Newsical - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Newsical is a musical

Musical theatre

Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...

with music, lyrics and book written by Rick Crom

Rick Crom

Rick Crom is an award-winning American actor, singer, comedian, lyricist, and composer. He has appeared in numerous television shows and specials, Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, as well as written several off-Broadway revues, and has 3 times been nominated for the Drama Desk Award for...

. In ever-changing songs and sketches it lampoons current events, hot topics, celebrities, politicians and other well-known entities. Everyone from President Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

, Lady Gaga

Lady GaGa

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...

, Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace

Nancy Ann Grace is an American legal commentator, television host, television journalist, and former prosecutor. She frequently discusses issues from what she describes as a victims' rights standpoint, with an outspoken style that has won her both praise and condemnation...

and Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...

to Christina Agulierra, Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan

Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 7, 2010. Kagan is the Court's 112th justice and fourth female justice....

, Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin

Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...

and even the Those infomercials on TV are skewered. New songs are added on a continual basis to keep up with the headlines.

2002 production

"What in the World: The NEWSICAL Revue" began as "What in the World?!" at the now defunct Rose's Turn Piano Bar and Cabaret in NYC in November 2002 starring Eadie Scott, John Flynn, Deb Spielman and Chris Regan. It was conceived and directed by Collette Black with musical direction and arrangements by John McMahon. This production won the 2003 Nightlife Award for Best Musical Revue.. It was there that producer Fred M. Caruso saw the show and moved it to an off-off Broadway production at the John Houseman Studio Theater on Theater Row in NYC, with the same director and musical director.

2004 production

Newsical premiered at the John Houseman Studio, New York City, with previews starting on January 9, 2004.The cast was Eadie Scott, John Flynn, Kelly Howe and Chris Regan. Backstage said the John Houseman production "contains enough charm, wit, and genuine comedy that one imagines this production might be finding its way above ground sometime soon." Theatermania said "And the show's talented four-person cast whip through the material at mach speed, resulting in explosions of laughter that might be called comic booms." It opened January 22, 2004 and ran for eight weeks at the John Houseman Theater. It then opened at New York City's Upstairs at Studio 54

Studio 54

Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...

, with previews starting on September 10, 2004 and an official opening on October 7, 2004. Directed and choreographed by Donna Drake and produced by Fred M. Caruso, some of the musical's targets included Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...

and AOL

AOL

AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...

. The original cast included Matt Allen, Kim Cea, Todd Alan Johnson, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jeff Skowron, and Aléna Watters. The production and design team featured Peter P. Allburn (scenic), David Kaley (costumes), Jason Hayes (wigs and makeup) and Michael Flink (sound/light). Ed Goldschneider served as musical director. The musical closed on April 17, 2005 after 215 performances, and then began a US national tour and extended engagement at the Denver Civic Center, Denver, Colorado in 2005.

It was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards, for Best Revue and Best Lyrics

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics

The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics is an annual award presented by the Drama Desk, a committee of New York City theatre critics, writers, and editors...

2009 production

The 2009 production, entitled Newsical the Musical: We distort, You Decide, features a new cast, a new director and completely new material. The cast includes includes Christine Pedi

Christine Pedi

Christine Pedi is a television and theatre actress. She is also a cabaret performer and radio personality and younger cousin of the late Tom Pedi.-Theatre:BroadwayShe has appeared in three Broadway-theatre productions in New York City, New York....

, Christina Bianco, Michael West, Rory O’Malley, Amy Griffin and Tommy Walker. The production is directed by Mark Waldrop, with Ed Goldschneider (music director), Matthew Gordon (lighting designer), Jason Courson (set designer), David Kally (costume designer), and Ryan Obermeier (casting assistant). The show is being produced by Tom D’Angora, Fred M. Caruso and Elyse Pasquale. Newsical the Musical began previews on November 24, 2009 in New York City at the 47th Street Theater and officially opened on December 9, 2009 and closed March 21, 2010.

The production was nominated for two 2010 Drama Desk Awards, for Outstanding Revue and Outstanding Lyrics.

2011 production

The 2011 production entitled "Newsical The Musical: Full Spin Ahead!" begin previews on December 13, 2010 and officially opened January 9, 2011 and is still running at Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre. The cast includes Christine Pedi

Christine Pedi

, Michael West

Michael West

Michael West may refer to:* Michael West, American Horror author* Michael D. West, American gerontologist and CEO of BioTime, Inc.* Michael Philip West , English teacher and researcher who served in India...

, Christina Bianco, Tommy Walker

Tommy Walker

Thomas Luttgen Walker was an American producer of live entertainment events who was director of entertainment at Disneyland during its first twelve years of operation, and later produced spectacular events at celebrations including three Olympic Games and the centennial of the Statue of...

, Amy Griffenn, and newcomer John West

John West

The Rev. John West emigrated from England to Van Diemen's Land in 1838 as a Colonial missionary, and became pastor of an Independent Chapel in Launceston's St. John's Square in 1839. His contribution to Launceston and Australian life was great and varied promoting private and charitable...

. The production is written by Rick Crom

Rick Crom

, directed by Mark Waldrop, musical direction by Ed Goldshneider, lighting design by Josh Starr, costume design by David Kaley and set design by Jason Courson. The show is being produced by Tom D'Angora and Elyse Pasquale.

Nominated for two 2011 Drama Desk Awards, for outstanding Revue and Outstanding Lyrics. Winner 2011 Off-Broadway Alliance Award, for Best New Musical.

External links

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