Tom Greenwald News

Act II Playhouse is pleased to announce its 2010-11 season. Act II continues its commitment to creating world-class theatre in an intimate venue with a four-show subscription season that includes John & Jen, an original musical about the complexities of family relationships; The Tempest, Shakespeare's most magical play reimagined for Act II's cozy space; The Pride of Parnell Street, the first American production of this powerful, touching drama by renowned Irish playwright Sebastian Barry; and Art, a razor-sharp look at art and friendship from the author of the Broadway hit God of Carnage.

Andrew Lippa, the composer/lyricist for the upcoming Addams Family, will be the featured guests on Seth's Broadway Chatterbox this evening, Thursday, March 11 at 6pm. Seth's Broadway Chatterbox is a one hour weekly talk show at Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street), hosted by Seth Rudetsky. The show is taped in front of a live audience and airs on BroadwayWorld.com Radio Mondays at 7pm, Wednesdays at 10pm and Sundays at noon.

There may be actors who could give better performances as john and jen than Patrick Waller and Martha Wilkinson but they would have to be some sort of imaginary, dream-like apparitions to even come close to the stunningly brave and thoroughly focused interpretations given by these two exemplary Nashville artists. Consider it an ideal marriage of actors and characters, the perfect confluence of artists at their creative best coming together to breathe life and renewed vitality into their fictional counterparts, who are so richly drawn and evocatively written by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald in their chamber musical now onstage at Chaffin's Backstage at the Barn in the debut production of Johnny Peppers' 3Ps Productions.

No matter what anyone else may say, Johnny Peppers is definitely the hardest working man in Nashville theatre. Sure, there are those people who might give him a run for his money, but this week there's just no contest. Not only is he producing two shows opening on successive nights, he's playing the lead in one of them.

'Martha' is Martha Wilkinson, an actress who's been on the scene for more than 20 years, performing on stages all over town, racking up glowing notices other actresses would kill for, carting off nine - count 'em, nine! - First Night Awards, being named the Nashville Scene's best actress, ranking atop Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com's year-end review for 2009, and winning hearts every time she walks onstage.

Good naturedly, Waller takes the ribbing from Wilkinson and Fudge in stride, which is quite a good thing considering they are masters of the game. Longtime friends and professional collaborators, the worldly wise and experienced pair have welcomed Waller into their charmed inner circle with open arms - and the easy camaraderie among the three is by turns compelling, rollicking and, quite frankly, amazing. In conversation (particularly in an interview about their current project) , where one starts, another takes off and the third continues, with punch-lines abounding, self-deprecation the rule of the day and laughter at every turn. It's an easy give-and-take that promises a particularly entertaining production of the Andrew Lippa-Tom Greenwald chamber musical, john and jen.

Poor Tim Fudge! Could we all just join hands, figuratively speaking, and lift our voices in prayer (to whomever or whatever you feel like praying) for this multi-talented man who is faced with a most daunting task: He's the musical director for john & jen, the Andrew Lippa-Tom Greenwald musical being mounted by Johnny Peppers' 3Ps Productions and starring Martha Wilkinson and Patrick Waller, for a three week run at Backstage at the Barn.

Martha Wilkinson and Patrick Waller, lauded by both the Nashville Scene and Nashville.BroadwayWorld.com as the best actress and actor in Nashville, will team up to star in a production of the Andrew Lippa musical john & jen, playing the Backstage at the Barn venue for a limited run February 4-20. Tim Fudge will music direct the production. Waller and Wilkinson have shared the stage together on several occasions, most recently in Tennessee Rep's award-winnng production of Sweeney Todd, in which they played Toby and Mrs. Lovett respectively. They've also appeared onstage together in Johnny Guitar at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre and in The Underpants at Tennessee Rep.

Tom Greenwald has been promoted to Executive Creative Director at SpotCo. The announcement was made by Drew Hodges, President and Founder of the agency.

Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, writers of the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys, are the librettists for THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Drama Desk Award-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party) is writing the score, and Improbable Theater founders Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) will direct and design. EET plans to premiere THE ADDAMS FAMILY in the 2009-2010 Broadway season, preceded by an out-of-town tryout.

Megan Lawrence, who was recently Tony-nominated for her role in the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game, has replaced the previously announced Ana Gasteyer for composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa's return engagement of 'Andrew Lippa, Asphalt Beach and Assorted Divas' at the Metropolitan Room this Monday, February 26, 2007 at 9:30pm

Following his sold-out evening last December, composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa will return to the Metropolitan Room on February 26th at 9:30 PM

Following the sold-out evening last December, Andrew Lippa will return to the Metropolitan Room with 'Andrew Lippa, Asphalt Beach and Assorted Divas' on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 9:30pm.

On December 11th, composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa was joined on stage by Julia Murney, Ana Gasteyer, Megan McGinnis and Carly Jibson for an evening of song including new tunes from 'Asphalt Beach' at the Metropolitan Room.

Megan McGinnis, who can currently be seen on Broadway in Les Miserables, has replaced the previously announced Kate Reinders (Wicked) for composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa's evening 'Andrew Lippa, Asphalt Beach and Assorted Divas' at the Metropolitan Room on Monday, December 11, 2006 at 9:30pm

Grammy-nominated recording label Sh-K-Boom Records proudly announces the release of Julia Murney's debut solo album, I'm Not Waiting, on Tuesday, May 9, 2006.

A moving and dedicated pair of performances bring the tender story of JOHN & JEN to life for Toronto audiences. * * * * (out of 5)

Musical by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald gets Toronto premiere.

CAMP BROADWAY, the award-winning theater arts education company, of 480 performance-loving kids, ages 9-13, will perform live in the Opening Number of the 79th Annual Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade® which will be televised live on NBC this November 2005.

The Songbook Project, Inc. is pleased to announce plans for a late summer benefit, TRUNK SONGS, featuring two treasures of the American Musical Theatre: Craig Carnelia (Sweet Smell of Success, Three Postcards) and Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, john & jen).