Joshua Sherman News

A NEW BRAIN is the energetic, sardonic, often comical musical about composer Gordon (inspired by Finn) during a medical emergency. Gordon collapses and awakes in the hospital. Fearing he will die with his greatest songs still inside of him, he begins writing the songs from his hospital bed, amidst several hallucinations featuring various people whom he has encountered. The score contains musical theatre staples 'Sailing,' 'The Music Still Plays On,' 'Change,' and 'Heart and Music.'

Our readers have spoken, and the winners of the 2017 BroadwayWorld Awards were announced earlier this week. We are thrilled to support and celebrate each and every one of the winners and nominees, and we're grateful for everyone who participated in the reader's choice voting process. We understand that the arts are not a competitive sport, but we're always happy to acknowledge local artists. This year, rather than picking my own pocketful of favorite performances, I'm exited to instead announce a handful of fresh faces I discovered in 2017 that I'm eager to see back onstage in 2018. Having lived in Dallas a mere three years, I frequently catch performers onstage for my first time, even if they've been long-term staples in our community. Who will I find this year? I can't wait!

Gutenberg. Without Johannes Gutenberg and his invention of the printing press, life would be very different in our world. We wouldn't have widely distributed books. Most of us wouldn't know how to read or write. And, tragically, we wouldn't have this wildly ridiculous, often inappropriate and hilarious show, GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! being produced by Tarrant Actors Regional Theatre.

By all accounts, 2016 has been quite the rollercoaster ride. Fortunately for DFW audiences, the local theatre community and many of the touring productions delivered nothing short of a stellar year, setting quite a high bar for upcoming performances. As we say goodbye to another December, we'd like to look back on a handful of memories that stood out among the long list of Playbills we've gathered. And like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, these live theatre moments will be remembered as a few of our favorite things. We present this list in no particular order, and without awards or titles bestowed upon those listed. To everyone who contributed to the DFW theatre community in 2016, we thank you for sharing your time and talents with us.

Broadway's Future Songbook Series - presented by Arts and Artists of Tomorrow continues its twenty-sixth season on Monday, October 31st in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center located at 111 Amsterdam Avenue and 65th Street.  

Four acclaimed Broadway actors will spend the last week of October in Arlington, Vt., rehearsing Perfect Picture (a musical about the life of Norman Rockwell) just a few miles from the artist's former home - in preparation for a staged concert at Lincoln Center's Bruno Walter Auditorium on October 31.

Theatre Arlington's Bigger, Better and Brighter season takes a moment to slow down and enjoy the beautiful, timeless music of a dearly loved and often-imitated American icon with the opening of MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA.

Television was forever changed in 1989 when 'Seinfeld' aired leading to subsequent generations of fans obsessed with 'a show about nothing.' And just as 'Seinfeld' altered the course of television, [TITLE OF SHOW] has forever changed the modern musical with a story of two best pals, their two actress friends and a trusty piano player writing a musical about writing their musical in three weeks to submit to the New York Theater Festival.

[title of show] opens at The Firehouse Theatre on April 15th and runs through May 1st. Our stellar quartet takes the stage in this one-act show about living in New York and musicals - but, most importantly, friendship. Joshua Sherman (Hunter) was last seen on stage in Artes De La Rosa's production of Big Fish as Edward Bloom. Elisa Danielle James (Susan) is delighted to return to the Firehouse stage after previously appearing in Mary Poppins, Into the Woods, and The Drowsy Chaperone from last year's season. Noelle Mason (Heidi) most recently appeared in Godspell at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas and Company at Onstage in Bedford. You can catch her this summer as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof with Garland Summer Musicals. Cody Dry (Jeff) is making his Firehouse debut with [title of show] - well, kind of - he was seen playing keyboards in Firehouse's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Up next, he will be music directing The Last Five Years in the spring for Brick Road Theatre Company.

Artes de la Rosa is proud to announce BIG FISH: The Musical 12 Chairs Version will receive its first North Texas staging this March. The cast features 12 Artes de la Rosa stage debuts for this new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Motion Picture directed by Tim Burton. Artistic Director Adam Adolfo directs the production. He reunites with Award Winning Musical Director Kristin Spires, who previously collaborated on the North Texas premiere of In the Heights, as well as productions of Into the Woods and Man of La Mancha. Serving as Choreographer is Austin Ray Beck whose work was last seen at the Rose Marine Theatre, Artes de la Rosa's home, in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. The production team also includes Kyle Harris as Lighting Designer, Mark Howard as Sound Designer, and Costume Design by Bentleigh Nesbit and Rodney Hudson. 

Artes de la Rosa is proud to announce principle casting for the Artes de la Rosa production of BIG FISH: 12 Chairs Version receiving its first North Texas staging this March.

Artes de la Rosa is proud to present, as part of their "American Classics" Initiative a new staging of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods at the historic Rose Marine Theater in Fort Worth Texas. One of Sondheim's most popular works, the Brothers Grimm hit the musical stage with an epic fairytale where worlds collide and wishes come true. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless yet relevant modern classic that explores what it means to be a family. Featuring a live orchestra and an exciting new take on the material, Into the Woods opens with a Gala Opening Night event on February 22nd and runs through March 16th. The production runs 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.

Tony Award Winner Lillias White (Fela, The Life) stars as The Christmas Loon in the new Charmer, 'I Keep Christmas In My Pocket' beginning November 27th. Producer Joshua Sherman's new web series features original music videos inspired by the golden age of musical theatre and film.

Joshua Sherman presents Charmers, a new web series of short musical films with original music, lyrics and choreography for those obsessed with Movie Musicals and Broadway. Episodes are free to watch at JoshuaShermanPresents.com.

Following a star-studded concert at the Drama League on October 7, 6-10 Productions, LLC has announced the official release of the studio cast recording of PERFECT PICTURE. Featuring performances by some of Broadway's most distinguished artists, PERFECT PICTURE examines the chaotic love story of the iconic Norman Rockwell. He inspired all of America to believe in the perfect family…but he knew better. The CD is available at the BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS Online Store, the album's official online distributor.

The Drama League presents the pre-release concert and celebration of the studio cast recording of the new musical PERFECT PICTURE, inspired by the life of Norman Rockwell, with original score by Gail C. Bluestone (music) and Eileen Bluestone Sherman (lyrics). Starring: Debbie Gravitte, Ron Holgate, Mark Jacoby, Andrea McArdle, Randy Skinner and Lillias White. With Musical Director Aaron Jodoin and hosted by Joshua Sherman and Eileen Bluestone Sherman tonight, OCTOBER 7 at 7pm.

The Drama League presents the pre-release concert and celebration of the studio cast recording of the new musical PERFECT PICTURE, inspired by the life of Norman Rockwell, with original score by Gail C. Bluestone (music) and Eileen Bluestone Sherman (lyrics). Starring: Debbie Gravitte, Ron Holgate, Mark Jacoby, Andrea McArdle, Randy Skinner and Lillias White. With Musical Director Aaron Jodoin and hosted by Joshua Sherman and Eileen Bluestone Sherman on MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 at 7pm.

Artes de la Rosa presents the Fort Worth Premiere of the Tony award winning musical, In the Heights. Directed by artistic director Adam Adolfo, the Lin Manuel Miranda musical will run tonight, May 17 - June 9 at The Rose Marine Theatre. Previously announced star, Matthew Ransdell, who will play Usnavi, will be joined by costars Sarah Marie Dickerson as Vanessa, Joshua Sherman as Benny, and Lorens Portalatin as Nina. Also starring as Grafitti Pete is Michael Anthony Sylvester and Rashaun Sibley as Sonny, both of whom are making their Artes de la Rosa debut.

Artes de la Rosa can now confirm that casting is complete for the Fort Worth Premiere of the Tony award winning musical, In the Heights. Directed by artistic director Adam Adolfo, the Lin Manuel Miranda musical will run May 17 - June 9 at The Rose Marine Theatre. Previously announced star, Matthew Ransdell, who will play Usnavi, will be joined by costars Sarah Marie Dickerson as Vanessa, Joshua Sherman as Benny, and Lorens Portalatin as Nina. Also starring as Grafitti Pete is Michael Anthony Sylvester and Rashaun Sibley as Sonny, both of whom are making their Artes de la Rosa debut.

Dick Scanlan, Tony-nominated lyricist and librettist of 2002's Thoroughly Modern Millie, hosted the VIP preview of StageStruck: The Magic of Theatre Design at the Leslie/Lohman Gallery on Tuesday, November 13.