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Dear Evan Hansen, the new musical with a book by Obie Award-winner Steven Levenson, score by Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek amp Justin Paul, and direction by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, opened just last night at the Music Box Theatre 239 W 45th St. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night and you can check out photos from the after party below...

For their next live-action remake, Disney is digging way down deep into their vaults, all the way to their very first animated feature. That’s right, a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs movie is now in development. Erin Cressida Wilson (The Girl on the Train) is in talks to write the script and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul […]

The post ‘Snow White’ Will Also Get the Live-Action Remake Treatment from Disney appeared first on /Film.

For the studios, 2016 has mostly been about the year of the animal, highlighted by Disney’s billion-dollar “Zootopia” and Pixar’s “Finding Dory” (the new all-time animation box office leader).

However, the year culminates with another potentially strong Disney Oscar contender, “Moana” (November 23), along with two musicals: Illumination’s “Sing” (December 21), which played to cheering crowds this week at the Toronto Film Festival, and DreamWorks’ “Trolls” (Nov. 4). Warner Bros., meanwhile, offers the buddy comedy, “Storks” (September 23), which has attracted good world of mouth for its humor.

Disney explores new territory with the Polynesian-themed “Moana,” the first foray into CG for directors John Musker and Ron Clements (“The Princess and the Frog,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid”), who push the legacy in a new direction with contemporary appeal.

The free-spirited, teenage Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) possesses strong navigational skills and is determined to sail out on a dangerous mission to save her island and eradicate its isolation.

Rebecca Ferguson has joined the cast of the P.T. Barnum musical film “The Greatest Showman,” in which Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya are also set to star. The film is set up at 20th Century Fox. Michael Gracey will direct from a script by Michael Arndt. Chernin Entertainment and Laurence Mark are producing. Ferguson will star as Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, who was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. See Video: 'Wolverine 3': Hugh Jackman Says Goodbye to Mutton Chops “The Greatest Showman” is an original musical with songs written by Justin Paul and.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas—in today’s Backstage kids casting notices, anyway. A nonunion touring production of “A Christmas Story, The Musical” is currently casting one young actor for a supporting role. A male actor aged 9–11 is sought to portray Randy, who is “funny in the sense that he is awkward and off-beat; must be physically comfortable onstage and have a lot of strong concentration.” The musical, adapted by writing duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, is based upon the classic holiday film and depicts Ralphie, who dreams of receiving a Bb gun for Christmas. Rehearsals for the production will begin Oct. 1, and the show is scheduled to run through Dec. 31. For more information on “A Christmas Story, The Musical,” you can see the full listing here. And be sure to check out all of Backstage’s casting notices, which can be sorted by age!

“Trolls” represents the far side of “Shrek”— a bright, happy, fuzzy, nostalgic, musical journey that taps the idealism of the ’60s/’70s counterculture for all its worth.

What else would you do with Danish woodcutter Thomas Dam’s iconic, lovable troll dolls?

“There was no story, there was no mythology, so we could create whatever we wanted,” explained Dohrn at a recent presentation at the Glendale campus where he screened more than 20 minutes of footage. Together with director Mike Mitchell and producer Gina Shay, the “Shrek Forever” team forged a new folk tale that countered the notion of trolls being scary.

“But one of the things we knew we had to have was that iconic hair and we made the story about happiness,” Dohrn added. “How do you get it? Where does it come from? What happens when you lose it?”

In “Trolls,” Poppy (Anna Kendrick) epitomizes the perky, quirky hippy ethos: singing,...

Per Deadline, Michelle Williams is in talks to star alongside Hugh Jackman in “The Greatest Showman.” Jackman will play P.T. Barnum in the musical biopic, which charts the rise of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Zac Efron may be joining the project as well in an as-yet unspecified role.

Read More: Michelle Williams Joins Julianne Moore In Todd Haynes’ ‘Wonderstruck’

Though silver-screen musicals aren’t too uncommon in and of themselves, “The Greatest Showman” purports to be Hollywood’s first not based on an existing property since 1992’s “Newsies.” Michael Arndt — who won an Academy Award for his “Little Miss Sunshine” screenplay and has also written or co-written “Toy Story 3,” “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and “The Force Awakens” — is on script duty. Veteran commercial director Michael Gracey will helm the project, which will feature original songs by the Tony-nominated duo of Justin Paul & Benj Pasek (“The...

Two new pieces of theater, a branded content web series, and a short film are available in Backstage’s casting notices today. Check them out below! New Play Based On Grimms’ “The Maiden Without Hands”This devised new work from Art House Productions is an immersive theatrical experience based on a Brothers Grimm tale, taking place in September at a to-be-announced location. The production is seeking ensemble members—skill with a string or percussion instrument is a plus but not required—and auditions will be held June 25 and 30 in Jersey City, New Jersey. “Taste Test, The Series”A new app startup called Taste Wine Co., is launching a branded content series online where they’ll interview interesting people about their tastes! The project is looking for talented hosts and “tasters,” the latter of which involves sipping wine on camera. This could be a chance for you to score some high-quality footage for your reel,...

NextStop Theatre Company has been awarded the rights to produce the first revue of the music of Broadway composing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. It will be part of a series of cabarets, produced by NextStop Theatre and curated by recording artist Jim Van Slyke. The revue will be performed for one night only on Saturday, August 13 at 8pm at NextStop Theatre in Herndon, Virginia.

ProducerStacey Mindichhas confirmed that the recently-announced Broadway premiere of the new musicalDear Evan Hansenhas found its home it will officially open at theBelasco Theatre111 West 44thStreet onSunday, December 4, 2016. Previews begin in November. With a book bySteven Levenson, score by TonyAward nomineesBenj Pasek amp Justin Paul, and direction by 3-time TonyAward nomineeMichael Greif,Dear Evan Hansenhad its world premiere atArena Stage, Washington D.C., this past summer and recently concluded its record-breaking New York debut at Off-Broadway'sSecond Stage. Tickets for the open-ended Broadway engagement go on saleJune 19. For morenews and information on tickets, visitwww.DearEvanHansen.com.

Recognizing 25 categories in Broadway and Off-Broadway, the 66th annual New York Outer Critics Circle Awards saluted the best theater of the 2015–16 season May 9. The organization of writers and media commentators named Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s “Bright Star” the best new Broadway musical and Roundabout Theatre Company’s “The Humans” by Stephen Karam the best new Broadway play of the year. The acclaimed Broadway revival of “She Loves Me,” also from Roundabout, took more awards than any other show, for outstanding revival of a musical, featured actress in a musical Jane Krakowski, set designer David Rockwell, and costume designer Jeff Mahshie. Lucas Hnath’s “The Christians” and Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and Steven Levenson’s “Dear Evan Hansen” took home outstanding Off-Broadway play and musical, respectively. Ivo van Hove took home outstanding director of a play for “A View From the Bridge,” and Michael Arden was recognized for his...

Stage and screen stars Darren Criss Glee, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Andrew Keenan-Bolger Newsies, Tuck Everlasting, Ben Platt Pitch Perfect, Dear Evan Hansen, Tony-nominated composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Dear Evan Hansen, A Christmas Story, Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Philip McAdoo The Lion King and Rent, Brad Simmons Camp, Lysistrata Jones, Jacob Brent Cats Cory Lingner On the Town, and writing team Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel Camp-Wish-No-More, My Little Brony are some of the talent confirmed for the 2016 Junior Theater Festival JTF16, it was announced today by Timothy Allen McDonald, founding chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents this year's holiday show, A Christmas Story The Musical, based on the popular 1983 film. A Christmas Story The Musical has a book by Joseph Robinette with music and lyrics byBenj Pasek and Justin Paul. A Christmas Story The Musical will be directed by Brandon Ivie and choreographed by Mara Newbery Greer. A Christmas Story The Musical will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater through January 3, 2016. The official press opening night wass yesterday, November 29. Check out photos from the after party below...

Paper Mill Playhouse presents this year's holiday show, A Christmas Story The Musical, based on the popular 1983 film. A Christmas Story The Musical has a book by Joseph Robinette with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. A Christmas Story The Musical will be directed by Brandon Ivie and choreographed by Mara Newbery Greer. A Christmas Story The Musical will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from tonight,November 25, 2015, through January 3, 2016. The official press opening night is Sunday, November 29, at 700pm. Click below to watch highlights for the show...

Paper Mill Playhouse's holiday show, A Christmas Story The Musical, based on the popular 1983 film, has a book by Joseph Robinette with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. A Christmas Story The Musical will be directed by Brandon Ivie and choreographed by Mara Newbery Greer. A Christmas Story The Musical will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from tonight,November 25, 2015, through January 3, 2016. The official press opening night is Sunday, November 29, at 700pm.

Paper Mill Playhouse will present A Christmas Story The Musical this holiday season. Based on the popular 1983 film, A Christmas Story The Musical has a book by Joseph Robinette with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. A Christmas Story The Musical will be directed byBrandon Ivie and choreographed by Mara Newbery Greer. A Christmas Story The Musical will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from November 25, 2015, through January 3, 2016. The official press opening night is Sunday, November 29, at 700pm.

The Dramatists Guild Fund just welcomed a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala, Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss. Directed by Leigh Silverman Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event featured award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer amp Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek amp Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe amp Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.

Recently, CBS delivered the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Hawaii Five-o" episode 5 of season 6. The episode is entitled, "Ka 'alapahi nui" is Hawaiian for "Big Lie," and it turns out that we're going to see some pretty interesting stuff go down as a stunt biker gang becomes the main focus for Five-o in their latest investigation, and more. In the new,5th episode press release: As Five-0 Prepares For A Tough Mudder Competition, They Interrogate Members Of A Stunt Bikers Gang To Find A Killer Who Escaped By Jumping His Motorcycle Off A Roof, On "Hawaii Five-0," Friday, Oct. 23. Press release number 2: Five-0 will have to interrogate members of a stunt bikers gang to find a killer who escaped by jumping his motorcycle from one roof onto another. Also, the team is going to prepare to race in a Tough Mudder competition. American daredevil Robbie Knievel guest stars.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, presents Dear Evan Hansen.The original musical, featuring a score by Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek amp Justin Paul Broadway's A Christmas Story, The Musical Dogfight, a book by Steven Levenson Masters of Sex and directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif Broadway's Rent, Next to Normal, IfThen, is a contemporary, intimate story of hope, heartache and the things in life we all need-friends, family and a place to call home. With choreography by Danny Mefford and music supervision, orchestrations and dance arrangements by Tony Award winner Alex Lacamoire, Dear Evan Hansen runs now through August 23, 2015, opening tonight, July 30,in the Kreeger Theater.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Tony-nominated songwriters of Broadway's A Christmas Story, The Musical and composers of the off-Broadway musical Dogfight, are coming to Landmark - and they're bringing their friends. The stars of the Off-Broadway hit Dogfight will reunite on the stage of Landmark on Main Street for a celebration of the music of Pasek and Paul. The concert is set for tonight, April 25, 2015 at 8 Pm.

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, featuring a score by Tony-nominated songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek and a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, has been acquired for licensing in the Tya, student and community theater markets by Music Theatre International Mti. The musical is based on the beloved best-selling book of the same name by Roald Dahl.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Tony-nominated songwriters of Broadway's A Christmas Story, The Musical and composers of the off-Broadway musical Dogfight, are coming to Landmark - and they're bringing their friends. The stars of the Off-Broadway hit Dogfight will reunite on the stage of Landmark on Main Street for a celebration of the music of Pasek and Paul. The concert is set for April 25, 2015 at 8 Pm.

#Omg! Arrow and The Affair actor Colin Donnell and his girlfriend, fellow Broadway actress Patti Murin are engaged after dating for more than a year. Murin tweeted about it on Friday. "You guys, I have some big news to share!! Ready??? I didn't hate the Annie movie at all. I actually liked it. #alsoigotengaged," she said. "I did too! To her!" Donnell said in a retweet. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Tony-nominated songwriters of the 2012 Broadway musical A Christmas Story, had actually spilled the beans a day earlier. The actor, who plays Tommy Merlyn on the CW superhero show Arrow and Scotty...

Act Two Levine, one of the strongest youth musical theatre education programs in our area, continued its tradition this week of providing its cast members with opportunities to learn from the best of the business in Washington, DC and beyond. The young and enormously talented Tony-nominated writing team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for A Christmas Story provided a masterclass for those participating in Act Two's intensive Pre-Professional Program and then delivered a concert that not only proved entertaining, but also provided more opportunities for the young musical theatre aficionados to learn. Pasek and Paul, who met as freshmen musical theatre students at the University of Michigan, showcased not only their considerable songwriting talent, but their ability to engage an audience whether delivering a song or stories about their life writing for the theatre.

We all know that Wolverine loves to sing and dance when he's not busy hogging all the spotlight in the X-Men movies, and now there's word that his next opportunity to prance around with a magical tune or two is coming together. While it's taken some time to get all of the pieces in place, Hugh Jackman's turn as P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman on Earth looks to be heading into production next summer.

The film will tell the tale of how legendary promoter Barnum, essentially, invented show business with his three-ring circus. The film will be the first movie musical not adapted from a stage show since 2001's Moulin Rouge. It'll feature original songs by Justin Paul, Benj Pasek, Bonnie McKee, Jake Shear and Brian Lapin, work off of a script from Bill Condon, Jenny Bicks and Jordan Roberts, and be directed by Michael Gracie.

There's certainly...

A major studio has not produced an original live-action movie musical since 1992's Newsies, starring little kid Christian Bale. I am talking wholly original, here. Moulin Rouge! in 2001 counts in that it was original story, but it only featured one and a half original songs. Therefore, it does not fit the criteria. Well, Fox is taking a chance on The Greatest Showman on Earth centered on P.T. Barnum, legendary co-creator of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Hugh Jackman, who is now getting pretty good reviews on Broadway in Jez Butterworth's The River (though, the play itself is being met with a bit harsher criticism), is set to play Barnum in the film, which plans to start production in New York next summer. Bill Condon penned the latest draft of the screenplay. Michael Gracey, a former animator who has lined up a few projects to direct but has not started them yet,...

It's been over five years since we've heard anything on the development of the musical The Greatest Showman on Earth, the story of the famous three-ring circus creator P.T. Barnum. Last we heard, Hugh Jackman was slated to star in the film, and now Deadline reports the project is finally coming together with a plan to start shooting next summer in New York. This will be the first live-action, original big screen studio musical since The Goonies (though some argue you could count Moulin Rouge), and the most recent script comes from Bill Condon, writer and director of Dreamgirls. But who is directing? Michael Gracie, known for commercials full of dancing and a giant flash mob put together by Oprah Winfrey and the Black Eyed Peas (watch it here), will make his feature directorial debut on the film that has original songs by Justin Paul & Benz Pasek (of the Tony-nominated...

Hugh Jackman is an amazing performer, and he deserves a movie musical worthy of his talents.  I get a little more disappointed every time I think about Les Miserables, but a more exciting opportunity may have arrived with The Greatest Showman on Earth.  We last reported on the film back in October 2013 when Bill Condon came on to rewrite the script, which centers on legendary showman and swindler P.T. Barnum (Jackman) and his infatuation with opera singer Jenny Lind a.k.a "The Swedish Nightingale." The film is now moving closer to shooting, and there's just one big oddity about the whole thing: The Greatest Showman on Earth isn't based on anything.  It's not an adaptation of a stage musical.  It's an original, and we haven't gotten an original live-action movie musical in a very long time.  That could be about to change.  Hit the jump for more. According to Deadline,...

Hugh Jackman can sing, but on the big screen he hasn't really had the chance to show off his pipes. But that's not for lack of trying. Since at least 2009, he's been trying to mount the P.T. Barnum musical "The Greatest Showman On Earth," and though it has moved in fits and starts, now it looks like it's finally happening. Deadline reports that the film—the first original Hollywood musical since "Newsies"—will finally start shooting next summer in New York City. The Fox production (the studio likely thanking Jackman for his 'X-Men' efforts by getting this one going) has commercial director Michael Gracey lined up to get behind the camera, with a script from Bill Condon ("Gods And Monsters," "Chicago"), and songs by the Tony-nominated Justin Paul & Benz Pasek, Bonnie McKee, Jake Shear, and Brian Lapin. Basically, it's all top shelf talent. As for the story, it was previously...

Five years after actor Hugh Jackman was first attached to star as P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman on Earth, 20th Century Fox is finally moving forward on the project, which is eyeing a summer production start.

The project will be the first original live action movie musical since Disney's Newsies debuted 22 years ago in 1992. Director Michael Gracey signed on to direct back in August 2011, with Bill Condon (The Fifth Estate) providing the most recent draft of the screenplay. Other writers have worked on the script over the years, including Jenny Bicks (Never Been Kissed) and Jordan Roberts (Big Hero 6).

The story follows P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) as he literally invents show business and the three-ring circus. The showman had a penchant for pulling elaborate hoaxes on the gullible public before the three-ring circus took off. Earlier reports revealed that the story will also follow Barnum's infatuation with Swedish singer Jenny Lind,...

All of Broadway's biggest stars converged at the Longacre Theatre last night to celebrate the Broadway opening of Of Mice and Men, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro and starring James Franco, Chris O'Dowd, and Leighton Meester. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on the red carpet to chat with the evening's biggest guests before the curtain went up, and below, you can check out interviews with Valisia Lekae, Denis O'Hare, James Earl Jones, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul amp more...

Tony-nominated songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek and book writer Timothy Allen McDonald , the creative team behind the musical James and the Giant Peach Jatgp, are launching a nationwide search to cast a young actor as James Participant for the musical's official album which will be recorded May 12 and May 13 in New York City. The creators are seeking boys with unchanged voices and excellent singing and acting skills. Online and DVD submissions will be received by iTheatrics who will run the casting call.