Broadway Bound - Broadway Articles Page 20

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and twenty-six writers selected for the 2014 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, its fourth year of providing working retreats for musical theatre writers. For nine consecutive weeks beginning June 29th, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. They are provided with a private home, transportation, food, and a stipend. All costs are fully funded by donors including The ASCAP Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers participating this year include Broadway's Mindi Dickstein (Little Women), this year's Kleban Prize winner Nathan Tysen (Burnt Part Boys), and Peter Mills, past winner of the Kleban, Fred Ebb Award, and Richard Rodgers prize. The musicals' subjects cover 19th century nautical mysteries, 20th century fairy tales, a 1970's gay bar, and modern-day meth addicts. Every score is original and styles include 16th century Renaissance, big band, folk, rock, and electronic music.

Just yesterday, Lea Michele stopped by Barnes & Noble (33 East 17th Street) to sign copies of her new book, 'Brunette Ambition', which was just released by Crown Archetype, and while she was there she reunited with her Spring Awakening co-star and Broaday BFF Jonathan Groff. Check out photos from the special event below and click here to order it now!

See twenty-five (25) talented high school seniors break a leg as they vie for $100,000 in scholarship money and two National High School Musical Theater Awards trips to New York City during the sixth annual Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition at the Charline McCombs Empire Theater, 226 N. St. Mary's Street, on Sunday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m. Hosted by Las Casas Foundation, the competition will showcase the talents of hopeful high school students while celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre.

It isn't called 'The Longest Running Nightclub Act on Broadway' for nothing. Terese Genecco and her eight-piece 'Little Big Band' are back at The Iridium (1650 Broadway at 51st Street) to celebrate their 99th and 100th performances at the venue on Tuesday, May 20th (shows at 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm.) The multi-award-winning singer/bandleader/comedian continues to light up Times Square with her unique brand of 50's-era Rat Pack-inspired musical mayhem.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with 'From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers'-who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams ('Star Wars,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'E.T., the Extra Terrestrial'), Howard Shore ('Lord of the Rings,' 'The Hobbit,' 'Hugo'), James Horner ('Titanic,' 'Star Trek,' 'Apollo 13') and Elliot Goldenthal ('Alien 3,' 'Batman Forever' and 'Batman and Robin'). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for 'Titanic' sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces four of its five plays for next year's 40th Anniversary season including Lisa D'Amour's disturbing yet bracingly funny drama Detroit, the Tony Award nominated Outside Mullingar by Pulitzer, Oscar and Tony Award-winning writer John Patrick Shanley, the runaway hit of this year's Humana Festival of New American Plays, brownsville song (b-side for tray) by rising playwright Kimber Lee, and Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair's musical whodunit Murder for Two, nominated for this year's Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards. A final mainstage production will be announced shortly.

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, Tony-winning director Diane Paulus, updates us on her latest project- AMALUNA, plus she reminisces about HAIR, PORGY AND BESS, PIPPIN, and more. Check out the full interview below!

A reading of WE FOXES, a new musical by Ryan Scott Oliver - whose, JASPER IN DEADLAND recently concluded a sold-out Off-Broadway run - will be held on Monday, May 5th at the Experimental Theatre on the San Diego State University campus at 7:30pm.

Spring is in the air, as are the sounds of a nationally-acclaimed Iowa pianist in concert halls across the state. International Steinway Artist Jim McDonough and his orchestra are currently touring Iowa with his '2014 SPRING TOUR.' McDonough has sold a quarter- million CDs, and has performed breathtaking concerts for tens of thousands of Iowans.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present Legally Blonde the Musical onstage at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theater today, April 24-May 4. The 2007 winner of London's Olivier Award for Best Musical, stars Courtney Hammond as the intelligent, self-assured and fashion conscious Elle Woods. For tickets and information, call 860-486-2113 and visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner for the West Coast premiere of his latest play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, an epic tale of love, family, sex, money, and politics. Kushner reunites with one of his favorite collaborators, Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone, to bring this sweeping drama to the Roda Theatre. With his trademark mix of soaring intellect and searing emotion, the legendary writer unfurls a poignant story about an Italian family in Brooklyn. When retired longshoreman Gus Marcantonio decides to die, his kids come home with a raucous parade of lovers and spouses to find that even the house keeps secrets. A portrait of a dysfunctional family filled with weighty dialogue, humor, and passion, Kushner's four-act play previews Friday, May 16, opens on Wednesday, May 21, and runs through Sunday, June 29, 2014.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Helping talented high school seniors reach for the stars, Las Casas Foundation is pleased to announce that the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition has been selected to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA), creating the opportunity for two teens to win trips to New York City to participate in NHSMTA, a national celebration of outstanding student achievement recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance.

Spring is in the air, as are the sounds of a nationally-acclaimed Iowa pianist in concert halls across the state. International Steinway Artist Jim McDonough and his orchestra are currently touring Iowa with his "2014 SPRING TOUR." McDonough has sold a quarter- million CDs, and has performed breathtaking concerts for tens of thousands of Iowans.

After playing a child, a Cagelle and a Shark, Yurel is now a denizen of Agrabah--and one of the 'hottest chorus boys' on Broadway.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with "From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers"-who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams ("Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "E.T., the Extra Terrestrial"), Howard Shore ("Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," "Hugo"), James Horner ("Titanic," "Star Trek," "Apollo 13") and Elliot Goldenthal ("Alien 3," "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin"). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for "Titanic" sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present Legally Blonde the Musical onstage at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theater April 24-May 4. The 2007 winner of London's Olivier Award for Best Musical, stars Courtney Hammond as the intelligent, self-assured and fashion conscious Elle Woods. For tickets and information, call 860-486-2113 and visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

Delaware Theatre Company will close its 35th season with the 35th anniversary of the hit musical AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz. Delaware Theatre Company's production will be directed by original Broadway director and co-creator Richard Maltby, Jr. and feature his own handpicked cast alongside the original designs from the 1978 Tony Award-winning production.

The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder for Two have teamed up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Ryan Scott Oliver launched the series last night, March 24th, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder for Twoat New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert event and you can check out exclusive highlights below!

The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder for Two have teamed up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Ryan Scott Oliver launched the series last night, March 24th, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder for Two at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert event and you can check out photos below!

Below, Oliver shares some juicy details on his upcoming concert!

Delaware Theatre Company will close its 35th season with the 35th anniversary of the hit musical AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz. Delaware Theatre Company's production will be directed by original Broadway director and co-creator Richard Maltby, Jr. and feature his own handpicked cast alongside the original designs from the 1978 Tony Award-winning production.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced Bruce Davison, Sharon Lawrence and RoxAnne Hart to star in A SONG AT TWILIGHT by Noel Coward, the fifth production of its 2013 - 2014 Season. A SONG AT TWILIGHT is performed tonight, March 18 to April 13; the press opening is Sunday, March 23.

The world premiere production of the brand new musical comedy Bullets Over Broadway, written by Woody Allen and based on the screenplay by Allen and Douglas McGrath for the 1994 film, will begin preview performances tomorrow, March 11 and officially open Thursday, April 10, 2014 at The St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). The new musical will be directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Scroll down to learn more about the Bullets Over Broadway company, and watch interviews with the cast!