Prince Hal News

Michael Reidel reports in the NY Post today that the Shubert Organization is considering renaming one of its theaters after legendary producer/director Hal Prince in the near future. As Riedel quotes, Prince collaborator Stephen Sondheim has said of the honor: 'I find it astonishing, especially now that directors play so central a role in the success -- or failure of -- Broadway shows. Harold Prince is very much alive and well, and seeing as how he has won more Tony Awards than any other individual, I'd say . . . he deserves the nod.'

Oliver Tompsett (Wicked), Cassidy Janson (Avenue Q) and Lucy May barker (Spring Awakening) will join Emmy Award winning US composer Lance Horne and an array of West End and Broadway stars in Lance Horne: First Things Last for one night only at the Garrick Theatre on Sunday 30 January 2011.

New York's Cafe Carlyle comes to life in San Francisco when Bay Area Cabaret presents the winners of New York's coveted Nightlife Award, jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey (Tommy, Sunday in the Park with George).

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that NY-based actress, Nadia Dajani and South Florida performers Amy McKenna, Elayne Wilks, Ryan George, Glen Lawrence and Brian McCormack have joined Evan Handler, completing the cast for SoBe Arts upcoming staged readings of ACAPULCO by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold and directed by Michael Leeds.

The new Broadway musical Baby It's You! tells the inspiring story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who changed the recording world forever when she discovered The Shirelles and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry's first female powerhouse. Starring Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Greenberg, conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, Baby It's You! begins performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) Saturday, March 26, 2011, and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Baby It's You! features a cast of 19 that includes Allan Louis, Geno Henderson, Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra DaCosta, Crystal Starr Knighton, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Brandon Uranowitz, Alison Cimmet, Erica Dorfler, Berlando Drake, Adam Heller, Jahi A. Kearse, Annette Moore, Zachary Prince, Ken Robinson and Chelsea Morgan Stock.

The American Airlines Theater will host a memorial celebration for the late Jerry Bock for family, friends and fans at 2:30pm on January 24, 2011. Bock's main lyricist, Sheldon Harnick will host the event, which will include appearances by Chita Rivera, Lonny Price, Hal Prince, Todd Haimes and more. The memorial will also include performances of Bock's most celebrated songs and accompanying commentary by original cast members of his shows. Larry Yurman will musical direct. Seating is open to the public and available on a first come, first served basis and doors open at 2pm.

Today, an Equity Principle Casting notice reveals that previews will begin in March of 2012 in anticipation of an April 2012 opening. Rehearsals begin in February of that year.

New York's Cafe Carlyle comes to life in San Francisco when Bay Area Cabaret presents the winners of New York's coveted Nightlife Award, jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey (Tommy, Sunday in the Park with George).

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that SoBe Institute of the Arts (SoBe Arts) will present staged readings of promising new plays, beginning with Acapulco by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold (HBO's In Treatment, Law and Order, and produced off-Broadway) and featuring L.A.-based Evan Handler ('Sex and the City,' 'Californication,' and films by Ron Howard and Oliver Stone) in addition to local artists.

Composer, conductor, arranger and all-around music man Lance Horne is a very busy musician these days: this week's GENIUS OF AUTISM benefit and the upcoming American Songbook Series of shows in New York; the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas spectacular playing twice-nightly to sold-out crowds called VEGAS: THE MUSICAL, about to re-open with a slew of new material; a series of London concerts followed by a European tour; conducting at the Sydney Opera House; and a brand new album - FIRST THINGS LAST - released this week. All of this without even mentioning the hotly anticipated new productions he has coming up! Keep your eyes peeled for ARTS & CRAFTS, his new musical created with Jake Shears and starring Sandra Bernhard and Justin Bond, as well as the new Diane Paulus production of the fresh Steven Sater translation of PROMETHEUS BOUND starring Gavin Creel. The future looks bright for a talent like Lance's and in this revealing conversation we touch on all of this and much, much more.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Jerry Bock, who passed away yesterday at age 81. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory tonight, November 4, at exactly 8:00pm for one minute.

The Tony Award Winning Musical Parade got its Canadian Premiere this month as part of a joint collaboration between Acting Up Stage and Studio 180 Productions in Toronto. Lyricist Jason Robert Brown took a few minutes to speak with BWW about the show, expanding its audience and what his journey with Parade has been like.

Theatre's First Attempt at a Musical is a Huge Success

There's no doubt that this is a hot button issue on the Rialto today, it's on the front page of AOL, TMZ, etc. and even people who know nothing about Broadway are being exposed to the horrifying video footage from last night.

Here is the second part of our three-part discussion, in which Esparza and I analyze his roles and performances in plays, as well as a thorough discussion of the art of acting - and, additionally, a chat about roles he would like to play in the future, both near and far.

Direct from New York's acclaimed Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Emmy award winning composerLance Horne will take to the West End in January with a concert to celebrate his debut album.

Stephen Sondheim to Jerry Herman to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael John LaChiusa to Kander & Ebb to Dempsey & Rowe, PUTTING IT TOGETHER to MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET on Broadway - the phenomenally gifted co-founder of the Signature Theater is one of the brightest lights in directing today - whether in regional theatre or on Broadway or the West End - and a mere glance at his resume reveals many of the reasons why. Discussing the current production of SUNSET BOULEVARD opening later this month at the Signature, plus a complete rundown of the upcoming Kennedy Center production of FOLLIES, in this, his most comprehensive interview to date, Eric Schaeffer bares all and reveals what makes his productions shine so bright on Broadway and beyond.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.

PHANTOM-THE LAS VEGAS SPECTACULAR cast members Sarah Elizabeth Combs and Patrick Leveque will be a part of a holiday quartet at Crystals at CityCenter December 11 & 12 and 18 & 19. The quartet will perform from noon to 5 p.m., on the hour, every hour for fifteen minutes. Local Las Vegas children, including 'On with the Show' children's choir, will also join the performers to spread holiday joy with music to shoppers.