Mandy Patinkin News

On June 4, Broadway veterans will unite for a fundraiser with President Barack Obama and special guest President Bill Clinton at the New Amsterdam Theater, titled- BARACK ON BROADWAY. Featuring direction by George C. Wolfe, the event will be hosted by Margo Lion, Thomas Schumacher, Michael David, Lauren Mitchell, Roger Berlind, and Paul Boskin. (more...)

This weekend, BroadwayWorld will be presenting an illuminating InDepth InterView with legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber all about the enchanting new performance capture film version of his PHANTOM OF THE OPERA sequel, LOVE NEVER DIES. Until that chat, letÂ’s take a look back at some of the finest Andrew Lloyd Webber-related performances related to the entertainment dynasty built upon his operatic pop musical version of the classic Gaston Leroux novel that is about to celebrate its 10,000th performance on Broadway later this month, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, as well as its continuation, LOVE NEVER DIES, and the two revivals of his two classic 70s hit stage collaborations with previous InDepth InterView participant Sir Tim Rice coming back to Broadway in a big way - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA. Plus, a look at the new Simon Phillips-directed production of LOVE NEVER DIES coming to Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide on February 28 and March 7, with DVD & Blu-ray after that, as well as the PHANTOM 25 DVD & Blu-ray being released in the US on February 7. It's a busy time of year for phans, clearly! Fetch your favorite mask and check out these four Andrew Lloyd Webber delicacies before they arrive! (more...)

The Drama League announced today the winners for the 78th Annual Drama League Awards: Distinguished Play, Other Desert Cities, presented by Philip Seymour Hoffman; Distinguished Revival of a Play, Death of a Salesman, presented by Christian Borle; Distinguished Production of a Musical, Once, presented by Cynthia Nixon; Distinguished Revival of a Musical, Follies, presented by Kelli OÂ’Hara; and Distinguished Performance, Audra McDonald, presented by John Lithgow at a star-studded luncheon ceremony hosted by Stockard Channing (Other Desert Cities) and John Larroquette (Gore VidalÂ’s The Best Man) at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. (more...)

This week's topics: Least Recognizable Best Musical Winners, Movie to Musical Adaptations, alternates on recordings, Favorite Song from Smash, Secret Garden Revival, After Theater dining in NY, If Bombshell were an actual Broadway Musical... (more...)

Theater actor, writer, and director Gerard AlessandriniÂ’s brainchild, the 30-year-old Off-Broadway hit parody series FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, finally premiered at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City last weekend. Joel Trinidad, Upstart ProductionsÂ’ president and the showÂ’s director, had picked FORBIDDEN BROADWAY'S GREATEST HITS, which has two volumes to date, and features some of the more popular spoofs of Broadway musicals and theater legends culled from more than a dozen FORBIDDEN BROADWAY editions. (more...)

As reported today in Israeli press, the Golden Globe and Peabody award-winning SHOWTIME drama series HOMELAND kicked off production for its second season this week in Israel and had a surprise guest visit the set on Tuesday – Real-life POW and Israeli hero Gilad Shalit. (more...)

Tickets are on sale to the general public for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts's 2012-13 program, which will include Bernadette Peters headlining the annual ARTrageous benefit gala on December 1. (more...)

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella ValleyÂ’s premiere theatrical venue, celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The McCallum Theatre opened its doors on January 2, 1988 with a gala performance honoring Bob Hope that was nationally televised. Since then The McCallum has been the Coachella ValleyÂ’s mecca for world-class entertainment including an extensive array of Broadway and Cabaret offerings. The man behind the tremendous success of the McCallumÂ’s eclectic performance calendar for the past thirteen years is Mitch Gershenfeld, Director of Presentations and Theatre Operations, who will take the helm as the theatreÂ’s President and CEO beginning June 1. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Gershenfeld as he begins preparations for The McCallumÂ’s exciting Silver Anniversary Season. Gershenfeld is warm, passionate, highly astute, a performing arts afficionado and a genuinely kind man. Here are a few highlights from that conversation. (more...)

Last night, April 28, at the Four Seasons San Francisco, more than 380 people celebrated Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre with actor Rita Moreno, who hosted an evening for theatre lovers, gourmands, and philanthropists. Moreno entertained the crowd with a series of songs and jokes. A gala held each year to benefit Berkeley Rep, ONSTAGE raised more than $510,000 to support the nonprofitÂ’s artistic efforts and its education and outreach programs for the local community. (more...)

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has just completed one of the most successful seasons in the theaterÂ’s forty-two year history, surpassing last seasonÂ’s sales. This yearÂ’s sales were $6,207,790 and 108,737 tickets sold, while last yearÂ’s sales were $5,559,227 and 99,946 tickets sold. This amount consists of Van Wezel presented Main Stage performances only, and does not take into account local companies, event rentals, and Van Wezel Schooltime performances. (more...)

Full of biting wit and hilarious parodies of various popular Broadway shows--and the famous actors that star in them--Musical Theatre West's cabaret-style send-up FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 plays its final, laugh-filled set of performances this weekend ending April 29 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. (more...)

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, presents Christina Ricci and two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth in the company's upcoming production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Directed by Tony Speciale, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM began performances Wednesday, March 28 and play a limited engagement through Sunday, May 6. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below! (more...)

Today in 1991, The Secret Garden opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 709 performances.The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon. Directed by Susan H. Schulman with choreography by Michael Lichtefeld, the cast featured Daisy Eagan, Mandy Patinkin, and Rebecca Luker. It won the 1991 Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Daisy Eagan), and Best Scenic Design (Heidi Landesman). (more...)

The 78th Annual Drama League Awards will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square on Friday, May 18, 2012 at noon. Check out the 2012 Drama League Nominees for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. (more...)

Hybrid Cinema today announced the New York premiere of the feature length documentary Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance at New YorkÂ’s Cinema Village on Friday, April 27, 2012 for a one week engagement with regular show times. The premiere weekend will include several engaging Q & As with the filmmakers and others immediately following the screenings. (more...)

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner announced today that acclaimed/awarding winning actresses Judy Kuhn and Melissa Errico will star as Fosca and Clara in the companyÂ’s new production of Stephen Sondheim and James LapineÂ’s Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, to be directed by John Doyle (the Tony Award-winning revivals of SondheimÂ’s Sweeney Todd and Company). PASSION is slated to begin performances in February, 2013. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks and months, as well as full creative team. PASSION opened on Broadway in May of 1994 and received the Tony Award that year for Best Musical. (more...)

The National Theatre of Great BritainÂ’s acclaimed comedy One Man, Two Guvnors opened at the Music Box Theatre last night, Wednesday April 18. Check out coverage of the theatre arrivals below! (more...)

The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award on April 16, 2012. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos of the emotional presentation below! (more...)

The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award on April 16, 2012. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. BroadwayWorld was there for the reception and brings you photo coverage below! (more...)

Parody must have bite to grab hold of an audience. Since its inception, the Forbidden Broadway series has had the incisors of a shark and the claws of a lion, and theatre folk just clammer to have their gods and divas dished and devoured. (more...)