Streisand Looks to THE NORMAL HEART As Possible Next Film to DirectDecember 6, 2008In a relaxed and wide-ranging interview with the Washington Post on the eve of her Kennedy Center honor, Barbra Streisand revealed that she would like to have her next directorial duty for film be 'The Normal Heart'. Streisand has long desired to bring Larry Kramer's powerful AIDS drama to the stage.
MINSKY'S Rachel Dratch Hopes For Broadway RunDecember 5, 2008Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.
Theatrical Greats Laud Kennedy Center Honorees in VarietyDecember 5, 2008The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts selected the individuals who will receive the Kennedy Center Honors of 2008. Recipients to be honored at the 31st annual national celebration of the arts are: actor Morgan Freeman, singer George Jones, actress and singer Barbra Streisand, choreographer Twyla Tharp, and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who. They were given personal kudos by some of their talented peers in Variety.
HAIR Lets 'Sun Shine In' Three Days Earlier, Previews Now Begin 2/10December 5, 2008Producers for the Broadway bound revival of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical have announced that the show will now begin previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre beginning February 10 (three days earlier than previously scheduled), with an opening set for March 5.
George Street Presents Cuccioli and Mayes in 'A Holiday Cabaret' 12/20-12/21December 5, 2008George Street Playhouse is celebrating the December holidays in a big way with a series of musical performances for a special Holiday Cabaret. The musical celebration will feature the talents of Tony Award nominee Robert Cuccioli, who is currently performing at George Street Playhouse in Conor McPherson's The Seafarer. Mr. Cuccioli received a Tony Nomination and is perhaps best known for playing the title role in Broadway's Jekyll & Hyde. Joining Mr. Cuccioli will be fellow Tony nominee Sally Mayes from the recent Broadway revival of She Loves Me. Christopher Howatt will serve as musical director and performer for the revue. Performances take place Saturday, December 20 at 2 and 8PM, and Sunday, December 21 at 2PM.
VANITIES Postpones Broadway Run Until Later DateDecember 5, 2008VANITIES, A New Musical by Jack Heifner, with music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by two-time Tony? Award-winner Judith Ivey and musical staging by Dan Knechtges, has postponed a planned Broadway run.
Photo Flash: SPRING AWAKENING 'Coast to Coast' with Hunter ParrishDecember 5, 2008In a true 'Coast to Coast' moment - SPRING AWAKENING's Hunter Parrish (Melchior) met up with Kyle Riabko (also Melchior) after a performance of Spring Awakening at The Ahmanson Theater this week. Hunter was in town for a very quick trip, and stopped in to see the show, and visit and swap stories with them after the show - then back to NYC and the Great White Way! The National Tour of Spring Awakening continues through this weekend in Los Angeles, and then is booked through the end of 2009 all across the country.
Photo Flash: Michael Feinstein Opens THE SINATRA HOLIDAY PROJECTDecember 5, 2008Feinstein's at Loews Regency, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 10th Anniversary season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein for an exclusive engagement from December 2 - 30. Musical Director John Oddo will lead a 17-piece band featuring Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Jim Saporito on drums, and David Finck on bass.
TV: Langella - Different StagesDecember 10, 2008Three-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella is among the American theater world's greatest living actors. Though he gained recognition as a film star in the 1970s, the stage has always been his first love.
Photo Flash: MINSKY'S In RehearsalDecember 4, 2008Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of 'Minsky's,' which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone').
33 VARIATIONS Starring Fonda to Play the Eugene O'Neill, Opens 3/9December 4, 2008Oscar & Emmy Award winning screen legend JANE FONDA will return to Broadway in MOISES KAUFMAN's 33 VARIATIONS. Performances begin on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). The official opening will be Monday, March 9th, 2009. The engagement will play through May 24th, 2009. The play marks Fonda's first time on Broadway in 46 years.
Paul Benedict, Star of Stage and Screen Dead at 70December 4, 2008Paul Benedict who was best recognized for his roles as The Number Painter on the PBS children's show Sesame Street, and as the eccentric English neighbor 'Harry Bentley' on the classic CBS sitcom The Jeffersons was found dead at his home, he was 70.
Jackson Musical THRILLER-LIVE Finds Its Young 'Michaels'December 4, 2008Thriller - Live, billed as the UK's 'next big musical', and featuring the mega-hit songs of Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5, has found their 'Young Michael', actually three of them reports UK theatre website WhatsOnStage. Layton Williams, Sterling Williams, and Kieran Alleyne have been cast in the musical and will rotate as the young Michael Jackson
Hearn Led CAMELOT Concert to Open Ravinia's 2009 SeasonDecember 4, 2008The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park is expected to announce today that it will open its 2009 season with a new, 'staged concert' version of Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe's classic Arthurian musical 'Camelot,' with George Hearn, Sylvia McNair and Rod Gilfry in the lead roles.