Louis Hobson News

Any true Broadway Geek knows of the infamous flop that is "Carrie: The Musical". Having only run for 16 previews and 5 actual performances back in 1988, some believed it to be one of the worst shows around while others still proclaimed its merits and longed for its return. So when the show was retooled by authors Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford and Lawrence D. Cohen and an Off-Broadway run was announced for 2012, the news was met with excitement and skepticism. The modest run was enough to remove some of the stigma of the show and made the show ripe for regional productions to put their stamp on it. And this leads us to 2013 as powerhouse company Balagan Theatre mounts their production with none other than Tony Award Winner Alice Ripley in the role of Carrie's Mother, Margaret White. And while the show itself is now about half good, the Balagan Production manages enough stellar moments to make the show into something special but they still have a ways to go to achieve greatness.

Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) leads the cast of CARRIE the musical, opening tonight, October 11 and running through October 26, 2013, at the historic Moore Theatre, also featuring fellow Broadway alumni Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked) andKeaton Whittaker (A Little Night Music), and directed by Broadway alum Louis Hobson (Next to Normal).

Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) leads the cast of CARRIE the musical, October 11-26, 2013, at the historic Moore Theatre, also featuring fellow Broadway alumni Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked) andKeaton Whittaker (A Little Night Music), and directed by Broadway alum Louis Hobson (Next to Normal). In the video below, Alice Ripley sings 'When There's No One' from the production!

Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) leads the cast of CARRIE the musical, October 11-26, 2013, at the historic Moore Theatre, also featuring fellow Broadway alumni Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked) and Keaton Whittaker (A Little Night Music), and directed by Broadway alum Louis Hobson (Next to Normal).

Be at the barricade with Balagan Theatre this September for an intensely intimate and immersive staging of the worldwide musical phenomenon, Les Miserables, featuring Broadway actor Louis Hobson in his debut performance with Balagan as Artistic Director. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

I must be honest here; Balagan Theatre putting on a production of Les Mis already has two hurdles to overcome before I even set foot in the door. First that it's Les Mis. It's a monumental undertaking and one of my favorite shows and I'm incredibly picky about it. And two, it's Balagan and with their recent track record I expect great things. So before I even enter the theater I already have some impossibly high standards for the production. And while there were definitely some superb moments on that stage (many in fact) there were also some glaring drawbacks that kept the show from meeting or even exceeding those standards.

Balagan Theatre continues their effort to get new musicals a place to be heard with their New Works Summer Series and their offering of the new musical “Island Song”, a show exploring the lives of the young and ambitious in a city that can at the same time foster and crush such ambition.

Balagan Theatre and New York City producer Katie Tomlinson Diamond presented a season preview party in June of Nirvanov, featuring television and stage star C.S. Lee (Dexter) and Van Hughes (American Idiot: The Musical, national tour) as rock legend Kurt Cobain/Nirvanov. Kirsten Delohr Helland and Williams A. Williams perform 'Faded and Jaded' from the show. Check out the video below!

Veteran film and theatre producer Sandy Stern, with Louis Hobson, Jake Groshong and Katie Tomlinson Diamond of Seattle's Balagan Theatre, will present a closed workshop performance today, July 12, of Jeff Thomson and Jeremy Desmon's new rock musical Pump up the Volume, directed by Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies,South Pacific) and Dave Solomon, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli and music direction by James Sampliner (Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer).

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents Hairspray in Concert, featuring some of Seattle's favorite musical theatre stars and the powerful voices of the 250-member Seattle Men's Chorus. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Hairspray's 2002 Broadway debut, this unique concert event will play for six very special performances of glorious and irreverent John Waters-inspired wackiness (Friday-Sunday, June 20-23). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below!

The Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards have announced this year's nominations! See the full list below. This year's PAMTA ceremony will take place at the Dolores Winningstad Theatre tonight, June 24, 2013, at 7 pm.

Let me start out, Dear Readers, by saying there is no way for me to not be biased about this show. I have loved it since I saw the original preview at the 5th way back when (twice) and all productions since then have never failed to make me happy. Hell, I've even done the show before (hence the bias). So please take that into account as I talk about the current concert version of "Hairspray" being presented at the 5th Avenue in conjunction with the Seattle Men's Chorus. While the talent and fun energy was definitely up there on the 5th Avenue stage, some keys roles seemed to be missing that spark of camp that is so crucial for the show.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents Hairspray in Concert, featuring some of Seattle's favorite musical theatre stars and the powerful voices of the 250-member Seattle Men's Chorus.

Balagan Theatre recently announced that a trio of Broadway powerhouse artists will star in 'Carrie: The Musical' this fall: Alice Ripley, Kendra Kassebaum, and Keaton Whittaker as Carrie. Ripley is best known for her Tony Award-winning turn as Diana Goodman in 'Next to Normal'; Kassebaum originated the role of Glinda in 'Wicked' on the first national tour; and young local actor Keaton Whittaker starred alongsideAngela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones in 'A Little Night Music'. Check out Keaton Whittaker performing 'Carrie' at the recent season preview event below!

Balagan Theatre recently announced that a trio of Broadway powerhouse artists will star in 'Carrie: The Musical' this fall: Alice Ripley, Kendra Kassebaum, and Keaton Whittaker as Carrie. Ripley is best known for her Tony Award-winning turn as Diana Goodman in 'Next to Normal'; Kassebaum originated the role of Glinda in 'Wicked' on the first national tour; and young local actor Keaton Whittaker starred alongside Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones in 'A Little Night Music'. Check out Ripley perform 'When There's No One' at the recent season preview event below!

Balagan Theatre made three major announcements during a packed Season Preview Party at the Moore Theatre on Monday, June 10: Nirvanov as the fifth show in the 2013-2014 mainstage season, a star-studded trio of leading ladies in Carrie: The Musical, and a newly created New Works Program, whose Summer Series debuts July 6. Check out a sneak peek below!

Balagan also announced a trio of Broadway powerhouse artists for Carrie: The Musical: Alice Ripley, Kendra Kassebaum, and Keaton Whittaker as Carrie. Ripley is best known for her Tony Award-winning turn as Diana Goodman in Next to Normal; Kassebaum was the first to replace Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda in Wicked; and young local actor Keaton Whittaker starred alongside Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones in A Little Night Music.

Balagan Theatre made three major announcements during a packed Season Preview Party at the Moore Theatre on Monday, June 10: 'Nirvanov' as the fifth show in the 2013-2014 mainstage season, a star-studded trio of leading ladies in Carrie: The Musical, and a newly created New Works Program, whose Summer Series debuts July 6.

Balagan Theatre will introduce the 2013-2014 mainstage season with a free community celebration, tonight, June 10, 7:30pm at the Moore Theatre, featuring America's Next Drag Superstar, Jinkx Monsoon (also known in Seattle as musical actor Jerick Hoffer), and Broadway star and Tony Award winner Alice Ripley, best known for creating the role of Diana Goodman in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal.

The Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards have announced this year's nominations! See the full list below.