Nick Choksi News

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

The Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company -- one of the nation's leading theaters dedicated to developing and producing new and innovative plays by Asian American writers -- will celebrate its 25th anniversary season in 2013-14, beginning with the New York premiere of Bike America by Mike Lew, with its official opening night tonight, October 1 Off-Broadway at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 will stand with the Russian LGBT community and to support one of the great advocates for human rights, Human Rights Watch, in their work to end discrimination and abuse against the LGBT community in Russia. The producers of The Great Comet will make a donation of $10,000 plus all food and beverage sales from the show's first performance in the Theater District. In addition, they will contribute all proceeds from a special first night after-party beginning 11pm this Friday, September 27, which is open to the public with or without a ticket to The Great Comet. Attendance at the party is free of charge and will feature live entertainment and an opportunity for guests to show their support for the Russian LGBT community.

THE GREAT COMET will now land in Times Square on Friday, September 27th, just a few days later than the intended first performance date of Tuesday, September 24th. NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, which concluded a hit summer engagement downtown on September 2nd, will take up residence in the Theater District, on West 45th Street between Times Square and 8thAvenue, for a 14-week limited run. The delay is due to minor complications in the physical transfer of the show's pop-up supper club venue to midtown. Those issues are now resolved and the production is on-track to begin performances this Friday, September 27th at 8pm. Ticketholders for the cancelled performances on September 24-26 can contact their point of purchase to reschedule for a different performance or receive a refund.

The Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company -- one of the nation's leading theaters dedicated to developing and producing new and innovative plays by Asian American writers -- will celebrate its 25th anniversary season in 2013-14, beginning with the New York premiere of Bike America by Mike Lew, with previews tonight, September 24 prior to an official opening night on October 1 Off-Broadway at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

Producers Howard & Janet Kagan have confirmed that the complete cast from the hit downtown production of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, will join the show for its Times Square transfer, beginning next Tuesday, September 24th. THE GREAT COMET which concluded a hit summer engagement downtown on September 2nd, will take up residence in the Theater District, on West 45th Street between Times Square and 8thAvenue, for a 14-week limited run. Since its first production at Ars Nova in the fall of 2012, the show has become a sensation, meriting expansion this summer to a 199 seat pop-up supper club built specifically for the production in the Meatpacking District. After playing to packed houses since May, producers Howard & Janet Kagan will bring Dave Malloy's acclaimed electopop opera and its opulent custom venue - Kazino - to the heart of the theater district.

The Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company -- one of the nation's leading theaters dedicated to developing and producing new and innovative plays by Asian American writers -- will celebrate its 25th anniversary season in 2013-14, beginning with the New York premiere of BIKE AMERICA by Mike Lew, with previews September 24 prior to an official opening night on October 1 Off-Broadway at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of the hit downtown production of Dave Malloy's electropop opera NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 later in 2013. The album was recorded Monday, August 26th at MSR Studios in New York City. The recording - which preserves the entire score on two discs - was produced by Dean Sharenow, Howard and Janet Kagan and Kurt Deutsch. Sign up to pre-order at www.sh-k-boom.com/greatcomet.

This Fall will bring with it ten new Broadway plays and five new Broadway musicals, and yet there is even more on the way for Off-Broadway, including: ALL THE FACES OF THE MOON, ARGUENDO, THE OLD FRIENDS, FETCH CLAY MAKE MAN, BIKE AMERICA, NATURAL AFFECTION, FUN HOME, BAD JEWS, LADY DAY, ANTHEM, GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS, THE PATRON SAINT OF SEA MONSTERS, THE JACKSONIAN, HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, CHERI, DOMESTICATED, LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME, THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE, and THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA.

The Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company -- one of the nation's leading theaters dedicated to developing and producing new and innovative plays by Asian American writers -- will celebrate its 25th anniversary season in 2013-14, beginning with the New York premiere of BIKE AMERICA by Mike Lew, with previews September 24 prior to an official opening night on October 1 Off-Broadway at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 is currently playing a limited run through September 1st at Kazino (West 13th Street and Washington Street) a brand new venue created specifically for the show, in the heart of New York's meatpacking district, totransport audiences to a Russian supper club complete with an authentic Russian menu and bar. The show just celebrated its 100th performance and you can check out photos from the special occasion below!

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 has announced its new rush ticketing policy, available for select performances, beginning immediately. Beginning this week, there will be $49 tickets available for Wednesday matinees, Saturday early evening performances, and Sunday matinees. Rush tickets can be purchased at the box office of Kazino (West 13th Street and Washington Street) beginning 2 hours prior to the posted curtain time, as well as online at www.thegreatcometof1812.com beginning the day of the performance at 10am by using the code RUSH at check-out. Food and drink is not included with the purchase of a rush ticket.

Featured in yesterday's event was the cast of NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 (Phillipa Soo, David Abeles, Nick Choksi, Grace McLean, Ashkon Davaran, Mariand Torres, Catherine Brookman, Lucas Steele, Nicholas Belton, Blake DeLong, Luke Holloway, Lulu Fall, Shaina Taub, Brittain Ashford, Lauren Zakrin, Azudi Onyejekwe, Amber Gray), performing 'Prologue,' ' Charming,' and 'Sonya Alone.' Check out highlights below!

Yesterday, 106.7 Lite FM presented the return of its much-anticipated, annual lunchtime theatre summer series, '106.7 Lite FM's Broadway in Bryant Park.' The 2013 program will present the best of Broadway, FREE to the public, on six consecutive Thursdays beginning July 11 at 12:30 p.m. on the Bryant Park Stage. Hosted by Lite FM's on-air personalities, the 13thannual presentation of open-air, On- and Off- Broadway lunch hour performances will run through August 15. BroadwayWorld was there for yesterday's festivites and you can check out photo coverage below!

Today, 106.7 Lite FM announced that Erik Altemus of PIPPIN, Ann Harada of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, and a slew of other stage stars are set to kick off Broadway in Bryant Park this week. The 2013 program will present the best of Broadway, FREE to the public, on six consecutive Thursdays beginning today, July 11 at 12:30 p.m. on the Bryant Park Stage. Check out the full details for this week's lineup below!

David Abeles (Once, Original Cast Member) will take over the role of 'Pierre' in the hit downtown production of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 beginning tonight, July 9th. Dave Malloy, the show's creator, played his final performance as 'Pierre' on June 21st, as he leaves to work on several new projects including commissions from LCT3, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, and the Youth Musical Theater Company in Berkeley, as well as upcoming shows at the Incubator Arts Project and The Bushwick Starr.

Today, 106.7 Lite FM announced that Erik Altemus of PIPPIN, Ann Harada of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, and a slew of other stage stars are set to kick off Broadway in Bryant Park this week. The 2013 program will present the best of Broadway, FREE to the public, on six consecutive Thursdays beginning this Thursday, July 11 at 12:30 p.m. on the Bryant Park Stage. Check out the full details for this week's lineup below!

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is hosting a summer fling for soap fans as the network has acquired the first 40 episodes of The OnLine Network's reprisal of the popular daytime dramas 'All My Children' and 'One Life to Live' for a special exclusive 10-week limited engagement.

David Abeles (Once, Original Cast Member) will take over the role of 'Pierre' in the hit downtown production ofNATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 beginning Tuesday, July 9th. Dave Malloy, the show's creator, will play his final performance as 'Pierre' Friday, June 21st, as he leaves to work on several new projects including commissions from LCT3, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, and the Youth Musical Theater Company in Berkeley, as well as upcoming shows at the Incubator Arts Project and The Bushwick Starr. From June 22nd through July 7th, the role of 'Pierre' will be played by Luke Holloway.