Preston Sadleir News

It was quite a year for BroadwayWorld.com's unmatched Photo Team, here's a look at some of the most popular photo coverages of 2010!

On Monday, December 6, cast members from the first national tour of NEXT TO NORMAL--now performing a limited engagement at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles through January 2, 2011--performed a brief set at 'Musical Mondays,' the Broadway-centric live performance showcase hosted by Scott Nevins and Ryan O'Connor at the Eleven Nightclub in West Hollywood.

Over the course of our ninety minute conversation earlier this week, Tony-winning Broadway star Alice Ripley was kind enough to open up about her role in the phenomenon of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, which is now kicking off a US Tour beginning in Los Angeles, as well as offer thoughts on many of her significant stage roles that she has taken on over the course of her impressive and varied career. Pete Townshend and THE WHO'S TOMMY to Andrew Lloyd Webber and SUNSET BOULEVARD and TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, to Sondheim with COMPANY (as the greatest Amy of all time), and even a turn in ROCKY HORROR; Alice Ripley has seemingly done it all, and her passion, dedication and insight into her craft are amply evident in both her studied performances on stage as well as in discussing the art of acting in musical theatre in conversation and what she has taken as her inspirations to play Diana Goodman, ranging from Albee to O'Neill to actors like Cynthia Nixon, Toni Collette and more. In this portion of her most comprehensive interview to date, BroadwayWorld is proud to present Part I of InDepth InterView: Alice Ripley.

CARRIE is back, according to an Equity casting notice that was just released a few moments ago. A 29-Hour reading is scheduled for February. Exact dates will be determined based on actor's schedules once cast. The notice specifically calls for submission for the roles of Carrie and Sue Snell. Auditions will take place in mid-December.

Hollywood heavyweight Rob Reiner is eager to turn the Pulitzer and Tony-winning musical, Next to Normal into a movie musical. Says Reiner to The Malibu Times: 'I'd love to do Next to Normal...It's about ordinary people, but set to music. It's funny and dark and uplifting. You know, about real stuff.'

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance. Next to Normal also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen(Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

To keep up with the ultra-fast pace of the modern age is difficult for most 'normal' people. Dealing with emotional pain or loss on top of average daily strife can be overwhelming. It may easily destroy a life and those connected to it as well. In the Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal, the problem is presented via a wife and mother, who has been diagnosed as bi-polar. Her behavior patterns show extreme mental instability verging on insanity, and the effects on her husband and teen daughter are astronomical. Eventually a heartfelt loss from the past unravels that is at the core of the woman's suffering. Structured in a most unique way, Next to Normal is akin to a rock opera, but it is not completely sung; there is intermittent dialogue. The most emotional moments, though, come through song, so the music and book flow together, and with the three tiered open set and loosely structured staging, it all comes together as an unparalleled musical drama.

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance. Next to Normal also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen (Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance. Next to Normal also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen(Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

The startling new musical NEXT TO NORMAL, winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, will start the Denver Center Attractions 2011 season on an dramatic high note, playing the Ellie Caulkins Opera House January 4-16.

The national tour of 'Next to Normal' opens at the Ahmanson Theatre on Sunday, November 28, 2010. Previews of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical begin November 23; performances will continue through January 2, 2011.

Many of everyone's Broadway and off-Broadway favorites, including Michael Urie, Wesley Taylor, Jennifer Damiano, Karen Olivo, Mitchell Jarvis and more have teamed up on the webisode project Billy Green. BroadwayWorld last brought you the seventh episode in the series and today brings you the latest installment, 'The Performance.'

Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award® for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning Next to Normal, will reprise her acclaimed performance in the musical's 36-week multi-city North American tour, launching in November. It will play in San Diego January 18 - 23, 2011 at the Balboa Theatre, as a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation.

New musicals Darling (Music and Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver, Book by B.T. Ryback) and Little Miss Fix-It (Lyrics and Book by Kirsten Guenther, Music by Joy Son) will be featured on NBC's The Apprentice October 28.

New musicals Darling (Music and Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver, Book by B.T. Ryback) and Little Miss Fix-It (Lyrics and Book by Kirsten Guenther, Music by Joy Son) will be featured on NBC's The Apprentice October 28.

Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Next to Normal, will reprise her acclaimed performance in the musical's 36-week multi-city North American tour, launching November 23 with a six-week engagement at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Following the premiere, the tour has confirmed engagements in Denver, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Des Moines, Providence, Hartford, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Chicago, St. Paul, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Washington, DC, and Toronto.

Sh-K-Boom Records is set to release composer and lyricist Will Van Dyke's debut album, 'Chasing The Day,' on October 19, featuring tracks performed by Stephanie J. Block, Matt Doyle, Katie Rose Clarke, and several other Broadway performers.

Sh-K-Boom Records is set to release composer and lyricist Will Van Dyke's debut album, 'Chasing The Day,' on October 19, featuring tracks performed by Stephanie J. Block, Matt Doyle, Katie Rose Clarke, and several other Broadway performers.

Rehearsals are now underway for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) New York premiere of Edward Albee's ME, MYSELF & I, a new play by the three-time Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award winner (A Delicate Balance; Seascape; Three Tall Women; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?). The production opens the theater company's 40th Anniversary Season, in which Mr. Albee will be making his Playwrights Horizons debut. The play is Mr. Albee's 30th.

The New York Times now has further details, including word that the Stafford Arima directed production is aiming for Off Broadway, produced by MCC and to play the Lucille Lortel Theater. Seller and McCollum are no longer involved with the production which has said to be further revamped, including the removal of the ACT II opener - Out for Blood. Click here for the full scoop!