Michael King News

In tribute to the greatest entertainer of all time, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil just wrapped a three-day birthday extravaganza for the King of Pop to celebrate what would have been his 58th birthday. Hosted at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas August 27 - 29, the fourth annual birthday celebration delighted guests throughout the weekend, featuring unforgettable activities, coveted prizes and more. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!

Multiple Grammy Award-winner, Michael Bolton; Country artist, Lorrie Morgan and the longest touring laser show in history, Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular have all been added to the King Center's amazing lineup. 

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present its third annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, featuring 14 new musical productions. Created to showcase and support Chicago's burgeoning field of musical theatre creators, this year's festival will be held August 9 - 28, 2016 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Each production will receive four performances during the Festival. The full schedule (Tuesdays - Sundays) and can be found at www.cmtf.org, with tickets currently on sale ($20 per show, $200 all-festival rush passes). The press "sneak preview," featuring a sampling of songs from the 2016 Festival, is Monday, August 8 at 7:30 pm.

An epic tale of magic, heroism, love and betrayal adapted from the novel Arthur: High King of Britain, by Michael Morpurgo, the author of War Horse and Private Peaceful.

The first season of Destination America's GHOSTS OF SHEPHERDSTOWN ended strong on Sunday, July 17 with the finale becoming the network's #1 telecast ever in P25-54

Patch Theatre Company present a strictly limited SA family season of six public performances of their much-loved production, Emily Loves to Bounce, at Norwood's Odeon Theatre on August 6, 13 & 20.

The Sunday, June 12 series premiere of Destination America's GHOSTS OF SHEPHERDSTOWN was the network's #1 highest-rated and most-watched series debut ever, becoming the third consecutive paranormal series premiere of 2016 to break records for delivery of P2+ (663k) and HH (529k) on L+3 Day

The Shelter (winners of Best Overall Play at FringeNYC 2015 with Night of the Living) will present the World Premiere of THE RED ROOM, a new American drama by Morgan McGuire. Directed by Jenny Beth Snyder, previews begin July 14 at TBG Theatre. Opening night is slated for Sunday, July 17.

The six-part television event GHOSTS OF SHEPHERDSTOWN premieres Sunday, June 12 at 10/9c on Destination America.

In case you missed the announcement about the arrival of one of Broadway's latest hits to Sydney shores, and are racking your brains as to what is going to be the next big thing in Australian theatre, then perhaps this will jog your memory:

The six-part television event GHOSTS OF SHEPHERDSTOWN premieres Sunday, June 12 at 10/9c on Destination America.

Legendary scenic and costume designer, MICHAEL YEARGAN (currently represented on Broadway with Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I), and costume designer SUSAN TSU are among the 2016 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony tonight, May 20, at 6:30pm, at the Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Legendary scenic and costume designer, MICHAEL YEARGAN (currently represented on Broadway with Fiddler on the Roof and The King and I), and costume designer SUSAN TSU are among the 2016 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, May 20, at 6:30pm, at the Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

THE COLOR PURPLE will be hosting a special talk back series with cast members following four select performances, Tuesday, May 17 through Thursday, May 19.

Stable Cable Lab Co. raised more than $6,000 to fund the company's upcoming world premiere of In the Event of My Death by Lindsay Joy, directed by Padraic Lillis at its 2016 Spring Soiree (#SoireeDeMayo) in tandem with its online crowd funding campaign on May 5, 2016 at The New Theater Building.  The company's silent auction will continue online through May 19th, 2016 and features exclusive items including an evening with Andy Cohen of 'Watch What Happens Live' in the Bravo Clubhouse, a reading of a manuscript with a professional written evaluation from Lucy Childs of Aaron Priest Literary Agency, a custom monologue written by Lindsay Joy, private yoga and tennis lessons, and more.  For more information and to bid visit www.stablecablelabco.org.

 Griffin Theatre Company has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of the off-Broadway hit BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, with book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Heathers: The Musical), direction by Scott Weinstein, music direction by Charlotte Rivard-Hoster and choreography by Rhett Guter. 

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the second production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISTS...APPLAUSE, featuring book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Charles Strouseand lyrics by Lee Adams, with direction and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik, music direction by Nick Sula. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber have announced the second production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISTS...APPLAUSE, featuring book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, with direction and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik, music direction by Nick Sula.

When considering musical theatre, one often immediately thinks of the classics - those shows that tell an age old story with soaring and lyrical songs peppered with engaging dance numbers and beautiful costumes. Those plays certainly have their place in the world, but in the past decade or so, a new genre of musical has come into the mix - the jukebox musical, a genre that takes pre-existing music, usually from popular bands, and creates a theatrical plot around them. While some theater purists might look down on this style of show, all one has to do is look around the audience at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT to know that jukebox musicals are alive and well.