Carl John News

Los Angeles continues to be a hotbed of new musicals. After a dizzying number of new musicals appeared in the recent Hollywood Fringe Festival, soon the 18th annual Stages Musical Theatre Festival will be returning to Los Angeles this August. This prestigious festival features new musicals, which have been developed across the country, presented in concert readings. This year's festival features six musicals, presented in two venues over two weekends: This weekend, August 21-23 at New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland in North Hollywood and August 28-30 at 3D Theatricals, 1255 N. Knollwood Circle in Anaheim, CA 92801.

Theatre of NOTE closes its 2015 season with the world premiere of THE WHISKEY MAIDEN, written and directed by Chris Kelley, making this his 20th production at Theatre of NOTE.

Los Angeles continues to be a hotbed of new musicals. After a dizzying number of new musicals appeared in the recent Hollywood Fringe Festival, soon the 18th annual Stages Musical Theatre Festival will be returning to Los Angeles this August. This prestigious festival features new musicals, which have been developed across the country, presented in concert readings. This year's festival features six musicals, presented in two venues over two weekends: August 21-23 at New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland in North Hollywood and August 28-30 at 3D Theatricals, 1255 N. Knollwood Circle in Anaheim, CA 92801

The 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, presented by the National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT), kicked off with THE 46TH MINUTE, a concert hosted by Lindsay Mendez and featuring performances by Heidi Blickenstaff, Doreen Montalvo, Mamie Parris, Bryce Ryness, and more. Musical presentations started October 23 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) and included Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton. The Festival concluded on October 24, 2014. Scroll down for photos!

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals today, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) is proud to announce final casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Online Festival registration ends Friday, October 17.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) just announced initial casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the all-star lineup of directors and musical directors participating in the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Laramie Project Ten Years Later/by Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber/produced by Jon Imparato/directed by Ken Sawyer/The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center,Davidson/Valentini Theatre/through November 16

Two iconic universes collide when Marvel and Disney characters team up in 'Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel,' a landmark 'Phineas and Ferb' episode in which Marvel Super Heroes and the popular animated duo, Phineas and Ferb, defeat Marvel Super Villains and Dr. Doofenshmirtz, in an Epic battle of good versus evil. This first ever crossover animated television special for Marvel and Disney characters premieres FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. Beginning, Monday, August 12, Disney Channel SVOD and verified users on WATCHDisneychannel.com and the WATCH Disney Channel app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch will be treated to a first look at 'Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel.'

Members of the public are invited to attend free readings of two new plays-in-development at Rubicon Theatre Company tonight, June 8, 9 and 15 as part of Rubicon's continuing Plays-in-Progress series.

Members of the public are invited to attend free readings of two new plays-in-development at Rubicon Theatre Company on June 8, 9 and 15 as part of Rubicon's continuing Plays-in-Progress series. A new psychological thriller, Edgar Allen Poe's Flawless Murder by Gary W. Marion will be read Saturday, June 8 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 15 at 2:00 p.m., co-produced with Michael Jackowitz and Witz-End Productions. Mary Marie, a new family musical with book by Chana Wise and music by composer Carl Johnson will take place on Sunday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m. (in association with the Academy of New Musical Theatre in North Hollywood).

Love musicals? Want to hear some brand-new material from up-and-coming new musical theatre writers? The ANMT writers have a 40 year history of writing musicals! Join us on Friday, April 12th at the Colony Theatre in Burbank for GOT MUSICAL: a sneak preview of brand-new musicals in development for producers across the country.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin previously announced the final play of the season, Lonely Planet, by Steven Dietz, in performance from tonight, May 10 through June 17, 2012. (Note that this replaces the play that was originally announced for this time slot, Playing Sinatra). Dietz is one of the most prolific, versatile and widely produced playwrights in the country. Lonely Planet was written in 1994 and is considered a second generation AIDS play although the disease is never named. Dietz uses his obsession with maps and his connection with Ionesco's The Chairs to write a play about friendship in the dawn of the AIDS crisis. The play won the PEN-USA Award for Drama.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced that the final play of the season, Lonely Planet, by Steven Dietz, will be in performance May 10-June 17, 2012. (Note that this replaces the play that was originally announced for this time slot, Playing Sinatra). Dietz is one of the most prolific, versatile and widely produced playwrights in the country. Lonely Planet was written in 1994 and is considered a second generation AIDS play although the disease is never named. Dietz uses his obsession with maps and his connection with Ionesco's The Chairs to write a play about friendship in the dawn of the AIDS crisis. The play won the PEN-USA Award for Drama.

More proof that Los Angeles is becoming a magnet for new musicals: after 15 years in Chicago, Stages Musical Theatre Festival has moved to Los Angeles.

More proof that Los Angeles is becoming a magnet for new musicals: after 15 years in Chicago, Stages Musical Theatre Festival has moved to Los Angeles.

More proof that Los Angeles is becoming a magnet for new musicals: after 15 years in Chicago, Stages Musical Theatre Festival has moved to Los Angeles.

London: the birthplace of so many great musicals, and the host of the 2012 Olympics. Now, put those two ideas together, and you get a new musical revue about the Olympics. It's called In the Mind of Olympians, and it's being co-written by writers in London as well as Los Angeles, through Mercury Musical Developments in London and the Academy for New Musical Theatre in Los Angeles.