Neil Simon News

Bay Street Theatre has announced the first production of the 2012 Mainstage Season. Polly Draper stars in MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE, by Geraldine Aron. This American Premiere begins Tuesday, May 29 and runs through Sunday, June 24. The production is directed by Matt McGrath, one of Bay StreetÂ’s Artistic Associates. See photos of Draper on stage below! (more...)

Nevada Public Radio is accepting reservations for their annual summer theatre excursions to Utah Shakespeare Festival, Neil Simon Festival and for the first year, Tuacahn Amphitheatre. (more...)

Two-time Tony Award® winner Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises, Noises Off) will star as Miss Hannigan in the new production of ANNIE, the Tony Award-winning classic musical. ANNIE opens November 8 at the Palace Theatre (1567 Broadway at 47th Street). Previews begin October 3. (more...)

My first dose of musical theater was through my uncle’s old screechy phonograph recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hippie, loud, angst-laden rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” (JCS). The classic stage hit, which was originally a concept album before evolving into a full-blown Broadway musical that follows the passion and death of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, had completed its three-year run on Broadway (1971-1973), and its first commercial movie release (1973) by the time I got to experience JCS’s electrifying, personally-impactful songs in the ‘80s though. So when the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Toronto, Canada announced late last year that its critically-acclaimed, deemed revolutionary production of JCS, directed by Tony winner Des McAnuff, was coming to Broadway, I was delighted to hear the news; and more so when I learned that three Filipino-Canadian musical theater artists – brothers Julius and Jason Sermonia, and Laurin Padolina – are part of the show. (more...)

Yesterday, May 24, New Dramatists honored two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters with their 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 63rd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those who offered tributes were Emmy Award-winner Mary Tyler Moore, PetersÂ’ Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music co-star Elaine Stritch, and New Dramatists Artistic Director Todd London. Tony and Academy Award-winner Joel Grey and PetersÂ’ Tony-nominated Gypsy co-star John Dossett offered musical tributes. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below! (more...)

Brent Barrett, SILENCE! The MusicalÂ’s original Hannibal Lecter, returned to check out the show this past Saturday, May 19th and reunited with his old friends afterward. See below for a photo of Barrett and the cast! (more...)

Josh Young and the cast of the Tony nominated Broadway musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR performed 'Superstar' on ABCÂ’s THE VIEW today. Check out the electric performance below! (more...)

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that on May 25, Leo Ash Evens will replace Jonathan Winsby as Phillip in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, due to an injury. Evens will remain with the production through July 1. (more...)

The Boca Raton Theatre GuildÂ’s 2012-2013 season will begin with a comedy, and end with a classic. A.R. GurneyÂ’s Sylvia, and Kander & EbbÂ’s Chicago will run in September and March at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. (more...)

Manhattan Theatre Club will celebrate Artistic Director Lynne MeadowÂ’s 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization with a special tribute on Monday, June 18. The event will begin at 6:30 PM with a VIP cocktail reception, followed by a 7:30 tribute event at the Samuel J. Friedman (261 West 47th Street). Immediately after the Friedman tribute event, a party will follow at Copacabana (268 West 47th Street). (more...)

FREUDÂ’S LAST SESSION, the play by Mark St. Germain, will host a special post-performance discussion at tomorrowÂ’s matinee, May 23rd led by one of the showÂ’s producers, Jack Thomas, and the productionÂ’s stars, Mark H. Dold (C. S. Lewis) and Martin Rayner (Sigmund Freud). They will also conduct a Q&A session with the audience. (more...)

In celebration of the 100th Chicago performance of the FREUDÂ’S LAST SESSION at the Mercury Theater (3745 N. Southport), the producers will host a Sigmund Freud Look-A-Like contest. (more...)

Tune in to see the cast of the Tony nominated JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR perform on ABC-TV’s “The View” this Thursday, May 24. In the New York Area, “The View” airs from 11:00AM to 12:00PM. Check local listings for times outside the NY area. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just received Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations for Best Musical Revival. Josh Young, who plays Judas Iscariot and will be performing on “The View,” also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and won a Theatre World Award. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is now playing at the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street. (more...)

Bay Street Theatre is pleased to announce the first production of the 2012 Mainstage Season. Polly Draper stars in MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE, by Geraldine Aron. This American Premiere runs May 29 – June 24. The production is directed by Matt McGrath, one of Bay Street’s Artistic Associates. (more...)

Shuler Hensley, SILENCE! The MusicalÂ’s newest Hannibal Lecter, took his first look at the show this past Saturday evening, May 19th and he visited his new friends afterward. Hensley is set to star in Off-BroadwayÂ’s smash hit for four weeks only June 1st through the 24th. See the photos below! (more...)

Yet another Broadway casualty was announced last week- PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT will take its final bow at the Palace Theatre on June 24. Make sure you get to New York City's Theatre District soon if there are any productions that you still haven't made it to! Who knows what else might be going soon.. (more...)

FOOLS has an eager young teacher, a beautiful – but dimwitted – girl, several kooky villagers, and an ancient curse. This comic fable takes the audience to Kulyenchikov, a Ukrainian town plagued by a scorned lover's curse. (more...)

Elements Theatre Company is showcasing A. R. GurneyÂ’s Pulitzer-nominated play, The Dining Room, a window into a vanishing class of society from the 1930s to the 1980s. The production runs May 19-27, 2012 at Elements Theatre, Paraclete House, Rock Harbor, Orleans, MA. (more...)

Elements Theatre Company is showcasing A. R. GurneyÂ’s Pulitzer-nominated play, The Dining Room, a window into a vanishing class of society from the 1930s to the 1980s. The production runs May 19-27, 2012 at Elements Theatre, Paraclete House, Rock Harbor, Orleans, MA. (more...)

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre is getting ready to cut loose this summer with the dance musical Footloose. The stage production, based on the Paramount Pictures film, will open at the Frederick theatre on Friday, June 15th and run through August 25th. (more...)