Prince Hal News

The Guthrie today announced that it has commissioned Tony Award and Drama Desk Award-winning Broadway songwriter and composer Jason Robert Brown to create an original music piece for its 50th-anniversary gala performance BEHOLD. Brown's composition will be based on text excerpts from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Stage and screen regular Tom Hiddleston has confirmed that the next character he will essay after completing work on the new AVENGERS universe franchise entry, THOR 2: THE DARK WORLD, will be none other than famed war photographer Robert Capa in a new biopic, CAPA.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'American Idiot' pays a visit, Circle's 'Death Takes A Holiday,' Porchlight's 'Pal Joey,' TMTC's 'Pajama Game,' plus a piano show, two children's shows, Seth Rudetsky and more, including an unbelievable roundup of current shows!

Atlantic Theater Company has announced that Olivier and two time Tony Award winning playwright John Guare will make his Off Broadway acting debut in the world premiere production of his new play 3 KINDS OF EXILE, directed by Atlantic artistic director Neil Pepe, featuring Atlantic ensemble members Peter Maloney and David Pittu and guest artists Alison Cimmet, Jeffrey Kuhn, Jacquelyn Landgraf, Martin Moran, Kate Rigg, Omar Sangare and Timothy Splain.

Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY is considered one of the more challenging musicals for the cast, crew and orchestra, but if it is done well it provides for an enjoyable evening of theatrical entertainment. Pennsylvania Playhouse produces a successful show with their production of COMPANY.

The Tony-Award winning musical, Company is set to open at the Pennsylvania Playhouse this month.

The Collegiate Chorale has announced Song of Norway by Robert Wright and George Forrest on April 30, 2013 at 6:30pm at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Avenue, NYC. Tickets are on sale at www.carnegiehall.org. Single tickets for this concert start at $25.

The Tony-Award winning musical, Company is set to open at the Pennsylvania Playhouse this April.

Timeless. Enchanting. Impactful. These three words clearly describe the classic musical SOUTH PACIFIC, coming to the DTC stage April 10th through May 5th. From the hauntingly beautiful first three notes of 'Bali Hai' to the romance of 'Some Enchanted Evening,' it's no surprise that this Rodgers & Hammerstein favorite is one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time.

On Twitter Watch, Elaine Stritch Shoot Me wrote 'The brilliant @ABFalecbaldwin has offically signed on as Executive Producer of 'Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me.' Elaine is THRILLED. What a mensch'

Today we are talking to the originator of Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES onstage and a preeminent Phantom (and the first to actually play the role) in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA who has clearly made a major mark with his performances in the theatre - not to mention his work on the original concept albums of EVITA and JEKYLL & HYDE - who now makes the leap to the big screen in his featured role in the super-successful feature film iteration of the Claude-Michel Schonberg/Alain Boublil musical based on the Victor Hugo novel - the titanically talented Colm Wilkinson. Opening up about his work in the original Royal Shakespeare Company production of LES MISERABLES and his collaboration with the creative team and cast of actors as well as his association with producer Cameron Mackintosh, director Trevor Nunn and more, Wilkinson details the finer points of creating one of the modern musical theatre's most memorable characters, from his first audition through to the West End, Broadway and beyond. Additionally, Wilkinson reveals all about shooting the feature film version, with Broadway/Hollywood superstar Hugh Jackman taking over the leading role and whether he would consider taking on another character in the show after having essaying Jean Valjean onstage and the Monsignor onscreen - maybe Javert? Plus, Wilkinson shares backstage stories involving fellow theatrical luminaries like Trevor Nunn, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more in this career-spanning conversation with one of the mega-musical era's most major of stars - - all of that and much, much more awaits!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will continue its popular Public Forum season this month with SONNETS FOR THE CITY on Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. at Joe's Pub at The Public. Presented in association with New York Magazine, this one-night-only event will feature insights from notable writers, contemporary artists, and members of the community, including celebrated young novelist Tea Obreht, New York Magazine book critic Kathryn Schulz, Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro, and acclaimed actor Sam Waterston.

Today we are talking to an internationally celebrated performer who has scaled the highest heights of the music industry over the course of her incredibly impressive career and also inspired and originated a leading role in one of the most famous Broadway musicals of all time in the process, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - the refreshingly unique and singularly gifted Sarah Brightman. Granting a rare exclusive interview while preparing for the US debut of her new space-themed studio album, DREAMCHASER, Brightman reveals the impetus for the project and shares illuminating insights and opinions on the vast array of musical material, new and old, included on this idiosyncratic and immensely transporting new release - Paul McCartney to Sia and far beyond. Additionally, Brightman reveals plans for a promotional tour in support of DREAMCHASER and discusses some of the intriguing bonus tracks - including a song in Japanese. Also, Brightman takes a look back at her theatrical legacy and her role in the creation of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, sharing stories of rehearsing the original production with Hal Prince, Michael Crawford, Lloyd Webber and company as well as the musical's legacy as the world's most successful entertainment ever. Plus, Brightman offers remembrances of her spectacular appearances at PHANTOM 25 at the Royal Albert Hall as well as the recent Broadway anniversary and offers up insights on Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM sequel, LOVE NEVER DIES. All of that, memories of starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th Birthday Celebration, future plans, thoughts on GLEE and much, much more awaits in this career-spanning conversation!

Timeless. Enchanting. Impactful. These three words clearly describe the classic musical SOUTH PACIFIC, coming to the DTC stage April 10th through May 5th. From the hauntingly beautiful first three notes of 'Bali Hai' to the romance of 'Some Enchanted Evening,' it's no surprise that this Rodgers & Hammerstein favorite is one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time.

According to the New York Times, Jack Viertel will soon write a book on 'why some shows succeed and others falter.' The book which will be released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in winter 2016, is tentatively titled 'The Secret Life of the Broadway Musical: How Broadway Shows are Built.'

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed that PRINCE OF BROADWAY, the new musical celebrating legendary Broadway director and producer Harold 'Hal' Prince has now been postponed indefinitely due to scheduling conflicts.

Guest conductor Stuart Chafetz returns to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for the Pops performances of Oh, What a Night! on April 5-7, 2013 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Featuring vocalists Ron Bohmer, Tituss Burgess and Bradley Dean, the MSOsalutes those magical Jersey harmonies in a celebration of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and other favorites of the "doo-wop" era.

It has long been buzzed about that Broadway favorite Kristin Chenoweth will return to Broadway next in an upcoming revival of ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Unfortunately, projected opening dates have not yet been announced, but Chenoweth revealed in a recent interview with the Village Voice that they are 'literally hammering out the dates right now..'

Robert Bills will present Neil Simon's The Odd Couple (female version) performing Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm, April 5 - June 1, 2013 (no performances Saturday, 4/27 or 5/25) - at Gorilla Tango's Skokie Theatre (7924 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, Il). Tickets are $20; to purchase tickets call 847.677.7761 or visit www.gorillatango.com.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) launches the 2013/14 Season with Gala 2013 on June 17 at its home on Navy Pier. Funds raised will benefit the Regional Theatre Tony Award recipient's education and civic engagement initiatives, including Team Shakespeare and Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. Through the generosity of Gala Lead Sponsor the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation, the support of the Gala 2013 Host Committee, and the advocacy of CST's Board of Directors, the Theater anticipates raising over one million dollars in support of its continuing work in Chicago's schools and communities. A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the third annual Spirit of Shakespeare Awards. This year's Civic Honoree is former Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Artistic Honoree is composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Both honorees will be in attendance to accept their award. Gala 2013 will also feature performances by Broadway stars Jason Danieley, who triumphed in CST's production ofSunday in the Park with George earlier this season, and Marin Mazzie, who was recently seen opposite Danieley in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Next to Normal.