Working Title - 1996 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 8

The phrase “No one is irreplaceable” was shattered this past week when composer/lyricist/GOD of American musical theatre Stephen Sondheim passed away at age 91. Simply put, Sondheim was unique, groundbreaking and a true original that many tried to copy and never could.

Tonight, NBC will air its sixth live musical production. Following in the footsteps of The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Wiz, Hairspray, and Jesus Christ Superstar, the peacock network will be presenting Annie. Based on Harold Gray's comic strip titled Little Orphan Annie, this musical tells the story of a little orphan with equal measures of pluck and positivity who charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in New York City in the year 1933.

Time Life has released four digital albums from pop/rock favorite Lobo today, including “If I Could Do It Over: The Acoustic Hits.” The new collection reimagines Lobo’s biggest songs and personal favorites as if they were recorded today for the very first time.

CLUB44 RECORDS has announced that Voctave, the acclaimed a capella group known for their soaring harmonies and intricate arrangements, has released the new holiday album The Spirit of the Season: Deluxe Edition in digital, streaming and CD formats today, Friday, October 22.

The Australian tour of Jagged Little Pill, the Grammy and Tony Award winning Broadway musical, inspired Alanis Morissette's ground-breaking album of the same name, will open in Melbourne at the Comedy Theatre from January 2nd, after its exclusive limited season at Theatre Royal Sydney December 2nd- 19th.

CLUB44 RECORDS has announced that Voctave, the acclaimed a capella group known for their soaring harmonies and intricate arrangements, will release the new holiday album The Spirit of the Season: Deluxe Edition in digital, streaming and CD formats on Friday, October 22. 

Paul Anka will return to Mayo Performing Arts Center to perform music from the Sinatra catalog and more on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:30 pm. Tickets for Anka Sings Sinatra: His Songs, My Songs, My Way are Sunday, October 24 at 7 pm.

Farmers Alley Theatre will kick off its season with Jason Robert Brown's emotive song cycle, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD – running October 8-24, directed by Broadway star and Kalamazoo native, Jerry Dixon who starred on Broadway in the musicals Once on this Island, Five Guys Named Moe and If/Then to name a few. 

Katie Mitchell will direct Miriam Battye's compelling adaptation of little scratch.  Adapted from Rebecca Watson's debut novel, little scratch is a fearless and exhilarating account of a woman's consciousness over the course of 24 hours.  Moronkẹ Akinola, Eleanor Henderson, Eve Ponsonby and Ragevan Vasan will perform in this production from 5 November until 11 December. 

Farmers Alley Theatre will kick off its season with Jason Robert Brown's emotive song cycle, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD – running October 8-24, directed by Broadway star and Kalamazoo native, Jerry Dixon who starred on Broadway in the musicals Once on this Island, Five Guys Named Moe and If/Then to name a few. 

As Chicago, the longest-running revival in the history of Broadway (indeed, the longest-running American Musical ever), celebrates 25 years on The Great White Way, OG cast member David Sabella has some memories to share, and some Kander & Ebb music.

Mulcahy will work with the Festival’s Board of Directors, staff, and the Festival’s parent company DeSales University to support a seamless transition to its next artistic leader, determined through a national search in the coming year. PSF is the professional Equity theatre at DeSales University.

Performance Space New York has announced its Fall 2021 Season, with new work from SHAWNÉ MICHAELAIN HOLLOWAY (Installation: October 23 - December 19, Performance: October 22, with more dates to be announced ), Dozie Kanu (Beginning October 15), and danyele (November 11-14).

The production runs from August 6 to September 19, 2021. Learn more about the show and how to purchase tickets here!

BroadwayWorld put together a guide to MATILDA on screen. Get the scoop on the upcoming film including when to see it on TV, how to stream, who is in the cast and more!

Sandra Tsing Loh streams her 2015 comedic hit THE BITCH IS BACK for The Broad Stage, beginning June 23, 2021. This streaming performance of THE BITCH IS BACK recorded live will be complemented with added live talkbacks featuring special guests Marlo Thomas, Caroline Aaron, Marilu Henner, Melanie Mayron and JoBeth Williams. The ever-industrious Sandra made some time between frequent COVID-safe book-signing/lawn parties to answer a few of my queries.

Michael Ritchie announced that he will retire as Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group on December 31, 2021. Having taken over the position from Founding Artistic Director Gordon Davidson in January, 2005, for more than 16 years, Ritchie has led one of the country’s largest nonprofit regional theatres, producing and presenting 266 productions.

The Wheelwright Museum and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum are partnering to produce a short 10-minute film celebrating the diverse cultural connection of Santa Fe.

Watch the entire ceremony and performance highlights from the 2021 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award, featuring performances from schools representing all corners of the state of New Jersey.

Suzanne Mallare Acton, a genre-defying conductor whose exacting musical standards and knack for experimentation transformed Rackham Choir, is stepping down as the choir's artistic director after 25 years. 

The life story of entertainment icon Cher is on the way to the big screen, courtesy of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again producers, Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman. 

Since their inception in 1996, the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre presented by the Investors Foundation have ignited the careers of many notable performers, all of whom attended high school in New Jersey. 

Mutator was recorded with frequent collaborator and wife Liz Lamere and discovered in the vault in 2019 and then mixed and produced by both Lamere and Vega’s close friend Jared Artaud.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld for 4/8/2021 include new jobs for those looking to work in the theatre industry.

Reports circulated earlier this week that Diablo Cody departed the Madonna biopic for which she was co-writing the script. However, that is not the case.