Robert Taylor News

The current touring cast of Broadway's recently-closed hit musical Hairspray never has to worry about being without love. Indeed, the show has been welcomed with open arms and standing ovations in Canada, China, Japan and, of course, all over the United States. This weekend, the show will introduce Cleveland to the nicest kids in town when it arrives at the Palace Theatre for five performances?from February 6-8.

Despite closing recently on Broadway, Hairspray's beat is nowhere near stopping. The critically lauded tour is still going strong and bringing a little of the swingin? sixties to Cleveland?s Palace Theatre from February 6-8.

Cleveland, OH ? In partnership with Great Lakes Theater Festival, the PlayhouseSquare Arts Education Department is hosting the Cleveland Branch Finals of the annual English-Speaking Union?s (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition on Saturday, February 28. Students from 37 Northeast Ohio schools are participating. Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman will deliver the event?s keynote address at 9:00 a.m. ?We are so pleased to be partnering with PlayhouseSquare and Great Lakes Theater Festival on this project,? stated John Rampe, president of the Cleveland Branch of the English-Speaking Union. The winning student from the Cleveland Branch Finals will travel to the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City in April. The winner of that competition receives a full scholarship to the British American Drama Academy?s Midsummer Conservatory Program in Oxford, England. The Shakespeare Competition has been the primary educational program of the ESU Cleveland Branch for more than 20 years. Started with 500 students in New York City schools in 1983, the ESU?s Shakespeare Competition is now a national curriculum-based program that has helped almost 250,000 high school students develop their understanding of Shakespeare -- the beauty and scope of his language as well as the timeless themes embodied in his works -- and their ability to communicate that understanding. Currently the program reaches 16,000 students and 2,000 teachers annually via competitions run by 60 ESU branches across the United States. ?We are excited to bring the Shakespeare Competition to PlayhouseSquare,? said Colleen Porter, director of arts education at PlayhouseSquare. ?It offers yet another avenue for young people to experience the power of live theater and we are especially proud to connect them with the expertise of Great Lakes Theater Festival.? The participating schools include Beachwood High School, Beaumont School, Benedictine High School, Berea High School, Brecksville-Broadview Hts. High School, Brush High School, Carl Shuler, Cleveland Hts. High School, Cleveland School of the Arts, Cuyahoga Hts. High School, East High School, Fairview High School, Garrett Morgan, Gilmore Academy, Glenville High School, Hathaway Brown School, Hawken School, Holy Name High School, Independence High School, James Ford Rhodes High School, John Adams High School, Lakewood High School, Laurel School, Lincoln West High School, Magnificat High School, Mayfield High School, Midpark High School, Normandy High School, North Olmsted High School, Shaker Hts. High School, St. Edward High School, St. Ignatius, St. Joseph Academy, Success Tech Academy, Warrensville High School, Westlake High School and Whitney Young High School. PlayhouseSquare places incredibly strong emphasis on arts education and believes that it is essential to improving the quality of life in our community. Through a variety of workshops and classes designed for people of all ages, the PlayhouseSquare Arts Education Department offers avenues to discovery, appreciation and development in and through the performing arts, connecting participants with national and international artists in unique and meaningful ways. PlayhouseSquare initiates collaboration among educators, artists and other community organizations, and actively forms mutually beneficial partnerships with local arts organizations to create and present arts education experiences of the highest quality. Always striving to fulfill its role as an asset to the Northeast Ohio community, PlayhouseSquare is an active leader in advocating arts education both locally and within the performing arts industry.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) is accepting submissions for its 21st Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place in New York this fall.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) is accepting submissions for its 21st Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place in New York this fall. Submission Deadlines: (postmark) February 5, 2009 - Non-NAMT Member Professional Theatre Organizations and Literary Agencies (include the $60 registration fee) February 19, 2009 - NAMT Members and Alumni Festival Writers (no registration fee required) Any writer may apply, as long as the submission includes a letter of support from a NAMT member or any other professional theatre organization or an agent. If selected for the festival, the musical's writer and submitting organization have no financial obligation to NAMT, as NAMT fully funds the festival through contributions and sponsorships. Go to www.namt.org to read all submission guidelines and to fill out the new online application.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) is accepting submissions for its 21st Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place in New York this fall. Submission Deadlines: (postmark) ? February 5, 2009 - Non-NAMT Member Professional Theatre Organizations and Literary Agencies (include the $60 registration fee) ? February 19, 2009 - NAMT Members and Alumni Festival Writers (no registration fee required) Any writer may apply, as long as the submission includes a letter of support from a NAMT member or any other professional theatre organization or an agent. If selected for the festival, the musical?s writer and submitting organization have no financial obligation to NAMT, as NAMT fully funds the festival through contributions and sponsorships. Go to www.namt.org to read all submission guidelines and to fill out the new online application.

Chicago Dramatists continues its 30th anniversary season with resident playwright Will Dunne's new comedy, 'How I Became an Interesting Person.'

Chicago Dramatists continues its 30th anniversary season with resident playwright Will Dunne's new comedy, 'How I Became an Interesting Person.'

After extensive development in New York at the York Theatre and the Vineyard Theatre, the world premiere of the musical 'The Medium at Large' took place Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2008, at the Village Players Performing Arts Center in Oak Park, Illinois, just over Chicago's western border. Starring Tony Award nominee John Herrera (Neville in 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood') as the titular spiritualist, the show shows promise in negotiating a tricky premise and an even trickier payoff.

The Signature Theatre concluded their production of ACE on Sunday, September 28th. The show opened on August 27th, 2008 With music by Richard Oberacker and book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker, ACE was directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer with choreography by Karma Camp. Set just after WWII, ACE is an epic story of a young boy's search to come to terms with his past and unlock his future. A tale of triumph, humor, and heart as seen through a child's eyes, ACE magically explores the heroic lives and unforeseen legacies of the men and women of America's Greatest Generation.

Take a wild ride through the eyes of a child who wants to know where he comes from

ACE, a new musical, plays at Virginia's Signature Theatre through September 28.

Signature Theatre is pleased to announce complete casting for the opening show of its 2008-2009 season, ACE. With music by Richard Oberacker and book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker, ACE will be directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer with choreography by Karma Camp. Set just after WWII, ACE is an epic story of a young boy's search to come to terms with his past and unlock his future. A tale of triumph, humor, and heart as seen through a child's eyes, ACE magically explores the heroic lives and unforeseen legacies of the men and women of America's Greatest Generation.

The Call Board returns!

Signature Theatre is pleased to announce complete casting for the opening show of its 2008-2009 season, ACE. With music by Richard Oberacker and book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker, ACE will be directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer with choreography by Karma Camp. Set just after WWII, ACE is an epic story of a young boy's search to come to terms with his past and unlock his future. A tale of triumph, humor, and heart as seen through a child's eyes, ACE magically explores the heroic lives and unforeseen legacies of the men and women of America's Greatest Generation.

Artistic Director Russ Tutterow announced Chicago Dramatists' 30th anniversary season, featuring three productions of world premiere plays, and the fourth annual Many Voices Project. Each year Chicago Dramatists, 'the playwrights' theatre,' produces three of the best new plays from the hundreds developed through its many developmental programs. This year, 'Ten Cent Night' by resident playwright Marisa Wegrzyn, 'How I Became an Interesting Person' by resident playwright Will Dunne, and 'Hope VI' by resident playwright Nambi E. Kelley, will make up its production season.

Signature Theatre, today announced the 2008-2009 season, which runs from August 26, 2008 through May 31, 2009 and features five productions as well as the special concert presentation

The new Broadway-aimed musical adventure ACE will play a limited engagement this fall at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va. Directed by Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, ACE begins performances on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 and continues through Sunday, September 28, in preparation for a Broadway bow in spring 2009.

A new production of the Broadway-aimed musical adventure ACE will play a limited regional engagement at Washington DC's National Theatre early next year.