Richard Maltby, Jr. News

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Spring Gala on Monday, May 13 at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street). This year's event will honor Serino Coyne Founder and Chairman Nancy Coyne for being a tireless advocate for the arts.

First production images are released today of Ain't Misbehavin' - now playing at Mercury Theatre Colchester until Saturday 30 March. The production then transfers to Southwark Playhouse from Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June, as the first London revival in almost 25 years.

Dorothy's Little Black Box and Dorothy's Piano Bar and Cabaret present Starting Here, Starting Now by Richard Maltby, Jr & David Shire

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON-a smash hit in London, Broadway and across the UK-has been announced for its highly anticipated engagement in St. Louis at The Fabulous Fox Theatre for 2 weeks, April 23 - May 5. To purchase tickets, visit Metrotix.com, call 314-534-1111 or visit the Fabulous Fox Box Office. Ticket prices start at $27.  

Dorothy's Little Black Box and Dorothy's Piano Bar and Cabaret present Starting Here, Starting Now by Richard Maltby, Jr & David Shire

Regardless of whether or not you're a fan of musicals, you've probably heard of Miss Saigon. This world-famous Broadway classic is coming to East Lansing's Wharton Center for the Performing Arts for just one week from March 12th through 17th. Featuring music and a book from Les Miserables playwrights Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, as well as additional lyrics from Richard Maltby, Jr., Miss Saigon is a story of love and survival towards the end of the Vietnam War. After opening on the West End in 1989, Miss Saigon played to packed houses on Broadway from April 11, 1991 to January 28, 2001. Before the U.S. national tour makes its way to Wharton Center, BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to interview Red Concepcion, who plays the Engineer in this production. You can read our interview below.

The Western Connecticut State University Department of Theatre Arts returned last month from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1 competition in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with a multitude of awards, continuing a trend of successful outcomes in the annual, regional competition.

The York Theatre Company welcomed specials guests Richard Maltby, Jr., Edward Hibbert, Bill Condon, original cast member and choreographer Dan Siretta, and member from the London John Barry Foundation to a recent performance of the 25th Anniversary Musicals in Mufti presentation of  the NY premiere of Lolita, My Love, with music by John Barry and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, as edited by Erik Haagensen.  Directed by Emily Maltby and with music direction by Deniz Cordell, the 13-member cast features George Abud (The Band's Visit)as Clare Quilty, Caitlin Cohn (The Secret Garden) as Dolores "Lolita" Haze, Robert Sella (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Humbert Humbert, Thursday Farrar (Aida) as Dr. June Ray, and Jessica Tyler Wright (Sweeney Todd) as Charlotte Haze, with Becca Fox (Singin' in the Rain), Hanako Greensmith (Spring Awakening), Victoria Huston-Elem (Finding Neverland), Jay Aubrey Jones (Assassins), Kennedy Kanagawa (Into the Woods), Max Meyers (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story), Mark Montague (A Very Brady Musical), and Analise Scarpaci (Matilda, The Musical).

Dorothy's Little Black Box and Dorothy's Piano Bar and Cabaret present Starting Here, Starting Now by Richard Maltby, Jr & David Shire

A party hosted by Jamie deRoy, Board member of Primary Stages was attended by some of the most esteemed members of the theatre community last night. Primary Stages is an Off-Broadway not-for-profit theater company dedicated to inspiring, supporting, and sharing the art of playwriting. The kitchen of Ms. deRoy, the 'hostess with the (theatre) mostess' was also recently used by Rita Moreno for a cooking demonstration for a PBS American Masters series and featured in this weeks New York Times.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON-a smash hit in London, Broadway and across the UK-will go on sale Friday, February 8 at 10 a.m. for its highly anticipated two week engagement in Dallas at the Music Hall at Fair Park, May 14-26, 2019, as part of the Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) and Broadway Across America (BAA) Broadway season.

AINT MISBEHAVIN' is coming to Westchester Broadway Theatre from January 31st to February 24th, 2019.

AINT MISBEHAVIN' is coming to Westchester Broadway Theatre from January 31st to February 24th, 2019.

Below, Broadway director, producer and lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. shares a personal story about why Carol was the star that she was.

Red Concepcion grew up listening to show tunes. In fact, he remembers listening to cast albums like MISS SAIGON from the age of five. Fast forward 20 plus years and Concepcion found himself playing the role of The Engineer on the UK tour. He says although he knew the music by heart, he had no idea how big and epic the show was until rehearsals started. And for that five-year-old little boy growing up listening to the soundtrack in the Philippines, working with Claude Michel Schonberg (music), Alain Boublil (lyrics), and ?Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics) is a dream come true. 'It's wonderful as an actor to be in such a creative space,' he says. 'They don't write scores like this anymore.'

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its production of the international megahit Mamma Mia!, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bj rn Ulvaeus, some songs with Stig Anderson, and book by Catherine Johnson. Originally conceived by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! is directed by Artistic Director William Osetek and choreographed by Jane Lanier with music direction by Roberta Duchak. Mamma Mia! runs February 7 April 14, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m.

Paul Taylor-Mills and Mercury Theatre Colchester in association with Tamasha Theatre Company are delighted to announce a brand-new production of Ain't Misbehavin' - the first London revival in almost 25 years - playing at Southwark Playhouse from Friday 19 April to Saturday 1 June, following its premiere at Mercury Theatre Colchester from Friday 15 - Saturday 30 March. Tickets are on sale now.

The Kleban Foundation has announced the recipients of the 29th Annual Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre. The judges declared a tie in the most promising musical theatre lyricist category between Sarah Hammond and Shaina Taub. The Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Charlie Sohne. The 2019 prizes will be presented on Monday, February 4, 2018, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP.

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON-a smash hit in London, Broadway and across the UK-has been announced for its highly anticipated engagement in Cleveland at Playhouse Square for three weeks, January 29 - February 17, as part of the KeyBank Broadway Series. To purchase tickets, visit playhousesquare.org, call 216-241-6000 or visit the Playhouse Square Ticket Office (1519 Euclid Ave.). Groups of 10 or more may reserve seating by calling 216-640-8600. Single ticket prices start at $10.00.