Robert Lopez News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical has been extended six weeks through July 31, 2011, by popular demand.

The complete Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON will be available for digital download for $1.99 from Amazon.com, starting tonight at midnight, Pacific Time. The special offer will be available for four days only through Monday, June 13 at midnight, Pacific Time. Visit www.amazon.com/bookofmormon for download information.

THE BOOK OF MORMON composer and co-creator Robert Lopez recently visitied Studio 360, where he peformed 'I Believe,' at the piano. Click below to catch a sneak peek of the song that will be perormed by Andrew Rannels at the 2011 Tony Awards!

Ghostlight Records releases the Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON in stores today, Tuesday, June 7. The packaging for the album features a booklet with color photos, complete lyrics and liner notes by Frank Rich. The recording's digital release is already the fastest selling Broadway cast album in history. A free stream of the recording is also available at www.BookOfMormonCastAlbum.com.

THE BOOK OF MORMON has been nominated for 14 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and is the winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, Best Music (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Lyrics (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Director (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus), four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Actor in a Musical (Josh Gad) and Best Director (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker) and the Drama League Award for Best Musical. This weekend, Richie Ridge had a special sit down with the shows 4 nominated stars to talk Tonys, Mormonism, what it's like backstage, and how it feels to be a part of the season's blockbuster.

Hundreds of thousands of theatregoers and fans weighed in, breaking site traffic records (including last year's record breaking tally) and further solidifying the BroadwayWorld.com Awards place as the largest and most popular online Broadway polling event of its kind, open to all and with fully visible and audited results. So, who what shows, performers and creative teams were the favorites of the theatregoing public? Let's find out...

This week's cover of Newsweek Magaine (dated June 13 and 20) features a cover story profile on Mormon presidential candiate Mitt Romney. The cover art, emulates the show poster for the hit Broadway show - THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Looking for a show that's popping out with joy, wit & truth? Come see 3 sassy, soon-to-be-moms, Jessica Kostival, Elisa Van Duyne & Kristin Maloney, sing their hearts out in the playful, moving & intimate cabaret 'HOT MAMAS.' This cabaret, first performed in 2004, is being remounted at Don' t Tell Mamas this June. And yes, they are all pregnant - no costume pieces required.

The Drama Desk Awards ceremony was hosted by Harvey Fierstein on May 23 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Center. This year, for the first time, a 90-minute Highlights Special of the Drama Desk Awards Ceremony will be televised nationally on OVATION, the national cable network dedicated to presenting creative arts programming to national TV audiences. The ceremony will be given two primetime broadcasts plus four other airings between June 4 and June 19, 2011.

Voting opened on May 5, 2011 and runs through June 3, 2011 for the 9th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 6/3

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces Avenue Q, opening June 2 and playing through July 10, 2011 on the Phoenix Mainstage. Avenue Q, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and original story by Jeff Whitty, opened off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in March 2003, where it gained rave reviews, and was extended four times. The Phoenix is the first regional, professional theatre to produce Avenue Q, winner of the 2004 Tony for Best Musical, with a local professional cast and crew.

Last week on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,' BOOK OF MORMON star and Tony Award nominee Andrew Rannells stopped by to hit some high notes with Jimmy and Ed Helms. Afterwards, he stuck around to answer some questions from fans via twitter. Click below to hear him talk about averything from goofing lyrics on stage to his favorite cereals!

THE BOOK OF MORMON has been nominated for 14 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and is the winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, Best Music (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Lyrics (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Director (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus), four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Actor in a Musical (Josh Gad) and Best Director (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker) and the Drama League Award for Best Musical. The show's cast and creators were featured on 'CBS Sunday Morning' on May 29. Click below to check it out!

Voting opened on May 5, 2011 and runs through June 3, 2011 for the 9th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/30

Casey Nicholaw, co-director, choreographer and Tony nominee for THE BOOK OR MORMON, recently sat down with 'Theater Talk' to discuss his switch from performing to directing.

Facebook fans of THE BOOK OF MORMON can now listen to a free stream of the Broadway musical's newly released cast recording from Ghostlight Records. Visit THE BOOK OF MORMON on Facebook at facebook.com/TheBookOfMormonOnBroadway. The cast album stream can be found by clicking on 'Cast Album' in the left-hand column. Fans can listen to a stream of the cast album and share it with friends.

On Monday, May 23, Harvey Fierstein hosted the 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. Matthew Rodrigues was in the winners room for the evening to catch up with the talent, and to figure out what a 'Drama Desk,' well, is. Click below for the theories (and to hear from the winners, too)!

Tony Award winner Robert Lopez stopped by Sirius/XM's Live On Broadway Radio show on Wednesday and shared some exciting news with the live audience about his upcoming projects. Lopez revealed that he and collaborator/wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez have composed several songs for a brand new project for Disney.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, released digitally by Ghostlight Records on May 17, is the fastest selling digital release of a cast recording in history, according to Billboard Magazine. THE BOOK OF MORMON's cast recording was the #6 digital download of the week. Ghostlight Records will release the CD for THE BOOK OF MORMON on Tuesday, June 7, featuring a booklet which includes color photos, complete lyrics and liner notes by Frank Rich.

Last night on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,' BOOK OF MORMON star and Tony Award nominee Andrew Rannells stopped by to hit some high notes with Jimmy and Ed Helms. Click below to check out the video!