Susan Birkenhead News

Minsky's is a big, racy, new musical comedy set in a time when entertainment was about legs and laughs, and you had to push the limits to keep the customers buying tickets. A rollicking backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City. Tony Award winning costume designer Gregg Barnes talked about his creations for MINSKY'S on the show's official site in a wonderful audio/video essay that we are excited to bring you here on BWW TV!

Whats happening at THE OLD GLOBE from January - March, 2009, full season announced.

Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of 'Minsky's,' which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone').

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

Abingdon Theatre Company will celebrate its 16th Anniversary by honoring Austin Pendleton and Pamela Paul (former Co-Artistic Director) Monday, November 10, 2008 at Tavern on the Green, Central Park West at 67th St.

East of Doheny has announced that it will present a special invitation-only reading of the new musical Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm today, Monday, November 3, 2008.

Abingdon Theatre Company will celebrate its 16th Anniversary by honoring Austin Pendleton and Pamela Paul (former Co-Artistic Director) Monday, November 10, 2008 at Tavern on the Green, Central Park West at 67th St.

South Ark Stage (Rhoda Herrick, Producing Artistic Director) has announced that it will present the world premiere of the new chamber musical The Black Monk, with book, lyrics and music by Wendy Kesselman. Under the direction of Kevin Newbury, the four-member cast features Austin Pendleton as the Monk, Scott Robertson as Igor, Elon Rutberg as Andrei, and Sarah Ziegler as Tanya.

Audience Rewards and The Drama Bookshop hosted an exclusive discussion and book signing with Charles Strouse, with very special guest interviewer Lin-Manuel Miranda, on Friday, September 5th, at the Drama Bookshop (250 West 40th Street, New York, NY.)

Legendary Composer talks about his career, his work and his upcoming book.

On Monday June 16th at the 21 Club there was a cocktail reception celebrating Charles Strouse, his 80th birthday, his 50-year career and the launch of his new book, Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir. The evening included a musical tribute, the reading of a proclamation from the city of New York, and a performance by Strouse from behind the piano.

Astoria Performing Arts Center presents a diverting production of 'Triumph of Love', the much-maligned Marivaux musical.

Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group has announced that two world premiere musicals, 9 to 5: The Musical and Minky's will be part of the 2008-2009 Ahmanson season, along with Spring Awakening and Frost/Nixon...

ASTORIA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER is pleased to announce the production of TRIUMPH OF LOVE, a musical directed by Brian Swasey. TRIUMPH OF LOVE will play a 3-week limited engagement at the Broccoli Theatre (Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, 21-12 30th Road, Astoria). Performances begin Friday, April 25th and continue through Sunday, May 11th.

The ASCAP Foundation is pleased to announce that six new musical works have been selected for presentation at the annual ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop in New York.

Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway, a new documentary film by East of Doheny with Albert Maysles, premiered on Monday March 3 in New York, hosted by East of Doheny and The Actors Fund at The Paley Center for Media

On Sunday night December 16, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater honored its longtime impresario, Paul Szilard, at a pre-performance ceremony and post-performance reception at City Center, which also celebrated his 95th birthday.

Sibling Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. announced the critically acclaimed musical Hats! opens at Harrah's Las Vegas on January 12, 2008.

Arena Stage has announced that Henry Krieger and Susan Birkenhead will write the original songs that will be heard in the theatre's world premiere production of Christmas Carol 1941.