Stephen Schwartz News

WICKED, the smash hit musical, will kick off The Smith Center for the Performing Arts' 2012-2013 Broadway-subscription series with a limited six-week engagement. After breaking box office records and selling out across the country, WICKED has added The Smith Center to its 2012-2013 tour, with performances scheduled for August 29 - October 7, 2012.

Laura Woyasz and Stephanie Toms, members of the Broadway cast of "Wicked," will be the opening act at The Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine's 2010 What A Wonderful World Award to be held at Beth Israel Medical Center on Monday, September 20, 2010.

Broadway and Off-Broadway producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, The Producer's Perspective) will present Bingo! as the third selection in THE DAVENPORT DEVELOPMENTAL READING SERIES, four readings of new works (plays and/or musicals), on Monday, September 13th at Urban Stages Theater (259 West 30th Street, NYC): Ian Kennedy's Bingo! Directed by Daniel Goldstein.

Some of Broadway's best and brightest talents will perform in a one-night-only salute to theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz at Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Annual Gala on Monday, September 13.

Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Gala will honor musical theater composer extraordinaire Stephen Schwartz on Monday evening, September 13, at 6 p.m. A star-studded production, 'The Magical Music of Stephen Schwartz,' will recognize Schwartz's innumerable songwriting contributions to American theater and film. Gala artists will be announced soon.

Midwest New Musicals (formerly the Musical Theatre Writers Workshop at Theatre Building Chicago), a writers workshop and development program lead by John Sparks, begins on September 18, 2010, and continues through June 19, 2011.

Jim Caruso is pleased to announce that JOHNNY RODGERS BAND will be performing in concert at Birdland on Monday, October 25 at 7pm. The event will be part of the long-running Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Ginger Rogers danced her way into our hearts in the arms of Fred Astaire, setting the gold standard for grace and elegance on the silver screen. In her surprising true-life story, we follow her from the vaudeville stage at the age of 15 through her ascension to Hollywood goddess. BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS tells the story of this legendary dancer, singer and actress through the music of some of the 20th century's greatest composers and with plenty of dance numbers worthy of the Hollywood icon. BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS plays in Tucson at the Temple of Music and Art from September 10 through October 2. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from October 7 through October 24. The Tucson media sponsors for the 2010-2011 season are Tucson Lifestyle, KGUN9 and MIX-FM. Arizona Theatre Company's season sponsors are I. Michael and Beth Kasser.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the return engagement of WICKED will go on sale Wednesday, September 15, 2010. The longest running Broadway musical in Chicago history will return this holiday season for eight weeks only, December 1, 2010 - January 23, 2011.

Critically acclaimed singer/actress, Jennifer Leigh Warren, is known as 'a little woman with a big voice.' Alice's daughter from the Tony Award Winning musical Big River, and the original Crystal from off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors, Jennifer delivers a variety of Broadway standards, Blues, and music from her new one-woman show featuring the signature songs of Shirley Bassey. 'Jennifer is astonishing...a great big belter inhabits the body of this of this delicate-looking performer. It's something to see, and hear. -New York New Day

Broadway and Off-Broadway producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, The Producer's Perspective) will present Bingo! as the third selection in THE DAVENPORT DEVELOPMENTAL READING SERIES, four readings of new works (plays and/or musicals), on Monday, September 13th at Urban Stages Theater (259 West 30th Street, NYC): Ian Kennedy's Bingo! Directed by Daniel Goldstein.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that the return engagement of WICKED will include the return of two Chicagoan stars, Barbara Robertson and Gene Weygandt. Robertson will join the cast as Madame Morrible for the Chicago run, and Weygandt will begin performances as The Wizard with the tour in Boston before arriving in Chicago.

The Theatre School at DePaul University Welcomes New Faculty Members: SHARON BRIDGFORTH, ERNIE NOLAN, JULIA NEARY & MARCELLE MCVAY Talented New Faculty Members Serve as Addition to Award-Winning Faculty & Staff.

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED welcomes Gene Weygandt as The Wizard on Tuesday, September 14 in Boston, MA. Weygandt, a WICKED veteran, has previously played The Wizard in Chicago and on Broadway. On Broadway, he created the role of Paul in big: The Musical and is a three-time recipient of Chicago's Jefferson Award. Mr. Weygandt's many film and TV credits include: The Birdcage, The Babe, 'The Beast,' 'Cybill,' 'Home Improvement,' 'Murphy Brown,' 'Drew Carey,' 'Ellen,' 'Coach' and 'USA High.'

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2007, WICKED, the smash-hit musical, will return to Orlando's Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre February 23 through March 27, 2011.

September at The Metropolitan Room features...

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that MetroStage's 2010-11 season will open with the world premiere of Glimpses of the Moon, a Jazz Age musical based on a novel by Edith Wharton. The book and lyrics are written by Tajlei Levis and the composer is John Mercurio. Glimpses of the Moon will be in performance Sept. 8-Oct. 17.

'Just once in a lifetime, a man knows a moment, one wonderful moment, when fate takes his hand ....' These lyrics always touched popular singer and performer Eddie Bruce, as did the life of English songwriter, singer and actor, Anthony Newley who wrote this with Leslie Bricusse.

Season Features World Premieres, New York Premieres, New Productions, More than 20 Debut Artists, and an All-New Concert Series at the David H. Koch Theater

September at The Metropolitan Room features...