Will Rogers News

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is thrilled to announce that the seventh annual Tommy Tune Awards will include 45 high schools from the Greater Houston area.

Christy Carlson Romano -- the popular actress and recording artist who starred on Broadway in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and received an Emmy-nomination for her performance on the Disney Channel's 'Kim Possible' -- joined the Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q last night, Monday September 29th. BroadwayWorld.com was there to celebrate her return to Broadway!

Following rave reviews and a sold out run, COLLEGE The Musical has extended at this year's New York Musical Theater Festival. Initially scheduled to close September 28, COLLEGE will add a performance at 10:30pm on Friday, October 3 at the ATA Chernuchin Theater (314 W 54th Street). Tickets are available at www.nymf.org.

Christy Carlson Romano -- the popular actress and recording artist who starred on Broadway in BEAUTY AND THE BEST and received an Emmy-nomination for her performance as the title character on the Disney Channel's popular animated series 'Kim Possible' -- joins the Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q for eight weeks starting tonight September 29 and continuing until November 23 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

The New York Pops led by Vincent Falcone and Eric Stern, celebrates its hometown on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 8 p.m. at Carnegie Hall in a program entitled 'A Love Letter to New York' featuring classic songs about New York City and the world premieres of original songs about the city by composer Kenneth Laub. Clint Holmes headlines the concert with special guests Ashley Brown, Laura Bell Bundy and Linda Hart. The program also includes songs by Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter. Ms. Bundy, Ms. Hart, and Mr. Holmes will make their Carnegie Hall debuts.

Christy Carlson Romano -- the popular actress and recording artist who starred on Broadway in BEAUTY AND THE BEST and received an Emmy-nomination for her performance as the title character on the Disney Channel's popular animated series 'Kim Possible' -- will join the Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q for eight weeks from September 29 to November 23 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, announces the cast of Big River, a spirited musical adventure like no other. Big River will begin September 26 and run through November 30, 2008 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. Big River is sponsored by Bank of America and Connecticut Light & Power / Yankee Gas.

This fall, Tony Award nominated actor Keith Carradine (The Will Rogers Follies, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 'Nashville,' 'Dexter') returns to the New York stage in the New York premiere of Anthony Horowitz's acclaimed thriller, MINDGAME. Ken Russell, the celebrated director of the films Tommy, Woman In Love and The Boyfriend, makes his New York stage directorial debut with MINDGAME.

Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, known for producing acclaimed, innovative and classic musicals, announces its exciting 2009 season, featuring five musicals that have never been seen on the Drury Lane stage. Hot off the Broadway stage, the musical comedy 'CURTAINS', directed by William Brown previews March 19, opens March 26 and runs through May 17; the feel-good musical review 'PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES', directed by Shawn Stengel previews May 28, opens June 4 and runs through August 2; the Tony Award-winning musical 'CABARET', directed by Jim Corti previews August 13, opens August 20 and runs through October 11; the delightful Jazz Age musical 'THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE', directed by Artistic Director William Osetek, previews October 22, opens October 29 and runs through December 20; and the beloved musical 'FUNNY GIRL', directed by Gary Griffin, previews December 31, opens January 7 and runs through March 7, 2010.

Flamingo Court, the off-Broadway comedy by Luigi Creatore starring Jamie Farr (television's 'M*A*S*H,' Guys & Dolls) and Tony Award nominee Anita Gillette (Chapter Two, They're Playing Our Song), will play its final performance on Sunday, September 28th at 3:00PM after 68 performances (including 17 previews).

Eurydice, a bold, slyly comic, visually fascinating take on the classic Orpheus myth by Sarah Ruhl, is enjoying an ambitious revival by Victory Gardens Theater, to open the 35th season at Chicago's #1 presenter of new plays.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of OOHRAH! by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Leigh Silverman. OOHRAH! will be read by Aya Cash, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jesse Hooker, Molly Ranson, Armando Riesco, and Will Rogers.

After a twice-extended world-premiere engagement at the Hippodrome State Theater this summer, COLLEGE The Musical is set to make its New York City professional premiere September 18 - 28 at ATA Chernuchin Theater as part of the New York Musical Theater Festival.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of OOHRAH! by Bekah Brunstetter, directed by Leigh Silverman. OOHRAH! will be read by Aya Cash, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jesse Hooker, Molly Ranson, Armando Riesco, and Will Rogers.

The Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities presents the rollicking and stylized 1950's era musical 'Bye Bye Birdie,' directed and choreographed by Dan Mojica of Broadway's 'Beauty & The Beast,' previewing September 17 - 19 and opening September 20, 8 p.m. at the 1400-seat Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach.

On Monday September 15th, movie icon Arlene Dahl and producer Marty Richards hosted an evening of song to benefit The Broadway Walk of Stars Foundation. The gala was held at Richard's River House duplex apartment. Kelli O'Hara lent her glorious vocal talent to the event, and the guest list included theater icons Polly Bergen and Phyllis Newman.

From October 23rd through November 16th, just in time for election season, America's beloved cowboy humorist is brought to vivid life in WILL ROGERS' AMERICA, a 90-minute one-man-show of homespun wit, the working man's voice and small-town common sense-complete with vintage film clips and live rope tricks! Adapted and performed by veteran actor Rich Hoag, this production will be directed by Hoag's long-time friend and Rubicon Artistic Director James O'Neil.

Pioneer Theatre Company proudly presents 'My Fair Lady,' the classic tale about a draggle-tailed guttersnipe who learns to talk like a lady.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that The Roundabout Theatre Company will be presenting a reading of the new Broadway-bound musical BONNIE & CLYDE on February 9, 2009. The show features a book by Ivan Menchell, music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, direction by Jeff Calhoun and musical direction by John McDaniel.

Variety is reporting that the world premiere of High School Musical 2 will be directed by Jeff Calhoun at Theater of the Stars in Atlanta, Georgia. The show will run from November 7th- 16th 2008. Casting has not yet been announced.