Coming Up This Week in Theatre - 1/2/2008

Come Back, Little Sheba - 1/3/2008

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced its upcoming Broadway production of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba will be directed by Michael Pressman and will star Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winner and Tony Award nominee S. Epatha Merkerson.

The production of Inge's play will begin previews at the Biltmore Theatre (261 West 47th Street) on Thursday, January 3 and will open on Thursday, January 24.

"Lola (Merkerson) is a faded beauty queen trapped in a lonely marriage to Doc, a recovering alcoholic on the brink of relapse. When a pretty young woman becomes a boarder in their cluttered Midwest home, their lives are unsettled as unspoken passions rise to the surface. As the emptiness of their marriage is laid bare, can they find their way back to each other or will they be undone? S. Epatha Merkerson stars in this new production of William Inge's true American classic, an absorbing tale of lost hopes and unfulfilled promise, told with unflinching honesty and heartbreaking power," state press notes. For information on how to subscribe please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Megan Mullally on Conan O'Brien - 1/3/2008

The 39 Steps - 1/4/2008

The 39 Steps will have its Broadway premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre, with previews beginning January 4, 2008 and opening night January 15, 2008. The Broadway cast will be led by Charles Edwards who reprises the role of Richard Hannay which he played to great acclaim in the London production. Edwards is joined by Arnie Burton (Clown), Jennifer Ferrin (Pamela/Margaret) and Cliff Saunders (Clown). The limited engagement will play through March 23.

"Patrick Barlow's comic adaptation of John Buchan's classic spy thriller has been adapted into a hilarious spoof of the book and the Hitchcock film. The 'unstageable' thriller is staged, with four cast members playing a minimum of 150 roles. The story revolves around an innocent man who learns too much about a dangerous spy ring and is then pursued across Scotland, before returning to London to foil the villain's dastardly plans. The 39 Steps contains every single legendary scene from the award-winning movie – including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium," declares press notes.

The 39 Steps will play Tuesday through Saturday at 8PM with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2PM. Tickets will be available by phone at 212-719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd St). For more information on the London production of The 39 Steps visit: www.love39steps.com

'Til Death Do Us Part - 1/4/2008

A Do or Die Murder Mystery January 4 & 5 Spotlighters Theatre 817 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 www.spotlighters.org or 410-752-1225 $18 Adults/$15 Students, Seniors and BTA members

Boeing-Boeing UK Closing - 1/5/2008

After 362 flights at the Comedy Theatre, Matthew Warchus' hilarious and critically acclaimed West End production of Boeing-Boeing is finally coming in to land on January 5, 2008 prior to boarding an international flight with stopovers on Broadway, New York, Australia and on tour in the UK. Piloting into its twelfth month Boeing-Boeing will have checked in over 170,000 passengers during its London run.

Boeing-Boeing performs at the Comedy Theatre, Panton Street, London SW1Y 4DN.

Booking until January 5, 2008, showtimes are Monday – Saturday at 7:30PM and Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2:30PM. Extra performances are Friday December 28 and Wednesday January 2 both at 2:30PM. There is no performance December 24.

For tickets (Ł15 - Ł45.00, plus concessions) call the box office at 0870 060 6637 or visit www.boeingboeing.co.uk

Les Miserables - Closing - 1/6/2008

The final extension of his current Broadway production of Boublil and Schonberg's Les Miserables, now through Sunday, January 6 only at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). The current production of Les Miserables opened on November 6 of 2006. Originally planned as a six-month limited engagement, Les Miserables extended by an additional nine months due to strong box-office sales.

The production will have played 17 previews and 479 regular performances.

Fantasia Leaves The Color Purple - 1/6/2008

The producers of The Color Purple have announced that Fantasia will extend her critically acclaimed performance as Celie in the smash hit musical through Sunday, January 6, 2008, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Fantasia made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, and was scheduled for a limited six month engagement.

Fantasia won the 2007 Theater World Award for her performance as Celie. Since Fantasia's May 2004 victory in "American Idol"'s Third Season, she has released two successful albums, Free Yourself and Fantasia.

Scott Alan @ Birdland - 1/7/2008

The Official CD Release Party for composer and lyricist Scott Alan's debut album, Dreaming Wide Awake: The Music of Scott Alan, on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:30PM.

Dreaming Wide Awake features some of today's hottest vocal talents, alongside live strings, a brass section and a full band. To celebrate the album's release, many of Broadway's biggest stars will join Scott Alan to perform, including: Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Stephanie J. Block (Wicked), Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon), Danny Calvert (Altar Boyz), Eden Espinosa (Wicked), Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening), Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), Carly Jibson (Hairspray), and Adriane Lenox (Doubt) – with more to be announced in coming weeks! Jesse Vargas, who arranged and orchestrated Dreaming Wide Awake, will serve as the evening's Musical Director.

The Dreaming Wide Awake CD release concert is Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:30PM at Birdland (315 West 44th Street, between 8th & 9th Aves).

Tickets: $25.00 + $10.00 Food/Drink Minimum (Per Person). VIP tickets available for $40.00 + $10.00 Food/Drink Minimum (Per Person) Tickets can be purchased Online: www.BirdlandJazz.com; or by Telephone: 212.581.3080.

TYPED - 1/7/2008

Singing songs they'd typically never get to sing, Ester Barroso (from the West End's MISS SAIGON), Albert Guerzon (from Broadway's MAMMA MIA!), Christopher Yee and EJ Zimmerman explore the journey of Asian actors and their struggle against typecasting.

The Duplex Cabaret Theatre 61 Christopher St. at 7th Ave Nearest train: 1 @ Christopher St.

January 7th and 14th at 9:30-10:30PM $7 cover, 2 drink minimum. For reservations contact: 212.255.5438 or visit www.theduplex.com

Circle in the Square - NY Times Arts & Leisure Week - 1/8/2008

The New York Times 2008 Arts & Leisure Week will take place January 7 to 13. The Times' annual signature event is now a seven-day international celebration of the arts that includes a wide range of activities, from interviews between journalists and their guests at TheTimesCenter in New York City, to special offers at cultural institutions around the world.

At TheTimesCenter (242 West 41st Street) The Times will host a series of TimesTalks discussions featuring an array of arts luminaries in conversation with Times critics, reporters and editors.

Tuesday, January 8 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM Philip Bosco, THEODORE MANN, Frances Sternhagen New American Theater: Circle in the Square Leading actors of one of the most successful New York theater companies join its producer to celebrate the history of Circle in the Square, as described in the new memoir, "Journeys in the Night." Interviewed by Patricia Cohen, New York Times culture reporter.

For more information or to purchase advance tickets, which are $25 for each interview, please visit www.ArtsAndLeisureWeek.com.