Stafford Arima News

The new theatre season is full of exciting works by some very well known artists. With the New Year almost upon us, we've turned our focus on the ten personalities we'll be keeping an extra special eye on here at BroadwayWorld.com in 2010.

ALTAR BOYZ announced today that it would be closing Sunday January 10th after playing 2032 performances, making it the 9th longest running Off-Broadway musical ever!

Ken Davenport, producer of the off-Broadway staple Altar Boyz, has announced today that the show will play its final performance on January 10, 2010 at 7:30pm at its home, New World Stages after playing 2023 performances. It is the 9th longest running off-Broadway musical in history.

On December 14 at 9:30pm, Joe's Pub will showcase the second annual concert presentation of New York City Christmas, featuring special guests Sherie Rene Scott and Raul Esparza. Tony Award winner Harriet Harris will host the event, which is being presented by ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) and Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records. Stafford Arima (London's Ragtime, Altar Boyz) will direct the concert.

Producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, will resurrect the infamous flop musical CARRIE for a 29-hour Equity of the musical that had a notoriously short 3 night, 5 performance run on Broadway in 1988. The CARRIE reading will take place today, Friday, November 20th. The hope is to bring 'Carrie' and her supernatural powers back to the Broadway stage.

The Public Theater's Music Theater Initiative presents its first Songwriter Showcase, featuring sneak previews of three musicals in development by today's hottest young writing teams, curated by MTI director, Ted Sperling, Tony Award winner for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.

The Public Theater's Music Theater Initiative presents its first Songwriter Showcase, featuring sneak previews of three musicals in development by today's hottest young writing teams, curated by MTI director, Ted Sperling, Tony Award winner for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.

Recent reports have confirmed that producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, are in the process of resurrecting the infamous flop musical CARRIE for the Broadway stage.

Toronto's The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has revealed revealed additional casting for its 2010 season. The stars include Christopher Plummer, Chilina Kennedy, Juan Chioran, Michael Therriault and Geraint Wyn Davies for the Festival's productions of The Tempest, Evita, Kiss Me Kate, Peter Pan and Do Not Go Gentle. Nikki M. James, who was previously set to star alongside Plummer has withdrawn from the festival due to 'personal reasons.'

Recent reports have confirmed that producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, are in the process of resurrecting the infamous flop musical CARRIE for the Broadway stage.

Ravi Roth, currently appearing as Abraham in the smash hit Off-Broadway musical 'Altar Boyz,' will be the guest on Blog Talk Radio's 'Let's Do Lunch' Friday, November 6th at 2:30 p.m. at BlogTalkRadio.com.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) has announced the New York premiere of Theresa Rebeck's new comedy The Understudy, directed by Scott Ellis with Tony Award winner Julie White as 'Roxanne'.

Following a triumphant December 2008 benefit concert, ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) and Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records have announced the album release of 'New York City Christmas.' In addition, ASTEP will present a concert to celebrate the release of the CD on December 14th. The evening will feature Broadway stars Sierra Boggess, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Lindsay Mendez, Orfeh, Tory Ross, Anya Singleton and Sally Wilfert.

Michael Kadin Craig, currently appearing as Matthew in the smash hit Off-Broadway musical 'Altar Boyz,' will be this week's guest on WGHT Radio's 'Curtain Call' Wednesday, November 4th at 9:30 a.m.

On Monday, November 2nd at the renowned Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, This is Tisch! honored Academy Award® winning producer Brian Grazer, two-time Academy Award® winning director Ron Howard, Academy Award® and Tony Award® winning actress and Tisch alumna Marcia Gay Harden, arts philanthropist Diana King, and Academy Award®, Emmy Award® and Peabody Award® winning Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films.

Dean Mary Schmidt Campbell of the Tisch School of the Arts announced today that Kristen Johnston '89 will host this year's annual gala, This is Tisch!, on Monday, November 2nd at the renowned Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. This is Tisch! will honor Academy Award winning producer Brian Grazer, two-time Academy Award winning director Ron Howard, Academy Award and Tony Award winning actress and Tisch alumna Marcia Gay Harden, arts philanthropist Diana King, and Academy Award®, Emmy Award and Peabody Award winning Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films.

CarrietheMusical.com has revealed that Tony-Award winner Sutton Foster has joined the CARRIE reading in the role of Miss Gardner, the caring gym teacher that was played by stage legend Betty Buckley in the film version.

Ken Davenport and Robyn Goodman have announce that Neil Haskell, featured on Fox's hit reality show 'So You Think You Can Dance,' will return to the cast of Altar Boyz, the acclaimed musical comedy at New World Stages, reprising the role of Luke, for one week only, beginning tomorrow, Friday October 30th. He replaces Lee Markham who will return Wednesday November 4th.

Michael Riedel in this morning's New York Post confirms the recent reports that producers, Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, are indeed working to resurrect the infamous flop musical CARRIE for the Broadway stage.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the full cast for Ordinary Days, a new musical with Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon, directed by Marc Bruni. Ordinary Days will feature Lisa Brescia as 'Claire,' Hunter Foster as 'Jason,' Jared Gertner as 'Warren' and Kate Wetherhead as 'Deb.' This production marks the first musical presented in the Black Box Theatre.