White Christmas Tour

John Scherer will croon to Amy Bodnar, and Denis Lambert will dance with Shannon M. O'Bryan, in the new regional touring production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, launching Nov. 2-7 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

Theater of the Stars in Atlanta is producing this new production of the popular title inspired by the movie musical. Scherer (Broadway's By Jeeves and Lovemusik) and Lambert (Off-Broadway's Yank! and Broadway's A Chorus Line) play Bob and Phil, respectively, a showbiz partnership that meets the sister act of Betty (Bodnar, of Broadway's Oklahoma! and Ragtime) and Judy (O'Bryan, who appeared in the Walter Bobbie-directed White Christmas on Broadway). The four work to create a show that honors Bob and Phil's retired commanding officer at the New England inn that he runs.

The show (seen on Broadway for two seasons in 2009 and 2008, but not returning in 2010) features classic Irving Berlin hits such as "Blue Skies," "Sisters," "Happy Holiday," "Count Your Blessings," "I Love a Piano" and the title tune.

The company also includes Broadway's Ruth Williamson as the nosy inn manager Martha; Erick Devine as Gen. Waverly; Tony Lawson as producer Ralph Sheldrake; and 11-year-old actress Mary Peeples as granddaughter Susan Waverly; Don Rey as the neurotic stage manager, Mike Nulty; and James Young as the delightful Ezekiel Foster.Ensemble members are Adinah Alexander, Andrew Black, Scott Brateng, Melinda Cowan, Con O'Shea-Creal, Brandon Davidson, Jenny Florkowski, Megan Jimenz, Matthew Kirk, Janelle Neal, Amanda Paulson, Ashley Peacock, Kristyn Pope, Kelly Sheehan, Haley Swindal, Merrill West and Richard Riaz Yoder.
The creative team includes director Norb Joerder; choreographer Randy Skinner; scenic designer Anna Louizos; scenic supervisor and adaptor Kenneth Foy; lighting designer Ken Billington; and sound designers Peter Fitzgerald and Erich Bechtel.

White Christmas features music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, with book by David Ives and Paul Blake.

The tour is produced by agreement with R&H Theatricals, an Imagem Company.

The tour is coming to the Straz Center Nov. 30 - Dec. 5, 2010. Click HERE for tickets. For more information visit the tour website.

Hair National Tour Cast Announced

Hair National Tour Will Welcome Broadway Revival Cast Members and Fresh Faces...

Members from the Broadway revival cast of Hair, some of whom began with the production in a 2007 concert in Central Park, will reunite for the national tour of the 1967 musical, which will debut in New Haven, CT, Oct. 22.

Tony Award-nominated director Diane Paulus will re-create her work on the tour, which will also feature the work of the Broadway revival creative team. The tour will play New Haven through Oct. 24, prior to officially launching at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 26.

Broadway standbys Steel Burkhardt and Paris Remillard will lead the cast as Berger and Claude, respectively. The company will also feature London cast member Phyre Hawkins as Dionne and Caren Lyn Tackett as Sheila.

Original revival cast member Darius Nichols will play Hud and Kacie Sheik will be Jeanie.

The cast will also feature Matt DeAngelis as Woof, Kaitlin Kiyan as Crissy, Nicholas Belton, Larkin Bogan, Allison Guinn, Josh Lamon, John Moauro, Kate Rockwell, Cailan Rose, Jen Sese, Lawrence Stallings, Lee Zarrett, Shaleah Adkisson, Emily Afton, Corey Bradley, Marshal Kennedy Carolan, Laura Dreyfuss, Mike Evariste, Lulu Fall, Tripp Fountain, Nkrumah Gatling, Christine Nolan, Emmy Raver-Lampman and Tanesha Ross.

Hair has book and lyrics by the late Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot. The Hair creative team includes set designer Scott Pask, costume designer Michael McDonald, lighting designer Kevin Adams, sound designer Acme Sound Partners and choreographer Karole Armitage.

Get your tickets now! Hair is coming to the Straz Center May 24-29, 2011. Click HERE for tickets. For more information visit HairOnTour.

9 to 5: The Musical Sneak Peak!

The National Tour of 9 to 5: The Musical opened last night in Nashville at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center! Check out what's been going on since the cast and creatives have been in Nashville!

SNEAK PEAK - Music City Beat WZTV FOX17 NashvilleIn just a few days the curtain will open here in Nashville for 9 to 5 the musical featuring American Idol's Diana DeGarmo. WZTV FOX 17's entertainment reporter Stacy McCloud was at rehearsals and talked to the lady behind it all .. Dolly Parton!

Dolly Parton "Thrilled" About Nashville Premiere of 9 to 5: The Musical - CMTDecked out in sky-high stilettos and a sequined blazer complemented by form-fitting black leather capris, Dolly Parton took center stage Friday afternoon (Sept. 17) at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center -- but not to perform. Instead, she was saving this task for the dozens of Broadway actresses and actors fervently practicing their lines and dance steps on an elaborately decorated set.

Dolly Parton In Town For '9 To 5, The Musical' - Nashville News Channel 5"9 to 5, The Musical" is finishing-up rehearsals at TPAC in Nashville. The film that made Dolly Parton a movie star is now transforming her into a Broadway music composer. Dolly wrote every song in "9 to 5, The Musical," which opened on Broadway about a one and a half years ago. The cast will play in Nashville for 8 days, and then hit the road as a touring group. Dolly's been very hands-on with her creation. On Friday, she talked about hearing the cast bring her songs to life. Playing the part of "Doralee," the role Dolly made famous, is former American Idol standout Diana DeGarmo.

Parton right at home writing musical, just as '9 to 5' is at home at TPAC

When Dolly Parton refers to her experience writing the score for 9 to 5: The Musical as "liberating," she means more than just putting herself in the role of a lying womanizer.

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From Billy Elliot or The Merry Widow, from Mindgame or singer/songwriter Jeffrey Foucault – there's a season ticket package, and a price point, that will fit your budget and your busy schedule.

Use your season tickets as a family outing, or that much needed date night! Come to the theater to be swept away to another world – worlds of imagination, intrigue, laughter, learning and passion.

Jersey Boys Celebrates Fifth Anniversary By Saving the Music

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Broadway with a month-long benefit supporting the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

The production will donate one dollar for every ticket sold to performances in the month of October to the foundation, which advocates instrumental music education programs for children.
The story of the rise of the acclaimed pop singing group Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Jersey Boys features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. The production is directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.

Jersey Boys is currently playing on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre. The Jersey Boys tour will be coming to the Straz Center in March! Tickets are already on sale at www.strazcenter.org.

For more information on the Save the Music Foundation, visit vh1savethemusic.com.

Straz gets $5,000 grant for education

The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is one of 10 arts organizations nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant to be used toward education, it was announced today.

The Broadway League's grants support programs that enable students to experience touring Broadway shows as a form of artistic expression and as an educational tool.

At the Straz Center, the money will fund the "Shrek Broadway Education Project," that will allow 75 kindergarten through eighth-grade students to learn how a book evolves into a movie and then into a Broadway production. As part of the curriculum, students will create an original character that will be used in a final classroom project.

The group also will see "Shrek, The Musical" when it is performed at the Straz Center in May.