Jeff Dennhardt - Page 31

Two River Theater Co. will present Neil Simon's Tony nominated romantic comedy: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Two River Founder and Executive Producer, Robert M. Rechnitz. Barefoot in the Park begins previews on Tuesday, February 9, opens Saturday, February 13, and runs through Sunday, February 28.

The Triad and Lee Summers present the 'Just A Piano Open Mic Launch: A Benefit For Haiti' on Monday, January 31st 2010, at 7:30pm. The "Just A Piano" concept broadens for this series inviting singers to also bring accompanists or pre-recorded tracks, musical instruments or play on The Triad's recently refurbished baby grand.

Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, and Lou Reed will join a host of others in the January 22nd concert to benefit Tuli Kupferberg. Kupferberg is an American singer songwriter and found of the band The Fugs who suffered a series of strokes in April and September 2009, leaving him blind and in need of full time nursing care. The concert will take place at St. Ann's Warehouse, Friday, January 22 at 7:30 P.M.

The authentic Bollywood musical THE MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD will make its US premiere at the New York City Center later this year. The musical began its international tour in 2005, but US investors did not believe the show would garner enough interest in audiences. After the success of the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' and the new found interest in all things Bollywood, producers gave the tour the go-ahead. Following a two-week run in Toronto, the show will make its way to the City Center for a two-week run in October, 2010, before embarking on a national tour.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater continues its 15th anniversary season with the world premiere of Blind, by Craig Wright (The Pavilion, Lady). Directed by Lucie Tiberghein (The Pavilion, Geometry of Fire), performances begin Wednesday, February 17th, 2010. Opening night is Thursday, February 25th at 7pm. The show is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 21st, 2010.

FELA!, currently playing at the Eugene O'Neill on Broadway starring Lillias White and Sahr Ngaujah, will dedicate the January 25th performance to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. The curtain rises on Monday the 25th at 8:00pm. For information on The Actor's fund, visit www.actorsfund.org.

Playwright Ronald Harwood, author of such Broadway plays as The Dresser and Taking Sides, has been tapped to write a Martin Luther King Jr. film to begin production once finished. DreamWorks Studios will produce the film alongside acclaimed director Steven Speilberg.

Kathleen Chalfant will join a host of other attendees at this year's Marguerite Duras Festival, taking place from February 17th through March 18th. The works of Marguerite Duras, France's well-known author, playwright and film director, will be celebrated during a month-long multidisciplinary festival in New York City. The festival will also feature French actor William Nadylam and a presentation of Duras' Diptych: The Lover and La Musica Deuxieme directed by Astrid Bas.

After two very successful audition dates in Boston and Atlanta, 'American Idol' made its way to the Windy City. With the largest attendances as yet, 'Idol' came to Chicago with high expectations. 5-time Grammy winner Shania Twain served as guest judge for the 12,000 hopefuls and Chicago looked to be a promising stop on the long road to Hollywood.

Daniel Craig is currently in talks to star in the upcoming film 'Cowboys and Aliens,' directed by John Favraeu. After announcing earlier this week that Robert Downey Jr. would no longer be able to star in the film due to scheduling conflicts, Craig was tapped to star in the film. Craig is in talks to play a cowboy character in the sci-fi film.

Eleven major broadcast and cable networks will air the 'Hope for Haiti' telethon, next Friday, January 22nd the New York Times is reporting. At 8:00pm EST, ABC, BET, CBS, CMT, CNN, CW, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC and VH1, as well as MTV Networks International, CNN International and National Geographic channels will air the telethon in an effort to raise money for the nation of Haiti, which was recently hit with an earthquake that destroyed much of the country and its capital city, Port-au-Prince.

The London theatre scene is set to have a strong 2010 season. Already announced is a mix of both revivals and original shows, as well as a solid combination of plays and musicals. In addition, a few hit Broadway transfers are set to travel across the pond and open along with UK originals this season. Variety reports on the upcoming season.

Amy Acker and Larry Pine have been announced for the upcoming reading of THE MONSTER TALES by Mary Jett Parsley Wrenn. The reading will be a part of Boomerang Theatre Company's new Legacy Reading Series and will take place February 1st at 7:00pm at The Actors Company Theatre.

Stage and screen stars Dominic Chianese and Craig Bierko have each landed recurring roles on the FX drama 'Damages.' Chianese will appear as an friend of the Tobins, the family at the heart of Patty Hewes', played by Glenn Close, latest case. Bierko will portray Terry Brooke, a man with ties to Ted Danson's Frobisher. The actors will appear in the third season of 'Damages,' beginning January 25th.

Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center) have announced BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5, a one night only concert, will be held Monday, February 22 at 8 PM at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center (150 West 65th Street). BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5 is produced by BC/EFA and will benefit BC/EFA and The Center.

The National Touring Cast of GREASE will offer a special concert cabaret to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and Saint Louis Effort for AIDS. The concert, 'One Night Only: a cabaret with the Broadway cast of GREASE' will take place at The Fox Hole in St. Louis on January 18th at 7:30pm. Select cast members will perform a series of songs for the benefit.

Day two of the hit reality TV show 'American Idol' continued tonight, moving the audition phase to Atlanta, Georgia, with guest judge Mary J. Blige. Atlanta proved rather comparable to last night's Boston auditions for the less-than-stellar singers, but, for a city that has featured the likes of Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson (both who held their initial audition in Atlanta), seemed to lack some of the more extraordinary performers. Although there were several good singers in the mix, the more colorful performances stole the show.

Another season of the hit reality TV show 'American Idol' kicked off its ninth season last night, bringing the familiar faces of Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, and Kara DioGuardio as America's favorite judging panel back to the silver screen. The show that has brought talent such as Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken takes talent from across the country and lets America choose who will be the next 'Idol.' Now in its ninth season, 'American Idol' has been one of the biggest reality TV show hits of the decade and has taken the country by storm.

Aya Cash, Isabel Keating, Austin Lysy, and Christopher Evan Welch will be a part of the Valentine's Day presentation of EATING THEIR WORDS. The event will take place at Tocqueville Restaurant and will present a menu with each course based on one of three different plays. The plays will be presented in tandem with the different courses. Marlo Hunter will direct the evening.

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming staged readings of WANDA'S WORLD taking place at The Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College. The cast will include Sandie Rosa, James Royce Edwards, Leo Ash Evens, Heather Jane Rolff, Michael Dexter, Devin Ilaw, Karla Mosley, Christine Scharf, Valerie Wright, Alan H. Green and Liz Holtan. Lynn Taylor-Corbett directs with musical direction by Lynn Shankel. Two readings will take place on January 11th at 3:00pm and 6:00pm.