Sam Willmott News

After eight record breaking years, the National Theatre has announced the final extension of its West End run of WAR HORSE, with a last performance at the New London Theatre scheduled for 12 March 2016. 

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Samuel French, the world's largest publisher and licensor of stage plays and musicals, has slated '#MusicalsWeek: Protecting, Developing & Celebrating Musical Theatre' for Monday, September 28 through Thursday, October 1, 2015.

The 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has been awarded to Sam Willmott and the 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Sam Carner. The 2015 prizes were presented earlier this week in a private ceremony hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP. BroadwayWorld was there for the presentation and you can check out highlights below!

The 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has been awarded to Sam Willmott and the 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Sam Carner. The 2015 prizes were presented yesterday, June 22, 2015, in a private ceremony hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP. BroadwayWorld was there for the presentation and you can check out photos below!

The Kleban Foundation is pleased to announce that the 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has been awarded to Sam Willmott and the 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Sam Carner. The 2015 prizes will be presented today, June 22, 2015, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre is awarded today, Shakespeare's 'MIDSUMMER' fantasy play hits theaters across the country, and more!

The American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University and The Johnny Mercer Foundation will celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project with 15 emerging professional songwriters from across the country, three award-winning master teachers and Mercer Songwriters Project alumni guests.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced the 17 writers and 8 new musicals selected for the fifth summer of weeklong retreats. For eight consecutive weeks beginning July 5th, each writing team will have a residency in Rhinebeck, New York. Writers are provided a private home, transportation, food, and a $400 stipend. This year's writers include Obie winner Kirsten Childs, Tony nominee Elizabeth Davis, and 2015 Jonathan Larson award-winners Charlie Sohne, Tim Rosser, and Sam Willmott, who also just won the Kleban Prize. 

The Exchange today announced the artists and companies who will participate in its 2015 Orchard Project summer residency program. Twenty-two artists and ensembles (listed below) were selected from a competitive field of nearly 500 applicants to develop their big, new ideas at the Orchard Project. This will be the eighth summer - and the first summer in Saratoga Springs, NY - for the Orchard Project, a laboratory program where theatre artists and companies come to innovate, develop, and refine new shows. Past productions developed at the Orchard Project have gone on to be performed around the globe for over 500,000 people and to win awards from TONYs to Obies to Oliviers.

The Kleban Foundation is pleased to announce that the 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has been awarded to Sam Willmott and the 25th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Sam Carner. The 2015 prizes will be presented on Monday, June 22, 2015, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP.

The American Theatre Wing just recognized the recipients of the 2015 Jonathan Larson Grants: writing team Tim Rosser (composer) & Charlie Sohne (composer) receiving $10,000,Sam Willmott (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000 and a week-long residency at the Running Deer Musical Theatre Lab, and Max Vernon (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000. This year's recipients were selected by an expert panel consisting of Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody), Steven Lutvak (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), and Ted Chapin (President and Executive Director of Rodgers & Hammerstein). The prestigious grants totaling $30,000 were presented last night, March 23, 2015 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special event below!

The American Theatre Wing recognizes the recipients of the 2015 Jonathan Larson Grants: writing team Tim Rosser (composer) & Charlie Sohne (composer) receiving $10,000, Sam Willmott (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000 and a week-long residency at the Running Deer Musical Theatre Lab, and Max Vernon (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000.

At the New London Theatre, the proud home of Michael Morpurgo's much celebrated War Horse, the National Theatre's acclaimed stage production recently extended bookings for the West End production to 13 February 2016. In its eighth year, and having now been seen by over 6 million worldwide, a new cast of 26 actors and 12 puppeteers joined the company this month led by the show's equine star Joey.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2015 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Tim Rosser (composer) & Charlie Sohne (composer) receiving $10,000, Sam Willmott (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000 and a week-long residency at the Running Deer Musical Theatre Lab, and Max Vernon (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000.

At the New London Theatre, the proud home of Michael Morpurgo's much celebrated War Horse, the National Theatre's acclaimed stage production today (2 February) releases over 150,000 new tickets for sale taking bookings for the West End production to 13 February 2016. In its eighth year, and having now been seen by over 6 million worldwide, a new cast of 26 actors and 12 puppeteers join the company on 16 March 2015 led by the show's equine star Joey. War Horse recently completed sell-out dates in South Africa visiting Johannesburg and Cape Town and has now returned to the UK where it will complete a record-breaking national tour in Bristol next month.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) has announced that its 2014 donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will total $1.65 million dollars, marking the largest single contribution in BC/EFA history and bringing the foundation's total contribution to BC/EFA to $10 million since it began ten years ago.

The cast and creative team for The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit concert of MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL have officially begun rehearsals for the one-night-only event, set for Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm at The Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street). Check out a first look below!

Complete casting and the creative team have been announced for the upcoming benefit concert of MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL benefitting the The Actors Fund. This one-night-only event will be held on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm at The Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street).

Adam Gwon, Julianne Wick Davis, Bobby Cronin, Sam Willmott, Ewalt & Walker, and Andre Catrini star in INSPIRED 5: A Benefit Concert for Animal Haven & The Second Chance Rescue, tonight, October 18 at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.