Tom Kitt News

Prepare to get the Broadway spirit in the cheerleading musical 'Bring It On.'

The New Jersey Premiere of NEXT TO NORMAL will be presented with The Premier Theatre starting March 23rd at The Premier Room at The Berkley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, NJ.

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) and Broadway in Columbus (BIC) today announced the 2012-13 Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series season. Four of the productions on the five-show subscription series have never before been seen in Columbus, including Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Million Dollar Quartet, Green Day's American Idiot, and War Horse, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play. Disney's Beauty and the Beast, presented by NETworks, will also return to Columbus to kick off the new season. In addition to the five-show season package, season specials will include the return of Les Miserables and Wicked.

Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce collaboration with the Center of Contemporary Arts (COCA) to present a 90 minute Master Dance Class taught by BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL cast member Gregory Haney. This unique opportunity to learn choreography from the show, taught by a working professional will take place on Friday, March 30 at COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue in University City. Class is scheduled 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. A Q&A period is included in the 90 minute session.

Today we are talking to one half of the supremely talented composing team responsible for ZOMBIE PROM, THE FIX, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and, now, BROTHER RUSSIA, the lyricist of the formidable Dempsey/Rowe himself, John Dempsey. In this career-spanning conversation, Dempsey and I discuss major and minor details of his handful of skillfully written and entertaining shows written with the collaboration of composer Dana Rowe (who will also be highlighted in this column next week), in particular their affiliation with legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh and Signature Theater founder and director Eric Schaeffer, director of the US premieres of three of their musicals, including the most current one opening later this month - as well as touch on his work with Boublil & Shonberg on THE PIRATE QUEEN and his musical adaptation of the religious-themed film SAVED! As if all of that were not enough, Dempsey and I also dissect the finer points of the new Dempsey/Rowe show in previews in Washington, D.C., BROTHER RUSSIA, as he outlines its inspiration, purpose, style and the intriguing story of the new heavy metal fairy tale meta rock opera - all of that and much, much more.

Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner and New Village Arts Theatre are proud to announce their twelfth season of award-winning, professional theatre in the Village of Carlsbad. The Twelfth Season focuses on some of the best American plays with San Diego's finest actors and singers and includes a return to the very popular Shakespeare in the Park.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 43rd Annual Awards Show will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. The show will feature performances from previously-announced hosts Jason Graae (recipient of the 2007 Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre) and Lesli Margherita (nominee for Kiss Me, Kate). In addition, the Awards show will feature the Los Angeles premiere performance of My Husband, by Paul Rudnick, a short play added to the New York production of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Also, Yvette Tucker and Salvatore Vasallo will perform an excerpt from "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," from On Your Toes, choreographed by this year's Hirschhorn Award recipient, Lee Martino.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2012 Jonathan Larson® Grant are Julianne Wick Davis (Composer) and Dan Collins (Book, Lyrics) for their work on Southern Comfort. The prestigious grant, totaling $10,000, will be presented on Tuesday, March 27 at a private event in New York City. The event will feature special performances from Southern Comfort.

NEXT TO NORMAL, written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, will play the Everett Theatre in Middleton, DE from March 9th-18th.

Three 2011 Tony® Award-winning productions take the Cultural District stages this season, alongside popular specials and beloved classics.

Old Library Theatre presents a limited run of composer Tom Kitt, and book writer and lyricist Brian Yorkey's Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical, NEXT TO NORMAL (N2N), on March 9, 10, 16, 17, and 23 at 8 p.m.; and March 11, 18, and 25 at 2 p.m. at Fair Lawn Community Center (10-10 20th Street). In anticipation of its opening night, the production's cast members had recently sat down with Charlie Alterman, N2N on Broadway's musical director and conductor, for a music rehearsal and a vocal workshop.

Musical Theatre and Jazz Workshop members, friends and colleagues of Jean Banks, who managed BMI's jazz and musical theater department for more than a quarter century, will come together Thursday, March 8 at 5:30 PM at the Snapple Theater for a celebration of her life and her professional calling.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Bring It On,' season announcements from Broadway In Chicago, Porchlight and Paramount, Idina and Kristin tour dates, Andrew Lloyd Webber in movie theaters and more....

Beginning March 9, SpeakEasy Stage will present the Boston premiere of NEXT TO NORMAL. Get a first look at the production below!

Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway hit, will play The Buell Theatre March 6 - March 11, 2012. Tickets are now on sale at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303.893.4100.

NEXT TO NORMAL is set to return to the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati for a limited engagement after a successful run earlier in the season. The limited engagement will run from June 15th-July 1st.

The Public Theater announced the return of PUBLIC SINGS! tonight March 5, 2012, an unforgettable evening that celebrates the rich history of musicals produced by The Public Theater, including HAIR, A Chorus Line, and Caroline, or Change, as well as new musicals in development like February House premiering at The Public this May. This intimate evening at Joe's Pub will welcome to the stage many popular Public Theater and Joe's Pub artists, including Laura Benanti, David Byrne, Raul Esparza, Jesse L. Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Steven Pasquale, as well as offer a sneak peak at upcoming musicals. PUBLIC SINGS! tickets can be purchased by calling the Development Office at (212) 539-8554.

Musical Theatre and Jazz Workshop members, friends and colleagues of Jean Banks, who managed BMI's jazz and musical theater department for more than a quarter century, will come together Thursday, March 8 at 5:30 PM at the Snapple Theater for a celebration of her life and her professional calling.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will present PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work on February 2-March 11 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

TOPHER GRACE and OLIVIA THIRLBY will co-star in Second Stage Theatre's production of Paul Weitz's world premiere comedy, LONELY, I'M NOT, directed by Trip Cullman. Preview performances are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, April 10 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). The production will officially open on Monday, May 7. For tickets or more information, please visit www.2ST.com. Additional casting will be announced shortly.