The American Musical and Dramatic Academy News

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES begins previews on Broadway tomorrow, Saturday, March 1 at the Imperial Theatre. The official opening night for LES MISERABLES is Sunday, March 23. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast, plus watch a video of the company in rehearsal!

It's already been quite a season at the gorgeous Paramount Theater in downtown Aurora, with audiences flocking to see three consecutive hit productions of In the Heights, Miss Saigon and 42nd Street.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

Performances are March 12-April 6, 2014. Press opening is Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, IL. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $36.90 to $49.90. To purchase, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances. Note: RENT is rated R for strong adult language and themes. Not recommended for audiences under 17.

According to the show website, 'GHOST THE MUSICAL takes you on a thrilling adventure to the afterlife. You will be amazed to see inanimate objects take on a life of their own, a person walk through a solid door right before your eyes and other special effects that will astonish and leave you gasping.'

As previously reported, the musical Ghostlight, by Tim Realbuto and Matthew Martin, which had two starry backer's auditions on December 2nd at the The New 42nd Street Studios in NYC, has added a 29- hour industry reading next month due to popular demand. This is one of the first times a new musical has added another presentation nearly a month after its first one. The December 2nd evening was directed by Martin and Realbuto and featured an all-star cast which included 'That's So Raven's' Anneliese van der Pol as Olive Thomas, Three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello as Billie Burke, Tony nominee Robert Cuccioli as Ziegfeld, 'Pippin' star Rachel Bay Jones as Molly Cook, Kimberly Faye Greenberg as Fanny Brice, and Trevor McQueen as Jack Pickford.

Center Stage announces today the first Play Lab of the 2013-14 Season. KJ Sanchez (ReEntry) and American Records will present a workshop reading of their newest piece under development, The American Football Project, December 6-8.

Center Stage announces today the first Play Lab of the 2013-14 Season. KJ Sanchez (ReEntry) and American Records will present a workshop reading of their newest piece under development, The American Football Project, December 6-8.

Casting is complete for the leads of the upcoming 2014 Broadway revival of LES MISERABLES, and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that acclaimed Canadian actor Cliff Saunders (The 39 Steps) and Tony Award-nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody), will play the Thenardiers in his new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical.

Bonafide 2013 is created by Stephanie Ogeleza and Produced by Pristine Playhouse and will run tonight, November 1 and November 2 & 3, 2013.

Fierce Backbone presents a world premiere comedy A GOOD GRIEF written by Leslie Hardy, directed by Jeffrey Wylie, running now through December 1, 2013.

Fierce Backbone presents a world premiere comedy A GOOD GRIEF written by Leslie Hardy, directed by Jeffrey Wylie, running October 25 through December 1, 2013.

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Winning Best Musical is preparing to launch the national tour in Appleton, WI at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center tonight, October 15th. MEMPHIS is in Boise, ID for technical rehearsal at the Morrison Center with three performances beginning October 9th - 11th.

Bonafide 2013 is created by Stephanie Ogeleza and Produced by Pristine Playhouse and will run November 1, 2 & 3, 2013.

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Winning Best Musical is preparing to launch the national tour in Appleton, WI at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 15th. MEMPHIS is in Boise, ID for technical rehearsal at the Morrison Center with three performances beginning October 9th - 11th.

Broadway Actress Soara-Joye Ross (Les Miserables, Dessa Rose, Dance of the Vampires) will be making her Solo Cabaret Debut in 'This Is My Life…Gotta Fly!' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on October 7th at 7pm for one night only.

Building on the success of its inaugural production, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, Co-Founders Abby Felder and Robbie Jaeger introduce Asheville Creative Arts' MOBILE UNIT, a touring arm that will bring the company's signature theatrical style directly into the community. This October, the MOBILE UNIT will premiere with SLUG AND SNAIL, a table-top puppet show created and performed by Co-Founder Abby Felder, which features dramaturgy by renowned Czech puppet artist Frantisek X Watzl, original music composed and performed by sound artist Andrew Phillips, and additional direction by Co-Founder, Robbie Jaeger, director and choreographer of the musical hit FROG AND TOAD.@

The Court Theatre has extended The Mountaintop, written by Katori Hall and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The Mountaintop will now run through Sunday, October 13 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. BroadwayWorld has new photos of the stars onstage below!

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert announce the extension of The Mountaintop written byKatori Hall, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The Mountaintop will now run through Sunday, October 13 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 8:00PM.

Building on the success of its inaugural production, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, Co-Founders Abby Felder and Robbie Jaeger introduce Asheville Creative Arts' MOBILE UNIT, a touring arm that will bring the company's signature theatrical style directly into the community. This October, the MOBILE UNIT will premiere with SLUG AND SNAIL, a table-top puppet show created and performed by Co-Founder Abby Felder, which features dramaturgy by renowned Czech puppet artist Frantisek X Watzl, original music composed and performed by sound artist Andrew Phillips, and additional direction by Co-Founder, Robbie Jaeger, director and choreographer of the musical hit FROG AND TOAD.@