Best-selling author Alan Lightman will be on hand to introduce the cast of Broadway stars -- including John Treacy Egan ('Little Mermaid'), Alison Fraser ('Gypsy'), Kate Shindle ('Legally Blonde'), Amy Justman ('Company'), John Bolton ('Curtains') and Jim Weitzer ('Phantom of the Opera') -- who will perform the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on Lightman's best-selling novel, for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

The National Entertainment Fund for the Cultural Arts (NEFCA) and event Co-Chair Michael Steinhardt proudly present the 5th Annual Broadway Purim Shpiel at the Hudson Theatre on Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 7pm.

The New Group proudly presents Eugene O'Neill's epic drama Mourning Becomes Electra as the second production in its 2008-2009 season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production is playing a limited Off-Broadway run January 27 - April 18, with an Official Opening Night tonight, Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 PM.

The New Group proudly presents Eugene O'Neill's epic drama Mourning Becomes Electra as the second production in its 2008-2009 season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production is playing a limited Off-Broadway run January 27 - April 18, with Official Opening Night on Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 PM.

Jamie McGonnigal and Joe's Pub present the 5th incarnation of their hit series in 'FLOPZ n' CUTZ 5' on Sunday, March 15th at 9:30pm. FLOPZ n' CUTZ, the series named a 'SMASH!' by NEXT Magazine, aims to acquaint theatre enthusiasts with shows and songs that, while not quite successful in their original incarnations, still have merits that can be showcased in a concert setting.

Avenue Q ? the three-time Tony Award? winning smash-hit Broadway musical about real life in New York City, is coming to Omaha?s Orpheum Theater. Avenue Q, as told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent award-winning book and score, will be presented by Omaha Performing Arts and Broadway Across America - Omaha, Wednesday, March 25 through Sunday, March 29, 2009. Tickets go on sale to the public Thursday, February 12.

The winners in the ninth annual Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards, the only major UK theatre prize-giving decided by the public, were announced today (Sunday 15 February) at a glittering, star-studded evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Tom Stoppard?s classic comic masterpiece, Travesties, previewing at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House from 9 March 2009 (opening 13 March), will reunite one of Australia?s most versatile comic actors, Jonathan Biggins, with director Richard Cottrell, award-wining designer Michael Scott-Mitchell and Composer and Sound Designer, Paul Charlier: the creative team behind Sydney Theatre Company?s 2007 hit, Ying Tong.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is very pleased to announce the continuation of VOICES FROM THE GREAT WHITE WAY, featuring one night only concerts from some of Broadway's leading talents. The series runs March 2 - May 31. Each concert will begin at 7pm. There is a $25 cover charge, as well as a $15 food/beverage minimum. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at 407 West 42nd St. (@ 9th Ave), in the heart of New York?TMs theatre district. For reservations, please call 212 695 6909.

Dori Berinstein, three-time Tony? award-winning Broadway producer and award-winning producer, director, and writer of film and television, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute?s Robert Whitehead Award for ?outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing? at a reception at Sardi's Restaurant on Tuesday, March 10th.

BRITE IDEAS & GAY MEN'S CHORUS OF LOS ANGELES Proudly Presents 'And The Award Goes To!' at the Alex Theatre with Valarie Pettiford, Wilson Cruz & Hostess, Miss Coco Peru

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, February 9, 2009.

Cheyenne Jackson is featured in the current issue of NEXT magazine in a small interview regarding tonight's Broadway Backwards 4 concert. To read the feature click here. Cheyenne Jackson made his Broadway debut understudying both male leads in the Tony Award-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. On and Off Broadway, Cheyenne has appeared in Damn Yankees, Xanadu (Drama League, Drama Desk nominations) The Agony & the Agony, All Shook Up (Theater World Award, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nomination) the premiere cast of Altar Boyz, Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Cartells, On the 20th Century, and The 24 Hour Plays. His film and television credits include; the Oscar nominated United 93, Curiosity, Hysteria, Family Practice, Hysteria, and the upcoming Life on Mars and Ugly Betty.

Victor Garber, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Grodin, Bill Irwin, Annie Parisse, Veanne Cox and Nathan Lee Graham have joined the previously announced list of celebrity participants who will be on hand to salute the beloved actress Marian Seldes, when Ms. Seldes and the Union Square Partnership are honored at the annual Vineyard Theatre Gala on Monday, February 9 at 6 p.m. at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor).

Tony Award Winner Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music) and Rue McClanahan (The Women, TV's 'The Golden Girls') have just been added to the Broadway Backwards concert benefiting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

Sandra Bernhard (I'm Still Here... Damn It!, TV's 'Rosanne'), Florence Henderson (Fanny, TV's 'The Brady Bunch'), Maureen McGovern (Little Women, Nine) and Ron Palillo (Hot L. Baltimore, TV's 'Welcome Back, Kotter') will be performing at Broadway Backwards this year, joining previously announced performers Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Tony Award nominee Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Kate Reinders (Good Vibrations, Gypsy; one-half of TASTiSKANK) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line), Mario Cantone (Assassins, TV's 'Sex and the City'), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Gina Gershon (Cabaret, Showgirls), Whoopi Goldberg (Producer: Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's 'The View'), Aaron Lazar (Les Mis?rables), Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein, How to Succeed in Business..., TV's 'Will & Grace'), Jai Rodriguez (TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' Rent), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Marty Thomas (Xanadu); and TV's 'Ugly Betty' stars Becki Newton and Michael Urie. Joining the roundup on Monday, February 9, 2009 as Host will be Jim Caruso, who recently appeared alongside Liza Minnelli in Liza's At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of the late Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. And for the past six years, Jim Caruso has hosted a Monday night showbiz bash called 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party,' which was honored with a New York Nightlife Award, as was his Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Tony Award nominee Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Kate Reinders (Good Vibrations, Gypsy; one-half of TASTiSKANK) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line) have just been added to the roster of performers to be featured in Broadway Backwards 4, joining previously announced performers Mario Cantone (Assassins, TV's 'Sex and the City'), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Gina Gershon (Cabaret, Showgirls), Whoopi Goldberg (Producer: Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's 'The View'), Aaron Lazar (Les Mis?rables), Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein, How to Succeed in Business..., TV's 'Will & Grace'), Jai Rodriguez (TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' Rent), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Marty Thomas (Xanadu); and TV's 'Ugly Betty' stars Becki Newton and Michael Urie.

Tony Award-winners Nathan Lane and Anika Noni Rose are set to participant in The Vineyard Theatre's star-studded tribute to Tony Award-winning actress Marian Seldes and The Union Square Partnership at the theatre's annual gala on Monday, February 9th at 6 PM at The Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor) in Manhattan. The Gala, which will benefit the Vineyard Theatre, one of the nation's leading theatres devoted to producing new works, will include salutations to Ms. Seldes -- who originated her role in Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THREE TALL WOMEN in 1993 at The Vineyard -- and celebrate its theme of community spirit and neighborhood involvement by also honoring The Union Square Partnership. Nathan Lane, who will host the evening, starred opposite Ms. Seldes Off-Broadway in Terrence McNally's DEDICATION, OR THE STUFF OF DREAMS. Mr. Lane is best-known for his Tony Award-winning performances in THE PRODUCERS, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, and LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!. Anika Noni Rose, who received an Obie Award for her work in the musical ELI'S COMIN' at The Vineyard, won a Tony Award for her performance in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, and co-starred with Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson in the film version of 'Dreamgirls,' is set to perform.

The Vineyard Theatre -- where Marian Seldes originated her role in Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THREE TALL WOMEN in 1993 -- will honor the Tony Award-winning actress at the theatre's annual gala on Monday, February 9th at 6 PM at The Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor) in Manhattan.

Chess certainly has a checkered past. When I got the press release that the wonderful Winters Lane Productions headquartered at the cute little space in Building Q (what a location for Avenue Q) at Catonsville Community College would be staging a concert version I immediately circled it on my calendar. And when I noticed Shawn Doyle would be returning to the stage for this version, I anticipated this would be something not to be missed.

Victor Garber, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Grodin, Bill Irwin, Annie Parisse, Veanne Cox and Nathan Lee Graham have joined the previously announced list of celebrity participants who will be on hand to salute the beloved actress Marian Seldes, when Ms. Seldes and the Union Square Partnership are honored at the annual Vineyard Theatre Gala on Monday, February 9 at 6 p.m. at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor).

Theater News from Broadway and the Baltimore/Washington Region

This January, hundreds of theater enthusiasts from across the region convened at the Goodspeed Opera House to experience the newest works in musical theater. Welcoming many new visitors to Goodspeed Musicals, it was very exciting to see wintertime at Goodspeed Landing bustling with so many eager to be a part of this exciting gathering of creative voices. Audiences in record numbers participated in the 2009 Festival of New Artists throughout the Goodspeed campus highlighted by staged readings of new musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House.

Rosie O'Donnell, the 13-time Emmy Award-winning comedian, television talk show host, author, film, television and stage actress, kicked off Kids' Night on Broadway's 'Fan Festival,' which affords young people the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre and to participate in special activities hosted by the cast and crew of participating Broadway shows, on Tuesday, February 3rd at Madame Tussauds New York, 234 West 42nd St. (b/w 7th & 8th Aves.). BroadwayWorld's cameras were there as Rosie led the special event!

Celebrate Valentine's Day this year with double the love - two chances to see the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).