Since its debut on Broadway in 2016, Dear Evan Hansen has captured the hearts of its audience and wowed the theater community – as evidenced by positive reviews, a Grammy award and 6 Tony awards in 2017 alone. Other noticeable awards and acclamations include the 2017 Drama League Award for the Outstanding Musical Production and off-Broadway production, two Obie Awards, a Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and two Helen Hayes Awards. The iconic arm cast and blue polo have even been incorporated in the National Museums of America History’s permanent collection. The Broadway smasher has grown into a global phenomenon and on March 2019 it will be crossing the border to Toronto, Canada. Here’s what the media has to say:

• Time: Dear Evan Hansen, thanks for finding us. We’ve been waiting for a musical like you.
• The New York Times: A gut-punching, breathtaking knockout of a musical.
• The Washington Post: One of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history.

It’s clear that Dear Evan Hansen continues to live up to its expectations, but can Robert Markus fill the massive shoes of Evan Hansen, which are characterized by a strong and versatile voice, acting challenges, scale singing, and effectively leading the entire cast? Since graduating from the University of Alberta, Markus has been involved in numerous breathtaking performances in The Rocky Horror Show, The Who’s Tommy, The Music Man, and headlining in theaters such as Theater Aquarius, Young People’s Theater, the Shaw and Stratford festivals. Fast forward to the current production of Dear Evan Hansen; What do the producers, Stacey Mindich and David Mirvish think of Markus’ ability to lead the musical in its first international production?

According to Mirvish, “Robert Markus meets all these criteria and more. We look forward to welcoming him on the storied stage of the Royal Alexandra Theater, where many of the greats have played for more than 110 years.”Similarly, Mindich (Lead Producer) believes that she found the“perfect Canadian who has all of the qualities and more that we look for in an Evan Hansen, and I can’t wait to see him in the blue polo.” This is after an intense auditioning activity that spanned over 8 months and 800 auditions.

Get your Dear Evan Hansen ticket today and enjoy the award-winning musical by Steven Levenson (story- Tony Award winner), Justin Paul and Benj Pasek (composers-Academy, Tony, and Grammy Awards), and Michael Greif (director-4-time Tony Award nominee).

The post Dear Evan Hansen: The Broadway Hit Musical Heads to Toronto appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Tuesday, April 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX 

From Award-Winning Producers Thomas Kail, Steven Levenson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Joel Fields Who All Are Executive Producers; Nicole Fosse Serves As Co-Executive Producer

Fosse/Verdon is an eight-episode limited series from award-winning producers Thomas Kail, Steven Levenson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Joel Fields. Production on the series is currently underway in New York City.

Based on Fosse, the biography written by Sam Wasson, Fosse/Verdon tells the story of the singular romantic and creative partnership between Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. He was a visionary filmmaker and one of theater’s most influential choreographers and directors. She was the greatest Broadway dancer of all time. Together, they changed the face of American entertainment – at a perilous cost. Featuring Fosse’s choreography, the series explores the hidden corners of show business, the price of pursuing greatness, and the suffering inflicted in the name of art.

Check out the Fosse/Verdon trailer below:

Fosse/Verdon stars four-time Academy Award^® nominee Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon, and Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell – who received a Best Supporting Actor nomination yesterday forVice – as Bob Fosse. Norbert Leo Butz and Margaret Qualley also star, along with a stellar recurring cast that includes Aya Cash, Nate Corddry, Susan Misner, Bianca Marroquin, Kelli Barrett, Evan Handler, Rick Holmes, Paul Reiser, Ethan Slater and Byron Jennings.

Kail, Levenson, Miranda, Fields, Rockwell, Williams and George Stelzner are Executive Producers of the limited series that is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.  Levenson wrote the premiere episode, which was directed by Kail.  Actress, dancer and producer Nicole Fosse, and daughter of Fosse and Verdon, serves as Co-Executive Producer and oversees The Verdon Fosse Legacy. Co-Producer Andy Blankenbuehler is serving as a Choreographer, as is Susan Misner. Erica Kay serves as Producer, and acclaimed composer and arranger Alex Lacamoire is serving as Supervising Music Producer.

The post Premiere Date Announced For FX’s Fosse/Verdon appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Strange Sun Theater will present Jessica Bashline’s new play, WICKEDEST WOMAN, at the WP Theater on the Upper West Side, January 19 – February 2. The World Premiere is directed by Melissa Crespo with Opening Night slated for January 19. The limited run features a gender-bending cast of 7 actors who have numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway credits.

Inspired by the true story of New York City midwife and abortionist, Ann Trow Lohman, WICKEDEST WOMAN follows the epic story of Lohman’s life in the 1800’s. Known as “Madame Restell,” when Lohman started performing abortions in 1838, they were legal in the US. When she committed suicide, almost 40 years later at the end of her career, they were illegal. WICKEDEST WOMAN follows Lohman’s rise to notoriety and her struggle to keep her life intact as the scrutiny and even physical danger became ever more intense. A story about the history of abortions, reproductive rights, and a forgotten legacy.
 
Playwright Jessica Bashline shared what inspired her to write WICKEDEST WOMAN, “A few years ago, I read Ann’s story when I saw an article in the NY Times about the midwife and abortionist who outbid the Catholic Church for land adjacent to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. At that point, I was hooked. When I began to do my research, I learned that nothing had ever been written in Ann’s voice. Throughout a 40-year career, there was nothing left for posterity that told her story from her point of view. So, I made a promise to help find her voice and share her story.”
 
In addition to the production, Strange Sun Theater will host post-show “Wicked Discussions,” after select performances of WICKEDEST WOMAN. Partnering with organizations such as Physicians for Reproductive Health, The International Women’s Health Coalition, The New York Historical Society, National Institute for Reproductive Health and others, to contextualize Ann’s story in the past and give our audiences concrete steps to take to ensure our future. The talkback schedule will be announced next week.
 
The cast features Jose-Maria Aguila (Pulse/The Guthrie), Luke Zimmerman (Masculinity Max/The Public), Emily Gardner Xu Hall (Nell Gwynn/Chicago Shakespeare), Dawn McGee (High Maintenance/HBO & The Tick/Amazon), Evan Daves (Coast of Utopia/Lincoln Center Theater), Jasmin Walker (Avenue Q/New World Stages).
 
The creative team includes scenic design by Anna Driftmier, costume design by Emily White, lighting design by Christina Watanabe, with Brett Kristofferson serving as music supervisor.
 
Tickets are $35 and are available at www.wickedestwomantheplay.com. Performances take place at the WP Theater, 2162 Broadway (between 76th & 77th Street), New York, NY, 10024. Subways: 1/2 to 79th Street, B/C to 81st Street. Running time: 90 minutes.
 
Performance dates:

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