Richard Pilbrow News

The Henry Hewes Design Awards Committee has nominated 60 theater artists for recognition of their outstanding work in 46 productions presented during the 2008-2009 New York theater season. The awards will be presented at a luncheon to be held late this fall.

Producers Margot Astrachan, Robert R.20Blume, Heather Duke, Joanna Kerry, Kristine Lewis and Jamie Fox have officially withdrawn from the production of Busker Alley. The team of producers announced the launch of the Broadway run of Sherman Brother's musical on the famed Cunard Queen Mary 2 in Fall of 2007.

The news today that the musical A Tale of Two Cities will be presented in concert form at the Theater Royal in Brighton, England, in preparation for a future CD and broadcast on the PBS station WGBH-Boston would at present seem premature.

Nominations for the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club by Faith Prince and Jim Dale, multi-award winning stage stars. They were joined for the announcement by William Wolf, Drama Desk President, Barbara Siegel, Chairperson of the Drama Desk Nominating Committee, Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards ceremony, and Randie Levine-Miller, Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk.

Executive Producers Barbra Russell and Ron Sharpe will close Jill Santoriello's sweeping musical epic, 'A TALE OF TWO CITIES' on Broadway today, Sunday, November 9th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues). The musical moved the date of closing up a week from the originally announced final performance of November 16th. The early closing was confirmed to BroadwayWorld by a spokesperson for the production.

Executive Producers Barbra Russell and Ron Sharpe will close Jill Santoriello's sweeping musical epic, 'A TALE OF TWO CITIES' on Broadway on Sunday, November 9th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues). The production originally announced a closing date of November 16th, but has now chosen to move up the final performance to this Sunday, November 9th.

Toro's self titled CD features an array of favorite Broadway show tunes, all with an inspired and eclectic spin, A special CD release party is to be held on November 23rd, 7:30 PM at Canal Room at Canal and West Broadway in the East Village.

Thousands of Live Design Professionals Attend LDI 2008; this year's strong attendance reaffirmed LDI's status as the leading US tradeshow and conference for live design professionals. LDI 2008 was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, October 20-26, 2008 and featured professional training, new product introductions, and the industry's award presentations.

Executive Producers Barbra Russell and Ron Sharpe will close Jill Santoriello's sweeping musical epic, 'A TALE OF TWO CITIES' on Broadway on Sunday, November 16th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues).

Esteemed lighting designer, theatre consultant, and author Richard Pilbrow is the winner of the 2008 Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented on Saturday evening, October 25, at the LDI Awards ceremony during LDI2008 in Las Vegas.

Brandi Burkhardt has starred in the Los Angeles Reprise! Production of Li'l Abner and in Jekyll & Hyde: Resurrection. In A Tale of Two Cities she stars as Lucie Manette, she is also making her Broadway debut in the role. BWW TV discussed with her what a pivtol role her character plays in the story, the magic of Charles Dickens words and how excitied she is to be a part of this epic production.

As an actor Ron Sharpe made his mark on Broadway in such shows like Les Miserables, The Civil War and The Scarlet Pimpernel, he has just returned to the Great White Way, but not as a performer, this time he is the executive producer, along with his wife, actress Barbara Russell, of A Tale of Two Cities, the new musical which opened on Broadway Thursday, September 18th. BWW TV spoke to him on the eve of the show's opening night about his nine year adventure in bringing A Tale of Two Cities and his Broadway dreams to life.

Set against the epic backdrop of the French Revolution and based on the classic Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities is a musical about injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love. The visually lavish new musical opened on Broadway Thursday, September 18th, and BroadwayWorld.com was there to share in all the excitement!

The new musical A Tale of Two Cities will open tonight, September 18th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Set against the epic backdrop of the French Revolution and based on the classic Dickens novel, 'A Tale of Two Cities' is a musical about injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love. Jill Santoriello has written the show's book, music and lyrics.

Set against the epic backdrop of the French Revolution and based on the classic Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities is a musical about injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love. A Tale of Two Cities comes to Broadway after making its debut last season at Florida's Asolo Repertory Theatre, where it had a hugely successful sold-out run. Currently in previews, A Tale of Two Cities will open on Broadway on Thursday, September 18th at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues).

The upcoming musical A Tale Of Two Cities has announced the show's entire cast...

Set against the epic backdrop of the French Revolution and based on the classic Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities is a musical about injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love. As the ongoing series of BWW TV features with the cast of the new Broadway bound musical continues, the actors discuss the power and passion of the thrilling score and the epic tale that inspired it.

Michael Hayward-Jones was a cast member of the Original Broadway production of Evita, his other Broadway credits include Me and My Girl and Brigadoon. In A Tale of Two Cities he stars as Jarvis Lorry. In an ongoing series of BWW TV features with the cast of the new Broadway bound musical, he gives insight into his character, the life of a working actor and the gift of being part of the show's theatrical family.

Nick Wyman starred as Monsieur Firmin in the Original Broadway Cast of The Phantom of the Opera. His other Broadway credits include Les Miserables, Sly Fox, My Fair Lady, the Magic Show and On the Twentieth Century. In A Tale of Two Cities he stars as John Barsad. As the fourth interview in an ongoing series of BWW TV features with the cast of the new Broadway bound musical, he reveals his long history with the production, the excitement of developing an original character over time and how the show continues to inspire.

Natalie Toro starred as Eponine in the Original Broadway of Les Miserables. Her other stage credits include A Christmas Carol, Jesus Christ Superstar and the title role in the acclaimed 1999 20 Anniversary National Tour of Evita. In A Tale of Two Cities she stars as Madame Therese Defarge. In the third of a series of BWW TV interviews with the cast of the new Broadway bound musical, she shares her personal insight into the character of Defarge, finding new inspiration during rehearsals and how the story continues to be emotional for her as it readies for the first preview performance.