Jeff Dennhardt - Page 32

Tony nominee Gregg Edelman will make his Feinstein debut on February 7th and 8th with the presentation of his cabaret show, 'Back in Town.' Edelman presents a host of old-time, cabaret standards that were highlights at some of the hottest clubs across the country that included places like the Empire Room in Chicago, the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and the Persian Room in New York City.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre will present a new staging of Noel Coward's PRIVATE LIVES. The play, set in a hotel balcony, will presented in the round in the new staging, by acclaimed Chicago director Gary Griffin. Performances for the production will begin January 6th. The company has added new seating to its Courtyard Theatre in order to accommodate Griffin's idea, adding seats around the proscenium.

Broadway legend Hal Prince, producer and director of 50 Broadway musicals and winner of 21 Tony Awards, spoke to Variety about director Kathryn Bigelow, most recently of the film 'The Hurt Locker.' Prince praised Bigelow's direction and collaboration on the film, calling it 'a masterpiece.'

Tommy Tune, in an interview with Variety, praised film director Rob Marshall for his delivery in the movie musical NINE. Tune directed the original Broadway installment of NINE, which had a successful run from 1982 - 1984 at the 46th Street Theatre.

Terry Prachett's NATION, filmed live at the National Theatre in London, will be broadcast by satellite to cinemas worldwide on January 30th. NATION is the third play in the pilot season of NT Live, the National's ground-breaking initiative which launched in June with the hugely successful broadcast of Phedre with Helen Mirren, which was seen by 50,000 people in 19 countries around the globe.

The original cast recording of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, currently playing at Chicgao's Apollo Theatre and will be heading to Broadway this spring, is now available for purchase. The recording features original cast members Eddie Clendening as Elvis Presley, Lance Guest as Johnny Cash, Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis, and Rob Lyons as Carl Perkins. The show will be transferring to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre, with previews beginning March 13th.

Broadway stars Stacy Keach and Catherine McCormack have joined the cast of the upcoming FX drama 'Lights Out.' The show will center around Patrick 'Lights' Leary, portrayed by Holt McCallany, as a retired boxer who struggles to support his wife and three children. McCormack will play Leary's wife. Keach will play Leary's father and one-time trainer who still runs a gym.

Cast members from The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, will perform a mini concert version of the show during a free lunchtime presentation at The Pond at Bryant Park on Thursday, January 7, 2010 beginning at Noon. Lewis Cleale, Erik Altemus and Kimberly Whalen will perform five songs from the show's beloved score.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will continue its Marx Theatre season with best-selling author Walter Mosley and his first-ever play, THE FALL OF HEAVEN. This hip and inventive new play will receive its world premiere at the Playhouse January 23rd through February 20th.

Composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who penned the score and lyrics for several critically acclaimed Broadway musicals including SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, currently running at the Walter Kerr Theatre, is the focus of a new interview on the theatre related podcast Downstage Center. The interview originally aired January 3rd and is currently available for download.

Last night, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie brought four of their famous brood to a performance of MARY POPPINS on Broadway. The family is in town while Jolie finishes filming her upcoming film, Salt.

Tony award winner Christine Ebersole has landed a role on the upcoming pilot of the show 'Retired at 35,' which will premiere on TV Land. The show will star a host of actors including George Segal, Johnathan McClain, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Jere Burns, Matt Champagne, Faye DeWitt, Josh McDermott, Jessica Walter, Casey Wilson, and George Wyner.

Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway will premiere their new concert entitled BOOM at the Iridium Jazz Club on January 10th. Baby boomer sisters, the Callaways sing and celebrate the soundtrack of their childhood, the unforgettable songs of the 60's and 70's.

For four performances in January, Michael Winther teams up with the dynamic, acclaimed, jazz pianist, Dan Tepfer for a unique set of well-known standards, as well as contemporary popular songs that explores the intersection between jazz improvisation, musical theatre and popular music. Performances of the show, SONGS AND VARIATIONS, will take place January 4th, 11th, 17th and 18th.

Manhattan Rep has announced the casting for their upcoming limited engagement of RHODA HEARTBREAK: THE MUSICAL. The cast will feature Lavell Blackwell, Wilber Escobar, Megan Gilliland, and drag queen Mimi Imfurst. The musical is directed by E. Dale Smith and feature musical direction by David Wayne Fox. The production will run January 20th through 22nd.

Backstage has announced its annual 'Best of Theatre 2009' list. The list includes both on and off-Broadway productions, as well as other notable theatrical experiences throughout the world. The list was compiled by critic David Sheward. Broadway productions featured on the list include 'Exit the King,' 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone,' and 'Waiting for Godot.'

The New York Times has named its standout newcomers to the London theatre scene in 2009. London is well-known for its excellent revivals that often make their way to Broadway. This year, however, several notable new productions made a splash on the London theatre circuit. The list includes Jez Butterworth 'Jerusalem,' Polly Stenham's 'Tusk Tusk,' Alia Bano's 'Shades,' Alan Bennett's 'The Habit of Art,' and more.

GATZ, the upcoming staged reading of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, has been given the go-ahead by Fitzgerald's executors. The estate had previously blocked performances of GATZ, as the rights were held by the producers of the novel. Several companies have expressed interest in producing GATZ, including St. Ann's Warehouse, the Public Theatre, and the New York Theatre Workshop.

The Village Voice is reporting that plans are in the works to bring a new Holly Woodlawn musical to an off-Broadway theatre. The blog reports that the writing team will include Penny Rockwell and Lance Cruz, who will also star as Holly. Additional expected casting will include drag stars Brandon Olson and Jackie Curtis.

Michael Jackson's original 'Thriller' video will be a part of 25 films that are set to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for 2009. 'Thriller' will be the first music video to be inducted into the Registry.