Universal Studios News

Today, the Nederlander Organization and Hollywood Pantages Theatre announced that Jonathan Bennett will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for THE 8TH ANNUAL JERRY HERMAN AWARDS, a celebration of the achievement and excellence in high school musical theatre in Los Angeles. This celebrated annual awards show will take place at The Ricardo Montalban Theatre on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 7pm.

Professional vocalist and popular Winter Park Playhouse performer, Kelly Morris Rowan, will return to the theatre's Spotlight Cabaret Series on May 15 and 16, 2019 with her new solo cabaret, Behind The Curtain. Playhouse Musical Director Christopher Leavy will accompany on piano.

Each year, Phantom Projects Theatre Group provides donates $20,000 in theatre tickets and performances to non-profits, schools, and youth groups. In addition nearly $60,000 in tickets are underwritten allowing groups to be bussed in to field trip performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The ability to do this every year, is due to the annual event: The Phantom Cabaret: A Benefit Gala for Arts Education, taking place on May 4 at the La Mirada Country Club. Through an evening of entertainment, dinner, silent auction and more, the event pays tribute to the non-profit organization's work with at-risk youth through the performing arts.

Pandemonium disrupts several elaborate film productions underway on Universal Studios' bustling movie studio backlot, sending cast and crew running for their lives.

Et Tu, Weezer? TROUBADOUR THEATER COMPANY is back, and taking a stab at their latest hilarious world premiere musical comedy event with JULIUS WEEZER, adapted, choreographed & directed by Matt Walker. JULIUS WEEZER will preview on Saturday, May 4 at 8pm; Sunday, May 5 at 4pm; Thursday, May 9 at 8pm; and will open on Friday, May 10 at 8pm and perform through Sunday May 19 at 4pm at the El Portal Theatre, 11206 Weddington St. in North Hollywood.

A teen-helmed production of the Tony Award-winning rock musical, Spring Awakening, is set to open at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood on May 11, 2019. Directed by 14-year-old wunderkind George Baron, (whose directorial debut for the stage was his jukebox-styled Broadway musical revue I Confess at the Whitefire Theatre), the cast also features up-and-coming young talents performing in the adolescent roles with musical direction by Estani Frizzell. The musical is based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 controversial play about teenagers trying to find their way in the world amid the angst of sexual discovery. Featuring music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, the original Broadway production received eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and was hailed by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle as the Best Musical of the Year.

From New Year's Eve to Valentine's Day, from Easter to the Fourth of July and from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Universal Studios Hollywood adds a demented twist to life's biggest moments in the all-original Halloween Horror Nights maze, “Holidayz in Hell.”

Pittsburgh CLO's 2019 Summer Season will be highlighted by stand-out performances from Broadway's best and distinguished stars of film and television, including Jenn Colella, star of Tony-winning Come From Away, Charles Shaughnessy, best known as Maxwell Sheffield on TV's The Nanny and Ace Young of American Idol fame.

Adoption day is the ultimate rite of passage for every animal seeking a home, and it's now the inspiration for Universal Studios Hollywood's lively new ride, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!,” opening in 2020 based on Illumination's 2016 global blockbuster and upcoming sequel, which answers the question, “What do your pets do when you're not at home?”

Skylight Theatre Company (Producing Artistic Director, Gary Grossman and Co-Artistic Director Tony Abatemarco) announced today the world premiere of BRONCO BILLY - THE MUSICAL, It marks the organization's first world premiere musical production. The new musical, based on the Warner Bros. film Bronco Billy, features a book by Dennis Hackin, lyrics and music by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres, with additional lyrics by Michele Brourman. Hunter Bird will direct. Preview performances begin on May 10, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The limited engagement plays through June 30 at the Skylight Theatre, located at 1816 ½ North Vermont in Los Feliz, Ca. Tickets are now on sale now at http://www.SkylightTix.com.

Folsom Lake College welcomes actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover to the Harris Center in a lecture moderated by KFBK's Kitty O'Neal. A commanding presence on screen, stage, and television for more than 25 years, Danny Glover's film credits range from the blockbuster Lethal Weapon franchise to the Oscar-nominated hit Dreamgirls, to smaller independent features — some of which Glover also produced. The son of civil rights activists, he has gained respect and renown for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts, and currently serves as an Ambassador for UNICEF.

The new nationally syndicated daytime program “The Kelly Clarkson Show” has been sold in 99% of the U.S. prior to its Sep. 9 premiere, it was announced today by Tracie Wilson, EVP, Creative Affairs, NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution.

Netflix's supernatural thriller, “Stranger Things” returns to “Halloween Horror Nights” 2019 at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, debuting all-new mazes inspired by seasons 2 and 3 of the critically-acclaimed series.

MB Stage Productions announces the workshop of Tabletop (a new musical) by Chad Sundman and Race Benaglio. Tabletop will have its first workshop performances at the Hollywood Fringe Festival (June 2019) with subsequent workshops to follow and a full production by 2020/21. Tabletop will be directed and developed under the guidance of Jared Tyrel Pixler and David Evan Stolworthy who had previously produced and directed THE VIDEO GAMES which ran for three years.

A special performance Celebrating Cole Porter - YOU'VE GOT THAT THING will be presented at The Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street - off Broadway between Broadway & Columbus Ave) on Saturday, March 30th at 9:30 pm. The production celebrates the life of musical prodigy, Cole Porter, with those who knew him best: his muse Ethel Merman (Analisa Bell), his wife Linda (Alexandra Foley) and Edward, a young writer who embodies the essence of all his male lovers (Quinn Martin). Featuring classics like Anything Goes, Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love, Night and Day, and, of course, You've Got that Thing!. This delightful show has humor, pathos, and of course those glorious songs. Tickets are $20 and there is a two drink minimun and a small facility fee. Premium packages are also available.

Celebrate the life of musical prodigy, Cole Porter, with those who knew him best: his muse Ethel Merman (Analisa Bell), his wife Linda (Alexandra Foley) and Edward, a young writer who embodies the essence of all his male lovers (Quinn Martin). A show where anything goes, You've Got That Thing! A Celebration of Cole Porter is happening at The Triad Theater on Saturday, March 30 at 9:30pm.

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.

Singer/Songwriter/Arranger/Musical Director, Michele Brourman, has been nominated for the Manhattan Association of Cabaret (MAC) award in the category of major recording for 'The Price of Love' project. Brourman and fellow nominees, Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales ('The Ginger Snapped') and Marissa Mulder ('Two Tickets Left') will find out their fate when the envelopes are opened live at the 33rd Annual MAC Awards on Tuesday, March 26 at 7:00 pm at Sony Hall in New York City.

FOR THE LOVE OF (OR, THE ROLLER DERBY PLAY), the first of the three productions Center Theatre Group remounts at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of their BLOCK PARTY 2019, opens March 9, 2019. As cosmic forces would have it, sound designer Gilly Moon also skates in the San Fernando Valley Roller Derby. Gilly took a breather between her sound and skating pursuits to chat with me.

Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort invite guests to experience an exciting new dimension of sorcery at “The Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM” with the introduction of the “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle,” a powerful, original and breathtaking projection experience.