Tim Rice News

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY has just announced the signing of the New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita. The album will be recorded in April in anticipation of a June 19th 2012 release and is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

So this is what happens when everything goes right in a production. Creative set/lighting/sound/costume design + talented ensemble + fierce vocals and choreography = check mate and game won!

Nederlander Presentations, Inc. announces that Grammy® Nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox will star as Lucy in the international musical sensation JEKYLL & HYDE that will begin a preview engagement at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, September 7 - 30, prior to returning to Broadway in April 2013 following a 25-week National Tour. The tour will launch at San Diego's Civic Theatre in San Diego, California on October 2, 2012. Cox will star alongside the previously announced Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis in the title dual role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde.

ALMOST ELTON JOHN AND THE ROCKET BAND stars multi talented singer and pianist Craig A. Meyer whose credits include appearances in Film, Television, even Broadway, accompanied by 'The Rocket Band.' The show tours all around America at every venue from private parties to concert halls.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). In the video below, Chilina Kennedy, who plays Mary in the show, chats with NBC New York about making her Broadway debut in the show. Click below to hear what she had to say!

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of NEWSIES is now available digitally today on Ghostlight Records. The album has debuted at #1 on the iTunes Soundtracks chart and #15 on the iTunes album chart.To purchase the album, visit iTunes here. The recording is set for physical release on May 15th, 2012. The physical release will feature three special bonus tracks including an exclusive version of "Santa Fe" performed by lead Jeremy Jordan accompanied by Alan Menken on piano. The full track listing is below. For more information on the cast recording, visit: http://newsiesthemusical.com/music

Ricky Martin, Elena Roger, Michael Cerveris and the cast of EVITA will perform two numbers from the show and discuss the highly-anticipated return of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice's iconic musical on GOOD MORNING AMERICA on THURSDAY, APRIL 12 from 8:30-9:00 a.m. on ABC, live from Times Square.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Washington, D.C. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the National Theatre for two weeks only, June 12 through June 24.

The 36th Olivier Awards with MasterCard will offer a star-studded night of awards and exclusive entertainment at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 15 April hosted by West End stars Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. The list of presenters includes Hayley Atwell, Douglas Booth, Zach Braff, Jim Carter, Tom Chambers, Tyne Daly, Jack Davenport, Agyness Deyn, Jonathan Edwards, Susannah Fielding, Vittorio Grigolo, Lenny Henry, Ronan Keating, Katherine Kelly, Harry Lloyd, James McAvoy, Natascha McElhone, Laurie Metcalf, Elaine Paige, Dan Stevens, Sir Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Kara Tointon, Will Young, Zoe Wanamaker, Jodie Whittaker and Barbara Windsor with a few more surprises on the night.

In October of 1971, three days after the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar began its week and a half of previews, the title song of what is considered to be the world's first rock opera was heard on American television's highest-rated show.  No, it wasn't The Ed Sullivan Show, which had ended its run earlier in the year, but the controversial new sitcom, All In The Family.

According to the Associated Press, Broadway's landmark musical event THE LION KING has just become the all-time highest grossing show on Broadway surpassing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. THE LION KING'S total gross now adds up to a whopping $853,846,062, while PHANTOM, which opened ten years earlier, remains at $853,122,847.

Casting has been announced for the Orlando return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING. Orlando's eagerly awaited stage production will leap onto the Bob Carr stage from April 17 to May 13. The press opening night is Thursday, April 19 at 8 p.m. The show's six-week premiere engagement in 2006 played a sold-out run at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Read more about EVITA's opening night here, and check out full coverage of the Gypsy Robe ceremony below!

Thanks to our very perceptive BroadwayWorld message boarders, we have learned that it seems the new revival cast of EVITA, which took their opening night bows last night, April 5, at the Marquee Theatre, will be recording a cast album.

Something extra para los lectores de BroadwayWorld Spain! Directo de la fiesta después del estreno de Evita en Broadway, el bailarín, actor y director que introdujo a Ricky Martin en el mundo de los musicales, Richard Jay-Alexander sends us a greeting, a very special greeting, para los fans hispano-parlantes. Don't you miss it!

BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet of EVITA's opening night after party last night, April 5, to celebrate with the company at the Marquis Theatre. The show is back on Broadway for the first time in more than 30 years and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand to talk all about the big revival with EVITA leads Ricky Martin, Elena Roger, Michael Cerveris and more!

EVITA opened last night, April 5, at the Marquis Theatre! We've got photos of the curtain call featuring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Check out the show's just-released television commercial below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: EVITA is back on Broadway, Mayor Bloomberg gets musical, Bleu channels Jesus, and so much more!