Billy Elliot to dance its way south

THE smash-hit show Billy Elliot the Musical will open at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre at the end of the year, following a successful debut Australian season at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

Based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot — about a young Geordie boy who chooses ballet over boxing and set against the British miners' strike of the 1980s — it has been seen by more than 2 million people since premiering on London's West End in May 2005, where it broke British box-office records.

Keep Reading

Shrek Heads To Broadway

Shrek The Musical will open on Broadway this December, marking DreamWorks Animation's first legitimate theatrical venture.

The musical features Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad and Kecia Lewis-Evans as The Dragon, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. Jason Moore directs.

Foster is currently starring on Broadway as Inga in Young Frankenstein.

Additional casting, including the title character and his friend Donkey will be announced shortly.

The musical took root around the time the second film was in production, when Sam Mendes of Neal Street Productions, Ltd. suggested the idea to DreamWorks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg. The two companies will produce Shrek jointly.

Source: backstage.com

Two AI Alumni Set To Tour In Ain't Misbehavin'

American Idol veterans Ruben Studdard (who won the competition in 2003) and Frenchie Davis (who went on to the Broadway company of Rent) have signed on for a 30th anniversary national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical revue Ain't Misbehavin'. Richard Maltby, Jr., who co-wrote and directed the Broadway production, which showcased the music of "Fats" Waller, will re-create his original direction.
According to a spokesperson for Big League Productions, the tour will begin in November and play at least through May 2009; specific cities are currently being booked.

Continue Reading...

Source: broadway.com