Eddie Varley - Page 160

Carol Burnett, considered by many to be one of the greatest comedic talents in television history, is set to return to the small screen. NBC announced that the 75-year-old, multiple Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actress will join the 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' cast as a special guest star, playing a former dancer who gets caught up in the murder of a young couple.

Big screen action icon Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson showed off his song and dance skills on Saturday night March 7th as the host of NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

Moviefone.com is reporting that Keira Knightley is hoping that studio bosses to put pen to paper and cast her as the lead in the big screen remake of My Fair Lady, because as she tells Moviefone she's been preparing for the part for two years.

IN THE HEIGHTS star Mandy Gonzalez is set to play Lauren Hoffman, a representative from a drug treatment center on the ABC soap opera 'One Live To Live' beginning March 26th. The actress is currently set for four episodes as drug counselor Hoffman on the fabled daytime drama.

The New York Times is reporting that author James Purdy, whose work included such underground classics such as 'Cabot Wright Begins' and 'Eustace Chisholm and the Works' died this morning, Friday March 13th, at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey.

The season opens in September with a musical that highlights and celebrates America's frontier, Little House on the Prairie. In November, Paper Mill produces the classic song and dance spectacular On the Town. The winter months bring Lost in Yonkers, a Neil Simon classic to brighten the stage and warm your heart. Spring is twisting and jiving with the 1950's rock ?n' roll extravaganza Smokey Joe's Caf?. The season closes with the internationally acclaimed classic Peter Pan.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is presenting Terrence McNally's Master Class, which is currently running at the Millburn theatre through April 5, 2009. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas, the Press Opening was Sunday, March 8th.

The Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones is reporting in his 'Theater Loop', that the Windy City's hit production of the comic farce, 'Don't Dress For Dinner' is setting its sights on making a 'reservation' on Broadway.

Legendary musical director Don Pippin, one of the leading conductors in the United States, has taken up the baton to lead the National Symphony Orchestra this week as Kennedy Center honors the accomplishments of Jerry Herman in JERRY HERMAN'S BROADWAY. The gifted Pippin has had a long and rich creative history with Herman as he has collaborated on the composers many works including such musicals as 'Ben Franklin in Paris', 'Mack and Mabel', 'Mame' and 'La Cage Aux Follies'.

The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance Department of Musical Theatre presents a special 25 th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, March 21 at 8 PM in Hill Auditorium. Featuring current students of the department and alumni in collaboration with members of the UM Symphony Band, the 25 th Anniversary Concert celebrates the silver anniversary of this program with a wide variety of musical numbers, dances and musical theatre overtures. Faculty members Brent Wagner, Linda Goodrich, Mark Madama direct and choreograph, with Cynthia Kortman Westphal conducting members of the University Symphony Band.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will launch a national tour in October at The Ordway Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota, following a five-week engagement beginning September 10 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J. Melissa Gilbert, who rose to fame as a child playing ?Laura' in the hugely successful NBC television series 'Little House on the Prairie' during the 1970's, now continues her legacy ?on the prairie' by taking on the role of Ma. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE will also star Steve Blanchard as Pa and Kara Lindsay as Laura.

American Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini, will star in the industry only Equity staged reading of the new musical THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA - with book & lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt, and music & lyrics by Lee Ellis - produced by Kate Griffler on Monday, March 23rd at Theater 80. Tracy Bersley directs and Barbara Anselmi acts as music director.

The Gallery Players, bringing Broadway to Brooklyn for over 40 years, announces a new Executive Director: Cornell and Broadway League alum Neal J. Freeman. Mr. Freeman joins the executive staff after a year on The Gallery Players' Board of Directors and with seven directing credits under his belt at the theatre, most recently this season's hit Thoroughly Modern Millie.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel has a soild series of stories in his 'On Broadway' column today, the first is the happy news regarding Will Ferrell's 'You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George Bush'and the fact it has been playing to packed houses night after night.

Michael Attenborough will direct the European premiere of Andrew Bovell's When the Rain Stops Falling which runs at the Almeida from 14 May - 4 July 2009 with press night on 21 May. Designs are by Miriam Buether with lighting by Colin Grenfell, music by Stephen Warbeck, sound by Paul Arditti and movement by Imogen Knight.

Preview performances begin Friday, March 13, 2009 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) with an official opening night scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009.

Theatre Exile's final production of their 12th season is the classic, American Buffalo by Pulitzer Prize-winning, David Mamet. Directed by Associate Artistic Director and 2008 F. Otto Haas Award winner, Matt Pfeiffer. The show runs April 9 - May 3 at Plays and Players Theatre. American Buffalo is recommended for mature audiences.

With the creation of Spirit Center, its new central operations facility, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival (The Festival) begins to fulfill one of its long-held dreams this summer - theatre camps for youth! Called the Apprentice Company in Training, or ACT, the summer youth camps will premiere this July in the beautiful, ample rehearsal halls located on The Festival's Spirit Center campus.

'SOUTHERN GOTHIC NOVEL: The Aberdeen, Mississippi Sex-Slave Incident' which opened Off-Broadway on Wednesday, January 21st at the Stage Left Studio Theatre (438 West 37th Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) has been extended through June 24th due to what excited press notes state because of 'MANY rave reviews, a SOLD-OUT Box Office and a STEADY STREAM of people flying in from ABERDEEN, MISSISSIPPI, the tour-de-force comedy has EXTENDED again'.

Philadelphia Theatre Company shines a hot spotlight on comedy by offering some cool entertainment this summer. PTC collaborates with the legendary Second City comedy theatre to create a world premiere revue running July 8 through August 2, 2009. The improv troupe's lauded wit, irreverence and audience interaction will be showcased in a hilarious spoof of all things 'Philadelphia'.