Newsical (styled "NEWSical") is a musical with music, lyrics, and book written by Rick Crom. In ever-changing songs and sketches, it lampoons current events, hot topics, celebrities, politicians, and other well-known entities. New songs are added on a continual basis to keep up with the headlines. The musical began with a cabaret production in 2002 before moving Off-off-Broadway in 2004. In 2009 producer Tom D'Angora opened a new edition at Theater Row. It won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical and over the years received several Drama Desk nominations. In 2022 the show played at The Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas before transferring to the V Theater located in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Productions Original production "What in the World: The NEWSICAL Revue" began as "What in the World?!" at the now defunct Rose's Turn Piano Bar and Cabaret in Greenwich Village in New York City in November 2002 starring Eadie Scott, John Flynn, Deb Spielman and Chris Regan. It was conceived and directed by Collette Black with musical direction and arrangements by John McMahon.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=9 December 2003|title=What In the World, by Urinetown'''s Rick Crom, Debuts January 2004|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/what-in-the-world-by-urinetowns-rick-crom-debuts-january-2004-com-116792|url-status=live|access-date=19 January 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> This production won the 2003 Nightlife Award for Best Musical Revue. Producer Fred M. Caruso saw the show and decided to move it to an Off-off Broadway production with the same director and musical director. Newsical began previews at the John Houseman Studio on Theatre Row in New York City on January 9, 2004. The cast was Eadie Scott, John Flynn, Kelly Howe and Chris Regan. It opened officially on January 22, 2004, and ran for eight weeks at the John Houseman. The show soon began a new run at New York City's Upstairs at Studio 54, with previews starting on September 10, 2004, and an official opening on October 7, 2004. Directed and choreographed by Donna Drake and produced by Fred M. Caruso, some of the musical's targets included Martha Stewart and AOL. The original cast included Kim Cea, Todd Alan Johnson, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Jeff Skowron, Aléna Watters, and Matt Allen. The musical closed on April 17, 2005, after 215 performances and then began a U.S. national tour and extended engagement at the Denver Civic Center in 2005. It was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards: Best Revue and Best Lyrics. 2009 and 2011 productions The 2009 production, entitled Newsical the Musical: We Distort,