Nehal Joshi News

Casting is announced today for Music Theatre Wichita's 45th Season, which includes Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and the regional premieres of "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "Mamma Mia!"  

Arena Stage presents the final production of its 2015/16 season, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama DISGRACED. Director Timothy Douglas (Arena's King Hedley II) tackles this emotionally-charged play by Akhtar, author of the novel 'American Dervish' and currently the most produced playwright in the United States. DISGRACED runs now through May 29, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Akhtar's script is so beautifully complex yet simple, and asks some hard questions. The performances and physical production elements are first-rate. This is one of the strongest productions I've seen all season, and perhaps in recent years in the Washington, DC area.

Lest you might think careers are well-planned, organized endeavors, take a lesson from director Timothy Douglas, who is gracing Washington in a return visit to Arena Stage (last season's King Hedley II was his Arena Stage debut) with his work with Ayad Akhtar's Disgraced, a play about being Muslim or, perhaps more importantly, being perceived as Muslim, in America in current times. 'I tripped into directing,' says Timothy, 'I went to LA as an actor, but found I didn't have the skin for it, so I stepped back and thought I'd be a career teacher, but through some dumb luck, I directed a show, and some people liked what they saw, and I ended up with the Center Theatre Group in LA, as a director. When I finally stopped resisting the path, it started to work.' 'It seems every good thing,' he laughingly reflects, 'has happened as I was being dragged through the back door kicking and screaming.' So, it seems, tripping doesn't always mean falling.

Arena Stage presents the final production of its 2015/16 season, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama DISGRACED. Director Timothy Douglas (Arena's King Hedley II) tackles this emotionally-charged play by Akhtar, author of the novel 'American Dervish' and currently the most produced playwright in the United States. DISGRACED runs April 22-May 29, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the company's first rehearsal below!

Arena Stage announces casting for the final production of the 2015/16 season, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced. Director Timothy Douglas (Arena's King Hedley II) tackles this emotionally-charged play by Akhtar, author of the novel 'American Dervish' and currently the most produced playwright in the United States. Hailed as 'emotionally shattering, a smart and provocative work of unusual daring that should be seen by anyone who cares about serious theater' by Newsday, Disgraced runs April 22-May 29, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater.

The Off-Broadway hit and New York Times Critic's Pick WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR a new musical by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo will end its current run at the Actors Temple, as originally planned, on November 22, 2015 with plans to bring the show back to NYC Fall of 2016.

A musical comedy where the first act climaxes in a dramatic representation of the collapse of The Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 may not be the easiest ticket to sell, especially in New York City. Yet, the Off-Broadway musical WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo, based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen, has found an audience with material that is both challenging and truly funny.

Off Broadway's newest hit musical Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started The Iraq War by Marshall Pailet  and A.D. Penedo, began performances on September 26 and opened to rave reviews on October 4.T

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR, opened on October 4. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and runs through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). Broadway's WAITRESS songwriter Sara Bareilles stopped by to see the show, and you can check out a photo of her with the cast below!

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? Or How I Started The Iraq War, gets its off-Broadway premiere, beginning this week. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? Or How I Started The Iraq War is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and is currently in performances for an opening on October 4. The production runs through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR, will get its Off-Broadway premiere this Fall. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and will begin performances tonight, September 26; opening October 4 and initially running through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR, will get its Off-Broadway premiere this Fall. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and will begin performances on September 26; opening October 4 and initially running through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

The Muny presents OKLAHOMA!, which began performances on August 10 and runs through August 16, 2015, directed by Rob Ruggiero, choreographed by Susan Stroman and music directed by Kevin Stites. Ginger Thatcherrestages Stroman's choreography. Meet Jenni Barber (who plays Ado Annie) in the video below!

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started The Iraq War, will get its Off-Broadway premiere this Fall. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started The Iraq War is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and will begin performances on September 26; opening October 17 and initially running through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). Tickets are on sale at whoisyourbagdaddy.com and $47.50 ($15 during previews).

The Muny presents OKLAHOMA!, which began performances on August 10 and runs through August 16, 2015, directed by Rob Ruggiero, choreographed by Susan Stroman and music directed by Kevin Stites. Ginger Thatcherrestages Stroman's choreography. BroadwayWorld has a first look at some backstage shots below!

It's most certainly a renowned and respected classic of musical theatre, and the fact is that it's so popular that you're likely to find a production playing somewhere in the world at any given moment. One of my early reviewing assignments was covering the show back in 2007, the last time it played here. Of course, I'm talking about Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic OKLAHOMA!. This lovingly rendered production breathes new life into a show that's an absolute natural for the outdoor setting that The MUNY's stage provides. See it, and be enriched by a vibrant presentation that's a perfect way to introduce your family to the considerable charms of this musical, as well as the venue staging it!

The Muny presents OKLAHOMA!, which began performances on August 10 and runs through August 16, 2015, directed by Rob Ruggiero, choreographed by Susan Stroman and music directed by Kevin Stites. Ginger Thatcherrestages Stroman's choreography. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast partying the night away below!