Tom Kitt News

Last night the incredible talent from Contemporary Classics stepped up to the mic once more for the 11th installment of their wildly popular "New Voices" series, spotlighting new works from composers around the country. Some local composers and some abroad, some new-ish pieces and some brand spankin' new for this show, Host Brandon Ivie and Music director R.J. Tancioco gathered together some of the most obscenely talented performers in the area to blow the doors off ACT Theatre and there was not a door standing when they were done.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) announced today the establishment of The Donna Perret Rosen Award, an annual cash prize to be awarded to a promising composer/lyricist. The $10,000 award was established at the off-Broadway company's annual gala to honor Second Stage Theatre trustee Donna Perret Rosen in recognition of her long-standing commitment to young artists and new works. The award will be chosen by Tony Award-winners James Lapine, Susan Stroman, and Jack Viertel. The first 'Donna Award' will be awarded in 2012.

Contemporary Classics' New Voices played two standing-room-only shows on August 15 at ACT Theatre in Seattle. Hosted by Brandon Ivie, the show featured a slew of the hottest musical theatre writers today including world premieres by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Chris Jeffries, and Michelle Elliot and danny larson. The cast included Broadway's Kendra Kassebaum, Louis Hobson, Vicki Noon, Ryah Nixon, and many of Seattle's best talent.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Writers Guild of America and screenwriter Jessica Bendinger filed a claim last week against BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, which is to launch a national tour in October. Bendinger seeks damages from Beacon Communications Corp. for 'exploiting Bendinger's dramatic rights in the cheerleader-themed Bring It On without her consent, in violation of the guild agreement's 'separated rights' provisions.'

SHN will present The Bridge Project production of RICHARD III by William Shakespeare featuring Kevin Spacey with Sam Mendes directing.

High-flying original musical comedy 'Bring It On: The Musical' launches its national tour with a six-week engagement at the Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre from November 1 through December 11, 2011, with opening night set for November 11. 'Bring It On: The Musical' will open the Ahmanson's 2011-2012 season.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical will close on July 31, 2011.

The 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will end on July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL will end its national tour on July 30 at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto.

On July 18, the Next To Normal tour pulled into Toronto, where it will play through July 30. Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Next to Normal, reprises her acclaimed performance in the musical's 36-week multi-city North American tour. Below, we bring you photo coverage of Next To Normal onstage in Toronto!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today a second extension of its celebrated premiere comedy Murder for Two-A Killer Musical. Due to popular demand, the production will play an additional five weeks through September 4, 2011, Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare.

The New York Civil Liberties Union today announced the addition of two-time Tony nominee Gavin Creel and Tony nominee John Tartaglia to its star-studded lineup of award-winning performers for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit show scheduled for Monday, July 25 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (The New York State affiliate of the ACLU) today announced a star-studded lineup of award-winning performers for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit show scheduled for Monday, July 25 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.

Broadway Across America - Boston announced today that single tickets for the national tour of the explosive Broadway hit AMERICAN IDIOT, called 'wonderfully raucous' and 'emotionally charged' by The New York Times, will go on sale Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10am.

The New York Civil Liberties Union today announced the addition of two-time Tony nominee Gavin Creel and Tony nominee John Tartaglia to its star-studded lineup of award-winning performers for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit show scheduled for Monday, July 25 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.

Judy McLane, starring in MAMMA MIA! at the Winter Garden Theater, will head to Salt Lake City to headline Pioneer Theatre's regional production of NEXT TO NORMAL.

The New York Civil Liberties Union today announced a star-studded lineup of award-winning performers for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit show scheduled for Monday, July 25 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.

The New York Civil Liberties Union today announced a star-studded lineup of award-winning performers for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit show scheduled for Monday, July 25 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.

Uptown Players will present the final performance of Next To Normal on July 3, 2011, at the historic Kalita Humphreys Theater. Uptown Players is the first regional theater in the United States to produce Next To Normal, following its long Broadway run, which ended on January 16, 2011, after 21 previews and 733 regular performances.

Tony-winner Alice Ripley is obviously having vocal problems