Scott Wittman News
Ars Nova has announced the lineup for Bridget Everett Gets F*cked by Ars Nova, a one-night-only blow-out concert celebrating everyone's favorite badass b*tch, alt-cabaret priestess and Ars Nova All Star, Bridget Everett. In addition to Everett herself, the benefit concert, directed by Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Rock Bottom), will feature tributes, roasts and send-up performances from Grammy and Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone and actor, comedian and Emmy-nominee Billy Eichner. Comedians, drag queens and entertainers aplenty round out the lineup, including Jim Andralis, DJ Jonjon Battles, Justin Vivian Bond, John Early, Cole Escola, Dan Finnerty, Murray Hill, Champagne Jerry, DJ Sammy Jo, Larry Krone, Erin Markey, Molly Pope, Marc Shaiman, Sweetie, The Tender Moments (Matt Ray, Mike Jackson, Carmine Covelli and Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz), Chris Tyler, Varsity Interpretive Dance Squad (VIDS); plus a few fun surprises.
The hit West End show Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes, today released new portraits of Alex Jennings as Willy Wonka, with the five lucky golden-ticket winners who win a tour of his chocolate factory - Charlie Bucket, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt and Mike Teavee. Check them out below!
One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with two elemental figures in the creation of the project, songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, all about the hotly anticipated evening. As part of our conversation, Shaiman and Wittman offer up a slew of new details on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as shares first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more the $230,000 in donations in only a few short days, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced last week. Additionally, Shaiman and Wittman parse the finer points of the BOMBSHELL score and outline what fans can expect from the songstack on the evening as well as preliminary staging and presentational plans and also what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future, near and far. Plus, Shaiman and Wittman comment on the recent rousing performance of SMASH standout 'I Can't Let Go' performed by Jennifer Hudson on the 2015 Academy Awards. All of that and much, much more!
One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with an elemental figure in The Actors Fund, producer Tim Pinckney, all about the hotly anticipated evening. As part of our conversation, Pinckney offers up new details on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as shares first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more the $230,000 in donations in less than a week, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced last week. Additionally, Pinckney looks back at some previous Actors Fund special events such as HAIR and DREAMGIRLS and how the exultant reaction to this recent announcement compares to the hubbub surrounding those starry affairs - and what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future. All of that and much, much more!
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will present a concert presentation of the musical created within the NBC TV series 'Smash,' Bombshell, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, co-directed by Joshua Bergasse and Scott Wittman with choreography by Joshua Bergasse. The one-night only landmark event benefitting The Actors Fund is set for Monday evening, June 8, 2015 at The Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway).
BOMBSHELL is already a big, fat SMASH!
Frank Abagnale Jr. can be anything he dreams when he grows up… if he doesn't get caught first! The University of Southern Maine (USM) Department of Theatre and School of Music will present the Maine premiere of the musical 'Catch Me If You Can,' tonight, March 13-22, in Russell Hall on the USM Gorham campus.
A BOMBSHELL, indeed - and a SMASH, too!
We're so grateful for your support! You're all STARS and we're your biggest fans! In less than one day our community has helped The Actors Fund to raise close to $200,000 from nearly 1,300 generous backers for this one-night-only benefit concert of Bombshell. We cannot thank you enough for your incredible support. Your generosity will assure that the funds raised from the production will not only assure that the show will go on, but will also assure that the funds raised from the benefit will go to help those in need, crisis or transition in our entertainment and performing arts community.
SMASH is a smash once again!
It was announced today that producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will present a concert presentation of the musical created within the NBC TV series 'Smash,' Bombshell, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, co-directed by Joshua Bergasse and Scott Wittman with choreography by Joshua Bergasse. The one-night only landmark event benefitting The Actors Fund is set for Monday evening, June 8, 2015 at The Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway).
Two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone returns to 54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, in her acclaimed concert, 'The Lady with The Torch,' April 2 - 14, 2015.
The Aurora Fox has announced their 31st season - check out the full lineup below!
Tony Maudsley (ITV1's Benidorm) will play Edna Turnblad in the major 40-week UK tour of Hairspray which will open at Curve theatre in Leicester this autumn. He will be joined by TV and stage actress and presenter Claire Sweeney (Educating Rita, Guys and Dolls) as Velma Von Tussle, Olivier Award nominated actor and much-loved Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan (BBC1 Tumble) as Wilbur Turnblad and British singer and West End performer Brenda Edwards (Chicago, We Will Rock You, The X Factor) as Motormouth Maybelle. Freya Sutton will reprise the role of Tracy Turnblad alongside established musical theatre performer Jon Tsouras (A Chorus Line) who will play the role of Corny Collins. Dex Lee (The Scottsboro Boys) will play Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour (Miss Saigon) will play Link Larkin, Lauren Stroud (Wicked) will play Amber, Monique Young (Top Hat) will play Penny, Karis Jack (Urinetown) will play Little Inez, Adam Price (Hairspray) will play Male Authority Figure, Tracey Penn (Made in Dagenham) will play Female Authority Figure and Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot) will play Duane. Further casting will be announced in due course.
Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi presents CATCH ME IF YOU CAN playing from Feb 28 - Apr 5 2015 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production, directed by David Daniels.
A must catch it if you can, Catch It If You Can The Musical! opened on Friday February 27 at the Barn Players in Mission, Kansas. Guy Gardner directs and choreographs the Barn Players production with music direction by James Levy. Catch Me If You Can The Musical! is music with libretto by Terrence McNally and theatrical score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Jonathan Slinger will play Willy Wonka in the West End production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the role currently played by Alex Jennings.
The Daily Mail writes that URINETOWN's Jonathan Slinger is set to star as 'Willy Wonka' in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, beginning May 2, 2015 for a run through April 2016. He follows Alex Jennings in the role.
Frank Abagnale Jr. can be anything he dreams when he grows up… if he doesn't get caught first! The University of Southern Maine (USM) Department of Theatre and School of Music will present the Maine premiere of the musical "Catch Me If You Can," March 13-22, in Russell Hall on the USM Gorham campus.
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