Russ Rowland News

Charlotte's Off Broadway presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Confidence (and The Speech), a new play, written by Susan Lambert Hatem and directed by Hannah Ryan (Hamilton, An American in Paris) for a limited engagement at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues).

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) (Scott Pyne, Executive Director and West Hyler, Producing Artistic Director) last night held the 2019 Benefit Concert honoring Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Kelly Devine, both alumni of NYMF. The 2019 Benefit Concert took place on Monday, November 18 at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036).

Charlotte's Off Broadway presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Confidence (and The Speech), a new play, written by Susan Lambert Hatem and directed by Hannah Ryan (Hamilton, An American in Paris) for a limited engagement at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street – between 9th & 10th Avenues).

After enchanting Broadway sophisticates with his fizzy entertainments of the 1920s and 30s, Cole Porter went decidedly middle-brow at the start of the next decade with a trio of musicals about average Janes and Joes, all including some swell comical characters serving in the U.S, military.

HOOKED ON HAPPINESS, a new musical about a high school drama  class' response to global warming is now in rehearsals at Theater For The New City (Crystal Field, Executive Director). HOOKED ON HAPPINESS, has book & lyrics by Tom Attea, music composed by Arthur Abrams, direction by Mark Marcante, and choreography by Mackenzie Surbey. 

Celebrating Broadway's legendary Cole Porter! The York Theatre Company launches their 50th Anniversary Season with its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series celebrating the legendary Broadway composer Cole Porter. The series honors the illustrious songwriter behind such classics as Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate, Gay Divorce, Silk Stockings, Red, Hot and Blue, and Can-Can, to name a few.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), will open its' season with the New York Premiere of Idris Goodwin's Bars and Measures, directed by Kristan Seemel.

On October 18, 2019, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City, held an evening of Creative Conversation & Cocktails with Special Guests David Henry Hwang, Tony-winning playwright of M. Butterfly, Author of Soft Power, Center Theatre Group/Public Theater, and Douglas C. Baker, Producing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles.

Houses on the Moon Theater Company/HOTM, the acclaimed New York based not-for-profit theatre company with a mission to “dispel ignorance and isolation through the theatrical amplification of unheard voices,” held their 7th Annual Gala Fundraiser, “Amplify 2019,” on Monday evening, October 7, 2019 at The Cutting Room.

The NYC Off-Broadway premiere of Tech Support is currently on stage at 59E59 Theaters through September 21. Produced by Chatillion Stage Company, it is written and directed by Debra Whitfield. This clever and wonderfully performed romantic comedy offers a stark contrast between our modern age and times past.

The cast and creative team of TECH SUPPORT celebrated the opening with friends and family at 59E59 Theaters on Wednesday, September 4.

Jeremy Stolle returned to the New York stage on August 18 in JEREMY STOLLE AND FRIENDS, a special, one night only charity benefit for Broadway Hearts.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) announced today the winners of the 2019 NYMF Awards for Excellence, which were awarded on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Sony Hall

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) just presented Intersecting Chords, the annual NYMF concert that celebrates female, trans, and non-binary songwriters who are changing the landscape of musical theatre. Intersecting Chords was directed by Shelley Butler, music directed by Charity Wicks, and produced by Hannah Lang.

The New York Musical Festival presents a wide variety of new musicals in the form of readings, concerts, and full-scale productions. While previously scheduled to be the latter, Saturday afternoon audiences were treated to an intimate reading of Ladyship by Laura and Linda Good due to an illness in the cast. This gave me a unique opportunity as a critic to truly focus on the script and lyrics.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and Flying Elephant Productions present TILL, the emotional and moving true story of Emmett and Mamie Till, with music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro.

NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL and LADYSHIP, LLC present the world premiere production of Linda Good's and Laura Good's (from the acclaimed indie rock duo, The Twigs) musical LADYSHIP, musical directed by Simone Allen, directed by Samantha Saltzman (Matilda the Musical) as an Official Selection of the 2019 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project. LADYSHIP will play five performances only at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center

Get a first look at the Off Broadway premiere of I Spy A Spy, a new (declassified) musical comedy, with book and lyrics by Jamie Jackson and book & music by SoHee Youn, directed and choreographed by Bill Castellino

'How many of you would just... pretty much like to have sex with me?', a character asks audience members in the middle of a play.

Get a first look at the new production of Wheelhouse Theater Company's Life Sucks.by Aaron Posner and directed by Jeff Wise.