Roald Dahl News

Tony-nominated composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Andy Jones (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid), Ashley Brown (the original Mary Poppins), Merle Dandridge (Tarzan, Aida), Josh Strickland (the original Tarzan), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies), and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King), will join 4,500 students and teachers representing 93 groups from 26 states and the District of Columbia at the 2014 Junior Theater Festival, it was announced today by Timothy Allen McDonald, founding Chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group. The Junior Theater Festival is being held January 17, 18 and 19 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.

Syfy's smash hit and acclaimed unscripted series, Face Off, is back for a bold and extreme sixth season tonight, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The most extreme season of Syfy's FACE OFF begins tomorrow when 15 contestants must pair beauties with beasts of their own creation!

Winner of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical, Matilda The Musical, currently playing at the Shubert Theatre, is based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl(Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox). It is the story of an extraordinary girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny. The show has been nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. Below, BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you an exclusive series which features animated versions of some of the show's greatest tunes. Today we are featuring 'The Smell of Rebellion'!

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming shows, January through April 2014. Details below!

Imagination Stage will bring back its popular production of Aquarium for its youngest patrons, today, December 17, 2013, through January 26, 2014. Aquarium was developed by Lyngo Theatre and premiered in January 2011 under the direction of Patrick Lynch and Pietro Chiarenza.

Plano Children's Theatre has announced that Scrooge the Musical will add four performances due to last weekend's weather cancellations.

The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers today announced that Paige Brady, Gabriella Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo, and Ava Ulloa have joined the Broadway company of MATILDA THE MUSICAL and will begin performances in the title role over the course of the next few weeks.

Broadway Records celebrates their first ever Grammy nomination for the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the Tony Award winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL. Broadway Records released this cast album in conjunction with Yellow Sound Label. MATILDA THE MUSICAL was the third original cast album, sixteenth album overall, released by the two-year old record label dedicated to Broadway and Off Broadway-related recordings.

Seattle Children's Theatre presents the world-premiere musical, James and the Giant Peach. Just in time for the holidays, Timothy Allen McDonald's wonderful adaptation from Roald Dahl's best seller will include original music by Tony-Award nominated lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. James and the Giant Peach runs at SCT's Charlotte Martin Theatre through January 12, 2014. SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell directs. BroadwayWorld has a behind-the-scenes look at the show below!

Los AngeLes Children's Chorus, acclaimed for its pure, agile, Bel Canto sound that has made it one of the most in-demand children's choirs in the county, spotlights the music of Benjamin Britten and the English choral tradition and also performs a compelling array of music from around the globe at its popular annual Winter Concert tonight, December 7, 7 PM, and Sunday, December 8, 2013, 7:30 PM, at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

Seattle Children's Theatre features Tony nominees Justin Paul and Benj Pasek's musical version of James and the Giant Peach as a part of its 2013-2014 Mainstage Season. The musical features a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, and is based on the book by Roald Dahl. James and the Giant Peach runs at the Charlotte Martin Theatre, now through January 12, 2014. Check out a first look below!

Seattle Children's Theatre features Tony nominees Justin Paul and Benj Pasek's musical version of James and the Giant Peach as a part of its 2013-2014 Mainstage Season. The musical features a book by Timothy AllenMcDonald, and is based on the book by Roald Dahl. Check out a sneak peek below!

The 2013 theatre season brought some truly extraordinary productions, including Matilda, which is still playing at the Shubert Theatre. The musical earned thirteen Tony nominations- taking home five, including a special honor for the four girls playing the title role.

The nation's most beloved spectacle, the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, returns for the 87th year of magic on Thursday, Nov. 28 (9 a.m.-noon) throughout the country on NBC. Check out the wonderful cast of MATILDA performing below!

International music superstar Kylie Minogue strongly endorses MATILDA: THE MUSICAL and recounts her favorable experience attending a recent performance as part of a new blog post.

Milly Shapiro, Bailey Ryon, Oona Laurence and Sophia Gennusa, the Tony-winning leading ladies from Broadway's Matilda The Musical, will depart the production within the next two months. The girls revealed in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal that they will be leaving to make room for a new crop of girls- the 'Newtildas'.

When casting my reviewers eye to the world premiere musical version of Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach", currently playing at Seattle Children's Theatre, I am forced to look upon the show from two perspectives. From the kid perspective, as this is children's theatre, will this be entertaining and accessible enough for kids? And from the adult musical theater lover perspective, as this is a brand new musical from some up and comers in the musical theater scene Justin Paul, Benj Pasek and Timothy Allen McDonald, is this something that can make a musical theater lover squeal with delight at the thought of it getting a wider audience (like maybe Broadway)? And while from the kid perspective this was a lovely and thoroughly fun time for any age, the musical theater snob in me felt the show just needs a little more work to be truly great. But it's certainly on its way.

An extraordinary crocodile that can tap dance, perform household chores, and rescue cats from burning buildings will star in the musical Lyle the Crocodile at Imagination Stage. Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and adapted by humorist Kevin Kling, this production featuring music by Richard Gray is wonderfully warm and witty and will win the hearts of young people this holiday season. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Regrettably, due to medical circumstances beyond his control, Craig Bierko will not be resuming his role as Miss Trunchbull in the Broadway production of Matilda the Musical. During rehearsals for the role of Agatha Trunchbull, Craig injured his shoulder making it impossible for him to meet all the physical requirements of the part.