Jonah Platt News

Broadway's Ben Fankhauser (Newsies, Spring Awakening - Tour) will play Quasimodo in Starring Buffalo's upcoming concerts of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, joining previously announced cast members Dan'yelle Williamson (Memphis, Rocky the Musical) as Esmeralda, Jonah Platt (Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar - Live) as Phoebus, Devin Ilaw (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) as Clopin, and Keith Ersing (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's Fiddler on The Roof) as Frollo. They will team with celebrated Buffalo actors Leah Berst, Charmagne Chi, Arianne Davidow, Matthew Iwanski-Jackson, Dudney Joseph, Ben Michael Moran, Katy Miner, Raphael Santos, and over 100 other contributing Western New York professional and student artists to create an unforgettable theatrical experience.

The Foundation for New American Musicals invites you to join us on Sunday, October 14 in a beautiful garden setting for a one-time only staged reading event of an exciting and timely new musical, THE MOLLYHOUSE, by Richard Hanson (book and lyrics) and Divya Maus (music).

Star of stage and screen, Jonah Platt has signed on to play Country Songwriter Hall of Famer, Dean Dillon, in the upcoming musical Tennessee Whiskey The Musical: The Story of Dean Dillon, written by Dewey Moss featuring the songs of Mr. Dillon.

REPRISE 2.0, led by Producing Artistic Director Marcia Seligson, presented in association with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Department of Theater (UCLA TFT) chaired by Brian Kite, performing at UCLA Freud Playhouse, announces casting for Grand Hotel performing October 24 to November 4, as well as a new 2-show FlexPass for $99, now on sale at Reprise2.org and by phone at 866-811-4111.

Broadway's Devin Ilaw (Les Miserables, Miss Siagon) and Jonah Platt (Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar Live) will complete the cast of Starring Buffalo's upcoming concerts of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. They play Clopin and Captain Phoebus, respectively, and join previously announced visiting artists Alex Wyse (Spring Awakening, Lysistrata Jones) as Quasimodo, and Dan'yelle Williamson (Memphis, Rocky The Musical) as Esmeralda. Noted Buffalo vocalist and conductor Keith Ersing plays Frollo, and all will be joined by a company of star Buffalo actors including Leah Berst, Charmagne Chi, Arianne Davidow, Matthew Iwanski-Jackson, Dudney Joseph, Ben Michael Moran, Katy Miner, Raphael Santos.

The new musical A WALK ON THE MOON, based on the 1999 film written by Pamela Gary, does a fine job of telling its story, and patrons will have a good time at this nice musical. In the era of making things great again are fine, good, and nice enuf?

A WALK ON THE MOON-based on the Miramax and Village Roadshow Pictures film of the same name-is currently making its world premiere at American Conservatory Theater's Geary Theater now through July 1, 2018. Get a first look at the production below!

Rehearsals are in full swing for the world-premiere musical A Walk on the Moon-based on the Miramax and Village Roadshow Pictures film of the same name-performing at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater June 9-July 1, 2018.

Closing out the 2017-18 season, A.C.T. will present the world-premiere musical, A Walk on the Moon (June 6-July 1, 2018),based on the Miramax and Village Roadshow Pictures motion picture of the same name. In the summer of '69, America is on the brink of change. In the cities, crowds are protesting the Vietnam War. In the skies, Apollo 11 is speeding towards the first moon landing.

What good is sitting alone in your room this week? If you don't already have plans to see a Broadway show, come out to see your favorite Broadway stars in a cabaret act instead. Highlights this week include:

This April, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

One of the West End's longest-running musicals, Queen's WE WILL ROCK YOU, will make its New York City debut, with a star-studded Broadway cast, at Feinstein's/54 Below on Sunday, April 8th, 2018, at 7:00pm and 9:30pm

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, Tony Award-winning producer, 'Hamilton' alum and 'Power' co-star Brandon Victor Dixon will star as Judas and join an already stellar cast in NBC's highly anticipated special event 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,' to be aired Easter Sunday, April 1 from the Marcy Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. Also joining the cast are Tony nominee Ben Daniels as Pontius Pilate, Tony nominee Norm Lewis as Caiaphas, Broadway veteran Jason Tam as Peter, 'M. Butterfly' star Jin Ha as Annas and Swedish rock star Erik Gronwall as Simon Zealotes.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, announces Nickelodeon's Thomas Hobson (Nick Jr.'s Fresh Beat Band ) as The Beast for the final 2 performances of the world premiere of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A CHRISTMAS ROSE at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on December 24 (at 1:00pm and 5:00pm). The role of The Beast is played by Jonah Platt (Broadway's Wicked) at all other performances. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST A CHRISTMAS ROSE, opened to rave reviews December 13, and must close December 24.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANNIE, and More!

Lythgoe means talent and for several years the family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, with a British panto, American style. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as this year's treat Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose and turns it into a highly imaginative show with pop music that will appeal to both children and their parents...but primarily to expose kids to an engaging theatrical experience. There's usually an actor or two in drag, and a villain ... and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and BOO loudly at the villains. It begins first and foremost with an upbeat script by Kris Lythgoe, replete with silly lines and a lot of play.on.words. To put the younger audience into the spirit, apart from the screaming and booing, Beast masks are on sale and for the adult ladies, long-stemmed roses. This family show plays at the Pasadena Civic through December 24.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, presents BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE, which expands this winter at The Pasadena Civic Auditorium (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) for 14 performances only, December 13 -24, 2017 with the official press opening tonight, December 13.

BroadwayWorld's Michael Sterling of BWW TV Los Angeles talks to the cast and creative team members during at rehearsal at the beautiful Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the world premiere of the Lythgoe Family Panto production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE, produced in association with Pasadena Playhouse.