Robert Longbottom News

Following a successful run in China that closed on January 14, 2020, Big League Productions, Inc.'s DREAMGIRLS will travel to Japan for performances January 29 through February 16.

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 INTO THE WOODS in Los Angeles, Lea Salonga in SWEENEY TODD and more!

Into The Woods officially opened at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, July 26, for its three-performance run which ends today, July 28. Check out photos from opening night!

Into The Woods officially opened at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, July 26, for its three-performance run which ends today, July 28. Let's see what the critics are saying...

An inspired choice of a show, the Hollywood Bowl has decided to present an effervescently buoyant new production of the Tony Award-winning 1986 musical INTO THE WOODS, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's much beloved twisted take on traditional fairy tale stories mashed together with witty charm, tongue-tying lyrics, and gallows humor. Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, this enjoyable, sublime production is exquisite and thoroughly delightful from start to finish---much of which can be attributed to its top-notch, musical theater-trained cast that includes Tony Winners Sutton Foster and Patina Miller giving exceptional acting and singing performances alongside theater favorites Cheyenne Jackson, Skylar Astin, Sierra Boggess, Hailey Kilgore, and Stranger Things breakout star Gaten Matarazzo. The show continues with two additional evening performances July 27-28, 2019.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning INTO THE WOODS opens this weekend Friday July 26, 2019, as this year's Hollywood Bowl's annual fully-staged Broadway musical. I had the enviable opportunity to interview the Tony Award-winning, über-talented Patina Miller who'll be portraying the Witch.

Michael Sterling, BroadwayWorld's LA On Air Host and Co-Producer for BWW TV and Jerry Evans of JLE Media in Los Angeles spent the day at rehearsal for Hollywood Bowl's upcoming, new production of Into the Woods.

Additional casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Into the Woods on Friday, July 26, at 8 PM, Saturday, July 27, at 8 PM and Sunday, July 28, at 7:30 PM.

This summer, the LA Phil introduces CODA Plus at the Hollywood Bowl. The new group offers young professionals an insider's view of five select LA Phil performances through exclusive pre-concert events, featuring guest speakers and complimentary drinks and small bites. CODA Plus members can then take in the concerts from premium bench seats.

Additional casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Into the Woods

Over 400 guests including current and past New York City high school students and their mentors who have participated in the TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project, the theatre arts mentoring program, (formerly called "Open Doors"), that TDF founded in 1998 with playwright Wendy Wasserstein, will attend this year's graduation ceremony at 5:30pm on Monday, June 3at The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street, NYC). The graduation ceremony will open with a performance by Aisha Jackson who covers the role of Anna in Disney's Frozen.

Preliminary casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Into the Woods.

Director/Chorographer Robert Longbottom and Musical Director/Conductor Kevin Stites have been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Into the Woods

The 2018 Inaugural NAAP (National Asian Artists Project) Gala took place on December 2nd celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's groundbreaking musical 'Flower Drum Song'. Cast members from numerous productions including the original 1958 Broadway company, tours, the 1961 film and the 2002 Broadway revival took over the Golden Unicorn Restaurant in the heart of Chinatown for a magical evening that included a spectacular eight course Chinese banquet and a sensational show.

America's Got Talent's Jeffrey Li made his musical theater debut in the developmental reading of Lainie Sakakura (producer/book) and Paul Fujimoto's (music/lyrics) CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, a musical adaptation of The New York Times Best Selling novel, HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford at The Playroom Theater in New York on September 17.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25thSilver Anniversary at the theatre) in association with T&D Productions, LLC are thrilled to present Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original "Janis" starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment in association with T&D Productions, LLC present Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original 'Janis' starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Manoa Valley Theatre is celebrating its momentous 50th Anniversary with a play season filled with star-studded audience favorites, Broadway blockbusters and compelling dramas that herald the next half-century for the noted Off-Broadway playhouse. During its anniversary season, MVT will present a spectrum of multi- disciplinary experiences including musical comedies, historical dramas and audience participation events. New collaborations and partnerships are just two of the many features of the season. In what will be a world premiere, MVT has commissioned an original script, Shipment Day, about well-known leprosy activist Olivia Robello Breitha and Hawaii's leprosy history. It will also produce the Hawaii premiere of Allegiance, a Broadway musical about the Japanese American internment during WWII and one family's extraordinarily divisive experience.

The cast is set for A Sensible Theatre Co.'s production of Pageant: The Musical, co-presented with ACTLab June 15 - July 8, 2018. This fabulous production will coincide with Seattle PRIDE 2018. The announcement took place during A Sensible Debutante Ball last week at FRED Wildlife Refuge on Capitol Hill, Seattle.

The cast is set for A Sensible Theatre Co.'s production of Pageant: The Musical, co-presented with ACTLab June 15 - July 8, 2018. This fabulous production will coincide with Seattle PRIDE 2018. The announcement took place during A Sensible Debutante Ball last week at FRED Wildlife Refuge on Capitol Hill, Seattle.