Tony Walton News

Today, we are presenting a special interview edition of FLASH FRIDAY with a two-time Tony-winning legend famous for her star-making turn in the original cast of WEST SIDE STORY under the direction of Jerome Robbins through to her heralded performances in the original casts of a trio of thrilling Kander & Ebb musicals - CHICAGO, THE RINK and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. Most recently, she stormed Broadway with her bio-musical THE DANCER'S LIFE. She is Chita Rivera and over the course of our career-spanning conversation her unmistakable vivacity and earthy elegance belied her more than fifty years experience in show business. Her optimism is positively infectious and her charm alarmingly disarming. You can catch her live onstage beginning a week from today for four special performances at Birdland. Tickets are available at the link below. Don't miss Chita on BroadwayWorld and at Birdland... and all her jazz!

Alec Baldwin will be featured as Claudius in the upcoming staged reading of Hamlet to help raise funds for the newly minted Fundamental Theater Project, a new theater company founded by actors Sam Underwood, Artistic Director, and Nicola Murphy, Producing Director.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith continues with numerous activities. Thomas Z Shepard, the renowned cast recording producer, saw the acclaimed musical and was extremely impressed. This week he produced a 5 song demo recording with full orchestra and cast members featuring Andy Mientus. Next week the musical has been invited to Florida for the Mainstreet Musicals Festival for presentations with Hal Linden. This Sunday the show will be presented with 2010 NYMY Awards For Excellence: EXCELLENCE IN OVERALL DESIGN - Shine! Michael Bottari & Ron Case; OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE - Andy Mientus, and Honorable Mention: Peter Flynn, For Direction. The production was a Critics Pick from BackStage.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the star-studded roster of performers for its 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre. The award will be presented to Tony Award-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf) on Monday, November 22, 2010. As previously announced, the evening is directed by Tony-winning director/lyricist/librettist Richard Maltby and the award will be presented by Alice Hammerstein Mathias, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II.

Richard Pepenella presents Red Hot & New: A Songwriters' and Singers' Soiree, the newest weekly party to hit the theater and cabaret scene, at Ido Sushi in New York on Thursday, November 11th at 8:30PM.

Richard Pepenella presents Red Hot & New: A Songwriters' and Singers' Soiree, the newest weekly party to hit the theater and cabaret scene, at Ido Sushi in New York on Thursday, November 11th at 8:30PM.

The annual Primary Stages Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the extensive artistic development programs offered by the company, was held at the Edison Ballroom last night, November 1, 2010. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Last night, October 25th, James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's never-before-staged Evening Primrose took a one-night-only bow to benefit the St. George's Society of New York 's Anglo-American Cultural Awards at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. The production starred Candice Bergen, John McMartin, Sean Palmer, Bill Duell, John Windsor Cunningham, and Jessica Grove. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the curtain call and after party and brings you photo coverage below.

As previously reported, on October 25th, James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's never-before-staged Evening Primrose - will take a one-night-only bow to benefit the St. George's Society of New York 's Anglo-American Cultural Awards at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. In addition to Candice Bergen, John McMartin, Sean Palmer, Bill Duell, and John Windsor Cunningham, Jessica Grove is also joining the production. Grove is currently starring in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC on Broadway.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith has been honored with 2010 NYMY Awards For Excellence: EXCELLENCE IN OVERALL DESIGN - Shine! Michael Bottari & Ron Case; OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE - Andy Mientus, Shine!; and Honorable Mention: Peter Flynn, Shine! For Direction. The production was a Critics Pick from BackStage. SHINE! was presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements. Directed by Peter Flynn with choreography Devanand Janki; set and costume design by Michael Bottari & Ronald Case and the lighting design by Jeff Croiter. Greg Anthony served as the music supervisor, arranger, orchestrator; Annbritt duChateau was the music director and the associate musical directors were Danny Percefull and Sue Anschultz. A multi-talented cast of 19 made this one of the largest of the festival productions. The principals were: Andy Mientus (Richard Hunter); Michael Halling (Luke Gerrish); Meggie Cansler (Stacia Jane Hauser); Jimmy Ray Bennett (Gideon Chapin); William Ryall (Silas Snobden); Stanton Nash (Higgins); Philip Chaffin (Allen Carlisle); Tyler Merna (Rob Carlisle); Dan Lawler (Foswell); Evan Jay Newman (Mickey Maguire) and Katherine McGrath (Mrs. Mooney). The Ensemble included: Jason Mills, Cheo Bourne, Todd Horman, Robert Mintz, Rachell Coloff, Jessica Vosk, Joy Hermalyn and Melissa Rain Anderson.

Alec Baldwin will be featured as Claudius in the upcoming staged reading of Hamlet to help raise funds for the newly minted Fundamental Theater Project, a new theater company founded by actors Sam Underwood, Artistic Director, and Nicola Murphy, Producing Director.

American Ballet Theatre's 2011 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 16-July 9, was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. Highlights of the season include World Premieres by Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon, the New York Company Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's The Bright Stream and the U.S. Premiere of a new work by Benjamin Millepied. Principal Dancers for the 2011 Metropolitan Opera Season include Maxim Beloserkovsky, Roberto Bolle, Jose Manuel Carreño, Angel Corella, Herman Cornejo, Irina Dvorovenko, Marcelo Gomes, David Hallberg, Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent, Gillian Murphy, Veronika Part, Xiomara Reyes, Ethan Stiefel, Diana Vishneva and Michele Wiles. Natalia Osipova, a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, and Alina Cojocaru, a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, will return for the Spring season as guest artists.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street. The director is Peter Flynn and the choreographer is Devanand Janki. Michael Bottari & Ronald Case are the set and costume designers and the lighting designer is Jeff Croiter. Greg Anthony is the music supervisor, arranger, orchestrator; Annbritt duChateau is the music director and the associate musical directors are Danny Percefull and Sue Anschultz. www.shinethemusical.com

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street. The director is Peter Flynn and the choreographer is Devanand Janki. With a highly melodic, hummable and bouncy score with bright lyrics, "SHINE the Horatio Alger Musical", has tons of period atmosphere, nostalgic charm, comedy and entertainment. It is a hope and dreams musical with a touch of "Annie", a smidgen of "Oliver", a dash of "Tintypes" as well as a smattering of musical joys that will delight! A multi-talented cast of 18 makes this one of the largest of the festival productions. Performances will be: Thurs. 10/7 at 8pm; Sat. 10/9 at 5pm; Mon. 10/11, at 9pm; Fri. 10/15, at 1pm; Sat. 10/16, at 9pm and Sun. 10/17 at 3pm.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street. The director is Peter Flynn and the choreographer is Devanand Janki. Michael Bottari & Ronald Case are the set and costume designers and the lighting designer is Jeff Croiter. Greg Anthony is the music supervisor, arranger, orchestrator; Annbritt duChateau is the music director and the associate musical directors are Danny Percefull and Sue Anschultz. www.shinethemusical.com

The Irish Repertory Theatre's hit revival THE IRISH...AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt ('Angela's Ashes') will close on September 26, 2010. The production is Directed by Charlotte Moore, who helmed the recent Broadway concert version of BRIGADOON.