Theatre + Broadway News

CHUCK Star Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez Set to Lead FIRST DATE on Broadway; Opens August 4

(5/20/2013) - Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) has just announced that leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV's Chuck, Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingnue Krysta Rodriguez (Smash, The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg (Gossip Girl), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) FIRST DATE is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). Featuring Sara Chase (Arrested Development, The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest (Boardwalk Empire, Hairspray), the cast of FIRST DATE also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Additional casting to be announced shortly.

Tonya Pinkins Joins STILL MORE OF OUR PARTS, 6/13-28 at Theatre Row

(5/20/2013) - Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the renowned Off-Broadway company known for its productions that integrate artists with disabilities with able-bodied actors, presents its third annual short play festival, STILL MORE OF OUR PARTS - an evening of six ten-minute plays about disabilities, featuring world premieres by Jerrod Bogard, Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, Samuel D. Hunter, Neil LaBute, and Lynn Manning, with performances to run June 13-28 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Christopher Burris, Nicholas Viselli, Christina Roussos, Russell Treyz, Karen Case Cook, and Roberto Cambeiro direct.

Ensemble ACJW Concludes 2012-2013 Season at Brooklyn's Galapagos Art Space

(5/20/2013) - In a newly announced concert, Ensemble ACJW performs an original program entitledFrom Dusk til Dawn: A Musical Journey from Darkness to Light at Galapagos Art Space onMonday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. For their debut performance at the Brooklyn venue, the musicians have put together an imaginative program with several of their original compositions and new arrangements in addition to works and excerpts by Chopin, Ravel, Schoenberg, Messiaen, George Crumb, Herbie Hancock, and more. The program is a musical journey from darkness to light, with repertoire selected to represent dusk, midnight, and dawn-sometimes explicitly and other times more abstractly. See below for complete program details.

Theatre at the Center Presents THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Opening 7/11

(5/20/2013) - Theater at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, will present a heartwarming production of the two-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Audiences will enjoy the fun July 11 through August 18 when Theater at the Center spells out another winner with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Featuring witty and endearing music and lyrics by William Finn and a delightful book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the touching story of a group of prepubescent overachievers who are pitted against one another in the spelling challenge of a lifetime. The production will be directed by David Perkovich with a press opening on Sunday, July 14 at 7 p.m.

Origin Theatre Company Sets Benefit for 6/30

(5/20/2013) - Origin Theatre Company kicks off its eleventh season of producing the New York and American premieres of plays by emerging European playwrights at its annual benefit on Thursday May 30, at 6:30pm. Hosted by Mutual of America, 320 Park Avenue, the festive evening features a slalom course of pleasures, including an Origin showcase of new work, rollicking entertainment, and appearances by a colorful cross-section of local and visiting theatre luminaries, business leaders and supporters of the arts.

Pumpkin Theatre Family Fun Day Set for 5/26

(5/20/2013) - Pumpkin Theatre will be holding our very popular Free Family Fun Day on Sunday, May 26 from 11am-2pm at Har Sinai Congregation, 2905 Walnut Ave, Owings Mills 21117. We'll have face painting, walk around characters, arts & crafts, tours of our new facility, raffle, food available for purchase, use of the playground, the announcement of our next season, and a special subscription offer!

WAM Theatre Benefit Set for 6/30

(5/20/2013) - WAM Theatre is delighted to announce Claiming Her Place, a benefit for WAM to be held Sunday, June 30 at 7pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. Co-produced and hosted by Tony nominee Jayne Atkinson, recently cast in The Lion in Winter at Berkshire Theatre Group, the evening will feature a celebrity panel discussing the challenges women face in the entertainment industry. The panel includes:Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Michel Gill (House of Cards), Marin Mazzie (Tony Nominee), Linus Roache(Law & Order) and Debra Jo Rupp (That 70's Show).

Fitness Tip of the Day: Rise Above the Negative

(5/20/2013) - Kobe Bryant said, Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise.

Truth & Salvage Co. to Host APPALACHIAN HILLTOP FAMILY REUNION in Ohio, 7/6

(5/20/2013) - Scott Kinnebrew (guitars/lap steel/mandolin/vocals), Tim Jones (guitars/vocals), Walker Young (piano/organ/accordion/vocals), Adam Grace (organ/piano/Wurlitzer/additional background vocals) Bill Smitty Smith (drums/percussion/vocals), and Dean Moore (bass/additional background vocals)--are hosting the first annual APPALACHIAN HILLTOP FAMILY REUNION Saturday, July 6 in Smitty's Wellston, OH hometown to benefit the Wellston High School Marching Band. Guaranteed to be on the set list is Appalachian Hilltop, which arrives at radio June 11 as the first single from the band's second album PICK ME UP (Megaforce/Sony RED) out July 23.

Nike Announces New England Home Kit

(5/20/2013) - The new England kit was unveiled today, with the first official sighting via a picture posted on twitter by England midfielder Jack Wilshere of a pupil at his former school wearing the jersey, demonstrating that the kit belongs to the nation, not just the players lucky enough to represent England. Following its reveal via social media, Nike has created a campaign emphasising that while the kit may feature technical innovation and performance benefits, it cannot win games by itself, and it is what the players do in it that counts.

STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/20- Judy Kuhn

(5/20/2013) - Happy Birthday, Judy Kuhn! Kuhn made her Broadway debut was in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She then played Cosette in the 1987 multiple award winning Broadway production of Les Miserables brought her the first Tony Award nomination. The following year, Kuhn took on a transfer from London's West End, playing one of the main roles (Florence Vassy) in the Trevor Nunn-directed Chess, with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (formerly of ABBA) and lyrics by Tim Rice. Later in 1993, Kuhn played the role of Betty Schaefer in the U.S premier production of Sunset Boulevard at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles. Kuhn sang the title role in the 1995 Disney animated film, Pocahontas, the film included her rendition of the song Colors of the Wind, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for its composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. On October 23, 2007, Kuhn returned to the Broadway Production of Les Miserables after 20 years, but this time assuming the role of Fantine.

I'M A STRANGER HERE MYSELF Returns to York Theatre Company, Beginning 5/28

(5/20/2013) - By popular demand, York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director) has announced the return engagement of the new musical I'm a Stranger Here Myself, written and performed by Mark Nadler, with Franca Vercelloni on accordion, Jessica Tyler Wright on vioin and directed by David Schweizer.

Ars Nova's 10th Anniversary Celebration Takes Place Tonight

(5/20/2013) - Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) has announced its 10th Anniversary Celebration, a benefit to support Ars Nova?s extensive artistic development initiatives and programming, hosted by Celia Keenan-Bolger. The evening's entertainment, directed by Rachel Chavkin, features performances by a bevy of standout artists and productions from Ars Nova's first ten years including: Bridget Everett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Freestyle Love Supreme, Judy Gold, Joe Iconis and the cast of Bloodsong of Love, the cast of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Jollyship the Whiz-Bang, Varsity Interpretive Dance Squad and more.

Matt Cusson to Play The Garage, 6/13

(5/20/2013) - Matt Cusson will play a show at The Garage on June 13 at 7pm.

Max Von Essen, Daniel Breaker and More Set for BRUSH UP YOUR SHAKESPEARE: THE BARD AND THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, 6/1-3

(5/20/2013) - Petruchio and Katherine backstage. Romeo and Juliet on a fire escape. From Kiss Me, Kate to West Side Story, Shakespeare has left his mark on the American Songbook. Tony Award-nominated director Mark Lamos (Cymbeline, Seascape) makes his Lyrics & Lyricists debut revealing the ties between Stratford-on-Avon and Shubert Alley in the 2013 season closer, Brush Up Your Shakespeare: The Bard and the Broadway Musical, on June 1, 2 and 3.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts and NRG Energy Introduce an Industry-Leading Alliance to Develop Solar Power at Hotel Properties

(5/20/2013) - From the Caribbean Summit of Political and Business Leaders that took place in the British Virgin Islands last week, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) on Friday announced a new global alliance to expand the use of renewable energy systems at Starwood properties.

GOLDA'S BALCONY Plays Manatee Performing Arts Center This Saturday

(5/20/2013) - Theatre Winter Haven's multi award-winning production of GOLDA'S BALCONY will be performed at the Manatee Performing Arts Center on May 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 for adults and $13 for students. Tickets can be reserved at the ticket office by calling 941-748-5875 or online at www.manateeplayers.com.

The Pearl Announces 30th Anniversary Season, Including Terrence McNally's AND AWAY WE GO Premiere

(5/20/2013) - Founded in 1984, The Pearl Theatre Company, New York's only classical Resident Acting Company, began as a small troupe of artists in Chelsea and is now a celebrated Off-Broadway institution with its own permanent home on West 42nd Street. The Pearl's 30th anniversary season will showcase the Company's talents in productions of classic plays that are especially suited to the ensemble's skillsincluding a world premiere written especially for them.

The Hartt School Welcomes Javon Jackson as Associate Professor of Jazz

(5/20/2013) - The Hartt School will welcome acclaimed tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson as Associate Professor of Jazz and Chair of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. Jackson, who's appointment begins in August, will serve as the educational and administrative leader for the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, and will teach, work with ensembles, assist in recruitment and development efforts, and represent the Institute and The Hartt School both internally and externally.

Theatre Raleigh Opens I DO! I DO!, 5/29

(5/20/2013) - On the heels of the successful run of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Theatre Raleigh gets ready for the next engagement of their popular Hot Summer Nights Series with I Do! I Do! This is the touching story of two soul mates navigating the perils of life, set to the strains of a tuneful, charming score. The show opens on Wednesday, May 29 and runs through Sunday, June 9at Kennedy Theater at the Duke Energy Center.

STAGE TUBE: First Look at Highlights from Stratford Festival's TOMMY!

(5/20/2013) - The third rock musical produced by the Festival in recent years, Tommy will be the biggest musical ever staged at Stratford. The show features massive LED screens and extraordinary automated set pieces that light up, explode, spin and tilt - get a first look below!

'El Intérprete' vuelve a prorrogar una vez más

(5/20/2013) - Despues de extenderse hasta el 31 de mayo, Asier Etxeandia continuara ofreciendo su espectaculo unipersonal 'El Interprete' en el Teatro de la Latina acompaado por Tao Gutierrez, Gherardo Cantazaro y Enrico Barbaro hasta el proximo 14 de junio. Una prorroga que no hace mas que confirmar el gran exito del montaje y la entusiasta respuesta del publico.

AND I AM NOT LYING Opens 6/5 at UNDER Saint Marks

(5/20/2013) - And I Am Not Lying is described as 'cock-rocking the NPR crowd with the best underground comedy, storytelling, burlesque and sideshow acts. This whole thing (and all of everything) is about getting together and getting EXCITED - just turn your phones off and shout it out loud.'

Ray of Light Theatre's INTO THE WOODS Begins 5/31

(5/20/2013) - Ray of Light Theatre (www.rayoflighttheatre.com) will bring Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods to the San Francisco stage this June at The Eureka Theatre.

Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble Opens TOM THUMB, 6/7

(5/20/2013) - Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble, one of New York's longest-running experimental theatres, will stage Henry Fielding's 1730 classic Tom Thumb, which is officially known as The Tragedy of Tragedies; or the Life and Death of Tom Thumb the Great. A preview is set for Thursday, June 6, 2013. The production opens Friday, June 7, 2013 and closes Sunday, June 30, 2013. Performances are scheduled for Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8 p.m. There are no performances on Saturdays. The theatre is located at 549 W. 52nd Street, 3rd Floor, near 11th Ave., New York, NY 10019, subway C/E 50th St.

SISTAS: THE MUSICAL Will be Released on DVD, 6/4

(5/20/2013) - One Village Entertainment, an entity of RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) has announced the release of the roof-raising stage play Sistas: The Musical,on DVD and digital download on June 4, 2013 at an SRP of $14.98. Pre-order date is May 7th. Directed by Kenneth Ferrone, Sistas features an all-female cast including Tracey Conyer Lee, Jennifer Fouche, Amy Goldberger, April Nixon and Lexi Rhaodes. The musical journey weaves an emotionally compelling story with exultant musical performances. Let the spirit lift you higher with Sistas.

Cooperstown Summer Music Festival Kicks Off 7/7

(5/20/2013) - The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival, under the artistic direction of flutist Linda Chesis, celebrates its fifteenth anniversary season with a diverse offering of musical experiences. From rebellious Baroque innovators to a critically-acclaimed jazz songstress, this year's Festival promises to excite and inspire. The Festival presents five classical concerts, an evening of jazz with Hilary Kole, and four free community concerts that pair accomplished amateur musicians with professional artists.

MIKE BIRBIGLIA'S MY GIRLFRIEND'S BOYFRIEND Plays Carnegie Hall for Final Performance, 6/2

(5/20/2013) - Mike Birbiglia's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, (www.GirlfriendsBoyfriend.com) written by and starring Mike Birbiglia, will have its final performance at the famed Carnegie Hall on June 2.

Martin Scorsese to Present Mel Brooks' AFI Lifetime Achievement Award

(5/20/2013) - As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the American Film Institute will honor Mel Brooks with the 41st AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest accolade for a career in film. The award will be presented to Brooks at a gala tribute on Thursday, June 6, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA.

BWW Blog: DROWSY CHAPERONE's Paige Faure - Traveling with Baby

(5/20/2013) - Well, after 14 hours, 4 poopy diapers, 3 overpriced water bottles, 2 Toblerones and 1 mid-flight meltdown, Henry and I made it to Houston in one piece.

FIX NUMBER SIX Opens 5/29 as Part of the Planet Connections Festival

(5/20/2013) - The world premiere of Fix Number Six, a comedy by Jerry Polner, will be presented beginning May 29, opening day of the 5th annual Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, New York's premier eco-friendly theatre festival. Directed by Michael Criscuolo and featuring actors, Fix Number Six tells of Jane, a travel agent whose career is going nowhere. Hounded by an idiot boss, she dreams of pursuing her true calling as an international spy. When her rich, lovesick customer wants to hire Jane to "fix" his life with whatever tawdry subterfuge is necessary, she jumps at the chance.

BWW Reviews: CROOKED - A Clear-Eyed Look at Adolescence

(5/20/2013) - Catherine Treischmann's play Crooked, now playing at CoHo Productions, is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Laney who is even more confused and angry than most kids her age.

2013 Arkansas New Play Festival Begins 6/14

(5/20/2013) - TheatreSquared today announced the lineup for the 2013 Arkansas New Play Festival, the theatre's fifth annual celebration of bold new works for the stage.The festival will feature staged reading performances of four plays by professional playwrights, a showcase of ten-minute plays by Arkansas high school students, and Northwest Arkansas's seventh annual 24-Hour Play-Off. For the first time, the Arkansas New Play Festival is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Tickets are $7 (staged reading performances), $10 (The 24 Hour Play-Off), or $30 for a New Play Pass including all festival events, and they can be reserved by calling the Walton Arts Center Box Office at (479) 443-5600 or online at theatre2.org.

BWW Reviews: Engrossing THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS from Cape Town's Play Club

(5/20/2013) - Play Club is a relatively new initiative in Cape Town, a book club for theatre lovers with the aim of building a sense of community within the local arts scene. With THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS, Play Club is well on the way to achieving their goal.

'The Skinny with Peter DeGiglio' Comes to Under St. Marks, 5/29

(5/20/2013) - Imagine 'Meet the Press' crashed into 'The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.' The end result would be The Skinny with Peter DeGiglio, a comedy news talk show that tackles a new hot button sociopolitical issue each month; often ripped right from the headlines.

Specialized Bicycle Components Unveils Bicycle-Specific Wind Tunnel

(5/20/2013) - Specialized Bicycle Components is introducing their bicycle-specific wind tunnel in its very own backyard of Morgan Hill. Continuing in a tradition of industry leading innovation, the new wind tunnel will provide unparalleled aerodynamic collaboration across the entire Specialized product line.

JumpstartMD Launches Program for College Students

(5/20/2013) - JumpstartMD, the Bay Area's largest non-surgical medical weight loss program, has launched the industry's first discount program for college students. Developed to assist young adults struggling against weight gain due to poor nutritional knowledge and notoriously unhealthy and plentiful food and drink options on campus, JumpstartMD's 2013 Summer Camp is designed to reverse college weight gain, while arming returning students for a more Fall semester ahead. The company is offering a reduced monthly fee under this special program, ($299 vs. $360), to enable more cash-strapped co-eds to get healthy this year.