Robert Spencer News

I have to admit that I was very excited when I read that veteran actor Michael Winther would be returning to Center Stage to star in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL. It was Director David Schweizer who asked Winther to come to Center Stage for the role of Dan. Schweizer also directed Winther back in 2007 when he played the role of Dromio in BOYS FROM SYRACUSE along with Manu Narayan and Paolo Montalban. Winther became friends with Narayan when the two both worked on Broadway at the same time, Narayan was the star of BOMBAY DREAMS at the Broadway Theater and Winther was down the street at the Winter Garden in MAMMA MIA! Winther related it was Narayan who called him up last year to take Narayan's place in San Paolo, Brazil to perform in the KIezmer musical THE NIGHT IN THE OLD MARKET PLACE. So Winther spent ten days in Brazil along with another actress from the BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, Charlotte Cohn.

The Midtown Men, featuring the four original cast members of Jersey Boys, perform hits of the 50s, 60s and 70s at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 18 at 8 pm. Tickets are $49-79.

They took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of all-time. Now on their 5th national tour, THE MIDTOWN MEN are bringing their magic to audiences everywhere, singing their favorite 'Sixties Hits' from The Beatles, The Rascals, The Turtles, Motown, The Four Seasons and more.

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. The craziness is almost upon us, but there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters . BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's JERSEY BOYS below!

New shows go on sale this week at bergenPAC include The Dan Band, Friday September 26th, see Martin Sexton Saturday, January 10th, 2015, then don't miss the family favorite Popovich Pet Theater, March 28th 2015, An Evening with filmographer John Waters Sunday, April 12th and don't miss Midtown Men presented by PBS/WNET TV on Thursday, May 28th 2015 at 8PM--Tickets for these shows go on sale Friday, July 25th at 11AM. Be sure to reserve your tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC's Box Office at 201.227.1030.

Set in the present day on the porch of a swamp house in Mississippi, BAYONETS OF ANGST introduces audiences to a handful of old codgers who are partaking in their annual reunion. In fact, this is their 149th gathering, and each year the shrinking group gets together to relive their experiences during the American Civil War. As an audience, we are told to forget what we learned in history because these men were there. Over the next two hours, we are treated to a dizzying array of madcap, behind-the-scenes hilarity that turns history on its head.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) just launched its 2014 season, featuring such stars as Lillias White, J. Robert Spencer, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jennifer Simard, Robin De Jesus, and more.NYMF exists to revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside opening night below!

Earlier this week, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (running July 7 - 27) presented a special preview of the 2014 featuring musical selections from: Mr. Confidential, The Gig, Valueville, Somewhere With You, Clinton, WikiMusical, Bayonets of Angst, Academia Nuts, Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade. Below, BroadwayWorld take you insid ethe special preview, which featured Lena Hall, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, J. Robert Spencer, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Robin De Jesus and more!

The 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) production of BAYONETS OF ANGST will star Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer, set to play Abraham Lincoln in the world premiere. Joining him are Paul Whitty ('Once'), Herndon Lackey ('LoveMusik'), Brian Charles Rooney ('The Threepenny Opera'), Michael Abbott, Jr. ('Shotgun Stories'), Ian Lowe ('Murder for Two') and Ryan Andes ('Big Fish'). Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

J. Robert Spencer (Tony nominee "Next to Normal," original Broadway company "Jersey Boys") is set to play the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, in the world-premiere 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) production of BAYONETS OF ANGST - an original musical comedy set to a bluegrass soundtrack and narrated by the last remaining veterans of the American Civil War - Book by Rick Kunzi & Justin Zeppa, Music by Rick Kunzi & Adam Barnosky, Lyrics by Rick Kunzi, and Directed by Michael Lluberes. General Management Team for BAYONETS OF ANGST is Suellen Vance and Good People Management Group.

The biggest, most accessible and diverse arts venue in the Texas capital is proud to announce its 2014-2015 Season of Long Center Presents programming. With two never-before-seen in Austin Broadway musicals, evenings of classic Southern musical comfort, laugh out loud comedies and plenty of family offerings, the Long Center is Austin's destination for arts and entertainment this season. Beginning May 27, subscription packages will be available to the public.

The Midtown Men's performance at the majestic Prudential Hall will be taped as a concert special for public television. The 90-minute show, recorded in high-definition, will be offered to public television stations to broadcast nationwide. The concert special will air in the NY metropolitan area starting in December.

NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, will host its first major benefit event at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) onWednesday, May 28, at 6pm.

From the controversial and crass to the inspiring and romantic, the past decade's Tony winners for Best Musical delighted us then and continue to captivate us as they play in productions across the country and around the world. And what better way to refresh and prep for this year's big award than to relive the stand-outs from the last 10 years on Broadway? Scroll down to learn more about the winners since 2004, and be sure to tell us which musical gets your pick for 2014!

With such hits as 'Sherry' and 'Big Girls Don't Cry', the May Philly POPS concert series is going to have audiences dancing in their seats! On May 16, 17 and 18, it's SIXTIES HITS with the Midtown Men, the original cast members of Broadway's Jersey Boys, who are bringing their sensational sound to Philadelphia to Verizon Hall in The Kimmel Center. The talented quartet consists of Tony Award-winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer. They will join conductor Michael Krajewski and The Philly POPS and perform the music of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Motown, of course, The Four Seasons and more.

With such hits as 'Sherry' and 'Big Girls Don't Cry', the May Philly POPS concert series is going to have audiences dancing in their seats! On May 16, 17 and 18, it's SIXTIES HITS with the Midtown Men, the original cast members of Broadway's Jersey Boys, who are bringing their sensational sound to Philadelphia to Verizon Hall in The Kimmel Center. The talented quartet consists of Tony Award-winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer. They will join conductor Michael Krajewski and The Philly POPS and perform the music of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Motown, of course, The Four Seasons and more.

Tony Award winners Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee, J. Robert Spencer, bring their unique Broadway flare and bravura in The Midtown Men; performing at the Van Wezel on March 30th.

Two special events have been announced for this summer at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. The Moonlight Cultural Foundation will present THE MIDTOWN MEN in a special concert performance on Sat., July 5. Making their West Coast debut, THE MIDTOWN MEN features four of the original cast members of The Jersey Boys in concert showcasing favorite hits of the 1960s. In advance of Moonlight Stage Productions' MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT this summer, the theatre will present a free screening of the hit movie the musical is based on: MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. The film will be shown on a large screen on the Moonlight stage.

True to its mission of nurturing local theatre artists, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) presents the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series staged reading of SILENT, by Madison-based playwright Gwendolyn Rice. J.C. Clementz directs a cast of six Milwaukee favorites including Kamille Dawkins, Richard Halverson, Chike Johnson, Robert Spencer, Jonathan Wainwright and C. Michael Wright.

Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and J. Robert Spencer aim to continue singing the great songs of the 1960s on stages across America. As THE MIDTOWN MEN, the group capitalizes on the tight vocal harmonies and snappy stage rapport that served them so well on Broadway, bringing their audiences an evening of music, entertainment and memories.