Mr. Murphy News

Today marks the last episode review of the second season of Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE and I'm sure that many will agree with me that last night's show was as good a Season Two send-off as could have possibly been expected from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan and company given what has gone on this year so far. Besides the sights and sounds of the dramatic NYC wrap-up, the Broadway babies amongst the gleeks were treated to the extended returns of fan favorite Jonathan Groff and new cast member Cheyenne Jackson, in addition to a characteristically fabulous cameo by Broadway legend Patti LuPone - and the grand return of international singing sensation - as well as a participant in this column; in addition to Mr. Groff, yesterday (and, coming up: Mr. Jackson) - the big-voiced-diva known as Charice. While original songs dominated the episode, we were also treated to a mash-up of Madonna's 'I Love New York' and the Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green ON THE TOWN anthem 'New York, New York' (and a sample of the Kander & Ebb version elsewhere in the episode, 'for good' measure), in addition to one of the musical highlights of not only this episode, but all of Season Two - a song which was incidentally premiered in this very column on BroadwayWorld last week: Lea Michele and Chris Colfer putting their own spin on the WICKED curtain song 'For Good' on the very stage of the Gershwin Theater where the Broadway smash plays eight times a week - and has since 2004 - right where fellow GLEE guest stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel first sang it. While the musical quotient on GLEE is always appreciably entertaining - with few exceptions - this season has been significantly more expansive and varied in its storytelling style, so the question of the season undoubtedly is: was it all wrapped up satisfactorily? Well, we'll just have to stack it all up side-by-side-by-side-by-side and see, now, won't we? But, one thing is crystal clear: GLEE in NYC was all it was cracked up - and built up - to be. The big pay-off. Finally. Or, make that more to the point: finale.

Sixteen years after opening the Northwest office of what is now Broadway Across America - Seattle, Drew Murphy returns to Seattle as Vice President, Broadway Across America, West Coast, directing business for the Broadway series in Seattle, Portland, OR and Costa Mesa, CA. Before assuming this position, Mr. Murphy served as President of Broadway Across America - Boston, where he programmed more than 15 weeks of productions each year and oversaw operations of three major theatres, including the Boston Opera House.

The Japanese premiere of RUDOLF: THE LAST KISS, a musical composed by Frank Wildhorn, written by Jack Murphy, directed by Amon Miyamoto and produced by Toho. Co., Ltd. opened to an enthusiastic audience at the prestigious Imperial Theatre on Wednesday, May 6 in Tokyo.

On Sunday, August 5, Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. will present a special post-show benefit concert at featuring the cast of the Off-Broadway musical Sessions

On Thursday, July 26, 2007, prominent Manhattan psychiatrist Richard Brockman, M.D. will host a special audience talk-back immediately following the 8 p.m. performance of the Off-Broadway musical Sessions.

Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. have announced a one-week extension of the world-premiere production of Sessions, a new musical by Albert Tapper

Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. will present the world-premiere production of Sessions, a new musical by Albert Tapper, for a 12-week limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Peter Jay Sharp Theater

Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. will present the world-premiere production of Sessions, a new musical by Albert Tapper, for a 12-week limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Peter Jay Sharp Theater

Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. will present the world-premiere production of Sessions, a new musical by Albert Tapper, for a 12-week limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Peter Jay Sharp Theater