Bobby Cannavale, America Ferrera, Kristen Johnston, et al. Set for Celebrity Autobiography Benefit by Brian Scott Lipton

A special benefit performance of Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words will be held on Wednesday, February 15 at 8pm at the Triad. Proceeds will benefit SLAM, an organization devoted…

Jessica Chastain, Brad Pitt, et al. Honored by National Society of Film Critics by Brian Scott Lipton

Jessica Chastain, who will star in the upcoming Broadway revival of The Heiress, has been named Best Supporting Actres by The National Society of Film Critics for her work in The Tree of Lif…

'West Side Story' film vs. stage musical

The original stage musical of "West Side Story" — now revived and touring to Seattle — differs from the well-known film in key ways. Here's a short "compare and contrast" by Seattle Time…

'West Side Story': A classic revived

A touring production of the revival of the enduring American musical visits Seattle's Paramount Theatre Jan. 10-15.

Coming Up This Week in Theatre - 1/7/2012

BroadwayWorld.com's Upcoming Events calendar for the week - updated on 172012.

More Statistics That Are Useful for the Race and Theater Discussion by Art

When Tom Loughlin first posted a lament over the latest Broadway League numbers at his Poor Player blog, I doubt he realized the firestorm he was kindling.Indeed, the comments on that origin…

Mary C. Henderson, Prominent Theatre Historian, Dies at 83 by Robert Simonson

Mary C. Henderson, a leading historian of the American theatre and author of the seminal texts "Theatre in America" and "The City and the Theatre," died Jan. 3 at her hom…

THE STRANGER, STRANGER by Jason Robert Brown

The second track on The Stranger is the title track, a song that on the original album bounces in turn from smoky film noir jazz to Steely Dan-style rock to tropical disco and back again ove…

RSC grants amateur dramatics starring role in the Cultural Olympiad by Vanessa Thorpe

Royal Shakespeare Company project applauds contribution to the arts of a peculiarly British institutionOn a stage in Windsor two rival groups will compete for a new national title intended t…

Being Modern: Living statues

You can just imagine the conversation on a blind date. "What do you do, then?" "Me? Oh, I stand up." "No, I meant for a living." "Yes, for a living. I stand up." "Hmm, are you a Beefeater? D…

Resolution! The Place, London

Getting started as a choreographer is a conundrum akin to high-board diving. To acquire the skills, you must put yourself through it, but to do that, and not to fall flat on your face, requi…

Noises Off, Old Vic, London Pippin, Menier Chocolate Factory, London Fog, Finborough, London

All's quiet at the start of Michael Frayn's classic farce Noises Off.

Shall we dance? Just try stopping us!

On stage, a dozen of the world's most talented dancers are performing pirouettes and pliés. Their costumes sparkle, but over them are draped adidas tracksuit tops and sweaters. Beneath crys…

The Pale King Readthru: 66-129 by Isaac Butler

Whew! Big chunk to talk about today, in a less summary fashion below: The wheels start turning and characters start reappearing in this chunk of The Pale King and we keep returning to the sa…

QOTD by Isaac Butler

From The Pale King: I had an idea I'd try and write a play... It would be a totally real, true-to-life play. It would be unperformable, that was part of the point.

Howl's Moving Castle by Robert Walport

The Southwark Playhouse's projection driven "Howl's Moving Castle" quite successfully falls in just about every pitfall of cinematic theatre you could conceive of. A show as thin as the 2-D …

The Addams Family on Broadway- Waiting- Heidi Blickenstaff (LIVE) by Darreyl102

The Addams Family on Broadway- Waiting- Heidi Blickenstaff (LIVE) For entertainment purposes ONLY- i own no rights- only posting. Heidi performing a Steller Waiting! From: darreyl102 Views:…

Coming Attractions: Set the Tempo for 2012 — Music to Kick off the New Year in Boston and Beyond by Arts Fuse Editor

While many critics decried 2011 as a musical wasteland, New England residents can allow auld acquaintance to be forgot in 2012 with the cornucopia of music that's coming to the Northeast. Wa…

How Olivia Colman, star of Peep Show and The Iron Lady, made the big time by Vanessa Thorpe

After sitcoms and serious drama, Olivia Colman is about to start West End rehearsals in a Noel Coward classicTomorrow morning, Olivia Colman is alarmed to remind herself, she is due at the f…

How Olivia Colman, star of Peep Show and The Iron Lady, made the big time by Vanessa Thorpe

After sitcoms and serious drama, Olivia Colman is about to start West End rehearsals in a Noel Coward classic Continue reading...

'Lion King' returns to its birthplace

Two performers in the hit musical's touring version have strong family ties to the Twin Cities.

Theater spotlight: 'Julius Caesar' at the Guthrie

Interview with Samantha Toh of "Neither" by Byrne Harrison

By Byrne Harrison Samantha Toh is a recent graduate from Stanford University. Despite her degrees in International Relations and East Asian Studies, she believes she actually has the soul o…

Builders Association & Gob Squad at UTR by Jeremy M. Barker

"Sontag: Reborn" stays afloat on the strength of its subject, and Gob Squad rocks it--again

Angela Lansbury Talks (Not) Playing a Teapot, 'Resonant' THE BEST MAN & More by BroadwayWorld

Angela Lansbury, who will return to Broadway this spring in Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN, has had a career spanning more than six decades that includes film, television and stage success.

In the pit: An insight into the life of a panto Musical Director by George Francis

After catching up with panto drummer Nick Anderson in my last blog, I thought I would have a chat with a musical director as the panto season draws to a close. Dean Austin has been Musical D…

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Here it is, My 2012 Writing PlanAs promised, here is my 2012 Playwriting Work Plan“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” –…

Okay, then. Let's Really Talk About It by 99seats

All right. L'Affaire Loughlin, as Isaac has so aptly dubbed it, continues apace, with the comment thread approaching 60 comments. Some are thoughtful, some are angry, some are prideful, some…

Withering Glance: Wrecking ball inside Northrop Auditorium

Rick Nelson and Claude Peck dispense unasked-for advice about clothing, etiquette, culture, relationships, grooming and more.

DEBUT OF THE MONTH: Jessie Mueller of ON A CLEAR DAY by Caryn Robbins

Jessie Mueller is currently making her Broadway debut in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER alongside Grammy and Emmy Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist Harry Connick, Jr. The …

The Cabaret Chronicles: Lucie Arnaz at Feinstein's! by Jenna Esposito

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret and sometimes beyond Today's column features Lucie Arnaz and her show Latin Roots at Feinstein's at Loe…

Weekend Agenda: Belated Saturday Edition by Lucky and The Mick

We’re about to get Crif Dogs and see Once. Can you say Perfect Saturday? Here’s what we’ll be talking the whole time. Well, not during Once. At intermission. In what has go…

Photo Coverage: Academy Award Winner Errol Morris at New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend by Walter McBride

The Timess Arts amp Leisure Weekend is a four-day celebration of the arts featuring TimesTalks interviews between New York Times journalists and celebrated guests from film, media, music, te…

Casebolt and Smith's comic dance theater by Bret Israel

Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith on their latest show “O(h),” where they spend an hour humorously dissecting their creative process and which will run for six weeks at the Actors Company Thea…

Photo Coverage: 'The Good Wife' Visits New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend by Walter McBride

THE GOOD WIFE airs Sundays on CBS, and the cast yesterday sat down with Patricia Cohen for the latest installment of the New York Times Arts amp Leisure Weekend. See photos below

Class Notes: Jeffry Denman, Actor/Author by Lauren Class Schneider

Lauren Class Schneider talks with Jeffry Denman about his book, "A Year with the Producers: One Actor's Exhausting (But Worth It) Journey from Cats to Mel Brooks' Mega-Hit".

STAGE TUBE: On This Day 1/7- THE KING AND I by Stage Tube

Today in 1985, the second Broadway revival of THe King and I opened at the Broadway THeatre, where it ran for 191 performances. The King and I is the fifth musical by the team of Richard Ro…

Director's Cut: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess — Diane Paulus & Audra McDonald, Part 3

In the final part of this three-part Director’s Cut series, Audra McDonald reveals what led her to leave her four year run on the TV series “Private Practice” and “jump” back to th…

CD Review: How to Succeed... (2011 Cast) by JK

I know I am WAY behind on my Broadway CD collection - I don't even have the OBCR of The Book of Mormon!  And here I am giving you my two cents worth on a CD AFTER the big departure of i…

Spotlight On...Jan Maxwell by Michael Block

Name: Jan MaxwellHometown: West Fargo, North DakotaEducation: Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MinnesotaSelect Credits: Currently in Follies at the Marquis TheaterWhy theater?: Why breat…

NEWS FLASH: Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski Discuss The Good Wife by Brian Scott Lipton

Stage veterans Julianna Margulies, Christine Baranski, and Josh Charles, who star on CBS' hit drama The Good Wife, joined series creators Robert and Michelle King and moderator Patric…

Tom Judson to Play NYC's Metropolitan Room by Brian Scott Lipton

The Tom Judson Show will play the Metropolitan Room on Wednesday, February 1 at 9:30pm Michael Schiarilli will direct the evening. Judson will play the play piano and sings an eclectic sel…

Marcia Gay Harden to Star in NBC's Isabel Pilot by Brian Scott Lipton

Tony Award and Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden will star in NBC's comedy pilot Isabel, according to published reports. Harden will play Francis, the mother of the title characte…

Cassandra Wilson at the Blue Note by Sarah B. Roberts

We took ourselves down to The Blue Note in the Village last night to see Cassandra Wilson.  Oh my God!  Her voice is velvet on velvet.  The set was sweet and way too short, bu…

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT Songs Revealed by BroadwayWorld

The new musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro Memphis, will open on Tues…

Book equivalent of a 90-minute play by Elyse Sommer

 Long before   theater  goers  embrace  plays   running  just 90 minutes  without  an intermission  magazine  readers   …

Andrew Lloyd Webber Seeks to Bring JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Search to ITV by BroadwayWorld

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is no stranger to reality shows, as he's had four searches for West End leads How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, I'd Do Anything, Any Dream Will Do and Over …

Marcia Gay Harden Leads NBC Comedy Pilot by BroadwayWorld

NBC has cast Tony Award winner Marcia Gay Harden in a new comedy pilot based on the Canadian series Le Monde De Charlotte, according to Deadline.com.

Seurat's masterpiece retains its impact

Gloria Groom sees the same thing happen time and again.

STAGE TUBE: All About HARVEY by Stage Tube

Performances of Harvey will begin on May 18, 2012 on Broadway at Studio 54 254 West 54th Street with the official opening set for June 14, 2012. The limited engagement is scheduled to run th…

STAGE TUBE: Talking DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER With the Creative Team by Stage Tube

Roundabout Theatre Company's Don't Dress For Dinner will begin previews on March 30 and open officially on April 26, 2012 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway 227 West 42nd Street. T…

Laura Turnbull’s Tour de Force Highlights PB Dramaworks’ Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds by Bill Hirschman

Editor’s Note: We’re in high theater season when we have three to five openings a week. If you don’t find the review you’re looking for in the center column, check out the list of re…

"Lysistrata Jones" Fails to Score on Broadway by Jan Simpson

Despite recent balmy temperatures, the winter frost is beginning to settle in. The new year isn't even a week old and two shows have already announced that they’re folding their tents beca…

BROADWAY RECALL: Protest Theatre by Michael Dale

If the Occupy Wall Street movement had an official musical, it would likely be The Cradle Will Rock, Marc Blitzsteins allegorical tale of a union leader who leads a fight against a wealthy b…

Playwright Battles For Injured Vets On Stage by Daniel Zwerdling

He Murdered His Friends, Now 'Iago' Moves On

Playwright Battles For Injured Vets On Stage

The more Kate Wenner heard about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the more she felt compelled to act. Wenner was struck by the thousands of U.S. troops returning with traumatic brain injuri…

Chaplin All Nighter on TCM by Trav S.D.

Fortuitous timing, since I’m elbow deep in work on my silent comedy book Chain of Fools. TCM is showing Chaplin films all night starting at 8pm and wrapping up at dawn tomorrow. I̵…

Stars of Vaudeville # 420: Carroll and Howe by Trav S.D.

Carroll and Howe became better known for what they accomplished in the years following their period together as a vaudeville dance and comedy team. Jean Carroll (b. Celine Zeigman this day i…

BWW's On This Day - January 7, 2012

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on January 7 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events

Elizabeth McGovern, Acting At An Intersection

The Illinois-born actress left Hollywood for London — and love — 20 years ago. Now she's a star again in her home country, playing an American who married into the English aristocracy in…

Valerie Harper to Star in Hallmark Channel's FIXING PETE, Premiering Tonight by BroadwayWorld

Hallmark Channel will present the new original movie FIXING PETE tonight at 87c. The movie stars Brooke Burns and Broadway veteran Valerie Harper.

theartsdesk Q&A: Actress Siân Phillips by Jasper Rees

Siân Phillips (b 1933) belongs to the remarkable generation of British actresses. They include Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Eileen Atkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Joan Plowright and Sheila Hancock. …

Bunny Lake Is Missing by Marc Miller

Ken Simon's adaptation of Evelyn Piper's novel is an awkward mix of incompatible media, a long evening even at a little more than an hour.

‘The Help’ Star Jessica Chastain Signs On for Broadway’s ‘Heiress’ by David Rogers

Jessica Chastain, the Golden Globe-nominated actress that starred in last year’s film hit “The Help” will play a lead role in an upcoming revival of “The Heiress” in her Broadway d…

Sketchfest's return unearths still more comedy gold by , Chicago Tribune Reporter

THEATER REVIEW: Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival NINA METZ reviews the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival ... Much as we like to boast about Chicago's long roster of homegrown comedic talents (in…

William Duell, Puckish Character Actor, Dies at 88 by Bruce Weber

Mr. Duell’s understated comic flare enlivened Broadway shows (“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”), television series (“Police Squad!) and Hollywood films (One Flew Over…

Lucie Arnaz – “My Latin Roots” Cabaret Review by Stephen Sorokoff

Every once in a while an audience is treated to a really special evening; A performance that creates a lasting memory which stays with them forever.  After attending those types of exceptio…

Alexa Kelly by League of Professional Theatre Women

Actress, director, teacher, producer, and loves it all. New York, New York USA * Where do you look for inspiration? Mostly from theatre. I love to go to the National Theatre in London, becau…

Theatre For Thought, January 7, 2011 by The Charlebois Post

A GLANCE DOWN THE ROAD: WHAT TO SEE IN 2012joel fishbaneNothing like the first week of the New Year to go through all those annual traditions, like breaking your resolutions, avoiding your c…

PLAYBILL BRIEF ENCOUNTER With In the Heights and Hamilton Mixtape Songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda by Robert Simonson

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist of In the Heights, has borrowed from the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton for a new hip-hop-flavored musical s…

THE SCREENING ROOM: Taye Diggs Visits "The Talk" (Video) by Michael Gioia

Stage and screen actor Taye Diggs recently visited the ladies of "The Talk" to chat about his new children's book, "Chocolate Me!," which was released in September 20…

CHART TOPPERS: Most-Read Playbill.com Stories, Week of Dec. 25–31 by Judy Samelson

Here are the most-read Playbill.com stories for the week of Dec. 25–31, 2011, from information compiled by Playbill.com.

THE WEEK AHEAD, Jan. 7-13: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Opens; Closing Night Comes for Lysistrata and Billy by Blake Ross

Playbill.com's weekly planner reminds you that Audra McDonald returns to Broadway… Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrates Alexander Hamilton's 255th birthday… Lysistrata Jones p…

Glenn Close Receives Palm Springs International Film Festival's Career Achievement Award Jan. 7 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Glenn Close receives the Career Achievement Award at the 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival's Awards Gala Jan. 7 at the Palm Springs Convention C…

STAGE VIEWS: Avenue Q Tony Nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo by Andrew Gans

Playbill.com's new series features brief chats with Broadway actors commenting on their recent theatregoing experiences, what productions they are looking forward to and more. Here, via …

Tickets for Gershwin-Scored Nice Work If You Can Get It on Sale Jan. 7; Song Titles Revealed by Kenneth Jones

Broadway's upcoming Nice Work If You Can Get It, the new musical inspired by a Jazz Age George and Ira Gershwin show, goes on sale to the general public Jan. 7. The show's official w…

Lyrics & Lyricists Season Kicks Off With Laura Osnes, Christine Andreas, Jason Graae, Howard McGillin by Andrew Gans

Guest artistic director Robert Kimball inaugurates the 92nd Street Y's 2012 Lyrics & Lyricists season Jan. 7-9 with Makin' Whoopee: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn and the Jazz Age.