Thomas Meehan News

Called one of America's most beloved musicals, Annie is back in a 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Providence Performing Arts Center for five performances from May 1 - 3, 2009

Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth joined the cast of Hairspray the musical as Penny Pingleton and Wilbur Turnblad.

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is coming to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for one weekend only Friday, March 20 to Sunday March, 22

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is coming to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for one weekend only Friday, March 20 to Sunday March, 22

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! The national tour of HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is returning to the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited four show engagement April 24-26. Curtain times for this U.S. Bank Broadway series presentation are Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 1 at noon at the Fox Theatre box office and through MetroTix.

Leapin' Lizards! America's most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back in a 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Fisher Theatre in Detroit for eight performances from May 5 - 10, 2009. Tickets will go on sale February 22 at the Fisher Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-982-2787, and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.broadwayindetroit.com.

Annie, the beloved tale of Little Orphan Annie, returns to Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre Thursday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 for a limited engagement of four performances. This timeless story is back in its 30th anniversary tour, offering a new generation the opportunity to experience this heartwarming musical about never giving up hope. Individual tickets are on sale now. Annie is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as a special addition to its 2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America-Minneapolis season. Visit www.HennepinTheatreDistrict.org or call 1-800-982-2787 to purchase tickets or for more information. The Chicago Sun Times says, 'Ageless Annie is as engaging as ever.' Annie, with music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meehan, is directed by its lyricist, Martin Charnin, who brought the original production of Annie to Broadway in 1977. Tony Award-winning set designer, Ming Cho Lee, also has created a fresh look for this tour. The cast features Madison Kerth as Annie; and Minnesota natives Jeffrey Duncan from Eagan as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Cheryl Hoffmann from Sleepy Eye as Lily St. Regis. Mikey, a mixed-breed dog rescued from an animal shelter by trainer William Berloni, plays Sandy. The original Broadway production of Annie won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and Annie continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever. It boasts one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including 'It's the Hard-Knock Life,' 'Easy Street,' 'N.Y.C' and the ever optimistic 'Tomorrow.' In addition to Charnin, Meehan, Strouse and Lee, Annie's creative team includes original Broadway musical staging by Peter Gennaro, choreography by Liza Gennaro, lighting design by Ken Billington, costume design by Theoni Aldridge and sound design by Peter Hylenski. Annie is produced by Networks Presentations, LLC. For more information, visit www.annieontour.com.

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is presenting the return engagement of its acclaimed production of ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL. Performances began January 21st, with an official opening night that was celebrated on January 29th. The return engagement runs until March 8th only; all performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street).

Annie, the beloved tale of Little Orphan Annie, returns to Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre Thursday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 for a limited engagement of four performances. This timeless story is back in its 30th anniversary tour, offering a new generation the opportunity to experience this heartwarming musical about never giving up hope. Individual tickets are on sale now. Annie is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as a special addition to its 2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America-Minneapolis season. Visit www.HennepinTheatreDistrict.org or call 1-800-982-2787 to purchase tickets or for more information. The Chicago Sun Times says, 'Ageless Annie is as engaging as ever.' Annie, with music by Charles Strouse and book by Thomas Meehan, is directed by its lyricist, Martin Charnin, who brought the original production of Annie to Broadway in 1977. Tony Award-winning set designer, Ming Cho Lee, also has created a fresh look for this tour. The cast features Madison Kerth as Annie; and Minnesota natives Jeffrey Duncan from Eagan as Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Cheryl Hoffmann from Sleepy Eye as Lily St. Regis. Mikey, a mixed-breed dog rescued from an animal shelter by trainer William Berloni, plays Sandy. The original Broadway production of Annie won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and Annie continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever. It boasts one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including 'It's the Hard-Knock Life,' 'Easy Street,' 'N.Y.C' and the ever optimistic 'Tomorrow.' In addition to Charnin, Meehan, Strouse and Lee, Annie's creative team includes original Broadway musical staging by Peter Gennaro, choreography by Liza Gennaro, lighting design by Ken Billington, costume design by Theoni Aldridge and sound design by Peter Hylenski. Annie is produced by Networks Presentations, LLC. For more information, visit www.annieontour.com.

The producers of 'HAIRSPRAY' are delighted to announce that Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth are to join the cast of the multi-award winning musical, beginning on Monday 2 February. Nigel takes over the role of 'Wilbur Turnblad', husband of larger than life 'Edna' played by Michael Ball.

On January 4th 2009, after over 2,641 performances, the curtain fell at the Neil Simon Theater on the final performance of Broadway's 2003 Tony Award winning musical HAIRSPRAY starring original cast members Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to party with the cast one last time! Look for more BWW Hairspray fun coming soon-stay tuned Hairhoppers!

Mumsnet.com, the UK's leading family website, is delighted to announce that, from Monday 5 January, kids will go free to the musical 'HAIRSPRAY' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. On Mondays, for every full paying adult buying a ticket, Mumsnet will give a child's ticket completely free. This offer is available at www.mumsnet.com/offer or by visiting www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk.

Leapin' Lizards! America's most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back in 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles for eight performances from January 13-18, 2009.

On January 4th 2009, after over 2,641 performances, the curtain will fall at the Neil Simon Theater on the final performance of Broadway's 2003 Tony Award? musical HAIRSPRAY starring original cast members Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. The producers of this landmark musical have generously donated a pair of orchestra seats to be auctioned on ebay with the proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Variety is reporting that Hairspray and upcoming Bedtime Stories director Adam Shankman has signed on to direct two new projects, Bob the Musical at Disney and Sinbad at Sony

MTV.com spoke to Hairspray composer/producer Marc Shaiman about the treatment that John Waters turned in for the sequel to the Hairspray film.

The New York Post is reporting that 'almost Annie' Joanna Pacitti is getting another shot at fame by joining the upcoming members of American Idol's Hollywood audition ticket holders.

Entertainment Weekly talked to Hairspray film director Adam Shankman about the planned July 2010 release of a sequel - Hairspray 2.

The original Broadway production of ANNIE won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and ANNIE continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.

Mumsnet.com, the UK's leading family website, is delighted to announce that, from Monday 5 January, kids will go free to the musical 'HAIRSPRAY' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. On Mondays, for every full paying adult buying a ticket, Mumsnet will give a child's ticket completely free. This offer is available at www.mumsnet.com/offer or by visiting www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk.