Theatre News Roundup: 6/19

I wanted to go bright and early but I ended up sleeping late and ending up at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden much later than I had planned. I had a nice walk through the Cranford Rose Garden. I don't know if it's the heat or if the roses just had a short blooming season but they're mostly wilted and brown now. I still managed to take a bunch of good reference photos though and there's something almost equally beautiful about roses in particular in that state of decay. 

As always, click the links to get to the actual stories. All credit to their writers.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Tracy McDowell and Jenna Leigh Green will co-star as dueling Olympic figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan in the New York Musical Theatre Festival production of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera. The musical features book and lyrics by Elizabeth Searle, who also conceived the work, and music by Michael Teoli.
• Amélie, a new musical based on the Academy Award-nominated film of the same title, has set dates and supporting cast for its world premiere. It will begin previews Aug. 28 and open Sept. 11 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California.
• An industry-only reading for the new musical A Letter to Harvey Milk will take place at the Playroom Theater on Monday, July 22. The show features a book by Jerry James, Cheryl Stern, and Laura I. Kramer, lyrics by Ellen M. Schwartz with additional lyrics by Cheryl Stern, and music by Laura I. Kramer, and is inspired by the short story by Lesléa Newman.

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• An all-new version of Alan Menken and David Spencer's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, featuring an all-Canadian cast, opened in Montreal June 7. Here is an updated roundup of the reviews. Originally scheduled to end June 28, the run has been extended to July 12 at the Segal Centre in Montreal.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• (California) Casting has been announced for the upcoming Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper production of Bent, Martin Sherman's seminal drama about gays trying to survive in Nazi Germany. It will begin previews July 15 prior to an official opening July 26. The cast includes Hugo Armstrong, Ray Baker, Tom Berklund, Matthew Carlson, Brionne Davis, Wyatt Fenner, Patrick Heusinger, Charlie Hofheimer, Andy Mientus, Jake Shears, Brian Slaten and Jonathan B. Wright.
• Casting has been announced for the North Shore Music Theatre's upcoming production of Shrek The Musical, which will play the Beverly, MA, venue July 7-19.

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• The seventh annual Broadway Meows concert for the Humane Society of New York will be staged at Don't Tell Mama July 13. The evening will feature performances by a string of Broadway actors, with proceeds going towards the animal welfare organization.
• Broadway Loves Katy Perry comes to 54 Below for two performances on July 13 (7pm and 9:30pm). The cast of Broadway talent is set to include Taylor Louderman , Corey Cott, Adrienne Warren, Lesli Margherita, Ben Fankhauser, Emma Hunton, Ryann Redmond, Daniel Quadrino, Janet Krupin, Hannah Elless, Lauren Ashley Zakrin, Ariana Groover, Desi Oakley, and Jeff Heimbrock.
• 54 Below will present an all-new show by writer and performer Charles Busch titled That Girl/That Boy, an eclectic program of songs both old and new. 

Let Me Be Your Star (TV NEWS)

• Renée Fleming stars in the title role of The Merry Widow, which is broadcast on PBS June 19. The operetta, which played the Metropolitan Opera in December 2014, airs on PBS stations around the country at 9 PM ET as part of "Great Performances at the Met." In New York WNET/13 will repeat the program June 21 at 12:30 PM; check local listings. (I saw this in a movie theater as part of the Met Live in HD program. I had my issues with it but I'd recommend checking it out.)