John Selya News

Perched above the stage in their private bleacher section, just beyond an outfield fence graffitied with the musical's title, conductor Rob Berman and his 25 piece Encores! Summer Stars orchestra might be mistaken for the conservatory cousins of Brooklyn's legendary Dodger Sym-Phony. But instead of serenading umpires from the Ebbet's Field grandstands with double forte arrangements of 'Three Blind Mice,' the musicians of director John Rando's cracker-jack production of Damn Yankees - a 1955 musical that opened in the early weeks of the baseball season that saw Brooklyn beat the Yankees for the borough's only World Series championship - treats 21st Century audiences to that thrilling sound of a Broadway Golden Age orchestra. The detailed movements and textures contained within Don Walker's orchestrations, whether giving comic accents to the pepper-upper 'Heart,' setting a satirical mood for the pseudo-vamp 'Whatever Lola Wants' or lifting a slow ballad like 'A Man Doesn't Know' with phrases that search the mind of the singing character, help bring majestic touches of artistry to this rousing vaudeville disguised as a book musical.

The 2008 Chase Brock Experience Benefit will take place October 20th at Florence Gould Hall. This one-night only event will feature the company joined by an exciting group of artists from the Broadway, ballet and music worlds, all dancing in revivals of audience favorites as well as several world premieres.

On Monday, October 13th at 7pm, some of Broadway's best dancers and performers will join together for KICKIN' IT: Broadway Gives Back at The Ailey Citigroup Theater (405 W 55th St @ 9th Ave). The concert is in honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness.

Rolex presents 'ON BROADWAY! A Glittering Salute To The American Musical'- Career Transition For Dancers', 23rd Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 27 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (bet. 7 & 6 Aves).

Rolex presents 'ON BROADWAY! A Glittering Salute To The American Musical'- Career Transition For Dancers', 23rd Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 27 at 7pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (bet. 7 & 6 Aves).

On July 14th, 2008 the New York Musical Theatre Festival (Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Director and Producer) presented a Guitar Hero benefit tournament featuring Broadway celebrities at Stitch Bar and Lounge (247 West 37th Street). Performers/Guitar Heroes appearing included Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer), Alli Mauzey (Cry-Baby), John Selya (Damn Yankees, Movin' Out), Paul Stancato (Director/Chorographer) and Jason Tam (A Chorus Line), among many others.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival will present a Guitar Hero benefit tournament featuring Broadway celebrities on Monday, July 14th, from 7pm to 10pm at Stitch Bar and Lounge.

On July 10th, 2008 the musical Damn Yankees opened at New York City Center as part of the Encores! Summer Series and BWW was there. The show runs through July 27th!

Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, and Randy Graff star in Damn Yankees, running July 5 - 27, 2008 at New York City Center (55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues).

On Tuesday June 24th, BroadwayWorld.com cameras got the opportunity to visit the rehearsal of Encores! presentation of Damn Yankees, one of this summer's most highly anticipated production.

Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, and Randy Graff star in Damn Yankees, running July 5 - 27, 2008 at New York City Center (55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues).

Megan Lawrence will join Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, and Randy Graff in Damn Yankees, running July 5 - 27, 2008 at New York City Center (55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). Lawrence replaces Ana Gasteyer; Ms. Gasteyer has suffered a minor injury.

Veanne Cox, Michael Mulheren and P.J. Benjamin will join Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, Ana Gasteyer and Randy Graff in Damn Yankees, running July 5 - 27, 2008 at New York City Center (55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues).

Career Transition For Dancers and the Shubert Organization gathered at the Eugenia Room at Sardi's (234 W. 44th St.) on March 26th for an a Between-Show-Get-Together event that featured Broadway dancers.

Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark will be joined by Conrad John Schuck, Dermot Crowley, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Michael Arden in Marc Blitzstein and Joseph Stein's Juno, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008 season. Directed by Tony Award- winner Garry Hynes with guest music direction by Eric Stern and choreography by Warren Carlyle, Juno will play for five performances, from March 27 - 30, at New York City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). This will be the first production since the original Broadway staging in 1959 to use the original orchestration by Blitzstein, Hershey Kay and Robert Russell Bennett.

Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark will be joined by Conrad John Schuck, Dermot Crowley, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Michael Arden in Marc Blitzstein and Joseph Stein's Juno, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008 season, performances are March 27-30.

BroadwayWorld.com's New and Updated Who's Who Entries for the Week of 2/19/2008. Updates include: Ruben Brache, Ciarán Hinds, Joe Komara, Ann Mandrella, Mauricio Perez, Christeena Riggs, John Selya, Jim Stanek, Tony Yazbeck.

BroadwayWorld.com's New and Updated Who's Who Entries for the Week of 2/12/2008. Updates include: Lindsey Alley, James Anest, Michael Barra, Caitlin Carter, Autumn Dornfeld, Andrew Graham, Henry Hodges, Joe Komara, Ruby Lewis, Mark Nelson, Rori Nogee, Mauricio Perez, John Selya, Max von Essen, Tony Yazbeck.

For one night only, 'Dance Rocks - An Electrifying Evening of Entertainment,' offers a free dress rehearsal at City Center on Monday October 29 at 1-1:30PM.