The Rehearsal

Christine Toy Johnson has come full circle in a career with many facets: from her first Equity role to her current stint as Bloody Mary in Guthrie Theater's SOUTH PACIFIC, this Rodgers & Hammerstein musical has been important to her.

With four Tony Awards under its belt, "The Humans" benefitted the most from the awards night as ticket sales spiked-so much so that the highly lauded play will be moving from the smallest theatre on Broadway to a theatre with 500 more seats starting August.

William A. Blodgett, Jr., President of Kentucky Opera's Board of Directors, has announced the appointment of Ian Derrer as General Director effective September 1, 2016.  Derrer will be the fifth General Director in the company's 65-year history; he comes to the position from Dallas Opera, where he is Artistic Administrator and a member of the senior management team.

On a stage, of course! You only have to watch the twenty-five year-old actor inhabit a character, take possession of a story, and let loose with his emotive voice to understand his assertion. Matt Farcher is currently poised to make his debut at Maine State Music Theatre on June 29 as Che in Andrew Lloyd-Webber-Tim Rice's epic musical Evita, but in the short time since he has performed professionally, he already boasts a resume replete with challenging and diverse leading roles and a career that has taken him off-Broadway and to leading regional theatres across America.

Denise Lee Onstage and Fair Park Dallas have set the stage for the first-ever Dallas Cabaret Festival, July 28-30, 2016.

Prepare to witness a performance like no other as The reFASHIONed Theatre opens at Selfridges with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING presented by critically-acclaimed theatre company, The Faction.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld.com for 6/27/2016.

Popular choreographer Al Blackstone, known for his Broadway style routines on So You Think You Can Dance, is excited to be returning for his third season at the Fire Island Dance Festival. Blackstone will be presenting an excerpt from his new work, Freddie Falls In Love, which recently had its premiere at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City. The show was also a benefit performance for DRA and Blackstone figured it would be a perfect fit for this year's festival.

Presented with simplicity, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN is a mix of nostalgia and a reminder that life isn't perfect, but with friends, a loyal dog, it can still be good.

Musicals live at NYMF. Earlier today, the companies of five upcoming productions (A LASTING IMPRESSION, DUST CAN'T KILL ME, FOREST BOY, NEWTON'S CRADLE and TINK!) gave a special a sneak peek inside the rehearsal room at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003). Curious what they're all about? Check out a first look below!

FORT WORTH, TX – Fort Worth Opera (FWOpera) announced today that the submission deadline has been extended for its fifth annual Frontiers showcase. Applications will now be accepted through midnight, July 19, 2016. The company's innovative program will be held during the final week of the 2017 Fort Worth Opera Festival – April 15, 2017 – May 7, 2017 and coincides with the 2017 Opera America Conference in Dallas/Fort Worth. Launched during the company's 2012-2013 season, Frontiers remains one of the only programs world-wide that seeks out unproduced works by the finest up-and-coming composers and librettists from North, South, and Central America, and has been acclaimed for the opportunities it provides its winners. Composers and librettists whose works are selected as part of the Frontiers showcase gain valuable exposure for their works in a live performance environment while also taking part in unparalleled networking opportunities with industry professionals including artistic directors of other established opera companies, artist managers, classical music publishers, funding organizations, and conductors.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld.com for 7/4/2016.

Be there for the birth of, not one, but four new ballets created as part of the intensive 3-week process of the National Choreographers Initiative (NCI). Artistic Director, Molly Lynch has invited four choreographers – Tom Gold, Nicole Haskins,Stephanie Martinez and Ben Needham-Wood ? as well as sixteen professional dancers from ballet companies across the country, to participate.

Audiences attending the New York Classical Theatre's current production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale in Manhattan's Battery Park are experiencing a rare treat- the words of the Bard being spoken in lilting Jamaican 'patois'- or dialect- by award winning actor David Heron, who appears as King Polixenes of Bohemia in the show.

Billie Holiday knew what a little moonlight can do. Do you? Allow The Bayou Theatre Company to enlighten you with its production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL.

BWW speaks to Jessica Lazar director of Life According to Saki ahead of its run at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

One week into the virtually sold-out run of MSMT's Fiddler on the Roof, cast members, Bill Nolte, Susan Cella, Erick Devine, and Rachel Rhodes-Devey, together with MSMT's Managing Director Stephanie Dupal convened in the third Peek Behind the Curtain panel discussion at the Curtis Memorial Library on July 27, 2016, to examine the phenomenon of the show that continues to mesmerize audiences fifty-two years after its Broadway debut. In response to moderator Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold's observation that Fiddler is a show which - like its characters - survives, the participants discussed their individual perspectives on the show, their characters, and the universal themes that continue to speak powerfully to audiences.

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: DREAM ON, written and created by Roger Bean will make its World Premiere from tonight, July 28, to September 18, 2016 at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston, TX.

NewArts, a nonprofit theatrical production organization in Newtown, CT, is producing its sixth and seventh shows for its summer, 2016 season incorporating nearly 200 children from the Newtown area onstage, backstage and in the orchestra as a continuation of its mission to use the performing arts to promote healing and strength. NewArts was founded by local parent, Michael Baroody, M.D. and brings in a talented team of nearly 20 theatre professionals including Broadway-level directors, choreographers, music directors, designers, producers, and technicians to guide the children in this endeavor of creativity, collaboration and community.

The Tony award-winning musical The Secret Garden, based on the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett with script and lyrics by Pulitzer prize and Tony award-winner Marsha Norman and music by Grammy award-winner Lucy Simon, is coming back to the West End for a summer season.

Today, Adrienne Walker speaks exclusively to BWW about making her Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning show and explains why her casting 'just kind of swept me off my feet!'

Directing Kids and Teens sounds like a very difficult job, but for these 4 directors, the task is very easy. Cheryl Baxter-Ratliff  (Los Angeles), Joel & Christine Seger (Massachusetts), and Kelley Manson (Massachusetts) have had their fair share of young adult productions to be proud of.  No matter what coast they are from, they all can agree that kids and teens are "sponges" that can soak up information and that they do not have any bad habits they need to break on stage. They also talk about their beginnings in directing kids and teens, memorable moments thus far in their directing, and more. Read my Q&A below to see what they said. 

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld.com for 7/25/2016.

Recently I sat down with our director and co-choreographer, Lisa Stevens, to chat about our version of Footloose and her personal process in relation to building theatre. As I've said before, we are lucky. As someone who has intensively observed the rehearsal process (I love rehearsal), I have sat in awe of Lisa's direction. Specifically, I find her vocabulary lends itself beautifully to moving the work in a forward direction. Her style is streamlined along with plenty of room to play. And Lisa is so underneath each character and their relationships that, with her guidance, there's a stronger connection between the actor and his or her role. With her list of credits and accolades, Lisa has brought the know-how of the business to rehearsal, imparting on us indispensable tools essential to the artist's working life. As the cast filtered out for lunch, I joined Lisa behind the creative team's table and opened our discussion.

We speak to Ross Dunsmore, writer of Milk which is part of TravFest at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival.

The City of Fairfax Theatre Company's production of The Music Man by Meredith Willson runs at Sydney Lanier Middle School, July 22 - July 30, 2016.

We have had a FANTASTICAL week at Transcendence!!! Not only did our Artists put together a magical show, FANTASTICAL FAMILY NIGHT, but our hearts were exploded on a daily basis by the amazing kids in our 2016 Transcendence Kids Camp!! Here to tell you all about it is Casey Hebbel...

Smoke & Mirrors by WILL OSBORNE & ANTHONY HERRERA directed by GEORGE ROBERT BAILEY presented by Louisville Repertory Company will run August 5-14, 2016 at The Bard's Town Theatre, 1801 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205.

As the characters Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Mark Edward Lang and Alison J. Murphy seem to be a perfect fit in the play about the famous Broadway actors. Lang and Murphy are married in real life and have been performing together for many years. Recently visiting San Antonio, Texas, BWW had a chance to sit down and chat with them about their roles and about the show LUNT AND FONTANNE 'THE CELESTIALS OF BROADWAY.'

Theatre in Toronto is moving and shaking. This city has a consistent flow of productions year-round, but the summer is a particularly exciting time to celebrate home-grown work. On June 27, the 2016 Dora Mavor Moore Awards took place at the Harbourfront Centre. The ceremony recognizes Toronto-based creators in theatre, dance and opera spanning 48 categories. I had the honour of attending the awards on behalf of Randolph Academy and was reminded of how diverse, vibrant and hard-working our theatre community is. Many post-Dora commentators regarded Bruce Dow's outstanding job as host. His undeniable humour did not deter from socially charged commentary on the state of our community's compensation. Bruce also directed the audience's attention to the world stage, advising that artists must continue to unite globally in the wake of political events happening around the world. The breadth of work being created in this city is astounding. Repeatedly, I heard award recipients talk about persistence in this industry. Years and years of creative trial have led to works formally recognized. It is a profession worth its weight in blood, but worth every beautiful drop. I left the awards wanting to see more theatre, learn more about the veterans in the room and take a whole list of people out for coffee.

Last year, Jon Brittain's Rotterdam had a successful and well-received premiere at Theatre503 - this month, it moves into the West End for a Trafalgar Studios run. Centring on Alice, who wants to come out as gay, and her girlfriend Fiona, who decides she wants to start living as a man, Adrian, it's only become more of a zeitgeist piece since its first stint. Jon discusses revisiting the play and trying not to mess it up…

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld.com for 7/18/2016.

Third Rail Repertory Theatre Presents ANNAPURNAAug 5 - 27, 2016. Location: Third Rail @ Imago Theatre, 17 SE 8th Ave. Portland, OR 97214 Tickets Available: By phone at 503-235-1101 or online at thirdrailrep.org.

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: DREAM ON, written and created by Roger Bean will make its World Premiere from July 28 to September 18, 2016 at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston, TX.

Actor Brendan Cowell discusses Simon Stone's Yerma at the Young Vic

Today the New York premiere of ENGAGEMENTS begins previews at 2econd Stage Theatre. Before tonight, BroadwayWorld caught up with Ana Nogueira, who stars as Lauren.

Following the critically acclaimed, sold out productions of The Dazzle and Bug at Found111, Emily Dobbs Productions is thrilled to present the London premiere of Unfaithful, a blackly comic new play starring Sean Campion (The Borgias, Stones in his Pockets), Niamh Cusack (Heartbeat, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time), Ruta Gedmintas (The Strain, The Tudors) and Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter film series, The Syndicate).

Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located in the original Elks Lodge building at 49 York Street within the first block of Lincoln Square in historic downtown Gettysburg, will present 1776 the Musical, to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.

We speak to C&D productions ahead of their run of Jekyll & Hyde at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe.

ODC Theater is proud to present RAWdance in the world premiere of Double Exposure, a series of 12 duets each choreographed by a different West Coast choreographer or choreographic team. Artistic Directors Ryan T. Smith andWendy Rein are the evening's sole performers in an event they're calling 'the ultimate duet.' Double Exposure runs July 28 - 31, Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 - $45, and may be purchased online at odcdance.org/tickets or by phone at 415.863.9834.

The City of Fairfax Theatre Company's production of The Music Man by Meredith Willson runs at Sydney Lanier Middle School, July 22 - July 30, 2016.

The critically acclaimed play, Stalking the Bogeyman will get its UK debut beginning July 13 and will run through August 6, 2016 at The Southwark Playhouse. BroawayWorld has your first look at the rehearsal process. Check out all the photos below!

North Texas Performing Arts and its Frisco Youth Theatre are bringing the currently running Broadway musical 'School of Rock' to North Texas July 14 through 17 at the Courtyard Theater in Plano.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld.com for 7/11/2016.

Smoke & Mirrors by WILL OSBORNE & ANTHONY HERRERA directed by GEORGE ROBERT BAILEY presented by Louisville Repertory Company will run August 5-14, 2016 at The Bard's Town Theatre, 1801 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205.

Below, check out the cast of Jelly's Last Jam in the rehearsal room, plus watch Signature's talented, hardworking tech crew transform the MAX Theatre from a drag club on the French Riviera in La Cage aux Folles to the Jungle Inn, a 1920s jazz club, for Jelly's Last Jam!

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta announced today that individual tickets for the Atlanta engagement of Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET will go on sale Sunday, August 28 at 10 a.m.

'We are excited to have the audience open its eyes to some sunshine. [Artistic Director] Curt Dale Clark and I were just saying this morning that this has been an intense season so far, and Fiddler on the Roof and Evita cannot let in much sun. But we stream that light in Mamma Mia, and we hope it will provide a chance to breathe in the joy of the Greek Isles. If we do it right, we will all feel an uplift.' Director/choreographer Mark Martino is waxing eloquent about his latest project and one which constitutes his Maine State Music Theatre debut: a new production of the 2001 Broadway smash it musical Mamma Mia, based on the songs of ABBA. Martino has what he calls 'a very short history' with the show, having mounted a production for the first time in June of this year at the Theatre Aspen. 'The two will be staged very differently,' he explains. 'Aspen is a 200-seat thrust stage, and here they have a 600-seat proscenium theatre. The Pickard Theater gives me an opportunity to expand the show. Our cast at MSMT is about one third larger than in Colorado - some twenty-seven actors - which is even a bit larger than the twenty-four in the original Broadway production. The production values are going to be large and lavish, and the cast has a huge amount of energy, so for me it is an opportunity to revisit the show and make different pictures and entirely different choreography.'