Jack Viertel News

Acclaimed costume designer Bob Mackie and theater luminary Jack Viertel laughed and cheered along with the audience when they visited The Tony Award ® winning FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, Gerard Alessandrini's hilarious musical spoof of all things theater,  which continues at the Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street).

Ariana Debose has joined the cast of Ryan Murphy's film adaptation of The Prom, according to Deadline.

According to the New York Times, Lear deBessonet, current Resident Director of City Center Encores! will officially succeed Jack Viertel as the new artistic director in 2021.  DeBessonet joined the Encores! team in January 2019 following Viertel's announcement of his retirement in July. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, 'Scandal' star and Broadway vet Kerry Washington has joined the cast of 'The Prom,' a Netflix adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The cast already includes heavy-hitters like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.

Jack Viertel, who has run New York City Center's Encores! series for the past twenty years, has just announced that he will resign from his position as Artistic Director at the end of the 2020 season.

Updated September 2023: Finding your best audition song is crucial - especially as a young performer. Check out some great audition song options for kids of all ages and find out how to pick the perfect audition song if you're a kid or teenager!

Ryan Murphy will direct and produce a feature adaptation of the Tony-nominated musical The Prom  for Netflix, and he has announced the cast for the film, according to Deadline. The Prom will star Meryl Streep, James Corden, and Ariana Grande, with Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key and Andrew Rannells in key roles. 

BroadwayWorld has learned that The Prom will have its last dance on Broadway August 11th. Upon its final performance, THE PROM will have played 23 preview and 310 regular performances.

New York City Center today announced programming for the 2019 - 2020 season, which will include Mack and Mabel (Feb 19-23), Kurt Weill's Love Life (March 18-22) directed by Victoria Clark, and a 'new version' of Thoroughly Modern Millie (May 6-10), featuring edits by the playwright Lauren Yee and led by 2018 Tony nominee Ashley Park.

How did The Prom come to be? Creators Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin tell us about the journey of the Tony-nominated musical!

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

Just last night, New York City Center concluded the Encores! season with High Button Shoes. The production featured Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins), Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

That crazy cacophony of choreographic chaos that careens across the City Center stage shortly after the commencement of Act II is the main reason for Encores! to bring back the smash hit 1947 musical comedy High Button Shoes.

Saundra Mitchell, author of over twenty books for tweens and teens, has written the YA novelization of the hit Broadway musical comedy, The Prom.

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

On Friday, April 12 (2pm), join us at the Robin Williams Center (247 W 54th St) for a Q&A with the cast and creators of Broadway Musical The Prom: Matthew Sklar -Music, Chad Beguelin -Lyrics & Book, Bob Martin - Book, and Cast Members Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, Christopher Sieber, and Angie Schworer. Click here to RSVP!

Ghostlight Records has announced it will record a new cast album of Cole Porter's 1930 musical The New Yorkers. The recording will be based on the 2017 production from New York City Center (Arlene Shuler, New York City Center President & CEO) Encores!, directed by John Rando with musical direction by Encores! Music Director Rob Berman and choreography by Chris Bailey. The concert adaptation is by Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel. The album, produced by Rob Berman and Lawrence Manchester, is being recorded March 25-26.

Six-time Emmy Award winner Ryan Murphy announced today on Instagram that he will host a special performance of THE PROM to benefit Hetrick Martin, GLAAD and The Trevor Project on Tuesday, April 9.

Things are just heavenly this week at New York City Center. That's because tonight through Sunday, March 24, Encores! continues with Rodgers and Hart's I Married an Angel.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.