The Wedding Singer - 2006 - Broadway Articles Page 15

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce a special autism-friendly performance for its critically-acclaimed, holiday musical, Elf. Paper Mill Playhouse will offer this special autism-friendly performance of Elf today, December 23, at 1:30pm. This performance is designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities.

METROPOLITAN KLEZMER – hailed as “one of the finest American Klezmer Bands” by Songlines Magazine – continues to celebrate the holiday with the release of their fifth CD MAZEL MEANS GOOD LUCK. The record features the special Hanukah-inspired track “Guys & Dolls & Bagels”: an inspired klezmer medley from the classic musical.

Paper Mill Playhouse released a block of great seats today for its holiday musical, Elf, for the week following Christmas. Expanded availability includes performances from December 27, 2014 through January 4, 2015. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Elf has a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Elf is directed by Eric Ankrim and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Elf runs eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater through January 4, 2015. Elf has been playing to many sold-out houses since November 26. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

The day after The Who's Tommy debuted on Broadway in 1993, The New York Times exclaimed, '...at long last the authentic rock musical that has eluded Broadway for two generations...an Entertainment Juggernaut.' Twenty-one years later, no other musical has come close to replicating its sure power, electricity and monumental impact.

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce a special autism-friendly performance for its critically-acclaimed, holiday musical, Elf. Paper Mill Playhouse will offer this special autism-friendly performance of Elf on Tuesday, December 23, at 1:30pm. This performance is designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities.

Here's how to celebrate the holidays in the most delightful way: take the entire family to an absolutely eye-popping, song-and-dance-filled, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious production of Disney and Cameron Macintosh's Mary Poppins at the beautiful Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora, now thru Jan. 1.

The New York cabaret community had something really special to be thankful for yesterday as one of its own, singer William Blake, was a featured performer in the 2014 MACY's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Cruising up to the parade's main staging area on a faux Mississippi River Boat at around the show's midpoint, Blake and three backup singers revved up the crowd with a uptempo gospel/blues song 'Give Thanks,' written by Matt Sklar and Bill Schermerhorn, with an arrangement by Blake's Musical Director Michael Thomas Murray (see video). For the 31-year-old Texas native, who came to New York just seven years ago, performing in the parade is now one of the high points of his career.

A seasoned group of Broadway helmers are bringing magic, drama, history, romance and more to the Great White Way this season. Below, BroadwayWorld rounded up this fall's directors for an in-depth look at their careers.

From Broadway debuts to stage veterans, this season is swarming with big screen stars. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you the backstory on this year's film-to-stage transplants. Scroll down to learn more, and be sure to let us who you're most excited to see on the Great White Way, plus which actors you'd like to make the leap!

Remember the totally awesome days of neon and spandex? They're Here! Playhouse South is going full on 1980's with their production of THE WEDDING SINGER, based on the popular 1998 film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The show takes place in 1986 and follows Robbie Hart, New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. When his fiancee leaves him at the altar, he discovers that he cannot stand to be around weddings and lashes out at every happy couple for whom he sings. Heartbroken, he is forced to reexamine the meaning of love and marriage before he destroys every wedding in New Jersey. With the help of Julia, a local catering waitress, Robbie embarks on a hilarious journey of identity, romance, and Bar Mitzvahs.

LANCE HORNE, the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer, will return to Birdland Jazz Club with a special new show on Monday, October 20 at 7:00 PM as part of the 'Broadway at Birdland' series. 'Lance & the Ladies' is a musical party celebrating not only Lance's birthday but his friendships with women and his love of the female voice.

Tonight, October 9th, Broadway Sessions celebrates the music of Carner and Gregor, Loesel and Burkell, Joey Contreras, Jeff Thomson, Drew Gasparini and Adam Overett.

BROADWAY SESSIONS is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida and Footloose) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano.

LANCE HORNE, the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer, will return to Birdland Jazz Club with a special new show on Monday, October 20 at 7:00 PM as part of the 'Broadway at Birdland' series. 'Lance & the Ladies' is a musical party celebrating not only Lance's birthday but his friendships with women and his love of the female voice.

Rehearsals begin today, Thursday, October 2 in New York City for The River, a new play by Jez Butterworth, starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Donnelly and Cush Jumbo and directed by Ian Rickson. The River begins preview performances in four weeks on Friday, October 31 and will open on Sunday, November 16 at the Circle in the Square Theatre (50th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). The production will play a strictly limited 13-week engagement through Sunday, January 25, 2015.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Shiki Theatre Company just announced the first international production of Disney's Aladdin, the smash Broadway musical comedy. Performances will begin in May 2015 at The Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in Tokyo.

OWN announces OCTOBER 2014 Programming HIghlights

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL makes its West Coast debut starring Cicely Tyson, TO THE BONE opens off-Broadway, Bridget Everett opens her show at the Public and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT welcomes stage stars for its finale this evening!

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its performances, September 17 through the 28th. Details below!

South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) has announced its 2014-15 performance schedule through February 2015.

Five-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara, who has become the toast of Broadway musical theater with a startling string of hits that have wowed audiences and critics alike, has been cast in NBC's highly anticipated Dec. 4 telecast of 'Peter Pan Live!'

Once again crowned as the No. 1 Performing Arts Hall of its size in North America (Venues Today, 2000 seat category), the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is proud to announce a new season bustling with fresh talent and seasoned stars, with every performance delivering a dose of extraordinary. Single tickets go on sale this coming Saturday, September 13 at 10 AM at the Box Office, online, and by phone. Appointments are available for ticket buyers by calling the Box Office at 941-953-3368.

Scarlett Johansson and her fiance Romain Dauriac welcomed their first child, a little girl named Rose!