Nell Benjamin News

Dallas Theater Center announced today a new program for the 2013-14 season, DTC Book Club hosted by DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. DTC Book Club events are scheduled to take place with productions of Oedipus el Rey, The Fortress of Solitude, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure and Les Miserables. DTC Book Club registration is open now on www.dallastheatercenter.org/bookclub.php.

Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2014 Season, which opens on June 16 with Billy Elliot The Musical. "We're so happy these exciting artists are creating our 2014 season," said Isaacson. "This is a challenging season, one with incredible variety and power. We're fortunate that such extraordinary talents will be creating our 'Muny Magic.'"

Dallas Theater Center patrons donated $57,993.81 to the North Texas Food Bank during DTC's annual production of A Christmas Carol. During the six-year partnership with NTFB, DTC patrons have donated $297,912.16 to the organization.

BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE, with a book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Duncan Sheik, and based on the popular 2000 novel by Kate DeCamillo, is playing in its world premiere this winter at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, with AVENUE Q's John Tartaglia at the helm. The production is set to run now through January 5, 2013. Get a first look at the cast onstage below!

While performing in SPANK! THE FIFTY SHADES PARODY Gabe Bowling and Michelle Vezilj discovered that their onstage chemistry translated well to original music and formed the bi-coastal duo Drink Me Up. Earlier this week, the pair released their first EP. Willing to defy genres to ensure that their songs are truly heartfelt and with a indie, folksy, singer/songwriter edge the couple has created an infectious quartet of songs that will leave listeners wanting nothing but more.

LEGALLY BLONDE at Greasepaint Youtheatre Pink Power! Greasepaint Youtheatre presents LEGALLY BLONDE, a tale about overcoming stereotypes and believing in yourself. This romantic musical comedy is presented tonight, December 13 through December 22 at the historic Stagebrush Theater in Scottsdale.

BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE, with a book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Duncan Sheik, and based on the popular 2000 novel by Kate DeCamillo, is playing in its world premiere this winter at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, with AVENUE Q's John Tartaglia at the helm. The production is set to run now through January 5, 2013. Scroll down for a photos of the cast below!

Williamstown Theatre Festival has named Mandy Greenfield as its new Artistic Director, the Festival's Board Chair Matt Harris announced today. Greenfield, who is currently Artistic Producer at Manhattan Theatre Club, succeeds Jenny Gersten beginning September 2014. As previously announced, Gersten departs Williamstown Theatre Festival in January 2014 to become Executive Director of Friends of the Highline. Gersten will program the upcoming 2014 season, and Williamstown Theatre Festival Producer Stephen Kaus will oversee the season. Greenfield's tenure as Artistic Director will begin immediately following the 2014 season, the Festival's 60th.

BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE, with a book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Duncan Sheik, and based on the popular 2000 novel by Kate DeCamillo, will have its word premiere this winter at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, with AVENUE Q's John Tartaglia at the helm. The production is set to run Dec. 6 - Dec. 29, 2013. Check out a sneak peek below!

LEGALLY BLONDE at Greasepaint Youtheatre Pink Power! Greasepaint Youtheatre presents LEGALLY BLONDE, a tale about overcoming stereotypes and believing in yourself. This romantic musical comedy is presented December 13 through December 22 at the historic Stagebrush Theater in Scottsdale.

Today Dallas Theater Center's Project Discovery program received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from First Lady Michelle Obama. The award recognizes exemplary after-school and out-of-school time programs from across the country and is the highest national honor awarded to such programs. Project Discovery is one of 12 programs to receive the award this year.

Due to popular demand, NYU Skirball Center is adding one additional performance of Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train - Live! Buddy's Big Adventure on November 29 at 11am. A total of six performance will take place November 29-December 1 at 11am and 2pm at the NYU Skirball Center (566 LaGuardia Place), as part of the venue's 2013-14 Big Red Chair Family Series.

Dallas Theater Center announced today a new program for the 2013-14 season, DTC Book Club hosted by DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. DTC Book Club events are scheduled to take place with productions of Oedipus el Rey, The Fortress of Solitude, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure and Les Miserables. DTC Book Club registration is open now on www.dallastheatercenter.org/bookclub.php.

In 2007, LEGALLY BLONDE painted Broadway's Palace Theatre pink with its bubbly book by Heather Hach and infectious pop music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe. Stumbling in the box office, the show became immensely popular after it was aired in its entirety on MTV in October 2007. The musical closed on Broadway on October 19, 2008 and enjoyed success on two separate national tours. Set to open tonight, City Lights Theatre, a community theatre in Sugar Land, is producing the sugary musical confection. Last night, they invited me out to their final dress rehearsal to preview their spin on the bouncy piece.

Pittsburgh CLO has just announced the 2014 Summer Season, featuring the big, blonde sensation, Legally Blonde the Musical and the National Tour of Evita, fresh off its hit Broadway engagement. This Season will also include beloved musical theater treasure Singin' in the Rain, outrageous comedy masterpiece Spamalot, seven-time Tony Award-winner CATS and the explosive cult film phenomenon turned Broadway powerhouse Footloose, being produced by Pittsburgh CLO for the first time.

Dallas Theater Center Board of Trustees Chair Rebecca Fletcher and Managing Director Heather Kitchen are thrilled to announce the successful completion of DTC's "Bringing the Wyly Theatre to Life" Advancement Campaign. The campaign was designed to support a bold vision for DTC's future, which began with the Theater's move to the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center in 2009.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced final casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Dallas Theater Center has announced the regional premiere of Clybourne Park, running in rotating rep with A Raisin in the Sun, to launch the theater's 55th season. Clybourne Park will be directed by DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Clybourne Park begins with a Pay-What-You-Can performance tonight, October 4 and runs through Sunday, October 27 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Below, watch a sneak peek at rehearsals for 'Legally Blonde: The Musical' at Theatre Tulsa! Legally Blonde features music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe and is based on the book by Heather Hach. The show will run tonight, Sept. 20-29, 2013 at Theatre Tulsa.

On the heels of their record breaking production of LES MISERABLES, a new comedy with a very intriguing title opens Aurora Theatre's 2013-2014 Harvel Lab Series. Walter Cronkite is Dead which runs tonight, September 19 - October 6, 2013.