Van Johnson News

Excellent cast prevails over 1963 remake of a 1936 show.

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) has released three new albums over the past six months on its in-house recording label, TUNDRA, an imprint of New Focus Recordings, including George Lewis: The Will to Adorn, released in January 2017; Aesopica: Music of Marcos Balter, released in October 2016; and ism, released in September 2016.

The Houston Symphony announced today that Tony Award winner and three-time Emmy Award nominee Phylicia Rashad will join the cast of its new semi-staged, concert version of Beethoven's Fidelio, the composer's only opera, March 31 and April 2.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the latest performance in its 2016 - 2017 season of Chicago's hit musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway 1969, hosted by E. Faye Butler, co-directed by Adrian Abel Azevedo and Michael Weber with music direction by David Fiorello, is Monday, March 14at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave in Skokie and Tuesday, March 15 at the Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway at 7:30 p.m.  In tribute to the original New Faces series that ran on Broadway and on film from 1934 - 1968, Porchlight Music Theatre last year created this Chicago musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway, as a showcase for the best emerging music talent now performing on Chicago stages. Each edition is a journey from the start to the finish of a entire musical season on Broadway, peppered with photos and films of the era in an exciting multimedia presentation with a favorite Chicago theatre veteran hosting and introducing the next generation of music theatre artists while acting as your guide through a past season on the Great White Way. Seating is general admission; tickets are $22, with no drink minimum and are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org. 

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the second performance in its 2016 - 2017 season of Chicago's hit musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway 2001, hosted by Keely Vasquez, is Monday, Jan. 23 at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave in Skokie and Tuesday, Jan. 24 at the Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway at 7:30 p.m.  In tribute to the original New Faces series that ran on Broadway and on film from 1934 - 1968, Porchlight Music Theatre last year created this Chicago musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway, as a showcase for the best emerging musical talent now performing on Chicago stages. 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company proudly announces stage director, singer and Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad as the 2017 honoree at the annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 12noon at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus Dr. Ms. Rashad joins Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro for a riveting conversation about her multifaceted career and her role as a leader in the field.

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) Reiner Staged Reading Series (RRS) presents the romantic romp She Loves Me, Today, December 3, at 7:00pm at its new home, the Beverly O'Neill Theater, located at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

truTV will be adding MUTHA, to the current season of its popular television series and home for short-form comedic content, Rachel Dratch's Late Night Snack. The show stars actress and rapper Mandy May Cheetham and is co-produced by Abso Lutely Productions (Comedy Bang-Bang, The Eric Andre Show, Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie) and Artsy Fartsy Productions.

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) Reiner Staged Reading Series (RRS) presents the romantic romp She Loves Me, Saturday, December 3, at 7:00pm at its new home, the Beverly O'Neill Theater, located at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

In November, New Conservatory Theatre Center presents the regional premiere of Stephen Karam's Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Sons of the Prophet, to be directed by NCTC Artistic Associate Ben Randle.

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) continues its OpenICE program with three consecutive days of open-access programming at the Abrons Arts Center from November 10 to 12. In addition to several educational and outreach events which will serve children and adult clients of the Henry Street Settlement and Abrons Arts Center during the November weekend, OpenICE will present three concerts and two workshop events that are free and open to the public.

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the 2016 - 2017 season of Chicago's hit musical revue series, New Faces Sing returning to Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway and debuting at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave in Skokie. In tribute to the original New Faces series that ran on Broadway and on film from 1934 - 1968, Porchlight Music Theatre last year created this Chicago musical revue series, New Faces Sing Broadway, as a showcase for the best emerging musical talent now performing on Chicago stages. Each edition is a journey from the start to the finish of a entire musical season on Broadway, peppered with photos and films of the era in an exciting multimedia presentation with a favorite Chicago theatre veteran hosting and introducing the next generation of music theatre artists and acting as your guide through a past season on the Great White Way. Seating is general admission; tickets are $22, with no drink minimum and are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org.

New York City Center today announced additional casting for the concert performances of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George, October 24 through 26.

Amazon Studios today announced I Love Dick, Jean-Claude Van Johnson and The Tick have been greenlit to become Amazon Original Series.

In November, New Conservatory Theatre Center presents the regional premiere of Stephen Karam's Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Sons of the Prophet, to be directed by NCTC Artistic Associate Ben Randle.

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

BTG's exciting revival is the first ever full-scale New York City and Off-Broadway revival of the hit musical. Previews of Fiorello! will began Sunday, September 4, at East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues), with opening night being held tonihgt, September 9, 2016.

Today, BTG is thrilled to announce the complete and final casting of this exciting revival - the first ever full-scale New York City and Off-Broadway revival of the hit musical!