Rick Elice News

Casting has been announced for the upcoming Philadelphia engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Forrest Theatre, Dec. 11 - Jan. 5. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be led by Philadelphia-area native Brandon Andrus (Nick Massi), Nick Cosgrove (Frankie Valli), Nicolas Dromard (Tommy DeVito) and Jason Kappus (Bob Gaudio) as The Four Seasons, with Barry Anderson and Thomas Fiscella.

Philippine broadsheet BusinessWorld has picked the Philippine premiere of the hit Broadway musical 'The Addams Family' as the show to watch before it closes at Meralco Theater (Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City) Sunday, December 1.

The producers of the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS have announced that Richard H. Blake (Legally Blonde, Wicked) will join the cast on Thursday, January 9, 2014 in the role of 'Tommy DeVito.' He assumes the role from Andy Karl who departs the production following the Sunday, December 1st performance. John Gardiner, who played 'Tommy' on the national tour, will perform the role from December 3, 2013 through Wednesday, January 8, 2014.

The five-time Tony Award-winning "Peter and the Starcatcher" opens December 4, 2013, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center (preview December 3). Written by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice ("Jersey Boys," "The Addams Family") and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nominee Alex Timbers ("Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson"), "Peter and the Starcatcher" continues through January 12, 2014.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival soared this year in more ways than one. Not only did the Festival produce a regional premiere of a Tony Award-winning play, it continued the Complete the Canon initiative, started the History Cycle, and the company is preparing to break ground on a new arts center. The Festival continues to push the envelope and through countless hours and a resilient company of artists, the Festival once again received tremendous praise this year for an artistically successful season.

--'The Addams Family' musical writing team of Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa, and licensing agent Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) have donated royalties from the Philippine run of the show to the Red Cross to assist in its relief efforts in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan. The disaster hit November 8, killing thousands and leaving at least a half a million people displaced after having their homes destroyed. Many are in desperate need of food, water, clothing and shelter. International humanitarian aid continues to pour into the country.

This is probably the preeminent jukebox musical, beautifully presented. And if you can't visit the New York mother ship, this will do nicely.

Atlantis Productions closes its 14th season with Andrew Lippa (music and lyrics), Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice's (book) 'The Addams Family.' Directed by Bobby Garcia, the production stars Eula Valdes, Arnel Ignacio, K-La Rivera, and Ryan Gallagher.

Third time's a charm! The producers of the audience and critics' favorite Peter and the Starcatcher announced today that Steve Rosen, who stepped in to play the role of Black Stache for certain performances during the show's Off-Broadway run at NYTW, again stepped into the show as Smee this past summer, will be joining once again as Smee tonight, November 11, to finish the run of the show with the rest of the cast. Peter and the Starcatcher will play its final performance at New World Stages on Sunday, January 12, 2014.

Swashbuckling adventure and hilarious hijinks await patrons of SHNSF's Curran Theatre with 5-time Tony Award winning Peter and the Star Catcher, which has sailed into San Francisco for a magical turn before returning to Neverland or other parts unknown. This clever prequel to J.M. Barrie's beloved Peter and Wendy is powered by starstuff (which figures prominently in the play) and a high-energy cast that is the tightest ensemble I've seen in a long time. Good, old-fashioned storytelling, reliance on late, 19th century stagecraft -- and two directors (Roger Rees and Alex Timbers) whose imaginations were allowed to run amok -- have created a wildly enjoyable and enchanting show. Playing now through December 1, Peter and the Star Catcher is one show you will definitely want to see.

The Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS celebrates its 8th year on Broadway today Wednesday, November 6. JERSEY BOYS opened on Broadway to critical acclaim at the August Wilson Theatre (then called the Virginia Theatre). The show has been seen by over 18 million people worldwide (as of July, 2013) and is currently playing in New York; Las Vegas; London; in cities across the U.S. on a National Tour and in The Netherlands, and is currently the 15th longest running show in Broadway history, having recently surpassed the records held by Fiddler on the Roof and Hello, Dolly!.

According to Deadline, the upcoming film adaptation of the musical JERSEY BOYS, directed by Clint Eastwood, will be released in theatres on June 20, 2014.

The Muny just announced the 2014 summer season, its 96th sensational summer in Forest Park. The exciting line-up includes 4 Muny premieres. The seven shows are: The Addams Family; Billy Elliott the Musical; Grease; Hello, Dolly!; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Seussical the Musical and Tarzan. For more information call (314) 361-1900 or visit muny.org.

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the new musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Thousand Oaks premiereDec. 3-8 at The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza as part of the 2013-14 Broadway in Thousand Oaks Series.

Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow, November 2 at 10 AM for Neil Patrick Harris' return to Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the musical with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, directed by Michael Mayer. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com.

The producers of Peter and the Starcatcher have announced a partnership with The Sean Kimberling Testicular Cancer Foundation, to celebrate Movember, the global charity that raises funds and awareness to combat prostate cancer and mental health challenges. Movember, which invites men to join the movement by growing a moustache for the 30-days of November, is a charity movement especially close to the heart of Peter and the Starcatcher's own mustachioed pirate, Black Stache, who rightly claims "the 'stache is on everyone's lips…."

Click below for a Halloween treat -- the mermaids and mermen of Peter and the Starcatcher needed a coffee boost after all of the starstuff and headed to Starbucks, tails in tow!

Tony Award-winning actors Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Spamalot) and Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, Elf), Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), and Broadway stars Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show], The Little Mermaid) and Derek Klena (Wicked, Dogfight) are all scheduled to take part in the developmental reading. Dog and Pony will receive its World Premiere at The Old Globe next spring, running May 28 - June 29, 2014; casting for that production will be announced at a later time.