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‘Wicked’ composer Schwartz heads up ASCAP/Disney Musical Workshop

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation is teaming up with Grammy-and-Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz yet again to offer the Disney Musical Theatre Workshop in both Los Angeles and New York, according to an article published Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the official Broadway World Web site.

The annual ASCAP event is held to discover and support new American musicals and Schwartz, who has been most recently recognized for his work on the smash hit musical Wicked, is a perfect candidate to lead up the workshop as artistic director. After creating music for major musicals, such as Pipin and Godspell, and writing songs for major Walt Disney films such as “Pocahontas” and “Enchanted,” Schwartz is a legend in his business and has gained the respect and loyalty of thousands of theater and film fans across the world.

Those participating in the workshop will receive constructive criticism from a panel of judges as they present bits and pieces of their professional work-in-progress, according to the Broadway World article. The Disney Musical Workshop is just one of the many series of classes ASCAP offers. Created more than three decades ago in 1975, the ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization that offers support to young American music creators through grants, workshops and other educational programs.

Now is a great time to get involved in professional theater, whether it’s directly - by attending one of these workshops - or indirectly by supporting a musical production by attending a performance. Don’t miss out on your chance to see Schwartz’s smash hit musical Wicked, which is running at theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and a few select others as part of a national tour. Get Wicked tickets now at Stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 10, 2008 - Post a comment

LA ‘Wicked’: Glinda and Elphaba move from Oz to ‘9 to 5′

Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba the Wicked Witch will soon be faced with the harsh reality of day to day life.

Megan Hilty, who stars as Glinda in the Los Angeles production of Wicked, is making the switch this coming Sept. to the role of Doralee in the pre-Broadway debut of the musical 9 to 5, according to an article published Dec. 30, 2007 at Broadway World’s official Web site. The role of Doralee was portrayed by famous country western star and actress Dolly Parton in the 1980 same-titled major motion picture.

The pre-Broadway run for the new musical will be held Sept. 21-Oct. 29 at the Ahmanson Theater and will also feature actress Stephanie J. Block, who starred as Elphaba in the Broadway and Los Angeles productions of the musical. Block, a southern California native, will make her debut in the musical as Judy Bernly - a character played by famous actress Jane Fonda in the 1980 film.

9 to 5 is a musical about the three female secretaries who are able to turn the tables on an extremely sexist male boss - a drastic change from Wicked, a whimsical production that tells the story of the two witches of Oz, as they journey to the Emerald City, quarrel over the same love interest and ultimately become enemies, all before Dorothy and Toto decide to drop in on the land of enchantment.

Still haven’t seen Wicked? Now is the perfect time to check out the production at one of the many theaters around the world where the smash hit is being performed. Check out Stubhub.com right here and right now for Wicked tickets and get the best deal.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 9, 2008 - Post a comment

‘Wicked’ national tour wins Baltimore Readers’ Choice

The votes are in and Baltimore theater patrons have set the bar high for musical productions in years to come.
The results for the first annual Baltimore Readers’ Choice Awards were recently released and Wicked and Avenue Q were voted best professional tours without hesitation as part of its annual poll, according to an article published Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Broadway World’s official Web site.

In its first year, the Baltimore Readers’ Choice Awards polled approximately 200 people in Maryland, with voters ranging in age from 8 to 66 years old, according to Broadway World. Ninety percent of voters attended professional theater most frequently and the majority of voters said they attended as many as 20 different productions per year, the poll reported.

Wicked, which had a brief run in Baltimore as part of a larger national tour which is still in big cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and London, is the story of what happened in Oz between Elphaba and Glinda - the Wicked Witch and the Good Witch - long before Dorothy dropped in on the action.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see this award-winning smash hit production. No matter where you live, Wicked tickets are available for a nearby theater so be sure to book a pair at Stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 8, 2008 - Post a comment

From Hogwarts to Oz: Miriam Margoyles joins cast of ‘Wicked’

Actress Miriam Margoyles may be best known for her role as Professor Sprout in J.K. Rowling’s fantasy world of “Harry Potter” and friends, but now she is emerging into on a whole new land of magic.

Margoyles will begin in the role of Madam Morrible in the Broadway cast of Wicked Jan. 22 - the position is her Broadway debut. Margoyles originated Madam Morrible’s character in the London production of Wicked, the smash hit musical which features award-winning music and lyrics by composer Stephen Schwartz, according to an article published Friday, Jan. 4 at the Broadway World official Web site. The actress also starred in Martin Scorsese’s “Age of Innocence,” for which she won the BAFTA award for best supporting actress. Margoyle’s has appeared in more than 40 major films, including Juliet’s nurse in Baz Luhrrman’s “Romeo + Juliet.”

Wicked is the story of Elphaba and Glinda, two young witches who meet at sorcery school, become unlikely friends and take a journey to Emerald City together where they discover that their differences outweigh their desire to be pals. Join familiar friends and some new ones in the land of Oz, as they embark on a story - based on the enchanted novel by Gregory Maguire - of what happened in the whimsical land of yellow brick roads long before Dorothy dropped in for a visit.

If you still haven’t checked out Wicked tickets, then be sure to score a pair right here and now at Stubhub.com and bring the whole family out to see this spellbinding production.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 7, 2008 - Post a comment

Three of Shwartz’s songs for Disney’s ‘Enchanted’ to be considered for Oscars

When composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz was recurited to write the music and lyrics for the Disney movie “Enchanted,” he was thrilled to learn that he would get the pleasure to work with fellow composer Alan Menken. The two also worked together on other award-winning productions and now their collaboration for the music in “Enchanted” may bring them more of that same success, according to an article published by MusicalSchwartz.com.

Three of the songs written for “Enchanted” will be considered for Oscar nominations at this year’s 80th Academy Awards, including the “Happy Working Song,” “That’s How You Know” and “So Close.” Schwartz, who is most well known for his work on the smash hit musical Wicked, seems to have an instant hit once again with this Disney favorite, which combines the premise for several different fairy tales and weaves them into a clever story of a princess who is banished from her magical land and ends up in an all-together different place - New York City.

If you still haven’t seen this movie, check it out this weekend and grab a pair of Wicked tickets while you are at it, because Schwartz’s productions seem to be a hit with everyone - no matter how young or old. Get tickets at Stubhub.com today!

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 4, 2008 - Post a comment

‘Wicked’ soars past initial records held as highest-grossing musical

Wicked has done it again. Apparently cast and crew of the smash-hit Broadway production were not satisfied with setting the record for highest grossing musical in Los Angeles and Chicago history, as well as the highest grossing national tour in history, because they have set those records at a new, all-time high during the last week of December, according to an article published Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the Broadway World official Web site.

The production, which was created by composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, held previous records in those three markets, and set new ones as follows: Los Angeles Pantages Theatre with $1,949,968, Chicago’s Ford Center with $1,418,363 and the national tour in St. Louis with $2,291,608. The revenues from each of those three, combined with those from the production’s three international shows - London, Stuttgart and Tokyo - hits a whopping $11.2 million.

The Broadway production of Wicked has been showing since Oct. 2003 at the Gershwin Theatre, according to the Broadway World article. It branched out to the Los Angeles and Chicago theaters in 2005 and has an open-ended agreement with LA’s Pantages Theatre. The production is scheduled to open in Australia in 2008 and the Netherlands in 2009, according to Broadway World.

Still haven’t seen Wicked? The musical is a story of the enchanted land of Oz and how its two most intriguing characters, Elphaba and Glinda, befriended each other and eventually became enemies. Now that the smash hit is being offered at theaters in almost every corner of the world, it would be hard not to see this fun-for-the-whole-family production. Check out Wicked tickets right here and right now at Stubhub.com and get all the best deals.

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 3, 2008 - Post a comment

The women of ‘Wicked’ peform live at Scott Alan CD release party

Actresses Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa and Stephanie J. Block all have a thing or two in common.

Not only did all three star in the smash hit Broadway musical Wicked, which featured music and lyrics by composer Stephen Schwartz, the talented vocalists all played the same character - Elphaba, the Wicked Witch - and ironically are now scheduled to perform live together at the official CD release party for composer and lyricist Scott Alan’s debut album “Dreaming Wide Awake,” this coming Monday, Jan. 7 at New York City’s Birdland, according to an article published Tuesday, Jan. 1 at BroadwayWorld.com.

Block, who stared as Elphaba in the Broadway production, will be joined by Bean - who played the wicked witch in the national tour and on Broadway - and Eden Espinosa, who created the green-with-envy witch in both the Broadway and Los Angeles productions.
Alan, a Long Island, New York native who attended UMass Boston, Emerson College and Berklee College of Music, made his claim to fame after moving to Los Angeles and writing the book, music and lyrics for the musical Detour, which played for packed crowds at LA’s Complex Theater, and also had the chance to work with Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross and Boyz II Men. Alan evenutally moved back to New York, where he produced the musical Piece. The composer/lyricist has since launched the concert series “Monday Nights, New Voices.”

The “Dreaming Wide Awake” CD release party will begin at 7:30 p.m. and if you still haven’t booked your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to see a live production, no matter if you decide to see Espinosa, Bean and Block perform live at Birdland next week or simply grab a pair of Wicked tickets for the Broadway show or one of the national performances. Check out Stubhub.com right here and now for the best deals!

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on January 2, 2008 - Post a comment

Reading for Schwartz’s first opera scheduled in the New Year

Stephen Schwartz, the famed lyricist and composer responsible for the smash hit musical Wicked, has announced that a reading for his first-ever opera, “Seance on a Wet Afternoon,” will be held Jan. 18-20 at Brooklyn’s South Oxford Space and Manhattan’s Rose Studio of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, according to an article published on muscialstephenschwartz.com.\

The three-day reading session is part of the concert series “American Opera Project’s First Chance Program” and will also include readings from Conrad Cumming’s “The Golden Gate” and Moni and Mina Yakim’s “Unruly Horses,” according to Broadway World. Cast will include: soprano Lauren Flanigan, Caroline Worra, Michael Zegarski, Jessica Miller, Daniel Neer, Lucas Richter, Grant Clarke, Daniel Hoy, Garrett McClenahan and Katie Micha. The series will be overseen by American Opera Project’s artistic director Steven Osgood as conductor and pianist Charity Wicks.

Schwartz, who was also at the helm of many other major Broadway hits such as Pippin, The Magic Show and Godspell, has scheduled the official world premiere of his first opera for Oct. 31, 2009, at the Grand Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif., according to musicalschwartz.com. Seance on a Wet Morning, which is based loosely on a novel by Mark McShane and the major motion picture by Bryan Forbes, is about a psychic named Myra who reads into people’s lives by holding seances in which she talks to her deceased eleven-year-old son, Arthur.

For a thrilling evening at the theater, be sure to check out Seance on a Wet Morning or grab a pair of Wicked tickets for one of the shows, either on Broadway or at LA’s Patages Theater or Chicago’s Ford Center for Performing Arts. Visit Stubhub.com today and check it out!

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on December 31, 2007 - Post a comment

‘Wicked’ master class offered Jan. 19 by Broadway Artist Alliance

A one-day master class for those interested in the smash hit Broadway musical Wicked will be held Saturday, Jan. 19 by the Broadway Artists’ Alliance, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young aspiring talents further develop and hone their acting careers by acquiring the proper vocal and performance techniques.

Usually instructed by a cast member from the particular show, the master-class sessions have an upstanding reputation for offering up the best and brightest stars - including many Tony Award winning actors and actresses - to give insight and advice to participants, according to an article published Saturday, Dec. 22 on BroadwayWorld.com.

Students are typically between the ages of 10 and 21 and the master classes are usually limited to those pre-teens and teens who are returning class veterans or have been recruited or received special guest invitations to the session, according to articles on BroadwayWorld and the official Broadway Artists’ Alliance Web site. Classes are limited toe 15-20 participants and registration stops two weeks before the scheduled date or when the session hits capacity, according to the BAA site. The Wicked master class is $250 per person and those interested can find more information at BAA’s official site or by calling (212) 561-9429 All master classes are held at the BAA headquarters, 209 West 40th St., Suite 202, NewYork, NY.

Is your teen interested in pursuing an acting career? This might be the perfect workshop for him or her to attend. And if you still have no idea what your teen is raving about, then now might also be the perfect time to book a pair of Wicked tickets at Stubhub.com!

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on December 28, 2007 - Post a comment

Pre-order Idina Menzel’s new album at Amazon.com now!

Idina Menzel, a Broadway actress who recently won a Tony Award for her role as Elphaba in the smash hit musical Wicked, has announced that her new album, “I Stand,” is available for pre-sale on Amazon.com, and those lucky fans who pre order will also receive an album containing two additional unreleased songs, as well as a customized Idina tote bag and a 20-page colored-photo booklet, according to an article posted Sunday Dec. 23 at Broadwayworld.com.

Menzel’s album - which will officially be in stores by Jan. 29th - will be shipped to those who pre-ordered on that day, as well. The move to online shopping has been a huge and reoccuring trend over the past few years, and it only continues to become a bigger industry, with similar world of theater fans. Many devoted and anxious fans are beating stores to the punch and pre ordering their copies at online shopping venues such as Amazon.com, according to Broadway World - a theater news site that has created a huge buzz around Menzel and her work both on and off Broadway. “I Stand” will be the third album by the singer/actress, who also starred in the hit Broadway production Rent recently appeared in the Disney major motion picture Enchanted, which is still playing in theaters.

Menzel, although busy with her many commitments, still had time to give several interviews about her new endeavors, calling her role in Enchanted - which is only her third appearance in a major motion picture - “a great experience to learn.” If fans want to learn more about Menzel, then be sure to visit her official site, www.idinamenzel.com.

Still haven’t seen a Broadway production live and in person? Check out Wicked tickets at Stubhub.com today and get the best deals!

Permalink - Posted in Uncategorized on December 27, 2007 - Post a comment