Andy Fickman News

The 41st Annual ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) Writers Conference features over 80 workshops and panels, plus networking opportunities, geared toward freelance writers and authors.

Since the spookiest and scariest of seasons is aggressively upon us, now is the perfect time to take a look at some selected clips from the most theatrical and horrifying of Halloween treats available to view on YouTube and beyond - especially these six specially-chosen, seriously spooktacular entities! While SILENCE OF THE LAMBS has recently given birth to some new mutton in the form of the Off-Broadway camp spoof musical SILENCE! starring Brent Barrett, there are some surprisingly effective and engrossing horror-themed musicals on our list, as well - REEFER MADNESS: THE MOVIE MUSICAL and THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW included - but, also, some theatrically-themed flights of fearsome fancy - such as Dario Argento's OPERA and Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN. Also, we have a historic classic helmed by the director of two of the most beloved movie musicals of all time - WEST SIDE STORY and THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Robert Wise and his original black and white horror-fest, THE HAUNTING - and a look at a modern-day master from the other side of the planet, Japan's Takashi Miike and his banned-from-American-broadcast IMPRINT. Julie Harris to Kristen Bell, Tim Curry to Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer to Natalie Portman - this Halloween countdown is definitely one that is all treats and no tricks! Well, maybe just one…

THE THREEPENNY OPERA to WICKED to ROCKY HORROR to PASSION onstage - and, before that, believe it or not: THE REAL LIVE BRADY BUNCH TOUR - in addition to SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE to MEAN GIRLS on screens large and small: the multi-talented Ana Gasteyer continues to surprise us with every new venture - and aren't we lucky! Ms. Gasteyer's exceedingly elegant new cabaret show at Feinstein's, appropriately titled ELEGANT SONGS FROM A HANDSOME WOMAN - this coming Monday at 8:30 PM, and also on Monday, June 27 - will give her a chance to show off her considerable singing skills. In this all-encompassing interview we discuss the inspiration and ideas involved in her new cabaret piece and exactly what we can expect on Monday night, plus all about her upcoming multi-episode arc on HBO's CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and co-starring in a brand new ABC series coming this Fall, SUBURGATORY. Additionally, we parse her stage work with everyone from Joe Mantello to Mary Zimmermann and her experiences working on live TV for six years on NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - plus, first news about her role in Tyler Perry's WE THE PEOPLES and her recollections on the fantastic REEFER MADNESS: THE MOVIE MUSICAL - as well as working with Raul Esparza, Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey, Larry David - and much, much more!

2010 was a year filled with all sorts of exciting BroadwayWorld interviews - here's some of this year's highlights!

The Gallery Players is proud to announce casting and creative team for the first musical of its 44th season, the hit musical Reefer Madness. Directed by Dev Bondarin (The House of Blue Leaves, The Gallery Players), this outrageous satire comes to Brooklyn October 23 - November 14, 2010.

The Gallery Players is proud to announce casting and creative team for the first musical of its 44th season, the hit musical Reefer Madness. Directed by Dev Bondarin (The House of Blue Leaves, The Gallery Players), this outrageous satire comes to Brooklyn October 23 - November 14, 2010.

Recently I had the delectable delight of talking to one of the sweetest and sexiest (and shockingly super-talented) stars of stage and screen who can currently be seen on the hit of all TV hits, GLEE, in her recurring role as April Rhodes, as well as in the new Disney comedy YOU AGAIN co-starring Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, Victor Garber, Cloris Leachman and Betty White: the Tony Award and Emmy-winning actress and operatic chanteuse herself, Ms. Kristin Chenoweth! In this BWW exclusive InDepth InterView we talk about filming the first of several new episodes of GLEE for season two, working on Broadway with GLEE lead (and show love interest) Matt Morrison, what singing Sondheim means to her as a person and as a performer, what GLEE means to Broadway, as well as a thorough discussion of her new Disney film YOU AGAIN directed by Andy Fickman. We also touch on her early Broadway work in A NEW BRAIN and the words and music of William Finn. She has it all - and the success in each form of media to prove it - so it is a special treat to present InDepth InterView: Kristin Chenoweth.

The Gallery Players is proud to announce casting and creative team for the first musical of its 44th season, the hit musical Reefer Madness. Directed by Dev Bondarin (The House of Blue Leaves, The Gallery Players), this outrageous satire comes to Brooklyn October 23 - November 14, 2010.

This afternoon I had the delight of talking to one of the sweetest and sexiest (and shockingly super-talented) stars of stage and screen who can currently be seen on the hit of all TV hits, GLEE, in her recurring role as April Rhodes, as well as in the new Disney comedy YOU AGAIN co-starring Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Bell, Victor Garber, Cloris Leachman and Betty White: the Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actress and operatic chanteuse herself, Ms. Kristin Chenoweth! In this BWW exclusive we talk about filming the first of several new episodes of GLEE next week, working on Broadway with GLEE lead (and show love interest) Matt Morrison, what Sondheim means to her, what GLEE means to Broadway, as well as a thorough look at her new Disney film YOU AGAIN directed by Andy Fickman. This is merely a tease of what's to come in the complete InDepth InterView: Kristin Chenoweth coming next week! Stay tuned to BWW until then! In the complete interview she also comments on working with Matt Morrison, Lea Michele and Ryan Murphy on GLEE, as well as Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Barbara Cook and John Doyle in her premiere Sondheim performance and working with Carrie Underwood - and many others! She's a Spring breeze on a Fall day - April (Rhodes) after all! Besides, this is just the bud, you'll have to wait until next week to watch our chat grow into a full bloom!

PopEater.com is reporting that a musical inspired by the life and career of Cher is currently in the works. The mastermind behind the project is producer-director-writer Andy Fickman. Says Fickman of the project: 'We'll be making announcements about that project coming together shortly. She's a fairly phenomenal character, Cher -- as a human being I think she's one of the great icons of all time, a force to be reckoned with. The way she looked onstage with Lady Gaga, well, it's one for the books.'

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, tonight, September 13 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is making its New York City debut with a concert at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. The concert, which will feature songs from the upcoming musical with a full band, will also play an additional performance tomorrow, September 14 at 11:30pm. Some of Broadway's greats will lend their voices for this special evening. Tickets are $20. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the rehearsal this weekend and brings you photo coverage below.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, on Monday, September 13 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is making its New York City debut with a concert at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. The concert will feature songs from the upcoming musical with a full band. Some of Broadway's greats will lend their voices for this special evening. Tickets are $20.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, on Monday, September 13 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is making its New York City debut with a concert at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. The concert will feature songs from the upcoming musical with a full band. Some of Broadway's greats will lend their voices for this special evening. Tickets are $20.

On Monday, September 13 at 7:00 & 9:30 PM, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is making its New York City debut with a concert at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. The concert will feature songs from the upcoming musical with a full band. Some of Broadway's greats will lend their voices for this special evening. Specific casting details will be announced shortly. Tickets are $20.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists.

Fresh off her stint in Hair, Annaleigh Ashford will lead the previously announced Heathers: The Musical concert at Joe's Pub alongside Jeremy Jordan on September 13, 2010. Ashford will protray Veronica Sawyer (played by Winona Ryder on screen), while Jeremy Jordan will play Jason Dean (played by Christian Slater in the film). Additional casting announcements are forthcoming.

'Heathers: The Musical' is making its New York City debut with a concert at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on Monday, September 13th at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. The concert will feature songs from the upcoming musical with a full band. Some of Broadway's greats will lend their voices for this special evening. Specific casting details will be announced shortly.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the 1988 cult favorite dark comedy about 4 popular high school girls with a very bad streak, which powered the early careers of Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and writer Daniel Waters, is stagebound in a production being developed by Andy Fickman, director of 'Race to Witch Mountain,' who is returning to his musical roots.

Village Theatre's highly anticipated annual Festival of New Musicals returns for an eighth year, featuring staged readings of six new musicals- Chasing Nicolette, Killala Bay, Dennis The Menace, The Alchemists, The Gypsy King, and The Yellow Wood. These are fully sung presentations, performed with script-in-hand, of six brand new musicals.

Reefer Madness will premiere on Showtime on Saturday, April 16 at 8pm ET/PT. BroadwayWorld was there for the film's NY premiere on April 10.