A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - 2011 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 4

Vital Theatre Company has announced the world premiere of Fancy Nancy The Musical, opening September 29th, 2012 at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre at 2162 Broadway. With a book by Susan DiLallo, music by Danny Abosch, and direction and choreography by Sam Viverito, Fancy Nancy The Musical is based on the bestselling children's book series by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. This magnifique musical-that's fancy for great show-begins performances on September 29th, 2012 with a "pink carpet" press opening.

Producers of THE ADDAMS FAMILY announced additional dates today for the Fall 2012 leg of the musical's North American tour. The production will play Dallas (Oct. 2 - 21), Seattle (Oct. 24 - Nov. 11), Salt Lake City (Nov. 13 - 18), Las Vegas (Nov.20 - 25), Tempe (Dec. 11 - 16) and Costa Mesa (Dec. 18 - 30). Plus, Curtis Holbrook (West Side Story, Xanadu) will join the cast of the national tour as "Lucas Beineke."

Vital Theatre Company has announced the world premiere of Fancy Nancy The Musical, opening September 29th, 2012 at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre at 2162 Broadway. With a book by Susan DiLallo, music by Danny Abosch, and direction and choreography by Sam Viverito, Fancy Nancy The Musical is based on the bestselling children's book series by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. This magnifique musical-that's fancy for great show-begins performances on September 29th, 2012 with a "pink carpet" press opening.

Surflight Theatre will present the New Jersey premiere of an all-new and entirely original musical comedy Once Upon A Time in New Jersey (described as "The Sopranos" meets "Happy Days") from August 28 through September 15.

The Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County will hold its second annual gala benefit, Dressing for the Night this evening, August 18 at Bellport's Gateway Playhouse. Ken Page leads the all star cast of entertainers for the evening which includes Jennifer Hope Wills, Ed Staudenmayer, Erica Aubrey and Jamie Jackson.

Despite being completely busy preparing for the concert staging of A TOUCH OF VENUS, Paul Hope, Artistic Director and Founder of Bayou City Concert Musicals, took a break from his busy schedule to talk to me about his innovative and charitable organization. Since it's inception, Bayou City Concert Musicals has been providing Houston audiences with well-produced and lauded performances of often-neglected musicals. Continuing to grow an ever-increasing loyal audience and fan following, I asked Paul Hope to tell me more about Bayou City Concert Musicals and the shows they choose to produce.

The Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County will hold its second annual gala benefit, Dressing for the Night on the evening of August 18 at Bellport's Gateway Playhouse. Ken Page leads the all star cast of entertainers for the evening which includes Jennifer Hope Wills, Ed Staudenmayer, Erica Aubrey and Jamie Jackson.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces casting for the 2012 Fall Season. The Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine will be staged by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin, September 26-November 4, 2012 in CST's Courtyard Theater. The season continues with The School for Lies by David Ives, adapted from Moliere's The Misanthrope and staged by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, December 4, 2012-January 20, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater.

The national tour of The Addams Family, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Pennsylvania premiere in Pittsburgh tonight, July 31 and play through Sunday, August 12, 2012, at the Benedum Center as part of the Pittsburgh CLO summer season and PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh 2011-12 series.

Full casting has been announced for theupcoming national tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, which will make its Pennsylvania premiere in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 31 - Sunday, August 12, 2012, at the Benedum Center

Vital Theatre Company, the award-winning theatre company and producer of the long running family show PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL, and HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children's entertainment, have announced ANGELINA BALLERINA™ THE MUSICAL with book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Ben Morss and directed and choreographed by Sam Viverito, is based on the famous dancing mouseling and her friends created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig, will have performances at The Riverside Theatre.

Jess, a 'So You Think You Can Dance' finalist last year, is a Broadway veteran at 19.

Goodspeed Musicals will 'coax the blues right out ‘a the horn' with its much-anticipated new production of MAME. The bold and brassy musical comedy will runs now through July 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. [Official Press Opening is tonight, May 9, 2012.] Check out a sneak peek into the April 28 dress rehearsal for MAME. Watch the video below!

Goodspeed Musicals will 'coax the blues right out ‘a the horn' with its much-anticipated new production of MAME. The bold and brassy musical comedy will runs now through July 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. [Official Press Opening will be May 9, 2012.] Check out a sneak peek into last night's - April 28 - dress rehearsal for MAME. Watch the video below!

CBS Radio's popular weekly entertainment segment "A Closer Look at Broadway," hosted by Jim Taylor, currently features George Morfogen and Jim Stanek, who recently joined FREUD'S LAST SESSION at New World Stages as Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis respectively. FREUD'S LAST SESSION is the winner of the 2011 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Play and additional productions are already set to open into 2013 in major markets across the nation and around the world. The CBS Radio interview can be heard at http://newyork.cbslocal.com/audio-on-demand/a-closer-look-at-broadway/.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb in the Eisenhower Theater June 8 to July 1, 2012. The musical revue will star Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Alan H. Green, Leslie Kritzer, Patina Miller, and Matthew Scott. Originally produced at Signature Theatre in Virginia and co-conceived by David Loud and Eric Schaeffer, the production features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and will be directed by Eric Schaeffer. Jon Kalbfleisch will conduct the 22-piece Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Press opening night is Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Vital Theatre Company, the award-winning theatre company and producer of the long running family show PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL, and HIT Entertainment today announced ANGELINA BALLERINA™ THE MUSICAL with book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Ben Morss and directed and choreographed by Sam Viverito, based on the famous dancing mouseling and her friends created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig, will have performances at Florence Gould Hall, for three shows only.

Linda Lavin (Broadway Bound), Sebastian Arcelus (Elf), LaChanze (The Color Purple), Emily Skinner (Side Show), Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!), Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies, The Little Mermaid) will be among the star players in the upcoming Broadway Hal Prince tribute, PRINCE OF BROADWAY, The New York Times reveals.

Today, March 16th, George Morfogen and Jim Stanek are set to join the cast of Off-Broadway's award-winning hit FREUD'S LAST SESSION as Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis respectively. Original cast members, Mark H. Dold and Martin Rayner, are taking their show on the road and opening the Chicago production of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, beginning performances March 21st at the Mercury Theatre.

Goodspeed Musicals will "coax the blues right out 'a the horn" with its much-anticipated new production of Mame. The bold and brassy musical comedy will run from April 20 - July 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Mame will be sponsored by Liberty Bank, Mohegan Sun, and The Shops at Mohegan Sun. [Official Press Opening will be May 9, 2012.] Come along for the madcap adventures of Auntie Mame and her adoring nephew. Surrounded by an eccentric cast of characters, she celebrates the Roaring 20s, overcomes tragedy and sails through life without missing a fad or a dance step. Jerry Herman's delightful score is packed with favorites "Bosom Buddies," "We Need a Little Christmas" and more. Brimming with optimism and zest, Mame will keep you laughing while warming your heart!

Casting is complete for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream, the second Encores! production of the 2011-12 season, running March 28 - April 1. Pipe Dream will be directed by Marc Bruni with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Kelli Barclay. It will play for seven performances at New York City Center, West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

On Friday, March 16th, George Morfogen and Jim Stanek are set to join the cast of Off-Broadway's award-winning hit FREUD'S LAST SESSION as Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis respectively. Original cast members, Mark H. Dold and Martin Rayner, are taking their show on the road and opening the Chicago production of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, beginning performances March 21st at the Mercury Theatre. This Monday (President's Day), FREUD'S LAST SESSION will celebrate its 600th New York performance at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Gallery Players has announced cast and crew for the first New York City revival ofA Man of No Importance. The Gallery Players has reunited the creative team of last season's 4-time NYIT Award winning revival of The Drowsy Chaperone for their first production of 2012. Directed by Hans Freidrichs and produced by Robert Earle Jones, A Man of No Importance opens at The Gallery Players Saturday January 28.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions of Follies opens today on Navy Pier. Starring in the Chicago production, directed by Gary Griffin, are Hollis Resnik as Carlotta, Brent Barrett as Benjamin, Caroline O'Connor as Phyllis, Robert Petkoff as Buddy and Susan Moniz as Sally.

Gary Griffin is directing Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's first production of the 2011-12 season, FOLLIES. The production will play today through November 6. For additional information, visit: www.chicagoshakes.com.