Thomas Meehan News

Broadway favorite Harvey Fierstein took Best Actor In a Musical honors while his newcomer co-star claimed Best Actress.

This is something you're gonna wanna see! THE PRODUCERS, a Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan musical masterpiece of mayhem, has opened at the Omaha Community Playhouse. In typical Mel Brooks fashion, it sweeps you off into a tornadic whirlwind of slapstick, clever innuendos, and just plain foolishness. But even a piece as good as this would not be as funny as it's meant to be without the right cast and crew to pull it off. This bunch does.

Patrick Wilson, John Ellison Conlee, Jason Danieley, Andre De Shields, Marcus Neville and Romain Fruge were the naked boys singing on the 2001 Tony telecast.

Victoria Theatre Association announces the addition of several titles to the 2016-2017 Projects Unlimited Star Attractions. New titles include the return of humorist author DAVID SEDARIS and popular Beatles tribute band, RAIN. In addition to the previously announced ELF THE MUSICAL, illusionist MIKE SUPER joins the Star Attractions lineup. Tickets will be available (see below for dates) at Ticket Center Stage, located in the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, by phone at 937-228-3630 or 888-228-3630, and online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Stages Theatre Company (STC) presents the musical Annie, jr., directed by Sandy Boren-Barrett. This beloved musical is based on Little Orphan Annie (permission of The Media Tribune Services, Inc.,) book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin.

The Producers, running May 27 - June 26, 2016 in the Hawks Mainstage Theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse, is the hilarious, lively and absurd Mel Brooks comedy that follows producers Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom on their quest to become filthy rich.

Goodspeed Musicals is thrilled to announce that legendary performer Chita Rivera will be the latest recipient of The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre.

HAIRSPRAY - THE BIG FAT ARENA SPECTACULAR looks set to break world records when it bounces into the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on 14 & 15 October 2016. With more than 650 local Adelaide musical theatre 'superstars', this production will blow the roof off the Entertainment Centre.  Tickets are on sale from Monday 9 May from www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849.

The Alexander Children's Theatre School (ACTS), in residence at the Umbrella Community Arts Center (40 Stow Street, Concord, MA), is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for their upcoming production of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN: THE MUSICAL, running Friday, June 3 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday, June 5 at 4:00 pm.

The musical Death Takes a Holiday, currently playing at the Arvada Center, doesn't just breathe a little life into Death-it makes him out to be a hopeless romantic.

Lost Nation Theater opened a high-energy production of the musical HAIRSPRAY last week at Montpelier's City Hall Arts Center. With music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, HAIRSPRAY opened on Broadway in 2002 and went on to win eight Tony Awards.

Opening the night was celebrity contestant Kim Fields and her partner Sasha Farber who danced a Jive to 'You Can't Stop The Beat' from HAIRSPRAY.

Mercury Theater Chicago presents the award winning musical comedy sensation THE PRODUCERS, running now through June 26, 2016. It is truly a "boffo" hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. The production is led by Jeff-Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brigitte Ditmars (Choreography). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents the award winning musical comedy sensation THE PRODUCERS, from April 14 to June 26, 2016. It is truly a "boffo" hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. The production will be led by Jeff-Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brigitte Ditmars (Choreography). Scroll down to see photos from the company's opening night celebration!

Today in 1977, Annie opened at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre), where it ran for 2377 performances. Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' are among its most popular musical numbers.

Writers seeking fame and recognition are generally advised to steer clear of the task of writing books for Broadway musicals. Regarded by theatre insiders to be perhaps the most vital, yet most underappreciated element of a successful musical, the book oftentimes receives the least credit when a musical's a hit, but is the first thing blamed if it's a flop.

Today in 2001, The Producers opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 2502 performances. The Producers is a musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics written by Brooks and music composed by Brooks and arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, it won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. It spawned a successful London production running for three years, national tours, many productions worldwide and a 2005 film version.

The Players Club of Swarthmore will present the musical comedy Hairspray, April 22 to May 7 for ten performances at The Players Club of Swarthmore, 614 Fairview Ave. in Swarthmore.  Buy tickets online at www.pcstheater.org

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities will open the regional premiere of Death Takes a Holiday directed by Arvada Center Artistic Producer, Rod A. Lansberry in the Main Stage Theatre on April 26, running through May 15, 2016. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., Previews are April 22 - 24 at 7:30 p.m. nightly.  Moderated Talk Backs are scheduled on Friday, May 6 following the 7:30 p.m. performance and Wednesday, May 11 following the 1:00 p.m. performance. For additional details and to purchase tickets go to arvadacenter.org/on-stage/death-takes-a-holiday-2016  or call 720-898-7200. The Arvada Center is located at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. and provides free parking for all of its patrons.