Randy Schmeling News

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts has announced the complete casting for its much anticipated summer production of Damn Yankees. The Ordway-produced musical comedy runs June 16-28 for a total of 16 performances. Tickets are available now and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in-person at the Ordway ticket office.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will continue the popular Broadway Songbook series this weekend, April 17-18 with Broadway Songbook: Rock & Roll on Broadway. Tickets are $37 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will continue the popular Broadway Songbook series April 17-18 with Broadway Songbook: Rock & Roll on Broadway. Tickets are $37 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

The Ordway is opening its fourth season of the BROADWAY SONGBOOK series with a retrospective of the first 100 years of Broadway. If you're like me, your first question is - when did Broadway begin? It's debatable, but Professor James Rocco - who presides over what feels like a college seminar on musical theater history with live show-and-tell by the Twin Cities' best musical theater performers - tells us that the beginning of Broadway can be marked by THE BLACK CROOK in 1866. This is just one of the things you'll learn in this BROADWAY SONGBOOK, but don't worry, it is anything but dry and pedantic. The stories are fascinating and entertaining (at least to a musical theater nerd like myself), James has chosen just the right collection of songs to illustrate his points, and music director Raymond Berg has beautifully arranged the songs, which are performed with much passion, emotion, and humor by the talented cast of actor/singer/dancers.

How do you pack 100 years of the American musical into a brief show? James Rocco may still be whittling it down but patrons at the latest BROADWAY SONGBOOK: THE FIRST 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY will soon find out, in Saint Paul and all over Minnesota, too.

This summer's Fresh Ink series gets a headstart June 29-30 with a special preview of a new musical theater production by Illusion's Producing Director Michael Robins and Composer Roberta Carlson. Then in July, the annual showcase brings together a performance celebrating Walt Whitman by Patrick Scully, the third play in a trilogy by James Still and a reading of some still-wet-on-the-page scripts by local playwrights.

History Theatre will produce the world premiere of a new musical by local artists Dominic Orlando (book and lyrics) and the late Hiram Titus (composer). The Working Boys Band tells the story of Professor C.C. Heintzeman, a German-born educator who believed in the power of music to give structure and purpose to people's lives, especially for the children who worked in the mills and factories of Minneapolis in the years before Child Labor Laws. The story of the Minneapolis Working Boys Band and its founder was suggested to History Theatre back in 2010 when Titus handed a photo of the band circa 1915 and his first draft of the opening number to artistic director Ron Peluso. In September of 2013, Titus submitted the show's finale just days before suffering a fatal cardiac arrest; Raymond Berg joined the team to finish the musical arrangements.

History Theatre produces the world premiere of a new musical by local artists Dominic Orlando (book and lyrics) and the late Hiram Titus (composer). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

History Theatre will produce the world premiere of a new musical by local artists Dominic Orlando (book and lyrics) and the late Hiram Titus (composer). The Working Boys Band tells the story of Professor C.C. Heintzeman, a German-born educator who believed in the power of music to give structure and purpose to people's lives, especially for the children who worked in the mills and factories of Minneapolis in the years before Child Labor Laws. The story of the Minneapolis Working Boys Band and its founder was suggested to History Theatre back in 2010 when Titus handed a photo of the band circa 1915 and his first draft of the opening number to artistic director Ron Peluso. In September of 2013, Titus submitted the show's finale just days before suffering a fatal cardiac arrest; Raymond Berg joined the team to finish the musical arrangements.

Last fall, the Illusion Theater developed a new musical revue to explore marriage-and what it signifies. After same-sex marriage was legalized in November and with the landmark Supreme Court decision in the spring, Illusion was besieged with people asking, 'Will you bring the show back to celebrate this historic moment for love and marriage in Minnesota?' The answer is a resounding, 'YES!' LOVE & MARRIAGE: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES opens September 19 and will honor all newlyweds with a special post-show reception. The show continues through October 20 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave.

John Command (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) returns to the Jungle to direct URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL, the Tony-nominated satirical musical comedy. Described as one of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown is a mocking tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. Starring Bradley Greenwald (as Officer Lockstock) and boasting the largest cast ever assembled on the Jungle stage (20+ actors and musicians), Urinetown will open June 7 and run through August 11, 2013.

The Ordway will say farewell to the McKnight Theatre in grand style tonight, April 28 at 7:30 pm, in a special performance called, 'The Night of a Million Stars.' The concert production will highlight area artists and feature musical pieces from productions previously held in the McKnight Theatre.

James Rocco is the vice president of programming and producing artistic director of the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minn. He is also the director, host and a performer in the Ordway's latest edition of BROADWAY SONGBOOK, this time, focusing on American musical theatre master, Cole Porter. I recently sat down to learn about James, the BROADWAY SONGBOOK: Cole Porter and what's next for the theatre.

The Ordway will say farewell to the McKnight Theatre in grand style on Sunday, April 28 at 7:30 pm, in a special performance called, "The Night of a Million Stars." The concert production will highlight area artists and feature musical pieces from productions previously held in the McKnight Theatre.

Rocco follows up his FMQB AC Top 40 hit, And The Night Stood Still with a holiday EP that captures his emotional and rockin' vocals. As one critic said, (he's) "one of the most astonishing voices to cross the stage." This is Adult Pop at its best from former guest singer with Herbie Hancock and The Super Sounds and Broadway's Rum Tum Tugger in CATS.

Theater Latté Da presents THE SHOE TREE reading on Monday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. at The Children's Theatre Company, Cohen Stage, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Enter through Stage Door just across from parking ramp and you will be escorted to the theater.). Tickets are First come, first serve with a suggested donation of $10.

Theater Latté Da presents THE SHOE TREE reading on Monday, December 12, 7:30 p.m. at The Children's Theatre Company, Cohen Stage, 2400 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (Enter through Stage Door just across from parking ramp and you will be escorted to the theater.). Tickets are First come, first serve with a suggested donation of $10.

Latté Da in the Park Live Concert at Plymouth Park kicks off Tuesday, August 30 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Latté Da in the Park Live Concert at Plymouth Park kicks off Tuesday, August 30 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Organized by Broadway Asia International and Thirty Saints Production Company, Ordway Performing Art Center's recent production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" directed by James Rocco, and starring American Idol star Anthony Fedorov, will premiere in Tokyo, Japan on March 3, 2011 for a two-week run.