William Finn News

Playwrights Horizons will present private readings of MRS. SHARP, a new musical with Book by Kirsten Guenther and Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Ryan Scott Oliver. Directed by three-time Tony Award nominee and Playwrights Horizons alumnus Michael Greif (Grey Gardens, Next to Normal, Rent), the invitation-only readings will take place on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street).

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) concludes its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES features Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

To celebrate the end of the school year, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, is offering Chicagoland teachers a special 'School's Out For Summer' discount to see the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Thursday evenings from June 4 through July 16.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. This is not on the Wash.U. main campus.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, launches its 40th Anniversary season with a vibrant world premiere musical, TINYARD HILL, by Tommy Newman and 2009 Jonathan Larsen Award-winning composer Mark Allen.

Sebastian Arcelus returns to the role of Bob Gaudio in the Broadway cast of JERSEY BOYS tonight July 14th, 2009. Arcelus, who was most recently seen in the Lincoln Theater Center production of Happiness, replaces Andrew Rannells, who replaced him in the hit show at the August Wilson Theatre.

Los Angeles...Celebration Theatre presents the first show of their 2009-2010 season, the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of the heavenly smash-hit, musical comedy sensation, ALTAR BOYZ.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to present Herringbone, book by Tom Cone, music by Skip Kennon, lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, directed by Roger Rees (La Jolla Playhouse's Peter and the Starcatchers), and starring Tony Award-winner BD Wong (M. Butterfly; Law & Order: SVU). Herringbone runs August 1 - 30 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre (press opening: Friday, August 7 at 8:00 pm).

On Monday, July 6th, 11:30pm 'Scott Nevins' Curtain Call' at Splash is proud to present another diva-licious edition. XL STAR winner, 'After Party' co-host and cast member of the off-Broadway William Finn revue 'Make Me a Song' - ALYSHA UMPHRESS joins the show.

Theater Aspen received an award for Outstanding Regional Theatre at the 4th Annual Henry Awards ceremony held at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on Monday June 29th. Artistic Director Paige Price accepted the award, given by the Colorado Theatre Guild, which was founded in 1976 and boasts 250 members.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Daniel Tatar, Valentin in the LA Ovation-nominated Kiss of the Spider Woman from fall 2008, is a very charismatic and focused actor. In my book, great actors who can sing make the best cabaret artists. First of all, they know how to sing a song, and secondly, they usually have a natural way with handling an audience. Think of Mandy Patinkin, who has never held back a fret or a syllable!

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. This is not on the Wash.U. main campus.

Original revues can be terrific collections of a composer's work?for prime examples, see Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World, William Finn's Elegies or Infinite Joy, or just about anything by Joe Iconis. Well-written songs can create a mood strong enough to sustain an audience's interest for several hours.

Atlantis Productions in Manila brings back its hit production of the Tony Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on July 3 to 12, 2009. The show is slated to tour Singapore in August 2009.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.

Fresh from his acclaimed stint as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict in the Signature Theatre's production of Michael John LaChiusa's Giant, Lewis Cleale has returned to the role of El Gallo in The Fantasticks. He previously played the role from September 2008 through March 2009. Addi McDaniel will join the cast as Luisa on Monday, June 29, 2009. They replace, respectively, Bradley Dean and Ramona Mallory.

Cabaret performer and producer Jamie deRoy will present a special evening with Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers on Friday, June 26th (7PM) at the New York hotspot Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues).