In the Heights casting news

Casting has been announced for the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights which comes to the Center August 3 - 15. The cast includes performers from the Broadway production as well as performers who will be new to the 'hood. Check out Playbill for more information.

Backstage with Young Frankenstein

The national tour of the new Mel Brooks' musical Young Frankenstein is about to come to life at the Providence Performing Arts Center. WPRI's 'The Rhode Show' takes you behind the scenes as the company puts the finishing touches before puttin' on the Ritz in this hilarious production.

Check it out here.

Young Frankenstein comes to the Center September 7 - 19, 2010.

Lion King Costumes and Masks Donated to Smithsonian's National Museum

Playbill reports that Disney Theatrical Productions will donate several costume pieces from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical The Lion King to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History at a special ceremony today. Among the items donated are the stylized lion mask and headdress of Simba and the costume, custom shoes and hat designed for Rafiki.

Julie Taymor designed the costume and the masks (with Michael Curry) for the original Broadway production of The Lion King, which opened on November 13, 1997. The hit musical returns to the Center May 26 - June 13, 2010.

The Smithsonian's National Museum also boasts artifacts from Rent, The King and I, Hello Dolly!, Fiddler On the Roof, Cats, This Is the Army, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Mame and Lorelei; three Tony Awards and numerous Broadway Playbills and posters among other items.

More news from Broadway: Three Cheers!

Universal Pictures Stage Productions has assembled a creative team for Bring It On: The Musical, a stage adaptation of the 2000 comedy Bring It On. The New York Times' Arts Beat reports that the team includes the creative talents from In the Heights, Avenue Q, Next to Normal and High Fidelity. Go Team!

News from Broadway: Isn't it rich...

Academy Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and five-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury will head the cast of the upcoming Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music.

Directed by Tony Award winner Trevor Nunn, the first-ever Broadway revival of the acclaimed musical — which gave the world the Sondheim classic "Send in the Clowns" — will begin previews Nov. 24 at the Walter Kerr Theatre with an official opening scheduled for Dec. 13.

Dancing With the Stars Welcomes Disney's The Lion King

On Wednesday, September 23, the cast of Disney’s Tony® Award-winning The Lion King will perform the musical’s spectacular opening number “Circle of Life” on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. “Circle of Life,” features a stunning parade of costumes, animal puppetry and will include the most performers to ever take to the Dancing With the Stars stage. The appearance coincides with The Lion King recently passing the 50 million mark in worldwide attendance.

Southland audiences will have the opportunity to see The Lion King live on stage when it plays the Center May 26 – June 13, 2010. The production continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. Now in its 12th year, the global phenomenon is the winner of more than 70 major awards worldwide.

In the Heights’ Lin-Manuel Miranda on House

Tony® Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda will appear on the two-hour season premiere of House this coming Monday, September 21 on FOX. Miranda wrote and starred in the blockbuster musical, In the Heights. For Miranda’s turn on the small screen, he will play Alvie, Dr. House’s (Hugh Laurie) neurotic roommate in a psychiatric facility. Sources who’ve seen the episode say Miranda gets to sing a little because his character has a habit of bursting into song.

In the Heights visits the Center August 3 – 15, 2010. The musical’s story about chasing your dreams and finding your true home in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood won Tonys for Best Musical, Best Music and Lyrics, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations, and the original cast recording won a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album.