Richard Allen News

Produced, hosted and narrated by record producer, author, composer, director, actor Bruce Kimmel, this brand new show features musical direction by Richard Allen and the performing talents of (in alphabetical order): Daniel Thomas Bellusci, David Burnham, Sharon McNight, Lauren Rubin, Hayley Shukiar, Sami Staitman and Robert Yacko. Quips Kimmel,

Just weeks after their completely sold out run of FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical at the New York Musical Festival, Richard Allen and Taran Gray, the musical's creators, have announced there will be two more shows making FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical one of three in a series they are calling the Freedom Trilogy.

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced complete casting for its upcoming production of Harvey Fierstein's TORCH SONG, directed by Moises Kaufman.

A single spotlight illuminates a detective stood under a streetlight, fog swirls around his feet as he lights his cigar, a saxophone player leans against a brick wall playing jazz that echoes around the streets. Welcome to the world of NOIR.

The team at FREEDOM RIDERS at this year's New York Musical Festival had an exciting visit from real-life Freedom Rider and US Congressman, John Lewis, during their run last week, check out the photos below.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) announced today the winners of the 2017 NYMF Awards for Excellence, which were awarded on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Hudson Terrace (621 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036). The 2017 NYMF Award for Best Musical Sponsored by Play-by-Play was awarded to GENERATION ME, with the Show-Score Best of Fest Awards for Readings, Concerts/Events and Productions, going to CHRISTMAS IN HELL, DORIAN GRAY, and ERROL AND FIDEL, respectively. GENERATION ME took home the most awards, with GEORAMA: AN AMERICAN PANORAMA TOLD ON 3 MILES OF CANVAS, ERROL AND FIDEL, and FREEDOM RIDERS taking home multiple prizes as well.

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced complete casting for its upcoming production of Harvey Fierstein's TORCH SONG, directed by Moises Kaufman.

The Award winning FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical will begin performances at the New York Musical Festival on August 1, 2017.

For the 79th Kritzerland show, we present the magical music of Mancini - Henry Mancini, one of the most successful film composers and songwriters in history.  From Peter Gunn to Mr. Lucky, to Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, Days of Wine and Roses to Two for the Road, The Pink Panther and Hatari, and straight through to first the film of Victor/Victoria and then the stage version, Mancini Magic has been the music of people's lives. 

Single tickets for Second Stage Theater's production of Harvey Fierstein's TORCH SONG, directed by Moises Kaufman, will go on sale to the general public today, Tuesday, July 25 at 1:00pm at 2ST.com or by calling the Second Stage Box Office at (212) 246-4422.

Second Stage Theater has announced that Mercedes Ruehl, winner of the Tony Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe Award, will star opposite the previously announced Michael Urie in the upcoming production of Harvey Fierstein's modern classic, Torch Song, directed by Moises Kaufman.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) has announced Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald (Shuffle Along; Ragtime; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess) as 2017 NYMF Honorary Chair.

The Award winning FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical will begin performances at the New York Musical Festival on August 1, 2017.

A staged reading of the groundbreaking new drama TV pilot, NISEI, is set to take place at the Japanese American National Museum on Saturday, May 27, 2017, at 2:00PM.  The reading is open to the public. Museum members and valid ticket holders can make a reservation at rsvp@janm.org. 

Last week, a fragment of the character breakdown for FREEDOM RIDERS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSICAL was tweeted by the musical's co-writer, Richard Allen.

Comedy Central today released its 2017-2018 development slate, including three series pick-ups and nine pilot orders.

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger is bringing her incisive perspective to a new weekly late-night talk show, “Truth & Iliza.” “Truth & Iliza” is getting a six-week run starting TUESDAY, MAY 2 (10:02 – 10:32 p.m. EDT), and will serve as a platform for Iliza's societal observations and sketches fueled by her opinions as well as in-studio celebrity guest and expert interviews. 

FREEDOM RIDERS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSICAL has just launched a Kickstarter campaign in order to crowdsource the expenses for their spot in the upcoming 2017 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) this summer.

Instant Karma and Friends return to Center Stage Theater to present one night of spontaneous musical hilarity on Saturday, March 18th at 8:00pm

BrightSide Theatre, Naperville's only professional theatre performing in the historic downtown district, continues its sixth season - Classic Broadway. Moon Over Buffalo will perform at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Street in Naperville March 10-26, 2017.