54 Sings Memphis

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.

54 Sings Curtains

Last night we kicked off our first of many nights at Feinsteins/54 Below with 54 Sings Curtains. Not only was it a wonderful evening full of familiar faces, but the perfect reminder of what a gem this show is. The evening was introduced by bookwriter Rupert Holmes, who gave us an abridged story of how CURTAINS was created. The cast assembled was led by the quirky and hilarious Richard Kind, who so graciously stepped into the leading role of Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, and brought his own comedic flair to the role originated by David Hyde Pierce. Other notable cast members included the always superb Karen Ziemba as the songwriter turned star Georgia Hendricks, Noah Racey as leading man Bobby Pepper, Megan Sikora as Bambi, Erin Davie, who replaced in the original production, as ingenue Niki Harris, and a host of other Broadway veterans.

TRW’s 2018-2019 Season Planner

We’re here to help you every step of the way in choosing your next show with the best collection of contemporary Broadway and West End musicals in the business. From our New York City Headquarters to our London Office to every corner of the world, TRW’s knowledgeable and friendly licensing agents are ready to serve your production needs.

Our catalogue of major musicals continued to grow with the addition of several blockbusters in 2017. New titles will be announced throughout 2018, along with the lifting of restrictions on some titles. New for 2018-19 are BRIGHT STAR, a new Tony Award-winning edition of THE COLOR PURPLE, FLASHDANCE, and the West End’s THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. For the U.K., GREASE has been released from restrictions and is now fully available!

THE COLOR PURPLE Revival Reviews

The reviews are in and the word is out! See what the critics had to say about the 2015 revival of THE COLOR PURPLE.

“For the first time in its long history of dramatization, ‘The Color Purple’ has been afforded an incarnation fully in sync with one crucial aspect of Walker’s original authorial intent — that the audience must participate in the imaginative act in order to comprehend its richness of theme and story. And, in this production, first seen at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London, so they do. Willingly. Delightedly. When they are not rising to their feet to stop the show.” – Chicago Tribune

“The current version is a slim, fleet-footed beauty, simply attired and beguilingly modest. Don’t be deceived, though, by its air of humility. There’s a deep wealth of power within its restraint.” – The New York Times

Choosing Your Next Round of Shows

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

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

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.

RING OF FIRE SMALL CAST EDITION is Now Available from TRW!

Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) is proud to announce the release of the new RING OF FIRE SMALL CAST EDITION. RING OF FIRE has had a remarkable journey from Broadway to theaters across the world. Recently, the show received a new, re-defining production at the Milwaukee Rep by original ROF creator Richard Maltby, Jr. The new, streamlined song showcase features a cast of five actor/musicians. The remarkable story of Johnny Cash and his music is searing and arcs with an exhilarating concert experience that is unforgettable.

The five-piece version of RING OF FIRE is a more intimate edition of the original Broadway show. The five cast members can be the band as well, or theatre groups can put together a cast that fits their ensemble’s unique talents.

RING OF FIRE Brings Cash and His Music Back to Life

TRW’s RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH has had a remarkable journey from Broadway to theaters across the world. The show is getting a hot new re-conception by original RING OF FIRE creator Richard Maltby, Jr., at the Milwaukee Rep, now playing at the Stackner Cabaret, in the Patty & Jay Baker Theater Complex, through May 5th, 2013.

TRW’s Music & Materials team was in Milwaukee for the opening of the re-boot of the RING OF FIRE franchise. “Richard Maltby Jr. and the entire cast and crew of RING OF FIRE have truly created something special at Milwaukee Rep,” said one team member. “We know it is no easy task to create an intimate, five-piece version of a major musical (originally consisting of sixteen cast members and musicians) while still maintaining the integrity and heart of the show…

Script Changes? Just Ask!

The majority of the musicals in our catalogue were written for the Broadway stage, to be performed by professional actors in front of audiences expecting and accepting of a heightened level of language, nuance, subject matter and presentation. In essence, the Broadway production is a “destination experience” for those who attend.

Your school, community or regional theatre production is a “foundation experience,” and, no two foundations are built the same when factors including the age of the performers, the region of the country or the demography of the audience are considered. No successful theatre program can be built or survive without a solid foundation. We understand this and support it.

So how does the destination experience of the Broadway musical assimilate to the foundation experience at your theatre?