Raise The Roof News

Cirque du Soleil's trademark blue-and-yellow big top is now up at the Orange County Great Park Festival Site in Irvine, second Greater Los Angeles Area tour stop of the all-new awe-inspiring production TOTEM. The massive installation was raised earlier today by a team of more than 60 men and women, who worked for several hours to pound pegs, unfurl the canvas, and pushed more than 100 supporting poles to raise the roof of this exciting acrobatic production.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein are delighted to announce the 38th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville, running February 26-April 6, 2014. This year's Festival program will feature (in order of opening):

While it was billed as a presentation celebrating the release of his 13-song CD, Tales From the Bonus Round, and his 60th birthday, Steven Schalchlin's recent show at the Metropolitan Room was so much more than that. It was also one about fear, fortitude, anxiety, anguish, compassion, courage, and love, all expressed in poetic and often clever lyrics and melodies ranging from uplifting gospel to Billy Joel-sounding mid-tempo pop to sensitive ballads, many colored with musical theater undertones. At their core, most of the songs conveyed what Schalchlin has thought, felt and experienced since early 1993, when he was diagnosed with AIDS, launched one of the first internet diaries/blogs (in early 1996), stared death in the face on a daily basis, took an experimental AIDS drug (Crixivan), and ultimately regained his health and career. When you listen to his songs, it's not hard to believe Schalchlin when he claims that during those scary days writing music and the “healing properties of piano vibrations” also helped save his life, and the 17 years since are what he calls his “Bonus Round.”

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Matthew Lombardo will launch the inaugural season of WinterStage to be presented at the 1,167 seat Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning January 2014.

Playwrights Horizons presents its New York premiere production of Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, a new play by Anne Washburn, with music by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman. Directed by Steve Cosson, the Obie Award-winning Artistic Director of The Civilians, Mr. Burns is being presented as the first production of Playwrights Horizons' 2013/2014 Season.

Today we celebrate a master of the modern musical in honor of this week's start of previews for his newest theatrical venture, THE LANDING, as well as first news on a major NYC bow for his long-gestating project THE VISIT, to say nothing of the longest-running American musical in history going strong on Broadway (CHICAGO) and a hotly anticipated revival of CABARET on the way in 2014 - the one and only John Kander.

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of its New York premiere production of MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, a new play by Anne Washburn, with music by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman. Directed by Steve Cosson, the Obie Award-winning Artistic Director of The Civilians, MR. BURNS is being presented as the first production of Playwrights Horizons' 2013/2014 Season.

The Orpheum Theatre proudly announces its 2013-2014 Family Series. This year's exciting line-up consists of seven highly entertaining family-friendly productions.

Angelina Fiordellisi, Founding Artistic Director of Cherry Lane Theatre, announces the following productions for the company's 2013-14 season:

Atlantic Theater Company has just announced that Robert Beitzel, Halley Feiffer, Susan Pourfar and Tony Award nominee Deborah Rush will star in the world premiere production of Academy Award winner Ethan Coen's first full length play WOMEN OR NOTHING, staged by acclaimed director David Cromer.

It is generally agreed upon that the best theatre challenges audiences, and after they experience the piece they are altered. Bayou City Theatrics' production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY vastly excels in this domain. If you're unfamiliar with the show, rest assured that Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY exists in the periphery of the theatre consciousness. Most of those who are aware of it are fans of Andrew Lippa or know a handful of numbers because they follow the Broadway stars Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Brian D'Arcy James, and/or Julia Murney. Bayou City Theatrics took a big risk with producing the musical, but the lascivious, violent, alcohol-drenched production had a profound and strangely enchanting affect on those lucky enough to attend last night's opening night performance. From what we experienced, I am sure that its allure and effect will only get stronger as the run progresses.

The producers of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Nice Work If You Can Get It have announced that the Broadway production will play its final performance today, June 15, 2013 after 27 previews and 478 regular performances at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). The production began performances on March 29, 2012 and opened on Apr 24, 2012. A national tour will be launched in the 2014-2015 season.

The 20th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival welcomes for one night only STEAL HEAVEN, written by and starring Herbert Siguenza of LA's Culture Clash. The staged reading will take place tonight, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.

The 20th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival welcomes for one night only STEAL HEAVEN, written by and starring Herbert Siguenza of LA's Culture Clash. The staged reading will take place on June 11 at 7:30 p.m.

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy starring two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and Tony Award nominee Jessie Mueller, is now in its final two weeks of performances on Broadway. The final performance will be Saturday, June 15. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT features music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, and is directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall. The production is playing at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street).

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on two of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s, DREAMGIRLS & NINE!

GUYS AND DOLLS, the mainstage musical at the Shaw Festival this summer offers an enjoyable, tightly paced staging that gives audiences a chance to revisit one of Frank Loesser's most sparking scores. Of the four leading players, two give well-developed performances but are unbalanced by the other coupel who lack the necessary 'chemistry.' * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Broadway Chorus will present 'Broadway Bash', a lively romp through some of Broadway's best party songs. Selections such as The Life of the Party (The Wild Party), Hostess with the Mostess (Call Me Madam), Masquerade (Phantom of the Opera), Raise the Roof (The Wild Party) and Dancing through Life (Wicked) will be a few of the fun selections performed by the chorus.

Tony nominated actress Jessie Mueller, currently starring in the Tony Award-winning musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, will appear on NBC's 'Today' tomorrow, Thursday, May 9th in the 10:00 a.m. hour as part of Kathie Lee and Hoda's 'Everyone Has a Story' segment. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, featuring music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, is directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall. The production is playing at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) through Saturday, June 15.

The producers of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT have announced that the Broadway production will play its final performance on Saturday, June 15, 2013after 27 previews and 478 regular performances at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). The production began performances on March 29, 2012 and opened on Apr 24, 2012. A national tour will be launched in the 2014-2015 season.