Dan Knetchges News

Based on the hit-film, Sister Act is a feel-good musical comedy that is bringing joy, song and laughter to the people of Houston. Sister Act tells the story of a nightclub singer (Deloris) who is forced to take refuge from the mob in a convent. The story brings brings audiences joy and laughter as Deloris turns the convent choir into a soulful chorus complete with a Motown repertoire. Patrons of Theatre Under the Stars are captivated as we watch Deloris maneuver through the the sudden celebrity of the choir jeopardizing her identity.

Welcome to Theatre Under The Stars 50th Anniversary Season Gala, an incredible and intimate celebration this past Saturday, March 23rd with Broadway star Idina Menzel and more than 600 TUTS family and friends. Many guests said it was the "best gala" they had ever attended. The gorgeous event designed by Taylor DeMartino of Blooming Gallery not only turned The Post Oak Hotel grand ballroom into a supper club "under the stars" that night, but guests experienced the magic of live musical theatre while supporting a great cause. A private meet and greet with Menzel was given to top sponsors along with gifts donated by David Peck. This historic event raised more funds than any other Gala in TUTS history - $1.37 million for "Houston's Home for Musical Theatre".

BLOODY BLOODY JESSICA FLETCHER: A MUSICAL PARODY, a new musical with an original score by Keith Varney and a book by Kevon Zak, Josh Lamon and Phillip Taratula, will get an industry reading on April 24. The presentation will star Beth Leavel, Josh Lamon, Phillip Taratula, Leslie Kritzer, Randy Blair, Emily Walton, and Gretchen Wylder.

The award-winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to present a look into their production of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, now playing through Saturday, May 28, 2016 at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. With music & lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreographed by Misha Shields,  music directed by Michael Ferrara, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin. 

The award-winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) presents THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, with music & lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreographed by Misha Shields, music directed by Michael Ferrara, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Tony Award-winning musical comedy will take the stage at Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center in Houston from April 29 through May 7.

The award-winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to present a behind the scenes look at rehearsals for THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, with music & lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreographed by Misha Shields,  music directed by Michael Ferrara, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin. The limited engagement will be at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. Performances begin Thursday, May 5 and continue through Saturday, May 28. Tickets are available at www.apacny.org.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Tony Award-winning musical comedy will take the stage at Broadway Bound Performing Arts Center in Houston from April 29 through May 7.

The award-winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) presents THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, with music & lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreographed by Misha Shields, music directed by Michael Ferrara, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC), recipient of the 2012 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award from the Innovative Theatre Foundation, is pleased to announce their 15th season which will include a world premiere play by Cheryl L. Davis (2014 AUDELCO Playwriting Award winner for Maid's Door), CAREFULLY TAUGHT, directed by Pat Golden (Assistant Director on Emily Mann's Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams), and the award-winning musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, directed by APAC Artistic Director Dev Bondarin (APAC's IT Award Nominated In The Bones and Merrily We Roll Along). Additionally, Bondarin is introducing a new program of works based on the Astoria community, called ASTORIA STORIES. APAC's performance venue is located at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF), in partnership with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, returns to Philadelphia for a weeklong musical theater intensive, August 2-9, during which Philadelphia's most promising performers will receive unprecedented instruction from the industry's top directors, choreographers and professionals.  To conclude the weeklong intensive, BDF will present GENERATION, a unique Broadway-style revue featuring performances by Broadway veterans and emerging local talent.  

Meet the Cast and Creative Team of The York Theatre Company's Musicals in Mufti presentation of the first New York revival and world premiere of a new re-imagined version of the 1992 musical, My Favorite Year! The show features book by Joseph Dougherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Stephen Flaherty, based on the motion picture My Favorite Year, courtesy of Turner Entertainment Co., with story by Dennis Palumbo and screenplay by Norman Steinberg and Dennis Palumbo.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) partners with theKimmel Center for the Performing Arts to present TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway cabaret featuring performances by Broadway veterans and emerging local talent. Directed by Tony Award-nominated director and choreographer Dan Knetchges (Xanadu, Spelling Bee), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT concludes a weeklong musical theatre intensive taught by the industry's top directors, choreographers, and industry professionals.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) partners with theKimmel Center for the Performing Arts to present TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway cabaret featuring performances by Broadway veterans and emerging local talent. Directed by Tony Award-nominated director and choreographer Dan Knetchges (Xanadu, Spelling Bee), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT concludes a weeklong musical theatre intensive taught by the industry's top directors, choreographers, and industry professionals.

The first musical of the new Broadway season, Xanadu opened on Tuesday, July 10th at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre, and BroadwayWorld was there to capture the star-studded opening night party!

The first musical of the new Broadway season, Xanadu opened on Tuesday, July 10th at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre!