LuPone & Patinkin Bring 'AN EVENING WITH' to the Fisher Theatre 4/14 - 4/19February 12, 2009Finally appearing together again after their Tony Award? winning performances in Evita, Patti LuPone joins Mandy Patinkin onstage for An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin. These Broadway legends will bring their critically acclaimed theatre concert to the Fisher Theatre, April 14 -19, 2009.
Anne Hathaway Cast In Shakespeare in the Park Twelfth Night; Daniel Sullivan to DirectFebruary 12, 2009The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park summer season will begin in June with a new production of William Shakespeare?s TWELFTH NIGHT directed by Daniel Sullivan and featuring Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway as Viola. TWELFTH NIGHT will run June 9-July 12 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. In August, JoAnne Akalaitis will return to direct Euripides?s THE BACCHAE, translated by Nicholas Rudall, and featuring original music by Philip Glass. THE BACCHAE will run August 11-September 6.
Bernadette Peters Returns to ABC's UGLY BETTY 2/19 & 2/26February 12, 2009Bernadette Peters is guest starring on UGLY BETTY this season as a 'magazine mogul with a mouthful for a name.' New upcoming episode dates have been announced for her return, she'll back back on February 19th and 26th.
Connecticut Opera Closes Doors After 67 Seasons, Cites Bad EconomyFebruary 12, 2009Officials of the Connecticut Opera say the organization has gone out of business after 67 seasons because of the bad economy. The opera closed its Hartford headquarters and laid off all staff. It says the 2,000 subscribers won't be getting their money back on two recently canceled springtime productions, including 'La Boheme.'
Penelope Cruz on Her First Time...Singing on Screen for NINEFebruary 12, 2009Celebrity news website Showbizspy.com has a brief chat with Oscar nominated screen siren Penelope Cruz on her role in the upcoming film adaptation of NINE. Cruz remarked that singing for the first time for the big screen was something she found to be a creative challenge.
RIALTO CHATTER: Producers Say 'MINSKY'S' Broadway BoundFebruary 11, 2009Associated Press Theatre writer Michael Kuchwara is reporting that 'Minsky's,' the musical tale of Depression era burlesque that just opened last week in Los Angeles, is set for a summer or fall Broadway bow, according to its producers.
Lambert and Pacitti Among AMERICAN IDOL Top FinalistsFebruary 11, 2009She was an 'ANNIE' and he was 'WICKED', but now former theater performers Joanna Pacitti and Adam Lambert are hoping to be 'IDOLS' as they both are among the Top 36 Finalists on Fox's mega hit AMERICAN IDOL. Pacitti, who was hired and then fired from the 20th anniversary production of Annie advanced to the top finalist group on tonight's American Idol, joining her was former Wicked cast member Lambert. Each has been rumored to be 'ones to watch' in this year's Idol challenge.
RUINED Extends at MTC Thru 4/12February 11, 2009Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that the critically acclaimed production of RUINED by playwright Lynn Nottage and director Kate Whoriskey has been extended by popular demand through Sunday, April 12.
Photo Flash: OUR TOWN Meets the PressFebruary 11, 2009Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter present the acclaimed David Cromer production of' Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Performances begin Tuesday, February 17th with an official opening night set for Thursday, February 26th, 7:30 p.m., at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street), whose space was completely redesigned for this production.
Andrew McCarthy Joins 'BATTLE OF THE BARDS' Benefit 2/20February 11, 2009Partial Comfort Productions will present the 4th annual BATTLE OF THE BARDS on Friday February 20, 2009 at The Canal Room (285 West Broadway at Canal Street). BATTLE OF THE BARDS is a one-night-only theater competition pitting New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. With an audience of nearly 1000 last year, this benefit for Partial Comfort Productions has rapidly become Off-Off Broadway's biggest annual event.
Hudson, Coleman, Blake and More Complete Lincoln Center 'JOE TURNER'S' CastingFebruary 11, 2009Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Marsha Stephanie Blake, Chad L. Coleman, Michael Cummings, Aunjanue Ellis, Danai Gurira, Andre Holland, Arliss Howard, Ernie Hudson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Amari Rose Leigh and Roger Robinson will be featured in the cast of its upcoming production of August Wilson's JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, to be directed by Bartlett Sher. The production, which will be presented on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street) while LCT's award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific continues its run at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, begins performances Thursday, March 19 at 8pm and opens on Thursday, April 16 at 6:45pm.
IN THE HEIGHTS Picks A Valentine Video Winner as 'Shane' Freestyles to Victory!February 11, 2009N THE HEIGHTS gave people a chance to share the love...and win! The Tony Winning musical held a Freestyle video contest about the one you love. Entrants were asked to submit a video for the chance to win a romantic trip to see IN THE HEIGHTS on Valentine's Day. The videos were judged by Lin-Manuel Miranda's Freestyle Love Supreme and the best overall freestyle rap won a special Valentine's Day date package: Dinner for 2 at Tony's Di Napoli, a hot New York restaurant and a pair of tickets to IN THE HEIGHTS! And the winner is...8 year old 'Shane', who gives a 'HEIGHTS' worthy performance about loving...IN THE HEIGHTS!
CHICAGO 'Razzle Dazzles' Bangkok, Premieres at Muang Thai Rachadalai Theatre 2/12February 11, 2009On Thursday, February 12, the record-breaking worldwide musical smash CHICAGO will once again razzle-dazzle international audiences as it makes its celebrated Thai premiere engagement at the Muang Thai Rachadalai Theatre in Bangkok (through Sunday, February 22). With this latest international premiere, CHICAGO has now played a total of 24 countries in 11 languages since the Tony Award-winning revival first opened on Broadway in 1996.
Baldwin and Lehr Lead Ordway/Park Square's 'GREY GARDENS' Beginning 3/17February 11, 2009Two of the Twin Cities' most accomplished actors, Wendy Lehr and Christina Baldwin, will play the indomitable mother and daughter, 'Big' Edie and 'Little' Edie, in the Park Square Theatre and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts co-production of GREY GARDENS, opening March 25, 2009 (previews begin March 17). The show, by librettist Doug Wright, lyricist Michael Korie and composer Scott Frankel, earned widespread critical acclaim and three Tony? Awards during its nine-month run on Broadway. GREY GARDENS runs through May 17 in the Ordway's McKnight Theatre, 345 Washington St., Saint Paul.
Signature Artists Lee, Fuller and More Are 'IN CONVERSATION' for Macy's Series on 2/12 & 2/25February 11, 2009Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is pleased to announce that artists from Signature's 2008-2009 Season celebrating the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) will participate in a special program, In Conversation: Signature Theatre Company, at Macy's Herald Square and Brooklyn stores. Macy's is hosting a month-long series of activities and special events for Black History Month, showcasing black culture through theatrical, art, song, prose and cuisine presentations. The events are free and open to the public.
Black, de Guzman & Heflin Head Alley's 'THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER', Performances Begin 2/20February 11, 2009Tony Winner John Rando returns to Houston's Alley Theatre to direct Two-time Tony Nominee Josie de Guzman as Maggie Cutler, Theatre World Award Winner James Black as Sheridan Whiteside and Alley Company Member Elizabeth Heflin as Lorraine Sheldon in Kaufman and Hart's classic comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner, beginning performances on February 20 on the Alley's Hubbard Stage.