Prince Hal News

Today we are taking a listen to the Original London Cast Recording of Jerry Mitchell's sexily studious stunner of a show, LEGALLY BLONDE, and the remarkable score by Laurence O'Keefe (of BAT BOY fame) along with his wife, an accomplished and gifted lyricist in her own right, Neil Benjamin. They are the strongest male/female composing team since Betty Comden and Adolph Green and LEGALLY BLONDE possesses one of the most sharply satirical, witty and effortlessly enjoyable and winning scores in decades, surely as good if not better than any score on Broadway right now. While critics and audiences were less than enraptured with it on Broadway, the MTV telecast and subsequent reality show casting the next Elle Woods - alongside the smash-hit national tours - bodes well for its future in the States. The West End production is ten times the success the show was on Broadway so Elle & Crew have finally arrived - and in style. It's the age of Elle! Plus, A BONUS: A review and link to a new song by another blonde bombshell in her own right, but a bit brainier one than Elle Woods: Nellie McKay! And a link to a download of her new single 'Caribbean Time'! Top hats off and a salutatory Dickensian 'ello' to Elle and Nellie!

PS_Classics_SONDHEIM_ON_SONDHEIM_20010101 As BroadwayWorld previously reported, PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, recorded the original Broadway cast album of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM on June 6th and 7th. The production, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), began performances at Studio 54 on March 19th, opened officially on April 22nd and will close on June 27th. Today, it has been announced that the album will be available beginning August 31, 2010 in both online and retail outlets. The track list has now been unveiled on Amazon.com.

Today we are taking a listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM starring Barbra Cook, Tom Wopat, Vanessa Williams, Leslie Kritzer, Euan Morton and Norm Lewis and also taking a critical look back at his incredible, incomparable career. While the show onstage at Studio 54 as directed by James Lapine failed to catch fire or leave a big impression on critics or audiences, PS Classics went to the trouble to record a cast album preserving most of the show as it was seen so they deserve praise if only for that. There are some obscurities here - some college ditties, cut COMPANY finales, an abandoned GYPSY number - plus brand new, candid interviews with Sondheim himself as well as a shiny new Sondheim patter song written expressly for this revue titled 'God'. Never a more applicable song title could have come from Sondheim's pen when discussing - and poking fun at - his own career as the Brains Behind Broadway. Let's see how Sondheim in general, as well as this show, stack up on (the) record!

Producer Orin Wolf and Off the Aisle Productions have announced that It Must Be Him, a new comedy by Kenny Solms, co-creator and writer of the legendary, Emmy Award-winning 'Carol Burnett Show,' will premiere this summer at the Peter J. Sharp Theatre (416 West 42nd Street). Directed by Daniel Kutner, It Must Be Him will begin performances on Tuesday, August 24, and officially open on Wednesday, September 1. The limited engagement ends Sunday, September 26.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street.

In a new interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in which Hal Prince reflects on the current state of musical theatre, the influx (and 'need') of Hollywood stars on Broadway for limited runs and more, Prince also talked about plans to revise and continue work on Paradise Found, noting that:

Legendary entertainer Carol Burnett comes to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for an exclusive one-night-only engagement of her Q & A format, LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION WITH CAROL BURNETT: A CONVERSATION WITH CAROL WHERE THE AUDIENCE ASKS THE QUESTIONS on Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

Rehearsals for MTWorks world premiere of A HOME ACROSS THE OCEAN, by LGBTQ journalist Cody Daigle, directed by Dev Bondarin began at Night Owl Studios (112 W 27th St) in Chelsea.

CATCO will present the pre-New York production of the new musical comedy, The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao).

Maieutic Theatre Works (MTWorks) is pleased to present the world premiere of A HOME ACROSS THE OCEAN, by LGBTQ journalist Cody Daigle, directed by Dev Bondarin. A HOME ACROSS THE OCEAN will play a 4-week limited engagement at The Studio @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).

The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre is pleased to announce the 2010/11 mainstage 'in repertory' season of Hamlet and As You Like It, a tragedy and a comedy, written within one year of each other by William Shakespeare, and directed by Artistic Director Carmen Khan.

Producer Daryl Roth has announced this year's recipient of the 2010 Creative Spirit Award: Tony Award Nominee David Pittu (LoveMusik). The Creative Spirit Award presented annually, honors a gifted theatre artist and provides them with support as they develop new work.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street.

The new developmental production of Platinum (www.PlatinumTheMusical.com) starring Donna Bullock (Ragtime, City of Angels, A Class Act) will play the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street) as part of the 2010 NY International Fringe Festival.

The Stages St. Louis production of PROMISES,PROMISES will be produced and presented from the original script and score that premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1968. Adapted from Billy Wilder's 1960 Oscar-winning film The Apartment, PROMISES,PROMISES focuses on a rising executive, Chuck Baxter, who tries to curry favor with his superiors by letting them borrow his apartment for romantic trysts. Set in the Mad Men era of Manhattan's Madison Avenue, Promises, Promises remains slick, hip and timeless. With its propulsive score, eye-catching dances, dazzling designs, and laugh-out-loud hilarity, PROMISES,PROMISES is a show you will long carry in your heart.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures in association with Unique Features announced today that the new Broadway musical ELF will star Tony® Award winner Beth Leavel (Emily), Tony® Award nominee Mark Jacoby (Walter), Matthew Gumley (Michael), Valerie Wright (Deb), Michael McCormick (Mr. Greenway), Michael Mandell (Store Manager) and six-time Emmy® Award winner George Wendt (Santa). Full casting including the lead roles of Buddy and Jovie will be announced shortly.

PS Classics will ship online orders of the original cast recording of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM beginning on August 10, while the album will not be generally released until August 31.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street. The director is Peter Flynn and the choreographer is Devanand Janki. With a highly melodic, hummable and bouncy score with bright lyrics, "SHINE the Horatio Alger Musical", has tons of period atmosphere, nostalgic charm, comedy and entertainment. It is a hope and dreams musical with a touch of "Annie", a smidgen of "Oliver", a dash of "Tintypes" as well as a smattering of musical joys that will delight! A multi-talented cast of 18 makes this one of the largest of the festival productions. Performances will be: Thurs. 10/7 at 8pm; Sat. 10/9 at 5pm; Mon. 10/11, at 9pm; Fri. 10/15, at 1pm; Sat. 10/16, at 9pm and Sun. 10/17 at 3pm.

A representative for The Westport Country Playhouse has confirmed that Broadway star Kate Baldwin will lead the theater's production of I DO! I DO! from August 10 through August 28.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast Premiere of Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro's The Last Romance. Old Globe Associate Artist and television icon Marion Ross will star with her longtime partner Paul Michael in the new romantic comedy which was written for them by DiPietro.