Russ Rowland News

The cast of PEACE, LOVE AND CUPCAKES: THE MUSICAL gave audiences a sneak peek at the NYMF outdoor concert at World Wide Plaza in Midtown. The production opens July 27th. Scroll down for photos from the preview!

Special guests Ariana DeBose (Hamilton, A Bronx Tale), Stephanie Klemons (Hamilton, If/Then), Marcus Paul James (RENT), and The Lost Keys of NYC joined On The Quays & their cast of RENT at 'How About Love?' June 18th at The Green Room 42. Scroll down for photos!

There's lots going on in the world of opera in New York City, as shown by the gamut of offerings under the umbrella of the ongoing New York OperaFest, co-organized by the New York Opera Alliance and Opera America. In the last week, the New Opera NYC gave us a cockeyed look at Rimsky-Korsakov's LE COQ D'OR (THE GOLDEN COCKEREL), while Heartbeat Opera took an ax to Puccini, and gave us a 'Madama'-less BUTTERFLY.

The Crusade of Connor Stephens, a new play written and directed by Dewey Moss, will begin an open-ended run at Off-Broadway's Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center on June 17, 2017. Opening night is scheduled for June 26. 

The new musical, Hit Her with the Skates, is thrilling audiences from the first minute to the last. It is everything a musical should be with a fascinating story, inventive staging, an excellent score, and a top-notch cast. This show is having its pre-New York developmental production at Hamilton Stage (UCPAC, Rahway) through Sunday May 26th.

The new musical, Hit Her with the Skates, by Christine Rea & Rick Briskin, directed by Michael Schiralli with musical direction by Brandon Ethridge and choreography by Gina Ventura, opened last weekend at Hamilton Stage (UCPAC, Rahway, NJ) from May 12 - 27, 2017. BroadwayWorld's Leigh Scheps talks with star, Amy Toporek, about her involvement with the show since inception plus what it's like performing on stage with Broadway's John Treacy Egan.

Most people don't like war. We know that. So when a playwright sets out to write an anti-war drama, it helps to present some kind of specific angle that offers a clear, and hopefully original, message.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, in collaboration with The Sol Project, presents the New York premiere of Martin Zimmerman's meditation on mourning, redemption and revenge, Seven Spots On The Sun, directed by 2016 Dora Award winner Weyni Mengesha, starring Flora Diaz (The Eyes of My Mother, Fox's 'Gotham'), Peter Jay Fernandez (Broadway: All the Way, Cyrano de Bergerac) and Flor De Liz Perez (CBS's 'The Good Wife,' West End: The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Dolphins and Sharks). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The producers of the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play, Church & State written by Jason Odell Williams, have announced a new block of tickets are now on sale for performances through September 3, 2017, at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street - between 8th& 9th Avenues).

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Christine Rea, the writer of the new musical, 'Hit Her With The Skates.' The show will be performed at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage from May 12th to May 27th.

Mary J. Davis / MBL Productions present the World Premiere of Pressing Matters by Jennifer Jasper, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt. The show opened on Thursday, April 20, and will run through May 20, 2017 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

It's a celebration! Houses on the Moon Theater Company (Emily Joy Weiner, CoFounder & Artistic Director; Kevin Connor, Managing Director) celebrated the Opening Night performance of the world premiere of The Assignment, an original play by Camilo Almonacid, developed by Houses on the Moon Theater Company, a co-production with Rhymes Over Beats, on Saturday evening, April 22, 2017 at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre at the A.R.T./New York Theatres (502 West 53rd Street).

Houses on the Moon Theater Company presents the world premiere of The Assignment, an original play by Camilo Almonacid, developed by Houses on the Moon Theater Company, a co-production with Rhymes Over Beats, and directed by Emily Joy Weiner. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

With a slight contemporary flare that is truthfully surpassed by the timeless spark characters like Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley hold so dear, and with an effect made that much more potent when seen in a theatrical light, the Pearl Theatre Co. now presents Vanity Fair for its world premiere: a production that is bound to capture your attention.

Ring Twice for Miranda, the new play written by Alan Hruska (Laugh It Up, Stare It Down; The Man on Her Mind; New House under Construction) and directed by Rick Lombardo (San Jose Rep Artistic Director from 2008-2014, The Snow Queen, Bill W. and Dr. Bob) will end its limited run at New York City Center Stage II (131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) on Sunday, April 16th.

Church & State, the critically acclaimed play by Jason Odell Williams that just opened at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues) has announced a series of post performance discussions to be held on three consecutive Wednesdays starting April 5.

The new musical, Hit Her with the Skates, by Christine Rea & Rick Briskin, directed by Michael Schiralli with musical direction by Brandon Ethridge and choreography by Gina Ventura, will get a pre-New York developmental production at Hamilton Stage (UCPAC, Rahway, NJ) from May 12 - 27, 2017.

The New York Premiere of Church & State, the critically acclaimed play by Jason Odell Williams, opened last night at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues) for an open-ended engagement. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening bows and festivities below!

Producers Charlotte Cohn, SCS Innovations, LLC, Forty-Eight Theatrical Group, Neil Gooding Productions, Ralph Meranto/JCC CenterStage, Brierpatch Productions, Karen Cohen/Jack Hayflick, and Bonnie E. Lautenberg, in association with NewYorkRep & The Telling Company present the New York Premiere of Church & State, the critically acclaimed play by Jason Odell Williams at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues) where performances began March 3, 2017 for an open-ended engagement. Opening Night is tomorrow evening, Monday, March 27, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Due to the inclement weather, tonight's performance of Ring Twice for Miranda, previously scheduled for Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m., at New York City Center Stage II, has been cancelled. Performances are expected to resume on Wednesday, March 15 at 2:30 p.m.