Stephen Schwartz News

Ashley's joy at performing is infectious and she has the talent to back it up.

The company of the first North American tour of Wicked has just announced that joining the show will be Jenn Gambatese as Glinda on Tuesday, February 26 in Costa Mesa, CA and Curt Hansen as Fiyero on Wednesday, March 20 in Tucson, AZ.

Tony Award-winning stage and screen legend Ben Vereen is this year's Special Guest Star at ACADEMY AFFAIR 2013, the Annual Benefit and Community Awards Gala presented by MenAlive, the Orange County Gay Men's Chorus. The event takes place at the posh Center Club, located at the Garden Level of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Before Mr. Vereen arrived in Orange County to perform at the Benefit, he spoke with West Coast Contributing Editor Michael Lawrence Quintos about his blessed life and expansive career in the theater.

Broadway Star Emily Skinner will play Three Orlando Concerts April 26-28, 2013 at the Orlando Cabaret Festival.

Effective March 17th Silence! The Musical is adding Sunday matinees to its weekly playing schedule. Showtimes vary slightly, so please check www.SilenceTheMusical for schedule.

The company of the second North American tour of WICKED will welcome Walker Jones as the Wizard on Wednesday, March 13 in Charlotte, NC.

Segerstrom Hall is set to welcome the national tour of the iconic Broadway hit WICKED, for a month-long stay next winter. The show is slated to play from tonight, February 20 to March 17, 2013.

The brand new Broadway-bound revival of Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN is heading to the recording studio if a new posting on the production's official Facebook page is accurate. The ad proclaims, 'Have 10 friends like this page to be entered to win access to PIPPIN's Broadway Cast Album recording session!'

Shelly Goldstein will bring 'One Fine Day: The Groovy Girls of the 60s' to Catalina's Jazz Club in Los Angeles, tonight, February 19, 2013.

British pop star Mika to perform special stripped down show at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip Friday, March 29.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that WICKED will return to Chicago in celebration of its 10th anniversary on Broadway and play the Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph) for a limited eight-week engagement, Oct. 30 to Dec. 21, 2013.

SILENCE! The Musical will play a special holiday weekend performance today, February 17th at 5 PM at the Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square

Mysterium presents Godspell and Dancing at Lughnasa in repertory this March. Mysterium presents Godspell, one of the biggest hit musicals of all time. Based on the Gospel of Matthew and written by Stephen Schwartz ('Wicked') and John-Michael Tebelak, 'Godspell' features a rock score that includes popular songs like 'Light of the World,' 'Day by Day' and 'Turn Back, O Man' to tell a timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love.

What would happen if Carol Channing and Patti LuPone were double-booked with their one-woman shows in the cabaret space at Davenport's Piano Bar? For one weekend only, two of their biggest fans will imagine how a night with these two musical theater legends sharing the stage might transpire.

An audience of theatre enthusiasts waited in anticipation at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts last night, when Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, unveiled the thrilling line-up for its 2013-2014 season. Opening with a groundbreaking World Premiere developed at last season's New Works Festival, the line-up will also give Bay Area audiences their first look at a Broadway hit by playwright Jon Robin Baitz (The Substance of Fire, A Fair Country, Three Hotels); an Off-Broadway smash by Kenneth Lin (Fallow, Po Boy Tango); and a historical drama from Lauren Gunderson (Exit, Pursued by a Bear). Also announced is an enchanting musical journey told through little-known Stephen Sondheim gems.

On April 24, American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater company, will present, direct from its success at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival, Jonathan Brielle's new musical Himself and Nora at its new home, Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.

Mika has just announced a North American tour of intimate venues. He will be performing a special stripped down set accompanied by a pianist and guitarist. Mika's recent Fall North American tour sold out in minutes. This is a rare chance for fans to get up close and personal with Mika and hear new arrangements of his catalogue including his recent album The Origin of Love (out on Republic).

On Saturday, March 23, 7:30pm, AOP (American Opera Projects) and Opera on Tap will present a new installment of their acclaimed series, 'OPERAtion Brooklyn' a semi-annual festival that highlights Brooklyn as the cultural epicenter for progressive works of opera and classical music. Audiences will be guided around multiple floors of ART-NY's South Oxford Space (138 S. Oxford St., Brooklyn 11217) in Fort Greene, Brooklyn to hear music from new operas by local talents Mikael Karlsson, James Barry and Zach Redler. Tickets are $20, available at www.operationbrooklyn.com. The evening will run 1 hour, thirty minutes.