President Barack Obama hosted a Salute to Broadway in another of his Music Series events from the White House’s East Room. The President eloquently lauded Broadway for, “…its optimism. Broadway music calls us to see the best in ourselves and in the world around us -– to believe that no matter how hopeless things may seem, the nice guy can still get the girl, the hero can still triumph over evil, and a brighter day can be waiting just around the bend,” the President said at the July 19, 2010 event.

For the full text of the President’s speech visit the White House’s official website coverage of the event at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-white-house-music-series-event-saluting-broadway

For video of the event go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/president-obama-welcomes-broadway-white-house

by David May for Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Sacramento’s Runaway Stage Productions is now presenting CURTAINS, through August 1st. I had the pleasure of attending the matinee on July 18th and am pleased to report that it is a brilliant production from start to finish. Runaway Stage is a very popular fixture on the Sacramento theatre scene, and I can see why. They have been presenting top quality shows since 1997 and have a very loyal audience base, as witnessed by the sold-out house that enjoyed CURTAINS on Sunday. CURTAINS features a score by the legendary team of John Kander and Fred Ebb and a book by Rupert Holmes, based on the original book and concept by Peter Stone.

Some of the cast of CURTAINS meet the audience after the show.

Director Bob Baxter has crafted a truly wonderful production. His super-talented cast is led by a confident Darryl Strohl as Lt. Frank Cioffi, the musical theatre loving detective.  Lillian Baxter’s brassy Carmen Bernstein was right on the mark and Andrea St. Clair was a charming Niki Harris, the ingenue who falls for Cioffi. Kate Richardson, as Georgia Hendricks, the writer turned actor who steps in for the murdered Jessica Cranshaw, delivered a truly winning performance with a fully developed character and a lovely singing voice. Dan Masden’s portrayal of tunesmith Aaron Fox was spot-on, especially his gorgeous rendition of “I Miss the Music.” His lilting tenor captured the emotion and beauty of the song and held the audience spellbound throughout. Michael McElroy soared appropriately over the top with his take on director Christopher Belling, taking the show to delicious comedic heights. Scott Woodard found just the right formula to give life to Bobby Pepper, the show’s lead dancer and choreographer. And in a superstar turn as Bambi Bernet, Kris Farhood took the show into overdrive with her hilarious hi-jinks. Her song and dance skills were on prominent display in the show-stopping “Kansasland.” The entire ensemble was top-notch. Rounding out the talented company were Trey Hinkle, Giorgio Selvaggio, Thomas Galownia, Kevin Sowles, Amy Jaques-Jones, Daryl Clark, Eddie Voyce, Kirstin Haag, Marissa Tiddrick, and James Dean. During the final week of the run, Ian Culity takes over the role of Aaron Fox.

The 24th Street Theatre at the Sierra 2 Center in Sacramento, the home of Runaway Stage

Baxter’s expert direction was augmented by a very strong design team: Choreography by Darryl Strohl, lighting by Kimberly Negrete, sets by Brian Watson, sound by Dave Hushbeck and costumes by Lillian Baxter. Rachel Mullen is the production’s Stage Manager.

Runaway Stage's Artistic Director Lillian Baxter (L) & Producing Director Bob Baxter

One of the show’s highlights was the superb vocal performance of the ensemble, beautifully directed by Anne-Marie Pringle. The choral sections of Kander and Ebb’s score sounded lush and lovely. And, Music Director James Lohman (who also played the show within the show’s conductor Sasha), took the show to the next level with his phenomenal fourteen piece orchestra. The resident orchestra of the Runaway Stage played the shows orchestrations professionally and were recognized with great applause by the grateful audience. The pit at the 24th Street Theatre was graced by Donica Stiles, Patty Long, Jeanna Arnold, Laura Turpen, Deann Golz, Gary Suits, Jeffrey Falkner, Cat Spece, Alan Johansen, Paul Allen, Rudy Stubbs, Verna Brock, Paul Doerner and Ken Horton, conducted by Music Director Lohman.

Kudos to the entire staff and company of Runaway Stage’s CURTAINS!

For more information on licensing CURTAINS at your theatre click here.

Young Cast Strikes Gold in 2010 Summer Celebration!

Seth Cunningham as Chad in Plaza's ALL SHOOK UP

Cleburne, Texas’ Plaza Theatre Company kept their 2010 season hopping July 2nd with a rockin’ and rollin’ ALL SHOOK UP. TRW’s musical was the vehicle for this year’s Plaza Show Camp, now playing through July 31st.  Plaza’s Show Camp presented FOOTLOOSE in 2008 and followed up with HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL last year. In addition to entertaining Plaza audiences with a thrilling production of ALL SHOOK UP, students received intensive training in dance, vocal performance, character development, improv, stage combat, and more.

Since its 2005 Broadway run, ALL SHOOK UP has become a huge hit worldwide for school, community and professional theatres. The show features a hilarious book by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro and a red hot score featuring Elvis Presley’s best loved songs.

Click here for a great review of the show!

To see the ALL SHOOK UP phenomenon for yourself, check out one of these summer productions:

July 1, 2010 – August 21, 2010, Northern Lights Playhouse, Northern Lights Playhouse, WI

July 6, 2010 – August 19, 2010, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, Bigfork, MT

July 7, 2010 – July 31, 2010, Matt Byrne Media, Adelaide, South Australia

July 7, 2010 – July 18, 2010, Footlite Musicals, Indianapolis, IN

July 8, 2010 – July 11, 2010, Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City, CA

"Jailhouse Rock" at The Plaza Theatre Co

July 9, 2010 – July 31, 2010, Lyric Arts Company, Anoka, MN

July 9, 2010 – July 18, 2010, Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission, KS

July 9, 2010 – August 1, 2010, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma, WA

July 9, 2010 – July 18, 2010, Genesius Guild, Hammond, IN

July 13, 2010 – August 8, 2010, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Theatre, Arvada, CO

July 13, 2010 – July 17, 2010, JuMP Company, Twin Falls, ID

July 15, 2010 – July 24, 2010, Summerstock Productions, Inc, Oklahoma City, OK

July 16, 2010 – July 31, 2010, Windham Theatre Guild, South Windham, CT

July 16, 2010 – July 25, 2010, Zanesville Community Theatre, Trinway, OH

July 16, 2010 – July 17, 2010, Kearney/Holt Community Theater, Holt, MO

July 17, 2010 – July 24, 2010, Village Theatre KIDSTAGE, Issaquah, WA

July 21, 2010 – July 24, 2010, Theatre In The Loop Entertainment, Cincinnati, OH

July 22, 2010 – August 1, 2010, Quincy Community Theatre, Quincy, IL

July 22, 2010 – July 23, 2010, Five Star Theatre Company, Lynn, MA

ALL SHOOK UP at The Plaza Theatre Co

July 23, 2010 – July 31, 2010, Twin Valley Players, Halifax, PA

July 23, 2010 – August 15, 2010, Syracuse Talent Company, Manlius, NY

July 23, 2010 – July 31, 2010, The Star Theatre Company, Oceanside, CA

July 27, 2010 – July 28, 2010, French Woods Festival, Hancock, NY

July 29, 2010 – July 31, 2010, Shepparton High School, Mooroopna, Victoria

July 29, 2010 – August 7, 2010, Henderson County Performing Arts Center, Athens, TX

July 30, 2010 – August 29, 2010, Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth, NH

July 30, 2010 – August 15, 2010, Pennsylvania Playhouse, Allentown, PA

August 4, 2010 – August 8, 2010, Theatre Outreach On Stage – Near North D.S.B., North Bay, Ontario, Canada

August 6, 2010 – August 9, 2010, Shots in the Dark Independent Theatre Company, Westerville, OH

August 6, 2010 – January 29, 2011, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Chanhassen, MN

August 6, 2010 – August 14, 2010, Eastlight Theatre, East Peoria, IL

August 6, 2010 – August 8, 2010, Capitol Theatre, Rome, NY

August 7, 2010 – August 15, 2010, Collierville Arts Council, Collierville, TN

August 8, 2010 – August 8, 2010, Long Lake Camp for the Arts, Long Lake, NY

August 11, 2010 – August 14, 2010, Lights Up Productions, Dover, Kent, UK

August 13, 2010 – August 22, 2010, Artpark and Company, Lewiston, NY

August 14, 2010 – August 15, 2010, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Theatre, Arvada, CO

Since we re-launched our Facebook Page just a few weeks ago we’ve gotten more than 500 new friends!!! If you haven’t checked out our page and liked us yet…DO IT! We’ve got some pretty  cool announcements coming up in August and you’re gonna wanna be on board for all the amazing opportunities we’re cooking up for ya! And while you’re at it, we’re on Twitter too and we’re tweeting to only a few so you know what to do. Tweet. We’re TheatricalRight when we’re Twittering, y’all.

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT is in pre-production and gearing up for a huge national tour that has theatre fans abuzz with excitement! Recently announced casting includes veteran leading man Steve McCoy as King Arthur.

Steve McCoy

McCoy anchored the MAN OF LA MANCHA National Tour and has played plumb roles in a host of legendary productions including 42nd Street, Oliver, The Will Rogers Follies, and the European tours of Oklahoma and My Fair Lady. For more on this development see the latest news at broadwayworld.com!

The tour has booked dates all over North America starting in Waterbury, CT on September 24th. For more information and to check for tickets in your area visit www.montypythonsspamalot.com.

The Tennessee Arts Academy is a nationally recognized summer teacher training institute for Arts educators from across the country. The Academy is a program of the Tennessee Department of Education, and features week long intensive workshops in music, theatre and visual arts. The Academy trains over 250 teachers every summer, who in turn impact over 100,000 Tennessee students each year.

The Academy sessions are held on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville. The Academy consists of two tracks, one geared to elementary/lower middle school teachers and the other designed for upper middle/high school teachers. Participants are grouped according to their specific teaching assignment, which includes visual art, music, or theatre courses. A special component for school administrators and supervisors offers insight, strategies and practical advice on ways the arts can be fully utilized as part of the total school program.

E. Frank Bluestein

Theatrical Rights Worldwide is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s TAA. Longtime friend of TRW, E. Frank Bluestein, is the Managing Director of the TAA. Frank was the 1996-1997 Disney National Performing Arts Teacher of the Year and the 1994 Tennessee Teacher of the Year. USA Today named Mr. Bluestein as one of the top forty teachers in the United States in 1998. He serves as chairman of Germantown High School’s Fine Arts Department and is founder and director of the school’s theatre, the Poplar Pike Playhouse. Poplar Pike presented TRW’s runaway hit CURTAINS in 2009.

Mr. Bluestein also serves as executive producer for the school’s three-million-dollar, Emmy Award-winning television studio. Mr. Bluestein is a past winner of the American Theatre Association’s John C. Barner Award and has served as an arts advisory panelist for numerous organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Mr. Bluestein spent several years as director of shows at Opryland, USA, and most recently wrote and directed the national touring production of Beale Street Saturday Night starring blues legend Joyce Cobb.

Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota opens LITTLE WOMEN July 15th for an eight performance run through July 25th. LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL, features a book by Sean Hartley, lyrics by Alison Hubbard and music by Kim Oler, based on Louisa May Alcott’s ever-popular novel. The show is the Bethel University Theatre Department’s Summer Musical.

This newer musical vividly brings to life the March family of Concord, Massachusetts. In a time of war and sacrifice, Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth, guided by their mother Marmee, grow from girls into women, through romance and courtship, illness and loss, loving and letting go. Oler and Hubbard’s moving Richard Rodgers Award-winning score, by turns funny and touching, is seamlessly matched by Hartley’s wise and witty book. This is a LITTLE WOMEN like none you have ever seen or heard before.

TRW’s super Theatre for Young Audiences hit PINKALICIOUS has been extended through September 19th at the Al Green Theatre in Toronto! The show is still packing in audiences in New York City at the Bleecker St Theatre and is now extended through September 26th. Both shows are VITAL THEATRE productions.

Here’s the scoop: Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament!

The show is based on the mega-popular kid’s book of the same name by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann. The musical features book and lyrics by Elizabeth Kann & Victoria Kann, music and lyrics by John Gregor and is directed by Teresa K. Pond.

PINKALICIOUS is available worldwide for amateur and professional productions from Theatrical Rights Worldwide! Check out the show’s page at TheatricalRights.com!

Check out the L.A. Time’s Culture Monster blog’s take on Wagner’s RING CYCLE closing Los Angeles Opera and Fullerton Civic Light Opera opening RING OF FIRE, THE JOHNNY CASH MUSICAL: Click Here