Rob Ashford News

PROMISES, PROMISES and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will hold special performances to benefit the Actors Fund.

Previews have begun for the rousing new musical 'Leap of Faith' at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

The producers of PROMISES, PROMISES announced today that the smash hit, Tony Award-winning revival will play its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, January 2, 2011, having played 30 preview and 291 regular performances. The show's stars Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Goldwyn, Dick Latessa and Molly Shannon have all extended their contracts for an additional week to ring in the New Year. PROMISES, PROMISES is expected to recoup its investment in the coming weeks with complete details to be announced at that time. In addition the producers are excited to announce that discussions have begun for a possible tour of this new production of PROMISES, PROMISES, with more details to follow. PROMISES, PROMISES, directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford with Neil Simon's funny and touching book and Burt Bacharach and Hal David's hit-packed score, began previews at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) Saturday, March 27, 2010, and since it opened Sunday, April 25, 2010, has been one of Broadway's top grossing shows week after week.

Dreamlight Theatre Company presents HERE'S THE THING… An evening of original music and lyrics by Micah Young

The original animated film SHREK was a kind of adult fairytale, though it was obviously aimed squarely at the youth market as well, successfully spawning a franchise with sequels and merchandising galore. So, it should come as no surprise that Dreamworks would opt to try their luck on stage with a musical version of their blockbuster hit. Happily, like the original, it's a cute and amusing production that will play equally well to children and their parents, who will certainly appreciate some of the more grown-up humor the book and lyrics provide. The current production of SHREK THE MUSICAL, which is playing at the Fox Theatre, is a cleverly mounted show with fine performances and dazzling displays of technical wizardry.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that David F. M. Vaughn has recently joined the National Tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL in the role of the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad. He is joined by Justin W. Shuffler, who will play the Big Bad Wolf.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye in UK Daily Mail, the upcoming West End production of Shrek will receive many changes before opening at Theatre Royal. The cast will be lead by Nigel Lindsey as Shrek, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, and Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona.

The producers of PROMISES, PROMISES are thrilled to announce that 'Saturday Night Live' alumnus and 'Superstar' Molly Shannon will make her Broadway debut in the smash hit musical comedy as Marge MacDougall for a limited 11 week run from Tuesday, October 12, 2010 through Sunday, December 26, 2010. This new production of PROMISES, PROMISES, directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford with Neil Simon's funny and touching book and Burt Bacharach and Hal David's hit-packed score, began previews at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) Saturday, March 27, 2010, and opened on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Golden Globe Award-nominee Brooke Shields and four-time Tony Award-nominee Raúl Esparza will star in the world premiere of the new musical LEAP OF FAITH, which begins performances at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in September. A promo video featuring Esparzo performing 'Step Into the Light' has been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

Pittsburgh CLO is set to host the world premiere of 'S Wonderful, the new musical revue celebrating the work of George and Ira Gershwin, running June 17th through September 5th at the CLO Cabaret.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that David F. M. Vaughn has recently joined the National Tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL in the role of the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad. He is joined by Justin W. Shuffler, who will play the Big Bad Wolf.

The U.K.'s Donmar Warehouse has announced that Spelling Bee, Harold Pinter's Moonlight, and Luise Miller have been added to the 2011 programming line-up.

Golden Globe Award-nominee Brooke Shields and four-time Tony Award-nominee Raúl Esparza will star in the world premiere of the new musical LEAP OF FAITH, which begins performances at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in September. A promo video has been released for the production.

According to People.com, Brooke Shields broke her hand while in rehearsal for a Los Angeles production of 'Leap of Faith.'

Haven Burton and two of the cast members from 'Shrek the Musical' performed 'I Know It's Today' on ABC7 in Chicago. Shrek the Musical plays through September 7 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago.

It has been a banner year for PROMISES, PROMISES' Katie Finneran. Her critically acclaimed performance as Marge MacDougall in the smash hit musical comedy PROMISES, PROMISES swept the 2010 awards season winning her the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award. On Sunday, August 22, Ms. Finneran married long time companion Darren Goldstein (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson), and now the couple has announced that they are expecting a child this winter. It is with best wishes that the producers of PROMISES, PROMISES announced today that Tony Award winner Katie Finneran will play her final performance in the smash hit musical comedy on Sunday, October 10, 2010. This new production of PROMISES, PROMISES, directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford with Neil Simon's funny and touching book and Burt Bacharach and Hal David's hit-packed score, began previews at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) Saturday, March 27, 2010, and opened on Sunday, April 25, 2010. Casting for Broadway's next Marge MacDougall will be announced shortly.

The full cast is set for the world premiere of the new musical 'Leap of Faith,' which will begin performances at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on September 11, 2010 and continue through October 24. The opening is scheduled for October 3. Check out the new rehearsal photos below.

The producers of the Tony Award-winning production of PROMISES, PROMISES are thrilled to announce that Tony and Emmy Award winner and 2010 Emmy nominee Kristin Chenoweth has extended her run in the smash hit musical comedy for three additional months. Kristin Chenoweth and her Tony-nominated and Emmy Award-winning co-star Sean Hayes will play their final performance together in PROMISES, PROMISES on Sunday, December 26, 2010.

Daniel Radcliffe will make his Broadway musical debut as J. Pierrepont Finch in a new production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING opening at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) Sunday, March 27, 2011, at 5pm.