Working Title News

Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions today (10 December 2015) announce that after 4,600 performances, due to the theatre's previously announced refurbishment programme, the multi award-winning West End production ofBilly Elliot the Musical will play its final performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 9 April 2016 as the production celebrates its eleventh birthday. The show has been seen to date by over 5.25 million people in London and nearly 11 million people worldwide, has grossed over $800 million worldwide and is the winner of over 80 theatre awards internationally.

Clinton Hill cultural hub and OBIE award-winner JACK launches its winter/spring 2016 season with an a cappella opera set in Zimbabwe by composer Tanyaradzwa Tawengwa, a weekend of curated works by Modesto "Flako" Jimenez, the premiere of the dirty and bracing play Tom & Eliza, by Celine Song, the English-language premiere of Argentinian playwright Rafael Spregelburd's SPAM, The Geneva Project by Jennifer Harrison Newman, Antonio Ramos' Thirsty Mind, love and starvation sitting in a lonely tree and an exploration in minimalist/pop art performance by the No Face Performance Group.  JACK also engineers the return of Walter Dundervill's ARENA (which had two sold-out runs at JACK in 2014 and 2015). 

Three original television projects featuring what's popping in fan culture have joined Pop's development slate for 2016, the CBS Corporation/Lionsgate-owned channel announced today.

FOX has ordered YOU'RE BACK IN THE ROOM (working title), a new eight-episode one-hour comedy game show with a hypnotizing twist.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Cameron Mackintosh's current Broadway revival of  Claude-Michel Schonberg & Alain Boublil's legendary musical LES MISERABLES will end its acclaimed run on Sunday, September 4, 2016 at the Imperial Theater (239 West 45th Street).  The current Broadway version of LES MISERABLES is the only production of the musical currently playing in North America and stars Alfie Boe, the acclaimed star of the London 25th Anniversary Concert, as Jean Valjean through February 28.  John Owen-Jones, who is currently starring as The Phantom in Mackintosh's London production of The Phantom of the Opera, and has played Valjean both on Broadway (in 2007) and in London, will succeed Boe in the role beginning March 1 for the duration of the show's Broadway run.  This new production of the musical will have given 1,026 performances over two-and-a-half years.  In total, since the 1987 opening of the original production, LES MISERABLESwill have played 8,202 performances on Broadway. 

On March 18, 2016, The Metropolitan Museum of Art invites the public to celebrate the opening of The Met Breuer with three days of special programs inaugurating its new space dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

Below, three-year-old toddler Koen gives a passionate performance of the anthem, 'Do You Hear The People Sing?' from LES MISERABLES. Les Miserables. Do you think he's ready for Broadway?

A+E Networks and iHeartMedia announced today that they will present 'Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America' (working title) today, November 20 at 8PM ET/PT.

The Seacoast Repertory theatre is seeking submissions to be presented in a one-time-event, Stories of Addition (working title), in an attempt to help raise awareness about the heroin and addiction epidemic affecting the Seacoast. Stories should be non-fiction, 5 minutes or less when read out loud, and can be from any point of view. In addition to seeking stories from those suffering from or recovering from addition, Seacoast Rep is also stories from caretakers, family members, friends, or any unique perspective.

WE tv announced today that it is developing a new one-hour unscripted series called 'Basketball Moms' (working title) focused on five Houston-area mothers whose sons play on rival youth basketball teams and dream of making it to the NBA.

Cabinet of Cynics and Stepping Out Theatre present THE DIVIDED LAING by Patrick Marmion, running tonight, November 18 - December 12, 2015 at the Arcola Theatre.

Billy Elliot the Musical today (16 November 2015) welcomes Euan Garrett, 12 years old from East Lothian, Scotland, who will make his West End stage debut at the Victoria Palace Theatre as the forty-second boy to play the title role in the iconic British musical in London.  Also joining the cast today is Matthew Seadon-Young who will play Billy's older brother Tony.

A brand-new promo for Broadway's LES MISERABLES just hit YouTube (watch it below!), and it looks like Alfie Boe isn't long for the part of 'Jean Valjean'. The video announces the actor's departure date as February 28th, 2016. No word yet on who will replace him in the lead role, but BWW will keep our ears to the ground!

The TexARTS Musical Theatre Academy is known throughout the Lake Travis region for producing memorable youth productions like 'Beauty and the Beast Jr.,' 'Bring It On the Musical' and 'Legally Blonde the Musical,' but this fall, the students have taken on a whole new challenge. A collaboration of TexARTS artistic director Darren Gibson and show director Russel Taylor, these 23 teenage artists have put into production an original revue of Broadway favorites called 'Project Broadway: Working Title.'

It was 75 years ago, in the July 1940 issue of Unknown Fantasy Fiction, that 'Fear' was published. With at least 25 editions since its initial publication, 'Fear' has been recognized as the prototype novel of modern horror fiction. Galaxy Press celebrated Fear's anniversary at their Halloween event which included a theatrical performance of another of Hubbard's chilling tales, 'Dead Men Kill.' As part of the evening's activities, a Diamond Jubilee presentation from The Strand Magazine, America's leading mystery magazine for readers passionate about great mysteries, was made by actor Ramon Terrell (Supernatural, Arrow and iZombie) on The Strand's behalf before a packed house. Andrew Gulli, Managing Editor of The Strand Magazine stated in a letter congratulating the publisher on the anniversary, 'Fear is a Tour-de-Force in the world of horror. Not only is it chilling and tense, it's also one of the most unique and creative novels I have ever read.' He went on, 'From the point of view of a publisher, I can see how this inspired and influenced some of the greatest genre authors of our time such as Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Block. The book is as chilling, tense, and as brilliant now as it was when it was published.' And it is these great genre authors who have recognized the story's impact: Stephen King called Fear, 'one of the really, really good ones.' Isaac Asimov said, 'Of all L. Ron Hubbard's stories, this is my favorite.' Ray Bradbury wrote, 'A true Scare!... Fear deeply influenced me.' Ray Faraday Nelson stated, 'Fear in particular, directly influenced all my work.' Robert Block noted, 'Fear is L. Ron Hubbard's finest work.' With the working title 'Phantasmagoria,' Hubbard began writing this story in January 1940 where he conceived a main character who unexpectedly loses hours from his life. Hubbard explains, 'He strives to locate his deeds while missing everywhere but in the right place, for he fears to look there.' And as for the story's style, he added, 'And I think a nice, delicate style is best suited. Paint everything in sweetness and light and then begin to dampen it, not with the style, but with the events themselves.' Fear is available from Galaxy Press, Amazon.com and BN.com in both print and digital formats. http://www.galaxypress.com/product/3-book-mystery-set/ Born on March 13, 1911 in Tilden, Nebraska, L. Ron Hubbard was one of America's most prolific writers of popular fiction producing over 15 million words of fiction with a writing career that spanned over five decades. During the 1930s and 40s he authored more than 200 short stories, novelettes and novels under his own name and any of his 15 pen names at a production rate of about 100,000 words a month. His published works from that era encompassed adventure, detective, science fiction, western and fantasy work and can be found at www.GalaxyPress.com.

TBS has given a greenlight to Search Party, a dark comedy about a group of four self-absorbed 20-somethings who come together when a former college acquaintance mysteriously disappears.

Award-winning choreographer Helen Simoneau announces the 2015-2016 season of Helen Simoneau Danse. In the company's 6th annual weeklong engagement, they will perform the world premiere of CARIBOU, March 3-5 at Hanesbrands Theatre, Winston-Salem, NC.

New Zealand native Hayden Tee will assume the role of Javert beginning Friday, January 29 in Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new Broadway production of Claude-Michel Schonberg & Alain Boublil's LES MISERABLES, now in its second year at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). Tee comes directly to Broadway from the new Australian production ofLES MISERABLES, for which he has received wide acclaim. Earl Carpenter will give his final performance as Javert at the matinee on Sunday, January 24 before departing to star in the upcoming Manila engagement of LES MISERABLES.

Australian actors Kerrie Anne Greenland (Eponine), Chris Durling (Enjolras), and Emily Langridge (Cosette) will join previously announced cast members Simon Gleeson (Jean Valjean), Earl Carpenter (Javert), and Rachelle Ann Go (Fantine) when the new Asian Tour of the newly reimagined LES MISERABLES (LES MIS) kicks off at The Theatre at Solaire (1 Aseana Ave. Entertainment City, Paranaque City) in March 2016. Visit TicketWorld.com.ph to buy tickets.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) announces plans for a LIFETIME network docu-series following their win at the New York Television Festival. The pilot was entered in A&E's independent pilot competition and came out of the festival as the winner of the Lifetime development deal. Watch this two-and-a-half minute long piece on BDF.