Susan Blackwell News

New Village Arts (NVA) kicks off their 24th season with the delightfully quirky and self-referential musical [title of show]. This one-act musical, with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell, is a love letter to musical theatre and the creative process itself.

This past season was the year of the drama in St. Louis Theater. Patrons returned to the theatre in droves and many of the regional companies experienced strong box office with sold-out or extended runs. Tesseract Theater Company had a breakout year, placing two productions on this top 10 list. The Black Rep, ERA, They Muny, New Jewish Theater, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, and STAGES St. Louis all benefited from positive word of mouth and strong single ticket box office sales thanks to their marvelous seasons and well-reviewed productions.  

First and foremost, I go to the theatre to be entertained. A show doesn’t have to be complex, have an agenda, or try to teach the audience a moral to be enjoyable. It’s perfectly acceptable, and usually preferential, to simply be entertained. Prism Theater Company’s [title of show] is an amusing diversion. It’s quirky, silly, funny musical entertainment, and I liked it so much more than I thought I would.  

15 years ago, on July 17, 2008, [title of show] opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre. Check out some video highlights from the show's journey to Broadway!

Becca Brunelle waited until the time was create her first-ever solo show. She just had to wait until there was a purpose to do a Becca Brunelle cabaret. There is.

Check out BroadwayWorld's guide to Broadway actors in the fourth season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and how you know them! The series features an impressive amount of Broadway talent, including returning cast members Tony Shalhoub, Stephanie Hsu, and Jane Lynch, and new guest stars like Gideon Glick, Kelly Bishop, and more.

In our new series, 'Where Are They Now?' we're taking a look back at some of our favorite original Broadway casts, and catching up with their careers! Next up, the original cast of [title of show].

Performances will begin on Friday August 6 and run until Thursday August 12 with matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Learn more about the production and how to purchase tickets here!

Tobias Menzies (The Crown) and Tony winner Sophie Okonedo (Ratched) joined the cast of the star-studded second season of Modern Love. They appear in an episode directed by John Carney, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. The episode and series recently completed filming in Dublin, Ireland.

The series is based on the popular New York Times column. Season two is scheduled to premiere later this year.

Last evening, Andréa Burns, Laura Osnes, and Jackie Burns attended a Zoom Promotional Party for BAA Onstage's productions of Dear Edwina Online Edition and A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical. BAA Onstage is the affiliate production company of Broadway Artists Alliance of NYC.

before/during/after, which comes out on demand Feb 9, is the story of Jennie Lonergan, a middle-aged NYC theatre actress, who is forced to figure out the kind of person she wants to be when her seemingly perfect 15-year marriage comes to an abrupt end after she catches her husband having an affair.

In December of 2020, Broadway Artists Alliance assembled a stellar cast of 25 young performers to present Dear Edwina Online Edition as part of the inaugural season of 'BAAOnstage.' Created to provide a performance outlet for students during the era of quarantine, BAAOnstage gathers students from across the country to rehearse, film, and livestream musical productions - all remotely from home!

 In December of 2020, Broadway Artists Alliance (BAA) assembled a 'killer' cast of twenty six young performers to present the virtual sensation A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical. Highland, NJ resident Jennifer Johns-Grasso, the Founder and Artistic Director of BAA, directs the production.

In December of 2020, Broadway Artists Alliance assembled a 'killer' cast of twenty six young performers to present the virtual sensation A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical. Native Virginian Mimi Harlow Robinson, who now resides in New York City, assistant directed the production.

Ava Giorgione of Harrisburg will appear in a groundbreaking virtual musical, A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical, produced by 'BAA Onstage'. The show was conceived as a new style of online theatre by Jason Howland, Nathan Tysen, Kait Kerrigan, Rachel Axler and a team of 40+ Broadway professionals.

Registration is now open for The Spark File 2021 New Year Creativity Kickoff, a 3-day virtual retreat, led by Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien that will jumpstart your New Year with maximum creativity.

Wednesday, October 28th, from 7pm-8:15pm Eastern, Tony-winner Kelli O'Hara (The King and I) will join TPAP Artistic Director Jonathan Bernstein (Chicago) live online on Upstage Left. Every Upstage Left is different, but typically consists of a roundtable discussion, an opportunity to ask questions, and an optional artistic challenge.

In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Metropolitan Opera's HD Live in Schools program has launched a new, all-online series for the 2020-21 school year, creating cross-disciplinary educational opportunities for students across the country.

With our new series, Theater Stories, we're bringing you tidbits you may have never heard, tales you never thought to ask about and more, giving you a better look into the history of Broadway theatres, as well as a leg-up on your next theater-trivia night. Today's Theater Stories features the Lyceum Theatre.