Chess - 1986 - West End Articles Page 12

Theatre HAN will present the New York Premiere of THE BUS STOP, the ground-breaking 1983 comedy by Nobel Prize winner Gao Xingjian. Condemned as 'spiritual pollution' by Chinese Communist Party officials and banned from production, the controversial play, which recalls Beckett's Waiting for Godot, earned Gao a reputation as an avant-garde writer to watch. Interpreted as an analogy for ineffective Communist government, the play was described by one eminent member of the party as 'the most pernicious piece of writing since the foundation of the People's Republic.' Translated by Shiao-Ling Yu and directed by Samantha Shechtman, previews begin March 26 at Sanford Meisner Theater. Opening night is slated for April 1.

UK's The Telegraph is reporting that Trevor Nunn discussed the potential for a Harry Potter musical and the fact that he almost had the rights for such a project, but the timing wasn't right...Nunn presented a South Bank Show lifetime achievement award to Sir Cameron Mackintosh last week and told the Telegraph that Warner Bros swiped the production rights from under his nose. 'Many many years ago I proposed it and they said: 'Oh if only you had come to us a few weeks ago. We have just sold the movie rights',' he harrumphs. 'It will be a long time now before anyone is allowed to stage Harry Potter.'

Air dates have not yet been set, but Wicked's Idina Menzel and Rent's Adam Pascal will join Great Performances favorite Josh Groban in a spectacular London concert revival of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' 1986 cult musical Chess, this summer on Great Performances (check local listings). Presented by THIRTEEN in 5.1 digital surround sound on PBS HD, and featuring diamond-sharp lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, The Lion King), the hit-filled production ('One Night in Bangkok,' 'I Know Him So Well,' 'The Anthem') was recorded in performance at Royal Albert Hall. 'A fantastic night' proclaimed musiccomh.com, while thestage.co asked 'Is there an original pop musical stuffed with better melodies?' neatly echoing Time's initial 1988 assessment: 'One of the best rock scores ever produced.' Adding to the excitement is the 50-piece City of London Philharmonic, led by David Firman, and the 100-voice West End Chorus.

WhatsOnStage.com is reporting that world-renowned director Trevor Nunn is rumoured to be planning a stage adaptation of the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's for the West End stage.

Here it is - the year end 'holiday roundup' of books, which, by the way, make for a perfect gift...and an affordable one, that will last much longer than flowers, cookies or fruitcake (that no one wants anyway).

'Voices of Broadway,'on July 16, with cast members of The Producers, Avenue Q, Chicago, Les Miserables and Seussical, are among the featured performers at Usdan Center's Festival Concerts series -- educational performances for students at the nationally acclaimed summer arts camp.

Trevor Nunn will direct a new music theatre adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's classic novel, Gone with the Wind, with music and lyrics by Margaret Martin, opening at the New London Theatre in April 2008

On December 11th, 2006, the 4th Annual World AIDS Day Concert will take place. This year's presentation, a 20th Anniversary Concert of the Broadway musical Rags, will be held at Times Square's brand new Nokia Theater.

Rags, by Stephen Schwartz and Charles Strouse, will be the next World AIDS Day concert

Two of the most distinguished men working in theatre--director Trevor Nunn and actor Ian McKellen--will collaborate on a new Royal Shakespeare Company production of Chekhov's The Seagull, which will play in repertory with King Lear at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in September and set off on a world tour in 2007

A Chorus Line, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical, proudly announces the 2006 cast.

The production will star Josh Strickland as Tarzan, Jenn Gambatese as Jane, Merle Dandridge as Kala, Shuler Hensley as Kerchak, Chester Gregory II as Terk, Timothy Jerome as Professor Porter and Donnie Keshawarz as Clayton. Daniel Manche and Alex Rutherford will alternate in the role of Young Tarzan.

Disney has announced that Tarzan will being previews on March 24, to open on May 10, 2006.

The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton and Barbra Streisand (Honorary Chairs), with Young Playwrights Inc. and producers Richard Maltby, Jr., Kevin Stites and Sheri M. Goldhirsch are proud to present 'CHILDREN AND ART,' a spectacular musical gala evening in celebration of Stephen Sondheim's 75th birthday, for one performance only at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street) on Monday, March 21, 2005 (7:30 p.m. curtain), the eve of Sondheim's birthday.