Todd Almond News

Tony Award-winning Laura Benanti's work includes She Loves Me, Gypsy, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and, currently, playing her dream role: Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. This month, she also makes her London theatre debut with a concert at Cadogan Hall.

Back after a previous sold-out engagement, Feinstein's/54 Below will present the return of tow-time Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz and three-time Tony nominee Sherie Rene Scott in their highly acclaimed original musical collaboration: TWOHANDER, running July 9 - 28. Click here for tickets. 

Nobody Loves You and Band Geeks composer-lyricist Gaby Alter celebrates the release of his band Yes Gabriel's new album with a special show at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, on July 10th at 8 pm (196 Allen Street in Manhattan.) The band features Broadway pit musicians Alec Berlin (guitarist for Come From Away and American Idiot) and Jay Mack (drummer for the Lincoln Center revival of Falsettos.)

McCarter will welcome a group of esteemed and emerging playwrights and theater artists to Princeton for the Sallie B. Goodman Artists' Retreat. The annual retreat in June is a centerpiece of McCarter's LAB, a platform and creative incubator devoted to ongoing theatrical development and artist cultivation. The 2019 Retreat will take place from June 12 - June 19.

Diversionary has announced its 2019-2020 line up. It is Executive Artistic Director Matt M. Morrow's fifth full season of programming. He has this to say about the season: 

The Orchard Project is announcing the artists participating in its thirteenth summer theatre residency program. More than 30 artists and ensembles were selected for residencies this summer from nearly 1000 theatre artists and companies who applied.

It was 2002 when Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott premiered Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS Off-Broadway. They had worked together before that, however, in 1997 in the Broadway cast of RENT. If their joint concert at Feinstein's/54 Below on April 26-May 2 is to be believed, theirs has been a tumultuous relationship.

Next month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

The 2019 ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) Color Ball honored Laura Benanti and Lutheran Social Services for their work with ASTEP in providing arts education for students who have arrived in the United States as unaccompanied minors - and Laura's work in the creation of Singing You Home: Children's Songs for Family Reunification, in conjunction with Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Broadway music director and Founder Co-Executive Director of ASTEP. 

Next Monday, April 29 at 54 Below, Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) and friends are coming together to celebrate the 2019 ASTEP Color Ball. The 2019 Color Ball is a night to honor Artists/Activists who inspire ASTEP students, Sponsors who make our work possible and Community Partners who join our efforts in giving children from underserved communities access to the power of the arts. The evening is conceived by Broadway Musical Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell (ASTEP Founder and Co-Executive Director) and will allow ASTEP to give audience members an in depth look into our programs and the exciting work we have ahead of us.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Summer 1993 was an eventful year for this reviewer. I had just graduated from High School and was preparing for the next chapter in my life - college in Athens, Georgia. Like so many young people before me and so many after, it was a time in between, one that was both thrilling and completely terrifying. But it was also the beginning of a journey of self-discovery and an opportunity to redefine who I was and who I would be as a newly minted adult. So, it was particularly poignant to see the newest production from TheaterWorks (performed at the Wadsworth due to their current remodel), the musical GIRLFRIEND, with a book by Todd Almond and music by 90's rocker, Matthew Sweet.  

Barrow Street Theatricals announced today the final rotating cast of guest actors for the American premiere of the Nassim Soleimanpour and Bush Theatre production of NASSIM.

Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) and friends are coming together to celebrate the 2019 ASTEP Color Ball on Monday, April 29 at 54 Below. The 2019 Color Ball is a night to honor the Artists/Activists who inspire ASTEP students, the Sponsors who make our work possible and the Partners who join our efforts in giving children from underserved communities access to the power of the arts.

The Benanti Duo Dazzles Florida Audiences

From the lobby of its home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company announced its 45th Anniversary Season last night. Producing Artistic Director Paige Price and Managing Director Emily Zeck announced PTC's slate for 2019-2020, their second producing season at the helm of the theatre. The duo has assembled a line-up of plays that continue the theatre's commitment to seek stories that center around women.

TheaterWorks Producing Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero announced today the cast and creative team for the Connecticut Premiere of Todd Almond and Matthew Sweet's GIRLFRIEND. The cast features David Merino (Rent, National Tour) and CJ Pawlikowski (Book of Mormon, National Tour) in this tender, truehearted rock musical based on Matthew Sweet's seminal album Girlfriend.

Jump back to a time when flannel was the height of fashion and mix tapes were the language of love. Lyric Theatre presents the regional premiere of this coming-of-age love story - Girlfriend - later this month at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16 St.

Spinning Tree Theatre proudly announces the 2019-20 season of four mainstage productions. The company will also inaugurate their Youth Theatre Project, a two-week musical theatre intensive for teenagers to be held June 10-23, 2019. Additionally, they will continue the Spinning Tree Sings! cabaret series featuring Kansas City-based musical theatre and jazz vocalists. Spinning Tree will produce its ninth season at Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center.

The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University's School of Communication will present workshop performances of three new music theater works as the 2018-2019 season continues.