Robert E. Wankel News

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Philadelphia premiere tonight, March 19 - 24 at the Academy of Music as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is tonight, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Blue Man Group returns to Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater tonight, March 5 - 10, as part of the Broadway Season presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is tonight, March 5 at 7:30 pm.

The first national tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is coming to Philadelphia at the Academy of Music from tonight, February 26 through March 3. Part of the Broadway Season presented by the Kimmel Center and the Shubert Organization, the press opening is scheduled for Tues. Feb. 26 at 7:30 pm.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Philadelphia premiere March 19 - 24 at the Academy of Music as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is Tuesday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Blue Man Group returns to Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater on March 5 - 10, as part of the Broadway Season presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 pm.

The first national tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is coming to Philadelphia at the Academy of Music from February 26 through March 3. Part of the Broadway Season presented by the Kimmel Center and the Shubert Organization, the press opening is scheduled for Tues. Feb. 26 at 7:30 pm.

Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will land in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music for a limited engagement tonight, Jan. 15 - 20. The press opening is scheduled for tonight, Jan. 15 at 7:30 pm.

The national tour of the explosive Broadway hit AMERICAN IDIOT, called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by The New York Times and "flat-out electrifying" by the Boston Globe, will make its Philadelphia premiere Feb. 12 - 17 at the Merriam Theater as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is scheduled for Tues. Feb. 12 at 7:30 pm.

Bette Midler will star in John Logan's new play, I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers, directed by Joe Mantello, opening on Broadway on Wednesday, April 24 at a Shubert theatre to be announced. I'll Eat You Last is produced by Graydon Carter, Arielle Tepper Madover, James L. Nederlander, and The Shubert Organization.

Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will land in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music for a limited engagement Jan. 15 - 20. The press opening is scheduled for Tues. Jan. 15 at 7:30 pm.

The National Theatre's epic WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, will make its Philadelphia premiere for a two-week limited engagement beginning Nov. 20 through Dec. 2 at the Academy of Music, kicking off the 2012-13 Broadway Season presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Pace University's Lubin School of Business has launched a new Arts and Entertainment Management (AEM) concentration that addresses the growing interest of business students in the management side of industries within the broad range of the arts/entertainment field. Management majors concentrating in Arts and Entertainment Management earn a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree that prepares them for careers in theater companies, museums, dance companies, art galleries, talent representation and management companies, and television production firms, as well as in related support services.

Pace University's Lubin School of Business has launched a new Arts and Entertainment Management (AEM) concentration that addresses the growing interest of business students in the management side of industries within the broad range of the arts/entertainment field. Management majors concentrating in Arts and Entertainment Management earn a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree that prepares them for careers in theater companies, museums, dance companies, art galleries, talent representation and management companies, and television production firms, as well as in related support services.

Two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz will join Katie Holmes on Broadway this fall in DEAD ACCOUNTS, the new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. This limited engagement of DEAD ACCOUNTS, produced by Jeffrey Finn, John N. Hart Jr., David Mirvish, and The Shubert Organization, will begin previews on Saturday, November 3 and open Wednesday, November 28 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

La MaMa concluded its 50th anniversary season with a successful benefit evening highlighted by entertainment and tributes-the La MaMa 50 Big Bash-on Sunday, June 24 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU in Manhattan. The evening was emceed by the inimitable Tony nominee and longtime La MaMa artist Andre DeShields, who joined other performers, including Gavin Creel, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Adrian Bailey, Everett Quinton, Lady J and Culture Hub, in entertaining the audience of 600-plus with music and dance that celebrated La MaMa's first 50 years, including an excerpt from its recent hit production of Scott Wittman's JUKEBOX JACKIE featuring Cole Escola and Bridget Everett. The evening was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who appeared as an actor at La MaMa during the early days of his career. Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, also La MaMa artists, served as the anniversary celebrations' co-chairs. See below for pictures of the BIG BASH's speakers and performers!