Broadway March Madness is coming to THE BLACK BOX, the region’s premier theater, music, and event venue in downtown Franklin. Stars of Broadway will be in residence at THE BLACK BOX throughout the month of March.

March Madness begins with THE BLACK BOX Broadway Series on March 7 starring Broadway couple Kara Lindsay and Kevin Massey. Broadway icon Kara Lindsay‘s credits include Wicked (Glinda), Newsies (Katherine, Original Cast and Fathom Events Film), and Beautiful (Cynthia Weil). Kevin Massey‘s Broadway credits include Disney’s Tarzan, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Memphis, and Deaf West’s Big River. His European credits include Disney’s Tarzan and Grease. The special one-night-only concert is sponsored by the Franklin Cultural District Committee and will be followed by master classes for aspiring performers the next day.

For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370. THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in downtown Franklin, MA.

by BWW News Desk Feb. 24, 2020  

North Shore Music Theatre has announced complete casting for the upcoming production of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s masterwork, SUNSET BOULEVARD, which will star the previously announced Alice Ripley as the fading Hollywood star, Norma Desmond.

Along with Ripley, the cast of SUNSET BOULEVARD will feature Nicholas Rodriguez (Broadway’s Tarzan, NSMT’s Jesus Christ Superstar ’06 and Cinderella ’05) as Joe Gillis, William Michals (Broadway’s South Pacific and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, NSMT’s Chicago ’02) as Max Von Mayerling, and Lizzie Klemperer(Broadway’s School of Rock, Bright Star, NSMT’s Les Misérables ’14) as Betty Schaefer, along with Kevin Massey (Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder, Memphis, Tarzan, Big River, NSMT’s A Christmas Carol ’07) as Artie Green, and Neal Mayer(Broadway’s Les Misérables, NSMT’s World Premiere of Memphis ’03) as Cecil B. DeMille.

The 26-member cast will also include Brittany Baratz, Kyle Braun, Michael Brennan, Ashley Chasteen, Bobby Conte, Christopher deProphetis, Andrew Giordano, Victoria Huston-Elem, Eleni Kontos, Jesse Michels, Melissa Shevae Mitchell, Alfie Parker, Ellen Peterson, Robert Saoud, Kelsey Schergen, Domenic Servidio, Cecilia Snow, Chris Stevens, Michael Yeshion, and Janelle Yull.

SUNSET BOULEVARD is on stage from Tuesday, September 24 thru Sunday, October 6, 2019.

“Producing Sunset Boulevard combines two things I am very passionate about, musical theatre and classic Hollywood films,” said Bill Hanney, NSMT’s owner/producer who also owns Entertainment Cinemas, a chain of movie complexes throughout New England. “Our team has been challenged to create a show that is so thrilling and opulent that it will take the audience’s breath away and keep them on the edge of their seats the same way the original Billy Wilder film did. From the extraordinarily talented cast being led by Tony Award-winner Alice Ripley, to the exquisite multi-level sets being created for the show, to the glamorous costumes, audiences will need to prepare themselves for an evening of theatre unlike anything they have ever seen.”

Based on the film by Billy Wilder, SUNSET BOULEVARD, features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The Tony Award-winning masterwork is packed with lush and swelling songs including “With One Look,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” “Sunset Boulevard,” and “Perfect Year.”

It has been previously announced that Tony Award-winner Alice Ripley will take on the iconic role of Norma Desmond. Alice Ripley earned critical acclaim and won the Best Actress in a Musical Tony and Helen Hayes Awards for her work as Diana in the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera, Next to Normal. Ripley received Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for her work as conjoined twin Violet Hilton in the cult hit, Side Show. She also created the role of Betty Schaefer in the original 1994 Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard. 

www.broadwayworld.com

August 26, 2019: Join Broadway dads Claybourne Elder (Sunday in the Park with George, Bonnie and Clyde) and Eric Rosen (I Am My Own Wife) as they host Broadway Daddies: A Celebration of Broadway Dads at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Broadway’s brightest, who also happen in be dads, will share stories and sing songs. So bring a few of your best dad jokes, and head on over for a night not to be missed!

The evening will feature songs and stories from Broadway’s hit shows and beloved performers, who happen to be fathers:
Tony® nominee Bryce Pinkham (Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder)
Ben Thompson (Waitress)
Michael Williams (My Fair Lady)
Cleve Asbury (How to Succeed…)
Raymond J. Lee (Groundhog Day, “Mozart in the Jungle”)
Andrew Kober (Beautiful)
Kevin Massey (Memphis)

and other special guests and “daddies.”

Rodney Bush is the evening’s music director, and Rosen will direct.

Bella: An American Tall Tale to Release Original Cast Album on Feb 22

Yellow Sound Label will release an original cast album of Bella: An American Tall Tale February 22, preserving the performances of the 2017 Off-Broadway production at Playwrights Horizons. The album will be available for digital purchase and streaming from iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music. A physical release will be available from YellowSoundLabel.com and PlaywrightsHorizons.org.

The Off-Broadway cast, all of whom reunited for this album, includes Ashley D. Kelley (The Wiz) in the title role, Yurel Echezarreta (Aladdin, La Cage aux Folles), Drama Desk Award winner Kenita R. Miller (The Color Purple, Xanadu), Paolo Montalban (Pacific Overtures, The King and I), Gabrielle Reyes (Dreamgirls, Ragtime), Marinda Anderson (A Life, Far From Heaven), Brandon Gill (Holler if Ya Hear Me, Neighbors), Olli Haaskivi (Baghdaddy,I Battled Lenny Ross), Kevin Massey (A Gentleman’s Guide…, Tarzan), Jo’Nathan Michael (Ragtime, Dreamgirls), Britton Smith (Shuffle Along, After Midnight), and NaTasha Yvette Williams (Chicago, Porgy and Bess). The production was directed by Robert O’Hara (Bootycandy, Slave Play) and choreographed by Camille A. Brown (Choir Boy, Once On This Island).

http://www.playbill.com/article/bella-an-american-tall-tale-to-release-original-cast-album-february-22

The festival’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series has been expanded to become an every-night occurrence. Scheduled performers include:

• Kerry Butler (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Kevin Massey (“Tarzan”) on Jan. 18, 19, 22, 23 and 26.
• Meredith Inglesby (“The Little Mermaid”) and Steve Blanchard (“Beauty and the Beast”) on Jan. 20, 21, 24, 25 and 27.
• Arielle Jacobs and Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”) on Jan. 28, 29, Feb. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9.
• Heidi Blickenstaff (“Freaky Friday”) and Gavin Lee (“Mary Poppins”) on Jan. 30, 31, Feb. 3, 4, 7, 8, and 10.
• Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) and Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”) on Feb. 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23 and 25.
• Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White (“The Lion King”) on Feb. 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and 25.

The concerts at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. each night.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its 2018–2019 season with the world premiere of the new musical comedy The Rivals, based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s farce, October 30–November 18.

With book and lyrics by two-time Tony nominee Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina, Desperate Measures) and music by two-time Richard Rodgers Award winner Stephen Weiner (The Honeymooners), the production is directed by Eric Tucker (Bedlam’s Sense and Sensibility) and choreographed by Jason A. Sparks (Hello, Dolly!).

Opening night is scheduled for November 1.

The cast will be led by Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Mrs. Malaprop, Drama Desk winner Ed Dixon (Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose) as Sir Anthony Absolute, Erin Mackey (Wicked) as Lydia Languish, Kevin Massey (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder) as Captain Jack Absolute, Charlotte Maltby (The Sound of Music national tour) as Julia Melville, Chris Dwan (Finding Neverland) as Squire Bob Acres, John Treacy Egan (My Fair Lady) as Sir Lucius McTrigger, Emma Stratton (Prince of Broadway) as Lucy, Joe Veale as Thomas, and Jim Weitzer (Phantom of the Opera) as Faulkland.

The Rivals follows the travails of Lydia Languish, a young lady in possession of a large fortune, who will lose two-thirds of that fortune if she marries without the consent of her guardian, Mrs. Malaprop.

The production will also have musical direction by Steve Marzullo (Once On This Island, Mamma Mia!), orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin (War Paint, Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5), scenic design by Jason Simms, costume design by Lisa Zinni, lighting design by Joe Doran, and sound design by Bradlee Ward. The orchestra will feature Philadelphia’s Elegance String Quartet.

The new musical is produced in association with Joe Davis and Amy E. Gewirtz, who are developing the show for a future Broadway run.

For additional information visit brtstage.org.