Shuler Hensley News

Agoraphobia, adultery, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, kleptomania, flan and disco - these are just a few of the subjects covered in hit Off-Broadway musical comedy THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, which will have its Boston-area premiere April 30-May 30, produced by SpeakEasy Stage Company.

The hilarious, new musical comedy, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, based on the Oscar-nominated smash hit 1974 film, is the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Tony Award winners Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley reprise the roles of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and The Monster in this hilarious new monster musical playing the Golden Gate Theatre June 30 - July 25, 2010.

Circle Theatre proudly presents the Fort Worth premiere of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, music and lyrics by David Nehls and book by Betsy Kelso. Preview performances for the show are Thursday, April 29; Friday, April 30; and Saturday, May 1 (matinee).

Hal Prince is currently taking on a new challenge very different from many of the shows he has worked on in the past. In the process of bringing PARADISE found to an eventual home on Broadway, Prince understands he may have to compete against several of his own shows.

The Gene Wilder screenplay becomes the unsatisfactory basis for a failed Broadway musical. The star performance of Roger Bart goes a long way to making the performance endurable, but the show is far cry from being any kind of musical theatre classic. * * (out of 5)

Rehearsals begin yesterday, Monday, April 5 for the World Premiere production of PARADISE FOUND, a new musical under the combined direction of Theater legend and 21-time Tony Award winner Harold Prince (the original productions of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Company, Follies, Evita) and 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You, Show Boat, The Producers, Contact). This is their first collaboration since the landmark, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat. Following the New York rehearsal period, the production will open at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory with performances running May 19 through June 26. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the introductory event!

Rehearsals begin today, Monday, April 5 for the World Premiere production of PARADISE FOUND, a new musical under the combined direction of Theater legend and 21-time Tony Award winner Harold Prince (the original productions of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Company, Follies, Evita) and 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You, Show Boat, The Producers, Contact). This is their first collaboration since the landmark, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat. Following the New York rehearsal period, the production will open at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory with performances running May 19 through June 26.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway producer and director Harold Prince, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community.

FRIGID NEW YORK is pleased to present THE LOPSIDED COMPANY reading of LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions of a leather bar chanteuse by Alex Bond, directed by Steven Yuhasz.

Harold Prince and Susan Stroman will direct an all-American cast including Kate Baldwin, John Cullum, Shuler Hensley, Judy Kaye and Mandy Patinkin, in the world premiere of Paradise Found at the Menier Chocolate Factory this spring.

Variety reports this morning that A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC helmer, Trevor Nunn, is set to direct a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ASPECTS OF LOVE for London's Menier Chocolate Factory. Nunn directed the show's premiere in 1987, as well.

Young Frankenstein, currently on tour and playing at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, is a Mel Brooks musical-and no amount of criticism, praise, or exhaustive explanation could sum it up better than that one statement. With book, lyrics, and music by Brooks, and based on his 1974 movie of the same name, this show radiates his style and sense of humor. For those who appreciate his blend of slapstick, raunchy humor, and physical comedy, this show is an excellent choice for an evening of fun entertainment. There was no doubt, on opening night, that Twin Cities audience members love it, as their loud and enthusiastic response throughout the evening demonstrated.

WhatsOnStage.com is reporting Mandy Patinkin will star in the upcoming production of PARADISE FOUND, the new musical co-directed by theatre legends Susan Strohman and Hal Prince. The musical will play the Menier Chocolate Factory from May 19th through June 26th. The show is expected to move to New York sometime following the Chocolate Factory run.

When Mel Brooks' classic Young Frankenstein makes its way to the Fox Theatre stage in its exciting new musical form, a familiar face to fans of Brooks' previous work will be leading the way (and flipping the switches, laughing maniacally, and Puttin on the Ritz). That face belongs to Roger Bart, familiar to many for his Tony nominated role of Carmen Ghia (and later Leo Bloom) in Mel Brooks' critically acclaimed hit The Producers in addition to numerous award winning theatrical, film and television roles. Roger sat down with me recently to talk a little about his career, working with Mel Brooks and the exciting and 'Abby Normal' thrill it is to be bringing this fresh new musical to Atlanta audiences.

The historic Hippodrome Theatre began its life as a vaudeville house. Would you like to see a musical filled with 'shtick', lovely long-legged blonde women dancers, clever lighting with realistic thunder and lightning, and occasional laughs then The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein (that's the complete title) is just for you.

FRIGID NEW YORK is pleased to present THE LOPSIDED COMPANY reading of LATE NIGHTS WITH THE BOYS: confessions of a leather bar chanteuse by Alex Bond, directed by Steven Yuhasz.

Despite the acclaimed revival's premature closing, Michael X. will soldier on in this biz, as he has for 30-plus years.

Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen were the honorees for this year's Kennedy Center Honors and eminent artist friends and peers of this year's five honorees converged in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 6 to present entertaining and heartfelt tributes at THE 32ND ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, an entertainment special that was broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 29 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, with Caroline Kennedy as host for the seventh consecutive year.

If there is one person who thinks his Kennedy Center honor is merited it is Mel Brooks himself. Said the funny-man in a recent interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of his recognition,'I agree 100 percent...I am a national treasure, I SHOULD be celebrated. And I hope against hope that you won't find my award on eBay, because you never know...You run out of cash and wherewithal ...'

ET's Mary Hart hosted 'A Salute to the Kennedy Center Honors' on Wednesday night at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. Kennedy Center inductees gathered to discuss what the honor means to them.