From the rockin' dance halls of Memphis, Tennessee comes this hot and bothered new Broadway musical with heart, soul and energy to burn. Set in the turbulent south in the 1950s, it is the story of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ whose love of good music transcends race lines and airwaves. Get ready to experience all the exuberance and the emotion... the beauty and the controversy... of a wondrous, defining time in our history. You're tuning in to Memphis, so turn up that dial!
MEMPHIS features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical's book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the current award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).
The MFA Musical Theatre Program at San Diego State University is once again teaming up with La Jolla Playhouse to develop a new musical, following up on their collaboration on the reading of BD Wong's new musical MR. DOCTOR last February. This year, after a competitive selection process, the musical ON THE EVE has been chosen for a public staged reading at SDSU on November 19, 2015 at 6:30pm in the Experimental Theatre.
In the wake of the media frenzy about African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, a recent article in The New York Times by Gia Kourlas applauds the fact that the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet are featuring black, Asian, Latino, and multiracial dancers 'where it matters most: Lincoln Center, home base to both companies'.
From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Peter Gwinn, music by Jody Shelton, direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) will play October 3 - November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, September 1 at www.underscoretheatre.org or by calling (312) 646-0975. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm.
MasterVoices kicks off the 2015-2016 season with The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Dutyon October 15-16, 2015 at 8pm at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street, New York City. Following the success of our 2012 Mikado at Carnegie Hall, MasterVoices' semi-staged presentation of The Pirates of Penzance will feature a cast of stars from the Broadway and opera worlds, along with Orchestra of St. Luke's performing Arthur Sullivan's original orchestrations under the direction of Artistic Director Ted Sperling. Single tickets are $30-$130 and are available at NYCityCenter.org.For more information visit: www.mastervoices.org/city-center-series.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre just announced the preliminary directors and casting for its 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS. The Festival will take place on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).
From the comedic minds behind The Colbert Report and Fifty Shades! The Musical, Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present the world premiere musical comedy THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) with book and lyrics by Peter Gwinn, music by Jody Shelton, direction and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik, music direction and orchestrations by David Kornfeld. THE STORY OF A STORY (THE UNTOLD STORY) will play October 3 - November 8, 2015 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, September 1 at www.underscoretheatre.org or by calling (312) 646-0975. The press opening is Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 pm.
National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the line up of new musicals for their 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Registration for Industry members is free and now open at www.namt.org/festival.
Tickets for the West End production of Motown the Musical, opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in February 2016, are released for sale today (15 May 2015). With music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. London previews will begin on 11 February 2016 with press night on 8 March 2016 with the show booking to 22 October 2016. Casting and further information about Motown the Musical will be released shortly.
As part of Tennessee Shakespeare Company's first year-round season, the development of three exciting new musicals launches on the University of Memphis Mainstage this summer with Showplace Memphis: Musical Works in Progress.
Gigi, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning musical comedy, celebrates its opening tonight, April 8, at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, and watch highlights from the show below!
Disney's Aladdin, the Tony Award-winning new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, celebrates one year on Broadway today, March 20th at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street). Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the cast celebration, which included a beautiful cake designed by Beth Bennett from Bebe Bakes!
ired by actual events, Memphis, the Musical is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically- rich Tennessee city of Memphis. With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, the club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world that is just unable to accept their love. Will their love be able to withstand the trials of separation, greed and fame? This hot and bothered Broadway musical is filled with heart, soul and energy to burn! Don't miss this Tony-award winning show when it comes to Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts for one night only tonight, March 12 at 7:30pm.
Tectonic Theater Project to present dance/music excerpts of Carmen: A new Afro-Cuban musical in development today, March 6, 2015 in NYC. Directed by Moises Kaufman, Music Adaptation by Arturo O'Farrill (2015 Grammy Winner), Choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
Tectonic Theater Project to present dance/music excerpts of Carmen: A new Afro-Cuban musical in development on Friday, March 6, 2015 in NYC. Directed by Moises Kaufman, Music Adaptation by Arturo O'Farrill (2015 Grammy Winner), Choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
Portland Ovations heats up this winter with its' presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis at Merrill Auditorium on Saturday, March 14 for two performances 4pm and 8pm.
ired by actual events, Memphis, the Musical is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically- rich Tennessee city of Memphis. With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, the club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world that is just unable to accept their love. Will their love be able to withstand the trials of separation, greed and fame? This hot and bothered Broadway musical is filled with heart, soul and energy to burn! Don't miss this Tony-award winning show when it comes to Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts for one night only Thursday, March 121 at 7:30pm.
Tonight, February 10, through February 12, 2015, EarShot (the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network) and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, will present the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra New Music Readings at Kleinhans Music Hall (3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo).
From February 10-12, 2015, EarShot (the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network) and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, will present the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra New Music Readings at Kleinhans Music Hall (3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo). On Wednesday, February 11 at 7pm at Kleinhans Hall, the public will have the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of bringing brand new orchestral works to life, as music by the four selected composers is read by the BPO under the baton of associate conductor, Stefan Sanders. The composers – Cody Forrest, Jay Hurst, Yuan-Chen Li, and Scott Ordway – were selected through a national call for scores, and during the Readings will receive feedback from BPO Musicians, Sanders, and mentor composers Robert Beaser of The Juilliard School and artistic director laureate of American Composers Orchestra, Rob Deemer from SUNY Fredonia, and Pulitzer Prize winner Melinda Wagner. Afterwards, the audience is invited to be a part of a discussion Q&A with the young composers, the conductor, and mentor composers.
La Jolla Playhouse announces five shows for its 2015/2016 season, featuring all new works, including the world-premiere musical Come from Away, featuring book, music and lyrics by acclaimed Canadian husband-and-wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley; the world premiere of Indecent, co-created by director Rebecca Taichman (Playhouse's Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Milk Like Sugar), and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive), co-produced with Yale Repertory Theatre; and Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, by Michael Benjamin Washington (Memphis, The Wiz), directed by The Cosby Show's Phylicia Rashad, which had its first workshop during the Playhouse's 2014 DNA New Work Series.
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Albee's A DELICATE BALANCE begins on Broadway, BILLY & RAY and 'BROWNSVILLE SONG' open off-Broadway, HERE LIES LOVE welcomes a new 'Imelda' and more!
Yesterday, BroadwayWorld brought you a video of Broadway veteran Adam Pascal (RENT, MEMPHIS) performing 'Bring Him Home,' from LES MISERABLES at an event at Cobbs Mill Inn, and today, we bring you even more clips from that performance! Check out the video below!
Katie Brayben will play the title role in the West End production of Beautiful - The Carole King Musicalopening at the Aldwych Theatre in February next year. Alan Morrissey will play King's husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, with Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Glynis Barber as Genie Klein, King's mother, and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner. London previews beginning on 10 February 2015 and with the show currently booking to 13 June 2015. Press night will now take place on 24 February at 7pm. Final casting will be announced shortly.
New York City Center's 11th annual Fall for Dance Festival will feature free performances in Central Park and 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, in six unique programs in September and October 2014. In keeping with the Festival's commitment to make dance accessible to everyone, the Festival will kick off with two FREE evenings of dance at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, in association with The Public Theater, today and tomorrow, September 12 and 13 (rain date, September 14) and will continue at City Center from October 8 - October 19 with all tickets at $15. The Festival's many free pre-show events will include dance lessons and panels by choreographers, artists and dance educators. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, September 14 at 11 a.m.
James L. Nederlander, Estefan Enterprises, Inc and Bernie Yuman just announced that ON YOUR FEET! - a new musical based on the life story of seven-time GRAMMY® winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, legendary producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan - will have its Opening Night on Broadway on Thursday, November 5, 2015, with preview performances beginning Monday, October 5, 2015 at the Marquis Theatre in New York City. The musical, directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray), will land on Broadway following a five-week World Premiere engagement at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, from June 2 - July 5, 2015.
New York City Center's 11th annual Fall for Dance Festival will feature free performances in Central Park and 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, in six unique programs in September and October 2014.
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