TRW is Proud to Announce our TYA Acquisition: NO DOGS ALLOWED!

Bay Wellington ·

Theatrical Rights Worldwide is proud to announce our latest Family Theatre acquisition: NO DOGS ALLOWED! This super cool new musical is based on the hugely popular children’s book by Sonia Manzano, perhaps better known as Maria from Sesame Street. Manzano adapted her own book and legendary composer Stephen Lawrence wrote the music, with renowned lyricist Billy Aronson completing the team. The show is Manzano’s semi-autobiographical tale of a young girl growing up in the Bronx and what happens on the day the family takes a trip to a state park. It’s a beautifully crafted, eloquently told story that speaks to families everywhere.

NO DOGS ALLOWED! features a tuneful, upbeat score by Stephen Lawrence. Stephen has composed over 250 songs and scores for Sesame Street resulting in three Emmy awards…

It’s CURTAINS for PCPA TheatreFest!

Bay Wellington ·

The California Central Coast’s pre-eminent professional theatre, PCPA TheatreFest is presenting the smash-hit musical whodunit CURTAINS in a split run, April 15-May 9 in Santa Maria’s Marian Theatre and June 17-July 3rd at the Festival Theatre in Solvang. The company has been presenting for over 45 years and has become a staple of the Central Coast’s vibrant Arts scene. I recently spoke with Craig Shafer, the Media Relations / Communications Manager for PCPA and Erik Stein who has the plum role of Christopher Belling in CURTAINS, about the production. Shafer brought me up to speed on the gargantuan task of creating a production of this beautifully designed musical that can be moved from one theater space to another.

So far, CURTAINS is shaping up to deliver a huge hit for PCPA…

Peter Mills Wins 2010 Kleban Prize

Bay Wellington ·

Congratulations to Peter Mills, winner of the 2010 Kleban Award! TRW author Peter Mills, the book, music and lyric writer of ILLYRIA, was awarded the prestigious Kleban Award, annually given to both a librettist and a lyricist. Also receiving this year’s award is Barry Wyner, wrote the music, lyrics and book for CALVIN BERGER, a new version of  “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

Mills wrote ILLYRIA, a beautifully realized musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” in 2001.  The adaptation of the comedy is credited to Mills and Prospect Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Cara Reichel. Noteworthy productions have included two runs at New York’s  Prospect Theatre Company in 2002 and 2009, and the regional premiere at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in 2004.

Spiegel’s Spiel, April 2010

Bay Wellington ·

I’ve just returned from my energizing, wonderful and successful trip to New Zealand and Australia. As we talked about in my first blog post, I attended the 50th anniversary conference of Musical Theatre New Zealand where over 350 artistic and managing directors representing 80 societies came to Auckland for three days of meetings, workshops and events. The goal of Musical Theatre NZ is to foster and encourage the development of, and commitment to, the highest standards by community theatres, including standards of excellence for production, health and safety, management, governance, community relations and service. Throughout the conference the importance of, and belief in, this mission statement was brilliantly carried out and demonstrated by everyone.

Spiegel’s Spiel: March 2010…The Premier Post

Bay Wellington ·

Welcome to the inaugural article here at Spiegel’s Spiel, a place at TheatricalRights.com where I can share my thoughts and plans with you, our valued customers, and you can give feedback to me on your theatre organization’s activities. Through this interaction you can help keep TRW at the forefront of theatrical licensing. I have always very much valued our customers input throughout my many years in the business.

Next week I travel to Auckland, where I will deliver the keynote speech at the New Zealand Musical Theatre Conference. Attended by artistic and managing directors, this year will mark their 50th anniversary as an association serving the needs of community theatres in their territory. It’s a great honor and I’m the first foreigner to have this privilege.

Full Text of Steve Spiegel’s Keynote Address to the NZMT

Bay Wellington ·

You’re about to create a new civilization and for your starting point, you want a center of this new town. A town square. To start, you will build an environment where artists can converge. Poets, painters, dancers, storytellers and musicians. And, all will be fine until the government realizes that these artists influence people. So, the artists get rounded up but quickly society realizes that without art, there is no community. And without community, there is no environment for self-expression, interactivity, socialization, mentorship, personal creativity and growth, friendship, knowledge, risk taking, and yes, without community, there is no environment for debate or leadership. So, this new civilization learns the value of community, especially that of its artists.

TRW Partnership Team & The Family School: Phase 2!

Bay Wellington ·

The Theatrical Rights Worldwide Partnership Team was created in 2008 to provide human resources to schools in New York City that need a helping hand with their Arts programs. In October 2009 the Partnership Team began working with over sixty kindergarten, first and second graders from the Family School, coordinated through Music Specialist Justin Dayhoff and Principal Pamela Lee. The first session was a huge success, ending with an after school performance of several short plays.

After the success of the first session…the Morning Project took shape and by mid-January, over thirty Family School kids were ready to meet Mondays through Thursdays from 7:20-8:20am each morning to discover the fun and beauty of exploring acting through storytelling.

Hillcrest High School CURTAINS

Bay Wellington ·

Hillcrest High School in Midvale, Utah presented the Utah high school premiere of CURTAINS, November 18-21, 2009, with a superb production. TRW’s Broadway blockbuster features a book by Rupert Holmes, based on a concept by Peter Stone, with a classic score from the legendary Kander and Ebb.

CURTAINS played over 500 performances on Broadway, and received eight 2007 Tony® Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor (A Winner for David Hyde Pierce), Best Actress, Best Featured Actress, Best Direction and Best Choreography. Kander and Ebb’s amazing score is perfectly woven into the fabric of the unfailingly clever book.

CURTAINS is set in the brassy, bright, and promising year of 1959. Boston’s Colonial Theatre is host to the opening night performance of a new musical.

Hillcrest HS’ CURTAINS a First Class Production!

Bay ·

Hillcrest High School in Midvale, Utah presented the Utah high school premiere of CURTAINS, November 18-21. TRW’s Broadway blockbuster features a book by Rupert Holmes, based on a concept by Peter Stone, with a classic score from the legendary Kander and Ebb. Theaters throughout the world are now getting their chance to produce this phenomenal show!

CURTAINS played over 500 performances on Broadway, and received eight 2007 Tony® Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor (A Winner for David Hyde Pierce), Best Actress, Best Featured Actress, Best Direction and Best Choreography. Kander and Ebb’s amazing score is perfectly woven into the fabric of the unfailingly clever book.

CURTAINS is set in the brassy, bright, and promising year of 1959…

TRW’s 2009 in Review

Bay Wellington ·

2009 brought exciting new shows, products and theatrical licensing news from around the globe. As always, this past year saw thousands of productions of Theatrical Rights Worldwide titles. And, TRW continued to lead the industry with innovative, customer service-oriented practices that have revolutionized the Musical Theatre Licensing business. Here’s a look back at some of the top stories from the TRW Newsletter and Blog archives.

SPAMALOT closed its five year run on Broadway on January 11th, 2009 after an incredible 1575 performances! Housed at the Shubert Theatre, the TRW tuner was a smash hit throughout its half-decade engagement and saw a bevy of Broadway’s best known stars in the cast. Hank Azaria, Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Clay Aiken and Marin Mazzie were just a few of the stars…