Stephen Flaherty News

Big Noise Theatre Company, celebrating its 14th season of top-notch, live entertainment at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, is thrilled to announce the full line up of productions for 2013-14. Additionally, Big Noise welcomes back Stacey Flaster to direct the musical RAGTIME, which will be the company's final offering in the Spring.

Last week I began a quest to unite two quintessentially American institutions; sports and musical theatre. Though this might be nothing more than an impossible dream, this is my quest, to follow that goal, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far... I have to take this metaphor. In this week's edition of TRASLATING SPORTS, I will attempt to provide you with enough college football information so that you won't be left with nothing more than a vegetarian bratwurst and a confused look on your face at your neighbor's Labor Day cookout.

Adam Chanler-Berat (Peter and the Starcatcher, Next to Normal), Kerry Butler (Xanadu, Catch Me If You Can) and Alex Gemignani (Chicago, Assassins) will star in an upcoming staged reading of The Dogs of Pripyat Tuesday, September 10th and Wednesday, September 11th. The Dogs of Pripyat features music by Aron Accurso (Assoc. Conductor: Aladdin, Sister Act), lyrics by Jill Abramovitz (Cinderella), and book by Leah Napolin and Abramovitz.

Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration will run at 54 Below, September 26 - 28, 2013, with featured guests each night.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that ROCKY, will open on Broadway on March 13, 2014, beginning preview performances on February 11 at the historic Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway, New York, NY). ROCKY received its world premiere in fall 2012 in Hamburg, Germany, where it earned unanimous critical raves and continues to play to packed houses.

COCA announces its upcoming events, performances and exhibitions for 2013-14. Details below!

Joe's Pub at The Public is calling all bros tonight, August 22, 7pm. After sold-out shows at Caroline's On Broadway and 92YTribeca, Ewalt and Walker's Bromance in Concert is ready to rock Joe's Pub like a girl gone wild on spring break.

This week at Joe's Pub at the Public, August 19-25, will feature FRANCINE REED, LATRELL LIVE TONIGHT, KAYLYN MARIE / SIMON PYLES, TATIANA EVA-MARIE AND THE AVALON JAZZ BAND, TRIBUTE TO LES PAUL, GABRIEL RIOS, BROMANCE IN CONCERT, NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE, THE LOOKING, FRANK BANG & THE SECRET STASH, THE TEKTONIC BY DANA LEONG, ECHOES OF ETTA, KENNY BRAWNER IS RAY CHARLES, and OUR LADY J.

Kids and their favorite grownups will love the WST for Kids' production of Seussical Jr. Based on the works of the one-and-only Dr. Seuss, this fantastical, magical, hour-long musical extravaganza will be performed LIVE at Walnut Street Theatre, September 21 and 28, 2013. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Today we are talking a phenomenally talented performer known for his decades treading the boards in a number of featured and lead roles, most recently wowing crowds with his turn as one of the title characters in THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS - the engaging and golden-voiced Norm Lewis. Discussing many of his most celebrated roles as well as some more obscure, Lewis paints a vivid picture of his career trajectory thus far and shares compelling and candid stories of working on productions as varied and diverse as the original Broadway versions of THE WHO'S TOMMY, SIDE SHOW, THE WILD PARTY, AMOUR, THE LITTLE MERMAID and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM as well as his sensational work regionally in projects such as his recent essaying of Javert in LES MISERABLES at The Muny (to say nothing of the 25th Anniversary live at the 02) as well as turns in SWEENEY TODD and THE WIZARD & I: THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ among many others. Additionally, Lewis sheds some light on his recent onscreen work, clueing us in on how he became involved with hit nighttime soap SCANDAL and how he enjoyeds working with co-stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on it - and if we will possibly see him in Season Three, perhaps. Plus, Lewis opens up about his upcoming solo gigs and performing plans - including first news on his starring part in the upcoming Public Theater musical version of THE TEMPEST - as well as touches upon a host of topics ranging from his appearances at spectacular special events - DREAMGIRLS: IN CONCERT, HAIR: IN CONCERT, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA in the Park - to his appearance in SEX & THE CITY 2 (opposite Liza Minnelli) to recording studio work, dream projects, future goals, favorite workshop/reading experiences and much, much more!

In the video below, Tartaglia and students from the production chat with 'CBS This Morning' about the importance of the performance to the community. Check it out below!

During the 2013/14 Season an epic slate of personalities and productions awaits you on the Quadracci Powerhouse stage! The monumental, moving, and Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime gives us a glimpse at the early 20th century life of three distinct groups of people, while the side-splitting comedy, Noises Off, peeks behind the curtain at a group of struggling actors. The tumultuous final days of Judy Garland unfold before our eyes in End of the Rainbow, a single virtuoso artist will lead a blazing, contemporary retelling of a Homer classic in An Iliad, and the dynamic birth of Superman will be explored with The History of Invulnerability, forever changing the way we look at superheroes.

For the last 5 weeks, a dedicated team of Broadway professionals - led by 3 of the same individuals who produced a Broadway tribute to the Newtown community in Waterbury last January - has been working with more than 100 Newtown area students in a production of Seussical the Musical. It is the first of what is to be many tangible practices in healing offered by the 12.14 Foundation (the foundation's president and founder, Newtown resident Michael Baroody, serves as Executive Producer of this production). It is comfort and healing in the true sense. The big event was held over the weekend and lyricist Lynn Ahrens left a special message (in rhyme) for the cast in the show's program. Check out what she had to say below!

When more than 100 students from the Newtown area go back to school in the Fall, they will have some amazing tales to tell of their summer. For the last 5 weeks, a dedicated team of Broadway professionals - led by 3 of the same individuals who produced a Broadway tribute to the Newtown community in Waterbury last January - has been working with more than 100 Newtown area students in a production of Seussical the Musical. It is the first of what is to be many tangible practices in healing offered by the 12.14 Foundation (the foundation's president and founder, Newtown resident Michael Baroody, serves as Executive Producer of this production). It is comfort and healing in the true sense. As director Michael Unger works with the cast on their roles, he encourages them to look inward to develop their characters. This is what will eventually be a hallmark program of the 12.14 Foundation as it seeks to strengthen Newtown's youth through the arts. It is something that is mentioned often among these budding artists: that sense of camaraderie and strength.

Since we're living in Houston, I promise I won't be upset with you if you tell me you don't know who Mary Testa is. What you first need to understand is that the theatrical gods divinely intervened in her creation. Imagine if Bette Midler and Patti LuPone had a child and named her Mary. Got it? Good. Now, you're beginning to understand why Mary Testa is a theatrical tour de force. With two Tony Awards and other various New York theatre awards under her belt, she has proven herself to be a phenomenal talent that you should not miss.

Everyone loves a good "The Show Must Go On" story, and they don't get much better than the story of The Playhouse's current production of Ragtime which plays The Charline McCombs Empire Theatre now through August 18th. Though originally planned for The Playhouse's Russell Hill Rogers Theatre, plans changed after the recent San Antonio flood damaged the historic structure, causing the need for major repairs. While a late change in venue is a major curve ball for any production, any problems that it may have caused are nowhere to be seen. While stripped of the grandiose design which usually accompanies the epic American musical, The Playhouse's version is still quite alluring and emotionally stirring.

Joe's Pub at The Public is calling all bros on Thursday, August 22, 7pm. After sold-out shows at Caroline's On Broadway and 92YTribeca, Ewalt and Walker's Bromance in Concert is ready to rock Joe's Pub like a girl gone wild on spring break.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the Broadway cast of The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

Earlier this year, on March 18, Van Dean, Kenny Howard, and Michael J. Moritz, Jr. brought together a melange of Broadway's most impressive young talent for WHEN I GROW UP: BROADWAY'S NEXT GENERATION, a cabaret concert at 54 BELOW. Kenny Howard says that this group inspired him 'not only with their talents but also with a maturity that is far beyond their years.' For this cabaret concert, the children tackle the adult repertoire of their heroes, taking on music from SPRING AWAKENING, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AVENUE Q, [TITLE OF SHOW], and more.