Lennon - 2005 - Broadway Articles Page 19

Tony-winner Michael Crawford's official web site is listing much news about the star including the upcoming November 11 release of The Fantastic World of Michael Crawford on DVD and a reported one-man show in the works.The stars most recent concerts have included the addition of new songs, video material and biographical bits as of late as the first tastes of what's said to be a brand-new show.

Vocal powerhouses, Ritter Hanz and Kevin Smith Kirkwood are proud to be back in NYC for two nights only to delight audiences with their new cabaret, 'Comme Tu Veux,' performing Monday and Tuesday, September 22nd and 23rd at the 42nd Street's acclaimed Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Vocal powerhouses, Ritter Hanz and Kevin Smith Kirkwood are proud to be back in NYC for two nights only to delight audiences with their new cabaret, 'Comme Tu Veux,' performing Monday and Tuesday, September 22nd and 23rd at the 42nd Street's acclaimed Laurie Beechman Theatre.

om Holland (age 12 from Kingston-upon-Thames) and Tanner Pflueger (age 13 from Norfolk, Nebraska, USA) are to join the cast of the Billy Elliot the Musical next month to play the title role following in the footsteps of Jamie Bell who created the iconic role on film, and sixteen other boys who have played Billy on stage at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Broadway talents Tituss Burgess ('The Little Mermaid'), Kerry Butler ('Xanadu'), Gavin Lee ('Mary Poppins'), Nedra McClyde, Julia Murney, Q. Smith and Aurelia Williams will join previously announced Laura Benanti ('Gypsy'), Raúl Esparza ('Company') and Steven Pasquale ('The Light in the Piazza') on Monday, September 15, at the annual gala for the venerable 78-year-old Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), Westport, Connecticut.

In addition to its 24 full productions, dance series, developmental series and concerts, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates its fifth year by partnering with Ailey Citigroup Theater, Nuyorican Poets Café, The Philip Coltoff Greenwich Village Center, The Loft at Professor Thom's, The Cutting Room, and Paley Center (formally The Museum of Television & Radio) to bring more diverse special events to this years Festival, running September 15th to October 5th.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, has completed casting of its upcoming production of William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, starring Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin, directed by Kulick.

Producers Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza announced today the formation of GLOBAL BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS INC., a new production entity created to develop and produce new musicals for Broadway, the road, and international stages.

Today, Monday 23 June 2008, thirteen year-old Fox Jackson-Keen will make his West End Stage debut in the title role in the multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical.

Last night 12 May Billy Elliot the Musical celebrated its 3rd Birthday in the West End, Director Stephen Daldry and the London Company were joined on stage by the Broadway Billys at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Sara Jean Ford performed her cabaret show 'It's About Time' as a benefit of BC/EFA on January 2nd at Davenport's in Chicago. The show was produced and directed by 'Jersey Boys' Drew Gehling and featured the music of Will Reynolds and Eric Price.

Elton John and Lee Hall's multi award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Stephen Daldry, will celebrate its 1000th performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre on October 4, 2007 after opening in March 2005. Additionally, two new Billys will join the cast shortly.

New York Musical Theatre Festival concludes its first-ever Spring Concert Series with 'Undercover Showtunes' on Monday, June 18 at 7PM at The Zipper Factory. Jess McLeod and Brian J. Nash are two talented directors whipping the event together!

As Elton John and Lee Hall's awar-winning Billy Elliot The Musical approaches its second birthday, half a million new tickets will go on sale April 23, taking booking up until December 20, 2008.

Jackie Clune (International tour of Mama Mia, Taboo at the Venue) is set to join the cast of Billy Elliot: The Musical, Monday June 4. She will be taking the role of play Billy's Dance Teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, shortly after the multi award-winning hit musical celebrates its second birthday.

At 8 pm on Wednesday, May 9th and Thursday, May 10th, the New York Festival of Song will perform We Open in Paris. Paris is the backdrop for four musical theatre works in vest-pocket NYFOS productions, including Jacques Offenbach's La Vie Parisienne and Cole Porter's Fifty Million Frenchmen.

Tony-winner Michael Crawford's official charitable fan association and web site reports that the star is in the early planning stages of a new PBS special and concert tour, 'hopefully for late 2007 or early 2008.'

Erich Bergen stars as Bob Gaudio in the first national tour of 'Jersey Boys.' Only 21 years-old, Erich already has his foot deep in the door of the theatre business! Before his big-break with 'Jersey Boys,' he played at the NYMF, sold Broadway merchandise, and hosted an original podcast interviewing theatre celebs.

Michael Crawford's official web site and fan association is reporting that the star will appear in concerts

Peter Boyle, the versatile character actor who was known for his turn in Young Frankenstein and for his more recent work on the sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' died on December 12th, 2006 at New York Presbyterian Hospital at the age of 71

Priscilla Lopez, Mandy Gonzalez and Karen Olivo will star in In the Heights, which is now set to open Off-Broadway on February 8th

The Dallas Theatre League Announces the nominees for the 2006 Leon Rabin Awards. Leading the pack are Uptown Players and WaterTower Theatre with twenty-six nomimations each.

Liam Mower will perform the title role in Billy Elliot the Musical for the final time at the Victoria Palace on Saturday, September 30th

Tickets for Party Come Here, presented as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival from September 25th through 30th at the TBG Theatre (312 W. 36th Street) will go on sale to the general public on September 1st

All-Star Benefit Concert to Feature Top Country Artists and Broadway Performers Kicking Off 'Nashville Celebrates Country,' a Week of Activities Leading up to 'The 40th Annual CMA Awards'