Rob Ashford News

Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Candy Spelling and The Weinstein Company will present the first-ever Broadway revival of PROMISES, PROMISES this spring at the Broadway Theater (1681 Broadway). Previews will begin on Sunday, March 28th, 2010 with an opening night slated for Sunday, April 25th, 2010. The musical is written by legends Neil Simon (book), Burt Bacharach (music), and Hal David (lyrics). Emmy Award winner Sean Hayes will make his Broadway debut starring in the role of Chuck Baxter opposite Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, returning to Broadway as Fran Kubelik. Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford will also make his Broadway directorial debut and choreograph. More casting and creative team members will be announced in the near future.

The Donmar Warehouse (producer of the current Broadway production of Hamlet starring Jude Law) announced that its yearlong West End season at the 750-seat Wyndham's Theater played to 98% of capacity. The Donmar is also making quite the mark on the Broadway stage with a number of current productions this season.

Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway production of After Miss Julie officially opened last night, Thursday, October 22nd. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were as the stars arrived for the first night performance.

According to a report in Variety, Goodspeed Musicals will present three classics next year, two of which the theater company will be staging for the first time. They include Irving Berlin's 'Annie Get Your Gun,' Bob Merrill's 'Carnival' and Frank Loesser's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting this morning that Kristin Chenoweth has been nabbed by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron for their upcoming Broadway revival of PROMISES, PROMISES. The Post reports that while not yet signed, a deal appears to have been reached for the always-in-demand star to take on the role of Fran Kubelik opposite Sean Hayes as Chuck Baxter.

London's Donmar Warehouse production of PARADE, presented by the Center Theatre Group at the Los Angeles Music Center, had its U.S. premiere Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the Mark Taper Forum.

Variety reports that 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe will lead the cast of an upcoming New York reading of 1961 musical 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' marking the first musical turn for the 'Harry Potter' star. Producers Broadway Across America, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will guide the reading, seen as a set up for a potential Broadway revival.

'Parade,' which features T.R. Knight playing the historical figure Leo Frank and Lara Pulver reprising her role as his wife, Lucille Frank, started rehearsals this week. The Center Theatre Group's presentation of the Donmar Warehouse production began previews September 24, 2009, and opened at the Mark Taper Forum on October 4. Performances continue through November 15.

Preview performances began Saturday, September 12th, for the critically acclaimed Donmar Warehouse production of William Shakespeare's HAMLET with Jude Law in the title role, directed by Michael Grandage. The production officially opened last night, October 6th, at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). HAMLET will play a strictly limited run of 12 weeks only.

Parade book by Alfred Uhry; music by Jason Robert Brown directed by Rob Ashford Mark Taper Forum through November 15

Preview performances began Saturday, September 12th, for the critically acclaimed Donmar Warehouse production of William Shakespeare's HAMLET with Jude Law in the title role, directed by Michael Grandage. The production officially opened last night, October 6th, at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). HAMLET will play a strictly limited run of 12 weeks only.

The Donmar Warehouse presents A Streetcar Named Desire By Tennessee Williams starring Jack Ashton, Elliot Cowan, Charles Daish, Judy Hepburn, Barnaby Kay, Gary Milner, Daniela Nardini, Luke Rutherford, Rachel Weisz, Ruth Wilson

Center Theatre Group is presenting the Donmar Warehouse production of 'Parade,' opening Sunday, October 4, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum.

The Donmar Warehouse presents PARADE, with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. PARADE is co-conceived by Harold Prince and directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford.

Center Theatre Group is announcing casting for the upcoming Donmar Warehouse production of the musical 'Parade,' starting previews on September 24, 2009, at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum. Opening is set for October 4 and performances will continue through November 15.

Rising singer-songwriter and Sire/Warner Bros. recording artist Regina Spektor will join playwright / director Tina Landau (Floyd Collins) and lyricist Michael Korie (Grey Gardens) to create the new musical BEAUTY, to be produced by Elephant Eye Theatrical (Stuart Oken, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions), aiming for the 2011-12 Broadway season, following an out-of-town tryout to be announced. Landau will write the book and direct; Spektor the music, and Korie the lyrics.

The 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards awarded 82 Emmys including those given for Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Reality Series and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. For more information, click here.

With the awards ceremony currently in progress, director/choreographer Rob Ashford has just been announced as the winner of a Creative Arts Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Choreography' for his work on the 'Musicals Are Back' segment of the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

The Donmar Warehouse presents A Streetcar Named Desire By Tennessee Williams starring Jack Ashton, Elliot Cowan, Charles Daish, Judy Hepburn, Barnaby Kay, Gary Milner, Daniela Nardini, Luke Rutherford, Rachel Weisz, Ruth Wilson