless Variations, which tells a tale of one woman's sleepless night of fears, fantasies, and dreams, expressed through a cycle of songs by composers as varied as Jimi Hendrix, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Bj?rk.

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, will present Mary Testa and Emily Skinner in special one-night-only events, at 220 East 4 Street, between Avenues A & B. On Sunday, April 5 at 7pm two-time Tony Award nominee Mary Testa will perform her new one-woman show, Sleepless Variations, which tells a tale of one woman's sleepless night of fears, fantasies, and dreams, expressed through a cycle of songs by composers as varied as Jimi Hendrix, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Bj?rk.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

The opposites attracting plot is probably as old as romantic comedy itself, but even if Rooms: a rock romance follows familiar paths, the Paul Scott Goodman (book/music/lyrics) and Miriam Gordon (book) two-person musical is such a buoyant, funny and upbeat affair that the clichés of the story are conquered by the cleverness and exuberance with which the story is told. Under Scott Schwartz's swift and breezy direction, the 90-minute one-act scoots the audience along on an immensely enjoyable ride.

Ghostlight Records recently recorded the Cast Album of the critically acclaimed new musical Next to Normal. Recording dates were February 11th and 12th in New York City, with a release date this spring to be announced soon. Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records President Kurt Deutsch and Grammy Award-winner Joel Moss produce the album. The cover art for the upcoming CD was released and we bring it to you right here on BroadwayWorld.com!

David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, and Second Stage Theatre have announced that the upcoming Broadway musical, NEXT TO NORMAL, will play Broadway's Booth Theatre instead of the previously announced Longacre Theatre. Previews will still begin on Friday, March 27 and opening night remains Wednesday, April 15. The Booth Theatre is located at 222 West 45th street.

Producers David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, and Second Stage Theatre have announced that the original musical, Next to Normal, will come to Broadway this spring, direct from its critically-acclaimed engagement at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage, beginning preview performances at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street) on Friday, March 27th and officially opening on Wednesday, April 15.

Liz Callaway has been cast in the upcoming iSondheim: A Musical Revue, a world premiere in honor of America's greatest living composer of musical theatre that will run at the Alliance Theatre from April 15 to May 10, 2009.

iSondheim: A Musical Revue, a world premiere in honor of America's greatest living composer of musical theatre will run at the Alliance Theatre from April 15 to May 10, 2009.The revue features music and lyrics by Stephan Sondheim, and orchestrations by Michael Starobin. iSondheim is is directed by James Lapine and is based on a concept by David Kernan. Stephen Sondheim?s work revolutionized the Broadway musical with such wide-ranging hits as West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods. This unique mixed-media musical revue, interspersed with commentary from the legendary composer, was developed by his longtime collaborator James Lapine (last at the Alliance to direct The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). Be among the first to experience this celebration of the power of creativity in the American musical theatre. The box office is open Monday - Friday from 10 am to 8 pm and Saturday - Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm. For more information call the box office at: 404.733.5000. Now in its 40th season, Atlanta?s nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre, recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award?, is the leading professional resident theatre of the Southeast, creating the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people on two stages for youth and adult audiences.

McCarter Theatre Center announces casting for 28th ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF CHARLES DICKENS'A CHRISTMAS CAROL.' Adapted by DAVID THOMPSON Directed by MICHAEL UNGER Featuring Lisa Altomare, Richard Gallagher, Karron Graves, Stephen James King, James Ludwig, Janet Metz, Ned Noyes, John O'Creagh, Anne O'Sullivan, Karen Pittman, Nikki E. Walker with renowned Irish Actor Dermot Crowley as Ebenezer Scrooge Previews begin Sunday, December 7, 2008

McCarter Theatre Center announces casting for 28th ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF CHARLES DICKENS'A CHRISTMAS CAROL.'

James Lapine will be creating a new revue of the songs of Stephen Sondehim titled 'iSondheim: aMusical Revue'. The revue will premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre

Xanadu's Tony nominee for Best Actress, Kerry Butler, will appear at the Virgin Megastore Times Square on Wednesday, May 28th, at 5:00 PM, in celebration of her debut solo album FAITH, TRUST & PIXIE DUST, released May 13th on PS Classics.

Xanadu's Tony nominee for Best Actress, Kerry Butler, will appear at the Virgin Megastore Times Square on Wednesday, May 28th, at 5:00 PM, in celebration of her debut solo album FAITH, TRUST & PIXIE DUST, released May 13th on PS Classics.