Shuler Hensley News

Michael Tilson Thomas guides The Philadelphia Orchestra and its audiences on a journey to the world of his grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, young immigrants from Eastern Europe who became theater superstars, in The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (February 15 and 16).

Michael Tilson Thomas guides The Philadelphia Orchestra and its audiences on a journey to the world of his grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, young immigrants from Eastern Europe who became theater superstars, in The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (February 15 and 16).

Michael Tilson Thomas guides The Philadelphia Orchestra and its audiences on a journey to the world of his grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, young immigrants from Eastern Europe who became theater superstars, in The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater (February 15 and 16).

Multiple online reports are now stating that the NEWSIES readings went very well this week and that next up for the Disney show will be a full production at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey in the Fall of 2011. No dates or cast have naturally yet been announced for the production.

BroadwayWorld.com's scoopsters have found the cast list for this Friday's highly-anticipated reading of Disney's NEWSIES musical. Of course, participation in a reading is not a predictor of who will appear in any future productions and no announcement has been made regarding where or when a production will be mounted.

Filmmaker Raymond De Felitta penned the book to 'Buddy's Tavern,' a musical with songs by composer Kim Oler and lyricist Alison Hubbard, based on his 2000 film 'Two Family House.' Now, the show is gaining momentum, winning a development slot at the summer's National Music Theater Conference at the O'Neill Theater Center. Shows including AVENUE Q and IN THE HEIGHTS have previously performed at the center.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) hosted its 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 22, 2010, honoring Tony Award-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf). The evening was directed by Tony-winning director/lyricist/librettist Richard Maltby and the award was presented by Alice Hammerstein Mathias, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the star-studded roster of performers for its 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre. The award will be presented to Tony Award-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf) on Monday, November 22, 2010. As previously announced, the evening is directed by Tony-winning director/lyricist/librettist Richard Maltby and the award will be presented by Alice Hammerstein Mathias, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II.

The only press night offered for the Public LAB's premiere production of playwright/director Richard Nelson's That Hopey Changey Thing was this past Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 at 7pm.  Given that the play actually takes place on Tuesday. November 2nd, 2010 at 7pm (America's Election Night, for my plethora of foreign readers) I was rather hopey that the text might, in fact, wind up being changey, depending on the news of returns coming in during the play's 90 minutes.  No such luck.  But even in its frozen state, the piece is sharp, engrossing and superbly acted.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) opened the world premiere of THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, written and directed by Richard Nelson last night, November 2. THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, the first play of the 2010-2011 Public LAB season, will run through November 14 in The Public's Anspacher Theater. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening and brings you photo coverage below.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews Tuesday, October 26 for the world premiere of THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, written and directed by Richard Nelson.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews Tuesday, October 26 for the world premiere of THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, written and directed by Richard Nelson.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for the world premiere of THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, written and directed by Richard Nelson.

A wandering hump. Hyper-active hay rides. A tap-dancing, zipper-necked monster. One thing is clear: Mel Brooks is one silly man. In the world of comedy, silliness is definitely a positive trait. You certainly get a fair dose of his madcap genius in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, the stage musical adaptation of his cinematic cult classic, whose touring company continues performances at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through September 25. A well-intentioned adaptation that tries valiantly to reach its full summit, this musical mines most of its laughs from signature moments faithfully recreated from Brooks' 1974 genre-skewering film comedy of the same name.

In a new interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in which Hal Prince reflects on the current state of musical theatre, the influx (and 'need') of Hollywood stars on Broadway for limited runs and more, Prince also talked about plans to revise and continue work on Paradise Found, noting that:

An invitation-only staged reading of Tony Georges' new play, Tricks the Devil Taught Me, will be presented Aug. 23 at New World.

An invitation-only staged reading of Tony Georges' new play, Tricks the Devil Taught Me, will be presented Aug. 23 at New World.

The New Mel Brooks Musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, the new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award® winning smash The Producers, will celebrate its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Theatre with a limited two week engagement from July 27 - August 8, 2010.

The New Depot Players, Conyers' local premier theatre troupe, announced today its upcoming show, The Great American Trailer Park Musical. The company is producing this country-rock and blues musical comedy July 16th through the 31st at Center Street Arts.

There is no denying that Mel Brooks is a comedy legend. Brooks' oeuvre--particularly his hilarious film work--harkens back to a time when getting laughs meant less cynical snark but, rather, more outlandish farce and the endless use of double-entendres and wordplay. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Brooks' stage musical iteration of his cult hit film--now performing at the Pantages Theatre through August 8--features plenty of Brooks' signature silliness, now paired with several relatively amusing songs, all penned by Brooks. However, the show somehow just stops short of becoming the universally beloved musical that Brooks' earlier show (The Producers) managed to be so much more effortlessly. But rest assured, this show will still coax a lot of smiles and many loud bursts of laughter out of you.