'The Scottsboro Boys' begins previews tonight, May 21 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Opening night is May 29 and performances run through June 30, 2013.
Today we are talking to a five-time Tony Award-winning director/choreographer celebrated for her stupendous work on CRAZY FOR YOU, THE PRODUCERS, CONTACT, THE FROGS, THOU SHALT NOT, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and many more - the master musicals director Susan Stroman. In discussing a vast array of topics, Stroman and I touch upon many of her past projects as well as look ahead to her current and future endeavors - that is: the forthcoming Broadway bow of the new musical BIG FISH, starring Norbert Leo Butz, as well as the world premiere of Ahrens & Flaherty's LITTLE DANCER next year. Most importantly, Stroman shines a light on her enduring artistic partnership with Mel Brooks in bringing to life the screen-to-stage musical adaptations of both THE PRODUCERS and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, with BLAZING SADDLES on the way - their rich collaboration also being highlighted in this week's AMERICAN MASTERS tribute to Mel Brooks on PBS. Additionally, Stroman reflects on some of her lesser-known entities and casts a light on some of her foremost influences as well as candidly discusses her specialty work for a bevy of major stars - such as at SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION AT CARNEGIE HALL in 1992 - and the finer points of working with Stephen Sondheim and Nathan Lane on Sondheim's most recent original Broadway musical, THE FROGS. Plus, Stroman shares first details of her upcoming collaboration with comedy master Woody Allen on the musical stage adaptation of Allen's Academy Award-winning BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and also offers the 411 on the upcoming Los Angeles and West End productions of Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS - including the real-life role the musical has played in the pardoning of the originally accused nine just last month. Stroman also comments on her work with Hal Prince on the career revue PRINCE OF BROADWAY, opening in Japan in 2015, and also touches upon her ongoing desire to pursue a film adaptation of her multi-Tony Award-winning and genre-redefining 2000 Best Musical, CONTACT. All of that and much, much awaits in this wide-ranging conversation!
Acclaimed Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose smash hit musical Kinky Boots just received a whopping 13 Tony Award-nominations, was just honored with the 2013 'Mr. Abbott' Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career.
Acclaimed Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose smash hit musical Kinky Boots just received a whopping 13 Tony Award-nominations, was just honored with the 2013 'Mr. Abbott' Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career.
Acclaimed Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose smash hit musical Kinky Boots just received a whopping 13 Tony Award-nominations, was just honored with the 2013 'Mr. Abbott' Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career.
The award was presented at a gala event at B.B. King on May 13 with four-time Tony Award-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein, a frequent collaborator of Jerry Mitchell (and bookwriter of Kinky Boots), to emcee a tribute written by six-time Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch. Grammy Award-winner Cyndi Lauper, who wrote the music & lyrics for Kinky Boots, introduced a number from Kinky Boots included in the tribute. Director Jack O'Brien presented Mr. Mitchell with the award. Check out full photo coverage from the festivities below!
Acclaimed Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose smash hit musical Kinky Boots just received a whopping 13 Tony Award-nominations, was just honored with the 2013 "Mr. Abbott" Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career.
A dazzling new production of the long-running Broadway revival CHICAGO directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Gerry McIntyre opens Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's 45th anniversary season June 13-23. Starring Broadway's Angie Schworer as Roxie Hart, Sara Gettelfinger as Velma Kelly, and Rick Pessagno as Billy Flynn, CHICAGO gets Reagle's spectacular summer season off to a bang with all-new staging and exciting choreography in the style of Bob Fosse.
According to The Stage, original Broadway cast members Colman Domingo and Forrest McClendon will reprise their roles of Mr Bones and Mr Tambo respectively, in The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic this Fall. The production is set to run October 18 through November 23.
Acclaimed Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose musical Kinky Boots just received 13 Tony Award-nominations, will be honored with the 2013 'Mr. Abbott' Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career.
PBS announced today a fall primetime line-up featuring a strong roster of wide-ranging programs.
Among the exciting highlights will be "Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn" in which the legendary Barbra Streisand makes a historic homecoming back to Brooklyn at the new Barclays Center arena
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Will 'Big Fish' swim? 'Buddy,' the Bee Gees, 'Flashdance' and the new 'Phantom,' plus our own 'South Pacific,' Waa-Mu, 'A New Brain,' a showtune showdown and more!
Award-winning theatre, opera, and film director Julie Taymor will be honored at the 2013 Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art First Awards at the Brooklyn Museum on June 13 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The award, which honors women who have broken gender barriers to make remarkable contributions in their fields, will be bestowed on Taymor, winner of the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 1998. It will be presented by Museum Trustee Elizabeth A. Sackler and followed by a conversation between Taymor and feminist icon Gloria Steinem.
HELL HAS FROZEN OVER and I have somehow gotten THE JERRY MITCHELL to come aboard the Broadway Boo Interview Express! Just receiving Tony nominations for best direction AND choreography for 'KINKY BOOTS', and with a resume' full of Broadway hits, Jerry and I chat about: audition do's and dont's, fire island beach life, goats on tables AND MORE! Enjoy!
BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, just had its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5-week engagement beginning performances on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through today, May 5, 2013.
To coincide with the 20-year anniversary of the Ford Partnership Program, which nurtures locally based artists and arts organizations, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission presents the inaugural Zev Yaroslavsky Signatures Series. This two-concert program benefiting the Ford Theatre Foundation pairs world-renowned performers with a local artistic treasure, celebrating Los Angeles as a destination for world-class artists, who find here both collaboration with, and inspiration from, celebrated local artists.
Two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz returns to the musical theatre mainstage with his new theatrical venture, BIG FISH, an adaptation of the hit Tim Burton feature film currently trying out in Chicago before its Broadway bow in the Fall, and some glimpses at his central performance of patriarch Edward Bloom have now become available.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Oklahoma!' opens, a new 'Porgy,' a one-night 'Tommy,' improvised Sondheim, Darren Criss, 'The Jungle Book' has been cast, two new revues, my Tony perspective and more!
Stage Entertainment USA and Sylvester Stallone have announced that the new musical, ROCKY, will come to Broadway in 2014, beginning preview performances in February and officially opening in March at Broadway's historic Winter Garden Theatre. ROCKY received its world premiere in fall 2012 in Hamburg, Germany.
