Peter Stone News

David Mirvish has announced that Ben Heppner, the greatest opera tenor of his generation, will be joining the cast of the new production of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC. TITANIC is part of the Mirvish 2014-15 Subscription Season. It will play May 20 to June 21, 2015 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The production was originally slated to open in Toronto last summer, prior to a Broadway run, but was cancelled.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's Super October! Local productions of 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Titanic,' 'Parade' and 'The Wild Party' have folks excited! 'At Last' and 'Cole Porter's Greatest Hits' honor past artists, the Savoyaires mount 'The Grand Duke,' and Des Plaines goes 'Legally Blonde.' Colleges produce 'Into The Woods' and 'In The Heights, 'Amazing Grace' arrives downtown and more!

Griffin Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with a new, intimate version of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Phantom), book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year, 1776), new orchestrations by Ian Weinberger, directed by Scott Weinstein (Griffin Theatre's Spelling Bee, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Seussical) and music direction by Elizabeth Doran (Timeline's Juno). TITANIC will play October 18 - December 7, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. The press opening is Sunday, October 26 at 7 pm.

David Mirvish has finalized all the details and shows for his 2014-15 line-up of shows. There will be seven shows in the Mainstage Subscription Series, three in the Off-Mirvish Subscription Series and nine bonus shows not on subscription. That brings the total to a record 19 shows for the 2014-15 season.

Annie Oakley is the best shot around. And when she's discovered by Buffalo Bill, he persuades this novel sharpshooter to join his Wild West Show. It only takes one glance for her to fall head over heels for the dashing shooting ace Frank Butler. She soon eclipses Butler as the main attraction which, while good for business, is bad for romance. Butler hightails it off to join a rival show, his bruised male ego leading the way, but is ultimately pitted against Annie in a final shoot-out.

Film and stage legend and two-time Tony Award winner Lauren Bacall, passed away last week (first reported by TMZ) at the age of 89. The legendary actress suffered a massive stroke and died at home (New York City's famous Dakota Building) according to a family member. BroadwayWorld remembers the legend below.

Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to announce casting for its 2014-15 season opener - a new, intimate version of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Phantom), book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year, 1776), new orchestrations by Ian Weinberger, directed by Scott Weinstein (Griffin Theatre's Spelling Bee, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Seussical) and music direction by Elizabeth Doran (Timeline's Juno). TITANIC will play October 18 - December 7, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. The press opening is Sunday, October 26 at 7 pm.

Continuing Way Off Broadway's 20th Anniversary Season, the dinner theatre is preparing to welcome gun-slingers and cowboys to the stage this fall with Irving Berlin's musical comedy about the sharpest shooter in the west, Annie Oakley, with Annie Get Your Gun.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Seussical' splashes, 'The Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Clemente' and 'Hansel & Gretel' bow, 'Hank Williams' returns, 'Charlie Brown' takes a hike, plus 'Reefer Madness' at Mayne, Bill Larkin at Davenport's and showtunes at Ravinia. Plus:'Titanic' arrives as 'The Last Ship' sails!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: It's the Fourth of July (yay!) and PBS's A CAPITOL FOURTH and NBC's MACY'S FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR round up some of the hottest talent from Broadway and the music scene tonight, THEATER TALK remembers 1776's Peter Stone, and Center Stage's digital project MY AMERICA launches on Fandor!

Celebrate Peter Stone's 'lowdown' on 1776 -- the event and the show -- on the Independence Day/Weekend installment of THEATER TALK.

In honor of this week's major national holiday of Independence Day, today we celebrate the most patriotic musical of them all, 1776.

Griffin Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with a new, intimate version of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Phantom), book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year, 1776), new orchestrations by Ian Weinberger, directed by Scott Weinstein (Griffin Theatre's Spelling Bee, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Seussical) and music direction by Elizabeth Doran (Timeline's Juno). TITANIC will play October 18 - December 7, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Casting will be announced shortly.

My visit to the Massachusetts Historical Society was so fascinating that I had to devote two vlog posts to it! Librarian Peter Drummey and his colleague Sara Georgini know as much about the show 1776 as they do about the true history and the real John Adams. And they have great affection for the musical, pointing out some of the departures from the true story the writers took in creating a dramatically pleasing piece of theatre.

Auch in diesem Sommer kann man Musicals wieder auf Freilichtbuhnen in ganz Deutschland erleben, von Klassikern wie Anatevka und My Fair Lady, uber Sunset Bouledvard und Kiss Me, Kate, bis hin zu deutschen Eigenproduktionen wie Maria, Ihm Schmeckt's Nicht und Heiße Ecke. Hier nun ein Überblick uber 20 großere Festivals und Produktionen in Deutschland, der Schweiz und Österreich.

I am a research fanatic; I admit it. With each role I play I become my own dramaturge, digging around to learn everything I can about the source material of the play, the period it is set in… anything that will enable me to get inside the skin of the character. Years ago, I created a series of solo shows in which I played screen siren Marlene Dietrich. I felt a huge responsibility, as I attempted to embody such an iconic and distinctive star, to see every film, listen to every recording, and read every book in my quest to be as authentic as possible in my portrayal. With 1776 and John Adams, I am dealing with American history and one of our founding fathers…Talk about responsibility!

Producers David Mirvish and Barry & Fran Weissler have confirmed that the planned revival of the Tony Award-winning musical TITANIC, slated to hit Broadway this fall, has been postponed.

San Diego Musical Theatre presents Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, which opened last Saturday, May 10, at the North Park Theatre. Performances continue weekends through May 25. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

San Diego Musical Theatre presents Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, which opened Saturday, May 10, at the North Park Theatre. Performances continue weekends through May 25. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek below!

San Diego Musical Theatre presents Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, which opened last Saturday, May 10, at the North Park Theatre. Performances continue weekends through May 25. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night party below!