Fosse - 2000 - West End Articles Page 17

Five of the entertainment world's leading ladies will perform in New Orleans in 2013 as Seth Rudetsky's popular Broadway Concert Series makes the leap to NOCCA's Lupin Hall from its summer home at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and as the legendary original Evita, will appear for two shows only on January 7th at 6:30 and 8:30. Sutton Foster, two-time Tony-winner for this year's Anything Goes and previously for Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of the ABC Family series Bunheads arrives for one show only on March 2nd at 7:30. Megan Mullally, two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will and Grace and star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein performs two shows only on April 6th at 7:30 and 9:30. Audra McDonald, a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice will make her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. Betty Buckley, the Tony winning legendary star of Cats and Sunset Boulevard will close the series on June 1 with two shows only at 7:30 and 9:30. The visiting Broadway artists will also be giving master classes for the NOCCA Institute's high school-aged musical theatre students. All five concerts are produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and will be hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The series is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection and Gambit. Tickets can be purchased at www.broadwaynola.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) presents its production of Pippin, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Roger O. Hirson, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus. Previews begin at the Loeb Drama Center (64 Brattle Street, Cambridge) on December 5, with press opening on January 3, and running through January 20, 2013.

2012 Academy Award winner Christopher Plummer recreates his Tony Award winning role in the film adaptation of BARRYMORE, directed & adapted by Érik Canuel, which will be theatrically released jointly by BY Experience and Image Entertainment beginning Thursday, November 15 in New York and Los Angeles. BARRYMORE is based on the play by William Luce.

Just in time for Halloween, the first national tour of the new musical The Addams Family, will make its Seattle premiere tonight, October 24-November 11, 2012 at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, this smash Broadway hit brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life.

Today, October 16 through the 21st, Kennessaw State University presents Kander and Ebb's Tony Award-Winning Broadway classic, Cabaret. Performances are Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm at the Howard Logan Stillwell Theatre. This production features choreography by the Off-Broadway choreographer and acclaimed tap dancer Jen MacQueen, who recently choreographed both the new chamber version of Sweet Charity and the premiere of Clyde 'n' Bonnie the musical.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) today announced that casting has been completed for its production of Pippin, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Roger O. Hirson, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus. Previews begin at the Loeb Drama Center (64 Brattle Street, Cambridge) on December 5, with press opening on January 3, and running through January 20, 2013. Tickets will go on sale on October 23, the 40th Anniversary of the opening of Pippin on Broadway.

According to the New York Daily News, Tony and Emmy award winner Andrea Martin will play 'Berthe' in Diane Paulus' revival of the Stephen Schwartz musical Pippin, running Dec. 5-Jan. 20 at Cambridge's American Repertory Theater, with hopes of heading to Broadway.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

World-renowned ballet educational institution, The Joffrey Ballet School, is excited to have their Jazz and Contemporary program participate in a cross-disciplinary initiative collaborating with Parsons School of Design, Louis Vuitton, the New School's Jazz and Contemporary Music Department, and famed New York choreographers Francesca Harper, Ginger Thatcher, Angelica Stiskin, Ephrat 'Bounce' Asherie, Tiffany Rea-Fisher and Joyce King.

Just in time for Halloween, the first national tour of the new musical The Addams Family, will make its Seattle premiere October 24-November 11, 2012 at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, this smash Broadway hit brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life.

On October 16-21, Kennessaw State University presents Kander and Ebb's Tony Award-Winning Broadway classic, Cabaret. Performances are Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm at the Howard Logan Stillwell Theatre. This production features choreography by the Off-Broadway choreographer and acclaimed tap dancer Jen MacQueen, who recently choreographed both the new chamber version of Sweet Charity and the premiere of Clyde 'n' Bonnie the musical.

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."

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full cast this July for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block as Edwin Drood. Meet the whole cast in the video and bios below!

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

A longtime member of the 'Mamma Mia' cast on tour and Bway, Erica's now performing in her 2nd straight Rob Ashford-choreographed show.

Olympics Gold Medallist Robin Cousins stars on the West End stage as Billy Flynn in the musical CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre from tonight, 17 July, 10 days ahead of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. He will be in the show until 8 September, the day before the final day of the Paralympics.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Diane Paulus' upcoming production of Pippin might be heading to Broadway after it plays Cambridge's American Repertory Theater in December. Now the New York Times is reporting that Broadway favorites Patina Miller, Terrence Mann, and Charlotte d'Amboise are in talks to star in the production as 'Leading Player,' 'King Charles,' and 'Fastrada' respectively. Additionally, Damon Daunno, who recenty starred in Broadway's Brief Encounter is in talks to play the leading role.

The Muny presents the third show of its 94th season, Disney's Aladdin, opening tonight through July 13, directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Alex Sanchez.

With less than a month to go until the Team GB Synchronised Swimming Team take the plunge in London 2012, its mentor and Olympic gold medallist, Robin Cousins, starts rehearsals for his own starring role as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre, which he'll be performing for a limited season from 17 July.

On Thursday, three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Richard Adler passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Responsible for two of the biggest Broadway smash hits of the 1950s, THE PAJAMA GAME and GAMN YANKEES, Adler never quite managed to equal his career-high double-hitter of that era, yet his earlier work with Tony Bennett ('Rags To Riches'), Doris Day ('Everybody Loves A Lover') and Marilyn Monroe (the iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President') surely shall solidify his place in the firmament of entertainment history along with his two classic musicals from the Golden Age. Winning both Best Score and Best Musical for both THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, Adler's partnership with lyricist Jerry Ross - which began on Broadway in 1953 with JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC - was tragically cut short just months after the DAMN YANKEES premiere when Ross was diagnosed with lung disease and passed away soon thereafter. Yet, thanks to the beloved film versions of THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES and continued interest in the entities as expressed in the revivals and reappraisals of both onstage from Broadway to Biloxi to Bombay year after year, the snappy, snazzy tunes of Adler and Ross live on eight times a week all around the world - even now, more than fifty years after they premiered. Unfortunately, Adler's subsequent shows with other collaborators post-1955 failed to capture the early magic of his previous projects with Ross and his earlier musical and theatrical endeavors in the pop arena, with the racially charged KWAMINA flopping on Broadway in 1961 (though he took home a Best Composer Tony Award for his efforts anyway) and the awkwardly titled MUSIC IS failing to recreate the magic of its source material, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, in 1976. A MOTER'S KISSES, starring Bea Arthur and a young Bernadette Peters, died on the road, as well. In the intervening years, Adler attempted musical adaptations taken from a number of intriguing sources - OF HUMAN BONDAGE and others among them - though only his ballet scores seemed to reach an audience; particularly his last, commissioned for a new production of Lorca's THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA in 1998. Of course, THE PAJAMA GAME has had two Broadway revivals - most recently the rapturously received Kathleen Marshall-directed production starring Harry Connick, Jr. and Kelli O'Hara; and DAMN YANKEES famously returned to the Great White Way with much ado in 1994 starring Victor Garber. Now seems particularly ripe for remounting YANKEES, as we approach twenty years in its absence - especially given the musical's seriously smashing showing at Encores! in 2007. Who knows, perhaps some risky producer will even take a chance on a new production of KWAMINA, MUSIC IS, A MOTHER'S KISSES or one of the bottom drawer shows someday soon to see if they possess any of the limitless potential shown by Adler's earlier work. Or maybe a stage treatment of his TV musical GIFT OF THE MAGI (originally composed for then-wife Sally Ann Howes)? Or, better yet, how about a revue? What a stupendous songstack Adler created over the course of his career - 'Whatever Lola Wants' to 'Hey There' to 'Hernando's Hideaway' to 'You Gotta Have Heart' to 'Steam Heat' to the aforementioned Bennett, Day and Monroe standards and so many more chestnuts.

REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, has found its male and female leads: Jill Paice will play the role of "I" and Ryan Silverman the role of "Maxim de Winter." REBECCA will open on Broadway Sunday, November 18 at The Broadhurst Theatre. Previews will begin Tuesday, October 30.

According to the New York Times, Diane Paulus' upcoming production of Pippin might be heading to Broadway after it plays Cambridge's American Repertory Theater in December. Patrick Healy writes that producers Barry and Fran Weissler are looking into backing the show for a Broadway run. A spokesman told NYT: "It's a project that Barry and Fran are very interested in. They're huge fans of Diane. Right now they're just supporting the project."

The Muny announced today principal casting for the third show of its 94th season, Disney's Aladdin (July 5-13), directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Tony® Nominees Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia star as Aladdin and the Genie, respectively. Joining them will be Jason Graae as Omar, Curtis Holbrook as Iago, Francis Jue as Kassim, Eddie Korbich as Babkak, Samantha Massell as Jasmine, Ken Page as the Sultan, and Thom Sesma as Jafar.

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Olympics Gold Medallist Robin Cousins will star on the West End stage as Billy Flynn in the musical CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre from 17 July, 10 days ahead of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. He will be in the show until 8 September, the day before the final day of the Paralympics.