54 Sings Memphis

Bay Wellington ·

Last night we returned to Feinsteins/54 Below for 54 Sings Memphis and what an absolute treat it was. Several original Broadway cast members returned with some new talent and what transpired was nothing short of a celebration. This Tony Award®-winning Best Musical remains poignant today, as we follow the cultural friction of Memphis’ underground dance clubs in the 1950’s as radio jockey Huey Calhoun falls for singer Felicia Farrell in a time when their interracial relationship was hardly celebrated. Tony nominee Chad Kimball returned to the role he created and Huey still fits like a glove. Felicia Boswell, who starred in the First National Tour, was Felicia Farrell and original Broadway cast member Cass Morgan brought Mama back to life.

The Showtunes of Love

Bay Wellington ·

It’s that magical time of year when we have to find just the right gift for our special someone for Valentine’s Day or you celebrate the 15th of February and treat yourself to bags and bags of clearance candy. No matter which day you choose to celebrate, both days are about that one special word: Love. Those of us that have a fondness for musical theatre know there’s no shortage of romantic songs that grace our stages. Here’s a little sampling of some favorites that leave us with the warm and fuzzies.

Choosing Your Next Round of Shows

Bay Wellington ·

Selecting your next show or full season, is an exciting, inspiring time for your whole organization. Careful consideration of a title’s audience appeal, technical and design requirements, casting challenges and other concerns make choosing shows an art unto itself.

While the need to consistently achieve high ticket sales is a common theme, artistic directors and producers try to select titles that will connect with their communities as well. Considering stories that will take their communities on new musical adventures together. In the educational and community theatre arena, the experience of the student or volunteer actors and techies is as important as the outcome of the show.

We’ve selected nine Broadway musicals, available for licensing for 2015-16, that can help inform your choice.

TRW Announces Acquisition of Jersey Boys

Bay Wellington ·

Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) President and CEO Steve Spiegel announced today the acquisition of exclusive representation for stage performance rights to Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning Best Musical, JERSEY BOYS. “I’m happy to announce the signing of a long-term agreement for the Stock and Amateur rights to Jersey Boys. I’m proud to be the home of this truly great Broadway show,” Spiegel said, shortly after closing the deal, from his office in TRW’s Times Square headquarters.

JERSEY BOYS joins TRW’s major licensing assets MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT, MEMPHIS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE COLOR PURPLE, ALL SHOOK UP, GHOST THE MUSICAL, BIG FISH, RING OF FIRE, CURTAINS, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, and a select group of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) and Off Broadway and Regional Theatre musicals.

Spiegel Takes Full Ownership of Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Bay Wellington ·

Musical theatre licensor Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), founded by President & CEO Steve Spiegel in 2006, announces Spiegel’s acquisition of full ownership of the company. The venture was initially a partnership between Spiegel and Northwater Capital, an international IP fund based in Toronto.

Spiegel spoke briefly from TRW’s New York City offices as the deal was signed: “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve created at TRW, first as a start-up, then as a growing business and now as a fully-realized premier Broadway licensing house. Throughout my thirty-five years in this business I’ve enabled theatrical participation and performance for high schools, professional and community theatres, youth groups, national tours and all our customers around the world,” Spiegel said.