Thomas Kail News

Josh Young presents Cutting-Edge Composers, A New Generation of Musical Theater Songwriters

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Laura Benanti, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Michael Cerveris, Maria Dizzia, Thomas Jay Ryan, Wendy Rich Stetson, and Chandler Williams will be featured in its upcoming production of IN THE NEXT ROOM or the vibrator play, a new play by Sarah Ruhl, to be directed by Les Waters.

In The Heights is about a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan. The music pulses with the hopes and dreams of three generations as they struggle to forge an identity in a neighborhood on the brink of transition.

Seven time nominee and two time Tony Award-winner Chita Rivera visited the cast of In The Heights at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City on Thursday, July 16th, 2009. The Tony winning original star of the show, Lin-Manuel Miranda, also dropped and BroadwayWorld.com was there!

LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's new initiative devoted to producing work of emerging playwrights, directors and designers, will present the world premiere of WHAT ONCE WE FELT, a new play by Ann Marie Healy, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, as the first of three productions during the 2009-2010 season. WHAT ONCE WE FELT will be presented Monday, October 26 through Saturday, November 21 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street® project, (229 W. 42 Street). The second and third LCT3 productions, to be announced, are scheduled for Spring 2010 and will also be presented at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Josh Young presents Cutting-Edge Composers, A New Generation of Musical Theater Songwriters

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Francois Battiste, Crystal A. Dickinson, Alano Miller and Wendell Pierce will be featured in its upcoming production of BROKE-OLOGY, a new play by Nathan Louis Jackson, directed by Thomas Kail.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with Long Wharf Theatre presents Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie, directed by Gordon Edelstein with Patch Darragh (Tom Wingfield), two-time Tony® Award winner Judith Ivey (Amanda Wingfield), Keira Keeley (Laura Wingfield).

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz stars Ashanti, LaChanze, Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, the producers of the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, announced the news that Justina Machado has joined the production in the role of 'Daniela' for 8 weeks only from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, the producers of the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, announced today that Justina Machado will take over the role of ?Daniela? for 8 weeks only from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Broadway?s Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

Colman Domingo will replace Orlando Jones in the title role of The Wiz for the final six performances, June 29 - July 5 at New York City Center. Mr. Jones is leaving the show early in order to shoot his new series 'Crash Course' for ABC-TV. The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz stars Ashanti, LaChanze, Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

Casting has just been announced for Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's three musicals of the 25th anniversary season.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz will hold two free post-matinee talkbacks and audience Q&A sessions with Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel and members of the company on Wednesday, June 24 and Wednesday, July 1 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue).

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, the producers of the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, announced today that Justina Machado will take over the role of ?Daniela? for 8 weeks only from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Broadway?s Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

Two-Time Tony Award nominee André De Shields, who created the title role of 'The Wiz' in the original Broadway production (1975), caught the ENCORES! production of 'The Wiz' last night and visited the members of the cast backstage.

Along with contempt, familiarity is also pretty good at breeding hit Broadway musicals. Take The Wiz, for example; the perfectly pleasant but sketchily written 1975 Tony winner for Best Musical that, if it weren't based on L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (which became an iconic American story once MGM got its hands on it), would probably leave audiences completely baffled as to what the devil was going on.

BroadwayWorld.com's master photographer Walter McBride covered all the 'Oz' filled action, in addition to his normal stellar photo coverage he has created a special 'In The Spotlight' series of pictures. These portraits of The Wiz cast are 'in the moment' and taken as they met the press on opening night!

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, officially opened last night, Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews began June 12). Ashanti's Dorothy is joined by Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras celebrated along with the cast after the curtain came down!