Coming Up This Week in Theatre - 4/29/2007

Legally Blonde - 4/29/2007

The producers of Legally Blonde, The Musical, based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture, announced today that the musical will officially open at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway) on Sunday, April 29, 2007. Previews begin on April 3, 2007 following the show's world premiere, pre-Broadway engagement January 23, 2007 through February 25, 2007 in San Francisco at The Orpheum Theatre.

Leading the creative team of Legally Blonde is Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray), who will make his Broadway directorial debut and will also choreograph. Music and lyrics are by both Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy alone, "The Mice," Sarah, Plain and Tall with Benjamin), and the book is by Heather (Freaky Friday remake). The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, sound design by ACME Sound Partners.

"Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take 'no' for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more 'serious,' Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style," state press notes.

Legally Blonde is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

I Land - 4/29/2007

I Land - a new play about playwright and performer Keo Woolford's search for the meaning of heritage in the post-modern world - will premiere this spring in an Off-Broadway production presented by Ma-Yi Theater Company at The Culture Project (55 Mercer Street) in Manhattan. Directed by Roberta Uno, previews for the show begin April 20, prior to an official press opening on April 29.

Performed and written by actor, former boy band star, and Merrie Monarch Award-winning hula dancer Keo Woolford, I Land combines hula, hip-hop, traditional Hawaiian talk story, and spoken word. I Land also features the choreography of hip-hop star "Rokafella" and the well-known kumu hula Robert Cazimero.

According to press materials, "Woolford's semi-autobiographical journey navigates the many worlds where hula lives: from backyard parties to Hollywood kitsch to the realm of the sacred. Along the way, islands -- separated by geography and culture -- collide: a hotel hula show and conservatory audition; a Catholic high school and an evangelical church service; a moment of pop stardom and the opportunity to learn from a hula master."

Performances of I Land run from April 20 through May 13 at The Culture Project-SoHo (55 Mercer Street), Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm, with the following exception: Opening Night, Sunday, April 29 at 5pm. Tickets are $30 during previews; $38 after April 29; students $20/$25 and seniors $27/$35. Group discounts are available. For tickets, call TheaterMania.com at 212-352-3101 or online at www.ma-yitheatre.org.

Mel & El @ Beechman - 4/29/2007

The West Bank Café has announced upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Please note there is a $15 food and/or beverage minimum at each performance, with the exception of The After Party. All major credit cards are accepted.

Mel & El: This Show Rhymes Thursday, April 26 at 7pm Friday, April 27 at 9pm Sunday, April 29 at 7pm $12 cover "Mel and El think their show is hilarious. Come judge for yourself as they debut ten original songs, including Nice Jewish Boys, Black is Slimming and Fagnet."

The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909, between the hours of 12pm and 8pm.

Aviva @ Beechman - 4/29/2007

The West Bank Café has announced upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Please note there is a $15 food and/or beverage minimum at each performance, with the exception of The After Party. All major credit cards are accepted.

"Aviva: Songs for Carmen" Sunday, April 29 at 9:30pm $15 cover "Audrey 'Aviva' Babcock celebrates the release of her new CD on Global Perspective records. Casting old styles in a new light, Aviva fuses Flamenco, Classical, Electronic and Arabic music, singing in Ladino, a form of Castilian Spanish spoken by the Jewish people of Spain. Songs for Carmen will be the first release from the young opera singer, who has performed at NYC Opera and is the winner of both the George London Award and the Fritz Lavinia Jensen Foundation Award. www.aviva-music.com."

The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909, between the hours of 12pm and 8pm.

Jewtopia - Closing - 4/29/2007

The long-running comedy Jewtopia, written by Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson, will play its final performance on Sunday, April 29 at 3:00 PM. The Off-Broadway sensation opened in New York on October 21, 2004 (previews began September 28, 2004) following a 16-month sold-out run at West Hollywood's Coast Playhouse where it still holds the record as Los Angeles' longest-running comedy. At the conclusion of its Off-Broadway run, Jewtopia will have played 1,079 performances (27 previews, 1,052 regular performances). Productions are slated to open in Tampa and Toronto in Fall 2007.

The Secret Lives of Ps - Reading - 4/29/2007

13P, the OBIE-winning collective of 13 playwrights, will present The Secret Lives of Ps at Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, for one performance only, on Sunday, April 29 at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). The cabaret benefit will celebrate the secret lives of playwrights, including 13P and their inspirations. It will be directed by Peter Dubois (Jack Goes Boating) and hosted by playwright Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed).

Performers will include Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons, Lisa Kron (Well), James Urbaniak (Thom Pain), playwright David Grim (Measure for Pleasure), Addie Johnson and Rebecca Hart and 13P member Sheila Callaghan.

Tickets are $100. Tickets include reserved seating at Joe's Pub and admission to a post-show reception and silent auction featuring items donated by Edward Albee, Tina Howe, David Henry Hwang, Phillip Pearlstein, Om Factory, Equinox Tribeca, Yin & Tonic Acupuncture and tickets to The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Soho Rep, The Public Theater, Disney World and more. Joe's Pub menu and bar will be available.

Tickets are available from Joe's Pub, 212-967-7555 or online at joespub.com or www.13p.org.

Jack Goes Boating - Closing - 4/29/2007

LAByrinth Theater Company's world premiere production of Bob Glaudini's Jack Goes Boating will play the final show of its limited engagement this Sunday, April 29, at Martinson Hall at the Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street) after 23 previews and 49 regular performances. The production, which opened Sunday, April 18th to rave reviews, was originally scheduled to close April 8, but was extended by popular demand.

Prelude to a Kiss - Closing - 4/29/2007

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Craig Lucas' Prelude to a Kiss is set to play its final performance on Sunday, April 29, at 2:00 PM. The production stars John Mahoney (Old Man), Annie Parisse (Rita) and Alan Tudyk (Peter) with Robin Bartlett (Mrs. Boyle) and James Rebhorn (Dr. Boyle), and runs at American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd St). Daniel Sullivan directs.

Gwen Stewart Joins Rent - 4/29/2007

Gwen Stewart, who created several roles in the landmark Broadway musical Rent, including introducing the solo vocals for the show's central theme, "Seasons of Love," returns to the show on Sunday, April 29, the musical's 11th anniversary on Broadway. Stewart will reprise her original roles through Sunday, May 27.

Mr.Broadway 2007 - 4/30/2007

"Mr. Broadway 2007," the inaugural Broadway beauty pageant, will be held Monday evening, April 30th at New World Stages (340 West 50th St.). The event will benefit the Ali Forney Center. Hosted by Gary Beach.

The event will feature male cast members representing their respective Broadway shows. Contestants include Nick Adams (Pirate Queen), Ward Billeisen (Curtains), Frankie James Grande (Mamma Mia!), Kenway Kua (Wicked), Tyler Maynard (Mary Poppins), Paul McGill (A Chorus Line ), Arbender Robinson (Hairspray) and Nick Sanchez (Tarzan). Contestants will compete for the title crown through talent, interview and swimsuit competitions.

Each of the contestants will go head to head in front of celebrity judges, but ultimately, the final vote is in the audience's hands. The judges are Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up, Xanadu, United 93), and Seth Rudetsky (Rhapsody in Seth, Chatterbox).

Tickets for Mr. Broadway 2007 are available at www.mrbroadway.org and are $100, with a limited number of VIP tickets available ranging from $250 to $500. Business and private sponsorships are available by contacting MrBroadway2007@gmail.com.

Farah Alvin @ Beechman - 4/30/2007

The West Bank Café has announced upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Please note there is a $15 food and/or beverage minimum at each performance, with the exception of The After Party. All major credit cards are accepted.

"Voices From the Great White Way" Mondays, April 30 at 7pm $20 cover One night only concerts from some of our favorite Broadway divas. The series concludes on April 30 with Farah Alvin (Nine).

The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909, between the hours of 12pm and 8pm.

The Front - Reading - 4/30/2007

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the lineup for Spring Boards, its newly-renamed rehearsed reading series. Formerly known as 6@6, the annual series is dedicated to the support and development of innovative new work.

Monday, April 30th at 7 PM The Front Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon and Jay Gruska, Book by Seth Friedman Directed by Nell Balaban "America,1952. Howard Prince, small-time gambler, full-time nobody, finally gets to be somebody. Only it's as a 'front' for a blacklisted TV writer. Howard soon finds fame, fortune, the girl of his dreams – and the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Based on the film starring Woody Allen and Zero Mostel."

All readings are free and open to the public. They take place at 7 PM at New York City Center – Stage I (131 West 55th Street). To RSVP call (212) 399-3000, ext. 163 or write to springboards@mtc-nyc.org. Visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com for more information.

We Tell The Story Benefit Concert - 4/30/2007

BROADWAY STARS HOLD CONCERT FOR MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION "We Tell the Story" brings together some of Broadways best for one-night benefit concert. Several of Broadways rising stars are coming together on Monday, April 30th at 8pm for "We Tell The Story: The Songs of Ahrens and Flaherty", a one night only benefit concert for the Make-A-Wish Foundation – which gives hope, strength and joy to New York City children with life-threatening medical conditions. All of the proceeds raised at this benefit concert will go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are the powerhouse Tony Award winning team behind such musicals as Once On This Island, Ragtime, Seussical and the animated feature Anastasia, for which they received an Academy Award nomination. The benefit concert will include many of their most popular songs, as well as new gems from upcoming projects. Together with Friends In Theater Company and Striking Viking Story Pirates, under the Direction of Phil Accorso, "We Tell The Story: The Songs of Ahrens and Flaherty," is sure to be one amazing night of theatre.

Monday, April 30th at 8PM at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street in the West Village (North side of Christopher Street , between Hudson & Bleecker Streets.) Ticket prices are from $35 up to $100 and are available by calling 212.279.4200 or on the web at www.ticketcentral.com

New York Pops 24th Gala - 4/30/2007

Stars from popular music, Broadway, film and television will take the Carnegie Hall stage with The New York Pops in support of the orchestra and its education programs and free Summer music concerts on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 7:00PM. The 24th Birthday Gala, entitled Musical Fireworks, will honor Macy's and orchestra patrons Paula and Tom McInerney, and feature a tribute to Neil Sedaka on the 50th anniversary of his start in show business.

Hosting the gala concert are nationally syndicated columnist Liz Smith and actor/comedian Denis Leary, who currently stars in the television series Rescue Me. NBC's "Today Show" co-host Meredith Vieira will make her Carnegie Hall conducting debut leading The New York Pops in "The Stars and Stripes Forever" before introducing James E. Gray, President and COO of Macy's East.

Guest artists on the gala concert include the Tony-nominated star of Movin' Out, singer and pianist Michael Cavanaugh, in his Carnegie Hall debut. He will open the concert with a new arrangement of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind." A hit in "American Idol"'s third season and in Broadway's Hairspray, Diana DeGarmo will make her Carnegie Hall bow with the Neil Sedaka hit "Breaking Up is Hard To Do." Five-time Grammy winner and contemporary Christian music star Sandi Patty will honor our nation with "God Bless America."

A Tony winner for her role in Caroline, or Change who was most recently seen in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls, Anika Noni Rose will make her Carnegie Hall debut singing "In Our Children's Eyes," which she will also perform with The New York Pops for the 2007 edition of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. Another Tony winner, Lea Salonga - who won for Miss Saigon and is currently starring on Broadway as Fantine in Les Miserables - will also join the gala celebration. A third Tony winner rounds out the list of guest artists appearing: John Lloyd Young, star of Broadway's Jersey Boys, will join the Young People's Chorus of New York City under the direction of Francisco Nunez in an new version of "What A Wonderful World," which they will also perform with The New York Pops for the 2007 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks.

The legendary Grammy-winning singer and entertainer Keely Smith has just joined the concert at the invitation of Neil Sedaka to perform his 1980 hit "Should've Never Let You Go."

Another singer making her Carnegie Hall debut is Haley Swindal, currently studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holder of the prestigious Morehead Scholarship. She is not the first person in her family to debut at Carnegie Hall: her grandfather, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, conducted The New York Pops in 1986.

In addition, Abell will conduct the premiere of an overture for a new musical with songs composed by Michael Feinstein and lyrics by Mr. Schermerhorn called The Night They Saved the Macy's Parade.

Reserve tickets now at www.newyorkpops.org. Purchasing two tickets or more for the black-tie dinner dance at The Pierre places you on the Benefit Committee, which is listed in the evening's program and in the orchestra's Playbill throughout the 2007 season.

Steve Marzullo @ Birdland - 4/30/2007

Steve Marzullo, an acclaimed Broadway musical director/pianist/conductor for twenty years, will play his songs at Birdland, Monday, April 30th, at 7PM. The show, The Spirit of Spring- Songs of Love, Sex, and Other Violations, is directed by Jen Bender and features Maryann McSweeney on bass and Sean McDaniel on drums. Accompanying the band will be Judy Blazer, Terri Klausner, Liz Callaway, Melissa Errico, Andrea Burns, Liz Larsen, Ann Harada, Kate Baldwin, Theresa McCarthy, Nina Hennessey, Suzanne Fiore, and Rachel Ulanet.

Marzullo has worked on Once On This Island, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, Grease (revival), and Suessical. He also composed "I Hid My Love" and "Burning The Sauce" for Audra Mcdonald's The Seven Deadly Sins, as well as "The Night You Decided To Stay" for Michael Winther's Songs From An Unmade Bed. Birdland Jazz Club is at 315 W. 44th St., music charge is $25. For reservations, call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.instantseats.com/birdland.

Brian Charles Rooney @ The Zipper - 4/30/2007

Brian Charles Rooney, who played Lucy Brown in last year's revival of The Threepenny Opera, will perform his one-man show at the Zipper Theatre on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 8PM.

Rooney, who possesses a 4-octave range, will sing a variety of songs. He will also reprise parts of his performance as Lucy Brown.

Rooney has appeared in a European tour of West Side Story, and was a featured soloist in the tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. His Off-Broadway credits include Twist, The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde (at NYMF), Pure Heaven: The Music of Kay Thompson, and The Taxi Cabaret. Regionally, he has been seen in Forever Plaid, Floyd Collins, Bat Boy, The Student Prince and Evita.

Visit www.zippertheater.com for more information.

Chestor Gregory II @ Triad - 4/30/2007

Singer/Songwriter Chester Gregory II, currently on Broadway in Tarzan, will perform R&B/soul hits from his upcoming album "High Love," live in concert on Monday, April 30th at The Triad (158 West 72nd Street between Broadway and Columbus). The concert will begin at 8pm.

The Triad is located in Manhattan at 158 West 72nd Street. Tickets are $10 (plus a two drink minimum) and are available by calling (212) 352-3101. Reservations are strongly suggested. Visit www.ChesterGregory.com or www.myspace.com/chestergregory for more information.

The Broadway Musicals of 1959 - 4/30/2007

The Town Hall will present "Broadway By the Year: The Broadway Musicals of 1959" on Monday April 30 at 8 PM. The critically acclaimed series, now in its seventh season and created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel, will be directed by two-time Tony nominee Marc Kudisch, whose long list of Broadway credits includes, most recently, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Assassins.

The show will feature music from a uniquely rich season in the American musical theatre; 1959 spawned such classics as Gypsy and The Sound of Music (which also pitted two of the First Ladies of the American Theatre, Mary Martin and Ethel Merman, against each other for Tony Awards). In addition, Once Upon A Mattress brought a talented young comedian named Carol Burnett to prominence as the unglamorous but winning Princess Winifred the Woebegone.

The cast for "1959" includes Emily Skinner (Jekyll and Hyde, Side Show), Bruce Vilanch (multiple Emmy-winner and star of Hairspray), Nancy Lemanager (Never Gonna Dance), Mark Jacoby (Sweeney Todd, Phantom of the Opera), Sara Jane McMahon (The Pirates of Penzance).

Limited tickets are still available at $45 and $40 through TicketMaster 212-307-4100, or by visiting the Town Hall Box Office, 123 West 43o Street, 212-840-2824, or visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org.

Orestes - Reading - 4/30/2007

On Monday, April 30, at 8:00PM, the 92nd St. Y Poets' Theatre will present the world premiere of Anne Carson's (author, The Beauty of the Husband: A Fictional Essay in 29 Tangos, Autobiography of Red) new translation of Euripides' tragedy Orestes. The staged reading will be directed by David Esbjornson (The Great Gatsby, Tuesdays with Morrie), artistic director of the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Press notes state, "Orestes, written by Euripides circa 408 B.C.E., explores the aftermath of a man's decision to commit matricide for what he sees as a just cause. Although advised by the Greek god Apollo to kill his mother to avenge her murder of his father, Orestes is plagued by guilt and a growing madness. His sister Electra tries to comfort him, but matters are complicated by the fact that a leading political faction wants to execute Orestes for the murder. Orestes' only hope lies with his uncle Menelaus, who is married to the infamous Helen of Troy. Menelaus, who is hated by the Greeks because of his wife's role in the Trojan War, refuses to help Orestes. To exact revenge for this betrayal, Orestes and his friends conspire to kill Helen but are persuaded to reconsider after one of her slaves inspires their compassion. On the verge of a fight between Orestes and Menelaus, Apollo descends from the heavens, pardoning Orestes for his mother's death and making everything right again."

"The Trojan War generated some of the most disturbing violations of law and morality known to man. . . We can find many lessons and insights from these powerful stories that might help today's society from going down a similar path to destruction."

All Poets' Theatre productions are produced by the 92nd Street Y Unterberg Poetry Center. Orestes is co-produced by Diane Wondisford and the Music-Theatre Group. Tickets are $18, and are available at www.92Y.org/poetry or by calling 212.415.5500.

Gary Mauer Joins Phantom - 4/30/2007

Beginning Monday, April 30, Gary Mauer will step into the title role of The Phantom of the Opera– the longest-running show in Broadway history – for three weeks at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street). Mauer previously played the romantic lead 'Raoul' in the production and still holds the record as having played the role on Broadway more than any other performer (at over 1,500 times). He now joins the New York Company as 'The Phantom,' a role he headlined on the National Tour.

Mauer will be stepping in during a vacation for current leading man Howard McGillin. Mauer willl appear as The Phantom for three weeks, from Monday evening, April 30 through Saturday evening, May 19. Mr. McGillin, who has played the title role on Broadway more than any other performer (at over 1,800 times), will return on Monday evening, May 21.

Passing Strange - 5/1/2007

The Public Theater has announced the world premiere of "Passing Strange," a new rock musical by singer/songwriter and performance artist Stew and Heidi Rodewald. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre that was developed at the Sundance Theatre Lab and at the Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts, "Passing Strange" will begin previews Monday, May 1st with performances running though Sunday, June 3rd. The press opening will be Monday, May 14th.

"The world premiere of Passing Strange takes musical theatre on a whole new trip. Stew, a popular performer at Joe's Pub, was commissioned by The Public and Berkeley Rep to develop this moving and hilarious story of a young black bohemian in search of self and home who charts a course for "the real" through sex, drugs, and rock and roll...It's a quirky journey from L.A. to authenticity, crossing boundaries of place, identity, and theatrical convention on the way. Stew's unique sound has been dubbed Afro-Baroque cabaret, and Entertainment Weekly has twice named his CDs 'Album of the Year,'" state press materials.

Passing Strange will play Tuesday at 7:00pm, Wednesday through Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets for Passing Strange are $60 (rush is also available). Tickets are on sale at The Public Theater box office, 425 Lafayette Street; on-line at www.publictheater.org or by phone at 212-967-7555 (please note new number)

Anthony Fedorov Joins The Fantasticks - 5/1/2007

The producers of the new production of THE FANTASTICKS, the world's longest running musical, are proud to announce that "American Idol" Top-Four Finalist, Anthony Fedorov, will step into the role of "Matt" on Tuesday, May 1, 2007.

Dreamgirls - DVD Release - 5/1/2007

"Dreamgirls" will be available on DVD in 2 editions beginning May 1, 2007. All information is courtesy of DVD Times

Paramount Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of "Dreamgirls" for 1st May 2007. Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson (who took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance) star in director Bill Condon's adaptation of Michael Bennett's Broadway musical.

Available in Two-Disc Showstopper Edition and single disc editions the film will be presented in anamorphic widescreen (single disc also available in full screen) with English and French DD5.1 Surround, English DD2.0 Surround along with optional English and Spanish subtitles.

MAC Awards - 5/1/2007

On May 1, 2007, at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City and with direction from Phil Geoffrey Bond, The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will be celebrating the 21st Annual MAC Awards.

The MAC Awards celebrate achievement in cabaret entertainment and nightlife around New York City.

The names of the MAC Award Nominees, are scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, March 21, at 1:30pm , at Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle. The store is also the home of the "Any Wednesday" series, which celebrates live entertainment by presenting both established and new performers along with their recordings.

Linda Eder @ Feinstein's - 5/1/2007

Feinstein's at the Regency will continue its Spring 2007 season with the return engagement of Broadway star and recording artist Linda Eder from May 1 – 12. Her new show "This Time Around" – which coincides with the release of the new CD "Linda Eder's Greatest Hits" from Rhino Music – will feature selections from throughout her recording career. She will be joined by musical director John Oddo and his all-star ensemble. All performances are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Eder, the singer and actress best known for her Broadway debut in Jekyll & Hyde, released her latest recording, "By Myself: The Songs of Judy Garland," on Angel Records. Eder's tour saw her return to the illustrious Carnegie Hall where Garland, Eder's idol and inspiration, performed her legendary concert over 40 years ago and as Garland, Eder performed to critical and audience acclaim. Eder has also been performing with longtime friend and recording artist Michael Feinstein to sold-out crowds across the country.

Feinstein's at the Regency will play the following schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 PM with late shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00 PM. All shows have a $75.00 cover and a $40.00 minimum. Jackets are suggested but not required. Feinstein's is located at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street in New York City. For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit us online at www.feinsteinsattheregency.com and TicketWeb.com.

Camelot - DVD Release - 5/1/2007

On May 1, Acorn Media will release the home video debut of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot, the Tony-nominated revival, mounted for Broadway in the early 1980s at New York's historic Winter Garden Theatre and filmed for television by HBO.

The DVD's special features include production notes by Meg Bussert, original Broadway Playbill (DVD-ROM), and bios of Lerner and Loewe and Richard Harris. The sales price is $29.99.

The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays - DVD Release - 5/1/2007

On May 1, Acorn Media will release "The Best of the Tony Awards: The Plays" on May 1st. The program is part of Acorn's bestselling Broadway's "Lost Treasures Collection," not previously available separately.

"Four-time Tony-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein is host for a compilation of amazing dramatic performances from the archives of the Tony Award broadcasts. Legendary stars perform key scenes from 19 legendary shows, performances seen only once in their original telecast."

Side by Side by Sondheim - UK - 5/1/2007

Side by Side by Sondheim, a celebration of the works of Stephen Sondheim, will enjoy a limited 12-week run at the Venue Theatre in London, from April 26 – July 14, 2007, with Opening Night scheduled for Tuesday, May 1. The production will be the first major West End revival in 30 years. The show is produced by The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) producers Neil Laidlaw (NML Productions) and Melanie Herman. Press notes state, "First seen in London in 1976, Side by Side features some of Sondheim's best known works (including collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, Mary Rodgers and Jule Styne from classic musicals such as West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, Pacific Overtures and A Little Night Music," continuing, "Side by Side by Sondheim was conceived by David Kernan, originally as a fundraiser, following a request from singer Cleo Laine and her husband John Dankworth. The show became a major hit in the UK before transferring to Broadway in 1977. It received five Tony Award nominations and it is one of the few shows to have the distinction of its entire cast being nominated for a Tony award."

Side by Side by Sondheim runs at 5 Leicester Place, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7BP. Performances are Thursday, April 26 through Saturday, July 14, Monday through Saturday at 8PM, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3PM and no Wednesday matinee May 2. All preview tickets are £20, and Monday—Saturday evening and matinee shows are £20 - £40. For tickets, call 0870 899 3335 or visit www.seetickets.com. For more information, visit www.sidebysidebysondheim.co.uk.

Blackbird - ACT - 5/2/2007

The American Conservatory Theater (ACT) at the San Francisco Geary Theatre, presents its season calendar for the 2006-07 40th-anniversary season.

Tickets for all productions are available by calling ACT Ticket Services at 415-749-2228 or online at www.act-sf.org. Ticket prices for productions at the Geary Theater are $12-$80; season subscriptions are currently available. Single tickets for all of ACT's 2006-07 presentations go on sale Sunday, August 6. Group rates are also available. American Conservatory Theater is located at 415 Geary Street in San Francisco.

Blackbird by David Harrower April 27-May 27, 2007. Opening May 2. In its West-Coast Premiere, heralded as both "a high-stakes thriller" and "spellbinding theater" by Variety magazine, "Blackbird begins when Ray, a middle-aged office worker, receives a surprise visit from Una, a woman with whom he was involved 15 years earlier. As Una confronts him about the true nature of their past, what emerges is a complex portrait of a relationship that blurs the boundaries between lust, love, and something far more sinister," describes press notes. "Blackbird tackles its controversial topic with uncompromising honesty, surprising tenderness, and a riveting artistic tension that leaves audiences hanging on every word, every motion, and every ominous silence."

Coram Boy - 5/2/2007

Currently playing to sold-out houses at the National Theatre in London, Coram Boy adapted by Helen Edmundson from the award-winning novel by Jamila Gavin, directed by Melly Still, will open at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street ) on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. Preview performances will begin on Monday, April 16, 2007.

An epic adventure set in 18th-century England featuring more than 40 performers onstage along with seven musicians, Coram Boy has played two sold-out engagements at the National Theatre, winning the 2006 Time Out Live Best Play Award and receiving rave reviews from the UK critics.

"The play tells the tale of two orphans at the Coram Hospital for Deserted Children: Toby, saved from an African slave ship and Aaron, the abandoned son of the heir to a great estate. A story of fathers and sons, set in the dark heart of 18th-century England, Coram Boy is filled with danger and excitement," as the show is described in press notes.

The show is recommended for audiences ages 12 and older, adults, and young adults.

Tickets for Coram Boy will go on sale in January, at a date to be announced.

An Octopus Love Story - 5/2/2007

Kids with Guns will present the World Premiere of An Octopus Love Story, a dramedy written by Delaney Britt Brewer and directed by Mike Klar. Performances will run from May 2 to May 20, 2007 at Center Stage (48 West 21 St.) in NYC. Previews begin May 2 for a May 5 opening.

"What if falling in love with the wrong person was the best thing you've ever done? Jane and Danny, two drifting New Yorkers, identify themselves as gay…until their friendship catches their hearts off guard. A political protest against the ban on same-sex marriage ignites an unlikely and heartbreaking romance in An Octopus Love Story," state production notes.

Center Stage Theater is located at 48 West 21 Street between 5 and 6 Avenues in NYC. Previews begin May 2 for a May 5 opening. Performances run Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $18 for shows 5/5 to 5/20 and $10 for previews 5/2 to 5/4 and can be purchased by calling 212-868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com. Visit www.kidswithguns.com for more information.

God's Ear - 5/2/2007

God's Ear, a full-length play written by Jenny Schwartz (Cause for Alarm) and directed by Anne Kauffman (Soho Rep's The Thugs), will see its world premiere Off Broadway at the East 13th Street Theater, 136 East 13th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues). The show will feature songs by Michael Friedman (The Civilian's I Am Nobody's Lunch, Gone Missing) with additional lyrics by Schwartz. Presented by Obie-winning theater company New Georges, performances for God's Ear begin May 2. Opening Night is Monday, May 7, at 7:00PM.

In the press release, New Georges Artistic Director Susan Bernfield comments, "Jenny is part of a generation of playwrights who are pioneering a style of heightened theatrical language, one intent on capturing the idiosyncratic hiccups of real talking." The show, which stars Christina Kirk as Mel and Gibson Frazier as Ted, is described as, "Mel and Ted have lost their young son. Now, wherever Ted goes, he meets people with dead sons. And whatever Mel touches falls apart. Mel and Ted try to continue their way through the world, guided by their young daughter Lanie (Monique Vukovic), and the Tooth Fairy (Judith Greentree) and G.I. Joe (Matthew Montelongo)."

God's Ear runs May 2 through June 2, Wednesdays through Mondays at 8:00PM. Opening Night's curtain time on Monday, May 7 will be at 7:00PM. Tickets are $25.00, $18.00 for students and seniors. Monday night performances are 'pay-what-you-will' at the door only. TDF vouchers will be accepted. For reservations, call 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com. For more information, call 646-336-8077.

Shenandoah - 5/2/2007

The Marriott Theatre is proud to present Shenandoah, the poignant Tony-award winning Broadway musical. Shenandoah previews April 25, opens May 2 and runs through June 24 at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Drive. Based on the classic Jimmy Stewart film, Shenandoah is the emotional telling of a father and his pledge to protect his family. The musical will be directed and choreographed by Jeff Award winner David H. Bell.

It's North versus South, brother against brother in Shenandoah. Widowed Charlie Anderson's opposition to both the war and slavery prevents him from siding with either the Confederate or the Union in the Civil War. He isn't about to let any of his six sons take sides, but as war besets the Shenandoah Valley, Charlie is pushed to the limit as his family is dragged into the fray. Through joy, sorrow and turmoil, the Andersons realize that their family bonds are what now matter the most.

Shenandoah stars Broadway veteran actor, David Hess as Charlie Anderson; and features Abby Mueller, Brian Hissong, Jessie Mueller, Jason W. Shuffler, Galen Schloming, Matt Raftery, Christian Libonati, Richie Roesner, Cory Connor and Stephen Schellhardt.

The performance schedule for Shenandoah is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. With the purchase of a $45 ticket on Wednesdays and Thursdays, you receive a free dinner, based on dining availability. All other performance ticket prices are $42.00, excluding tax and handling fees. A $5.00 discount for students and seniors is valid on Wednesday and Sunday matinee performances. Dinner packages for Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances are available for an additional $40.00 per person at King's Wharf and $30.00 at Fairfield Inn. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets with a major credit card, call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or visit www.marriotttheatre.com.

The Country Girl - 5/3/2007

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced upcoming productions for its 2006-2007 season, including two shows on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre (261 West 47th Street) and three productions at MTC's Off-Broadway theatres at Stage I and Stage II at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street). A third Biltmore production and a fourth New York City Center production will be announced at a later date.

MTC's 2006-2007 season features a diverse roster of works by authors Charles Busch, David Harrower, Simon Mendes da Costa, Paul Rudnick, and Clifford Odets, including two American premieres and two world premieres.

Subscriptions to MTC are available by calling (212) 399-3030, Monday - Friday, noon - 8 PM with a major credit card. Subscriptions are also available online at www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

The classic Clifford Odets play "The Country Girl" will next be seen at the Biltmore Theatre, with previews beginning on April 12th, 2007. Directed by MTC artistic director Lynne Meadow, it will open on May 3rd. "The title character, Georgie, is married to actor Frank Elgin, once a great theatre star, now down on his luck. When Frank is offered a major role by young, hotshot director Bernie Dodd, he has the chance to make a major comeback. The pressures created by a high stakes out-of-town tryout bring into dramatic focus the complicated relationship between husband and wife. Life backstage becomes an emotional and psychological battleground for all three characters." The play will mark the 100th anniversary of Odets' birth.

Jerry Springer: The Opera - Chicago - 5/3/2007

Jerry Springer: The Opera will finally be making its American debut. However, the controversial hit won't be produced on Broadway but in Chicago, the city that "The Jerry Springer Show" calls home.

The musical will be presented at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in May, according to Variety. Bailiwick artistic director David Zak said: "With Jerry here in town, Chicago is the natural place to introduce the musical to American audiences." It will begin previews on May 3rd, open on May 14th and run through July 8th (although Zak hopes for an extension).

A cast of 25 and orchestra of 6 is planned for the 150-seat mainstage theatre.

A Broadway transfer of Jerry Springer: The Opera was expected to take place, but never materialized. The raunchy musical, with its operatic overtones, satirizes a number of "Jerry Springer Show" characters, such as a stripper "who just wants to dance," and Ku Klux Klan members.

Stewart Lee co-wrote the show with composer Richard Thomas. Jerry Springer: The Opera, which began at the Edinburgh Festival and opened at London's National Theatre on April 29th, 2003 (it moved to the Cambridge Theatre soon after). The show won the Evening Standard and Critics' Circle Awards in addition to its Olivier for Best Musical. Despite the accolades, its airing on BBC 2 last year sparked the storm of protests, with almost 50,000 complaints pouring in. The show, which closed after 609 performances, also toured the UK this year.

"In the first act of Jerry Springer: The Opera, a parade of foul-mouthed, chair-hurling contestants come on the talk show to lay bare their souls (as well as parts of their bodies). The second act takes a religious turn as Jerry Springer visits purgatory and hell, and is expelled from heaven," stated earlier press materials.

LoveMusik - 5/3/2007

The world premiere of LoveMusik, a new musical featuring the songs of Kurt Weill, presented by Manhattan Theatre Club, will star Tony Award-winners Michael Cerveris and Donna Murphy.

Opening night is set for Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Biltmore Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Previews begin Thursday, April 12.

The show will feature a book by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winner Alfred Uhry, and direction by Tony Award-winner Harold Prince.

The production will also star David Pittu (The Coast of Utopia: Voyage, Never Gonna Dance) as Bertolt Brecht and John Scherer (By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard) as George Davis. The creative team and additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The musical is suggested by Speak Low (When You Speak Love), The Letters of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, edited and translated by Lys Symonette and Kim H. Kowalke.

"LoveMusik follows the lives of the unlikeliest of lovers – the brilliant, intellectual German composer Kurt Weill (Michael Cerveris) and a lusty girl from the streets of Vienna who became his muse and star, Lotte Lenya (Donna Murphy). LoveMusik is an epic romance, set in Berlin, Paris, Broadway and Hollywood, spanning 25 years in the lives of this complicated couple. Featuring a full range of Weill's songs and a book by Alfred Uhry (the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Driving Miss Daisy and Parade), LoveMusik will be directed by Harold Prince, the 21-time Tony Award winner, who has staged such musicals as The Phantom of the Opera, Evita and Sweeney Todd," as press notes state.

Cerveris won a 2004 Tony Award for his performance in Assassins, and has also been nominated for his performances in Sweeney Todd and The Who's Tommy. His other New York credits include Titanic, Wintertime, The Fifth of July and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Regional credits include A Little Night Music, Passion and the Ravinia concerts of Anyone Can Whistle and Sunday in the Park with George.

Murphy won Tony Awards for her performances in The King and I and Passion, and was nominated for her performance in Wonderful Town. She has also been seen on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Human Comedy and They're Playing Our Song, as well as in such films as Spider-Man 2 and World Trade Center.

Subscriptions to MTC can be obtained by calling (212) 399-3030, Monday - Friday, noon - 8 PM with a major credit card. Subscriptions are also available online at www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Bad Blood - Malasangre - 5/3/2007

Award-winning Puerto Rican playwright, director, actor, and journalist Roberto Ramos-Perea will see his controversial play Bad Blood - Malasangre presented as the 40th anniversary mainstage production at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, led by Artistic Director Miriam Colón Valle. Previews for the New York premiere of Bad Blood – Malasangre begin April 25th at 8PM, with Opening Night on May 3rd, at 8PM.

Press notes describe the show as a look at "the relationship of a young Puerto Rican couple, both professionals, who face the dilemma of her accepting a dream job in El Paso, Texas, or letting their marriage collapse." The show will run through Sunday, May 20 at the company's home theatre located at 304 West 47th Street--just West of 8th Avenue. English performances are Wednesdays through Fridays at 8PM, and Spanish performances are Saturdays at 2:30PM and 8PM, Sundays at 2:30PM and 8PM. General Admission tickets are $35.00; Groups of 20 or more and Students and Senior Citizens with ID $25.00; Tickets are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. For more information, call (212) 354 1293.

Grease - Chicago - 5/3/2007

Theatre at the Center is proud to present the electrifying smash hit musical, Grease! The most popular, fun-filled musical in the history of Rock'n'Roll previews April 26, opens May 3 and runs through June 3 at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Grease will be directed by David Perkovich.

Grease is the energetic musical comedy tribute to the age of rock and bop, blue suede shoes and poodle skirts. When good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fall in love over the summer, they unexpectedly realize that they attend the same high school in the fall. As Danny tries to play it cool with his gang, Sandy tries to win him over with the help of the sassy "Pink Ladies." The hilarious adventures of Rydell High's class of '57 are a fun and nostalgic look back at the vibrant culture of the 1950s. Grease features hit songs including, "We Go Together," "Beauty School Dropout," "Summer Nights," and "Greased Lighting."

Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional, equity theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is conveniently located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

The regular schedule is: Wednesdays & Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. ($36.00); Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ($39.00); Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. ($39.00); and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. ($39.00). There are Saturday matinees at 2:30 p.m. on 4/28, 5/19, 6/2 and Sunday evening performance at 6:00 p.m. on 4/29. Season subscriptions are $130. To purchase individual or group tickets call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552. For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.theatreatthecenter.org

College: The Musical - Reading - 5/3/2007

Adobe Theater Company's Jeremy Dobrish will direct an upcoming reading of COLLEGE: The Musical. Mr. Dobrish is joined on the creative team by music director Mark Hartman (Avenue Q), and by casting director Mark Simon (Lovemusik, Parade). The presentation will be held May 3rd at 1:00 and 4:00pm at the Princeton Club of New York (15 West 43rd Street). Attendance is by invitation only.

The young company features Ricky Ashley, who starred in the recent premiere of Jason Robert Brown's 13 in Los Angeles, along with Juliana Ashley Hansen and Adam Shorsten, both finalists on NBC's GREASE: You're the One that I Want, Drama League Honoree and Broadway veteran Brandon Espinoza (Captains Courageous, Gypsy), Emily Klein (Parade), Casey Ford Alexander, Savannah Wise (Les Miserables ) and Anne Letscher (Fiddler on the Roof).

COLLEGE: The Musical is a "tuneful and honest look at modern campus life, written by two guys who were just there. Drew Fornarola graduated from Princeton last June and is currently a member of the Tony Award - winning BMI Workshop, and Scott Elmegreen is a Princeton senior studying creative writing under mentor Joyce Carol Oates. Together they've written the story of Nathan, a naive but enthusiastic freshman, as he discovers a world of parties, pizza, pastel polo shirts, the occasional class, and of course, more parties. The show was written with the belief that what musical theater really needs is a few more keg stand dance breaks, and it includes such rousing anthems as Alcoholeluia (oh Lord, we've seen the Miller Light…), and Click, Smash! - a celebration of the mindless joys of video games - along with some more serious reflections on growing up and trying to find oneself amid the chaos and insanity of college life," state press notes.

Mother Load - 5/4/2007

Mother Load, the one-woman show written and performed by Amy Wilson (Broadway's The Last Night of Ballyhoo, "Felicity," Kinsey), and directed by Julie Kramer (New York Fringe Festival's It's a Hit) will play at Off-Broadway's Sage Theater (711 7th Avenue at 47th/48th St.) for an eight-week limited engagement, Saturday, April 21st through Saturday, June 16. Opening Night is Friday, May 4th.

"In a hilarious depiction of competitive parenting in the most competitive city in the world, Amy Wilson shares a first hand account of catered toddler's birthday parties, eight hundred dollar strollers, and nursery school applications that require contemplative written essays. Whether you are a mom or just have one, you'll identify with Amy's struggle and cheer as she overcomes it," state press notes.

The show plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, June 16th: Wednesdays "Mom's Matinee" at 11 AM, Wednesdays at 8 PM, Thursdays at 8 PM, Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM There is also a 3 PM performance on Sunday, April 22nd.

Tickets are $45 and go on sale February 23rd at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, located at 416 W. 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th.

Daphne Rubin-Vega @ Joe's Pub - 5/4/2007

On Friday, May 4th, Les Miserables star Daphne Rubin-Vega will return to Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette St.) for a concert performance.

"Rubin-Vega returns to Joe's Pub to rock out her melodic, driving and sexy tunes, playing music from her forthcoming CD. Her long awaited album, 'Redemption Songs,' is a vibrant and sophisticated collection of pop, reggae-tinged, rock and Latin folk songs that are soulful, passionate and from her heart," press notes state.

The actress recently played Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables, and is now appearing in Jack Goes Boating at the Public Theater. Rubin-Vega appeared Broadway with her debut as Mimi in the original cast of Rent.

The show is at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20. Visit www.daphnerubin-vega.com for more on the performer. Visit www.joespub.com for more information.

Othello - UK - 5/4/2007

Lead casting has been announced for a new production of Othello that will be mounted at Shakespeare's Globe this summer, reports London Theatre Guide.

The production, which will begin performances on May 4th, will star Eamonn Walker in the title role, Tim McInnerny as the vindictive Iago, Zoe Tapper as Desdemona, as well as Lorraine Burroughs as Emilia.

Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) will helm the production of the classic tragedy, which will feature designs by Dick Bird and music by Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare in Love). "The republic of Venice employs Othello, a self-made man and a Moor, to defend its overseas territories against the Turks. But for all his military success, Othello remains an outsider in the city, an object of racism, envy and mistrust. As the Turkish threat gathers and Venetian forces are despatched to Cyprus, Iago, a junior officer secretly enraged by his lack of promotion, exploits Othello's ambiguous position and ingenuous nature, driving him into a passionate and uncontrollable jealousy," states the Globe's website. Visit www.shakespeares-globe.org for more information.

Betrothed - 5/4/2007

Ripe Time will present the world premiere of Betrothed, written and directed by Rachel Dickstein (the Ohio Theatre's Innocents). The show is is based on S. Ansky's The Dybbuk, Anton Chekhov's Betrothed, and Jhumpa Lahiri's The Treatment of Bibi Haldar. Performances begin Friday, May 4, at 8pm at the Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster Street, between Spring and Broome Streets. Opening Night is Thursday, May 10 at 8pm.

Press notes state, "A triptych of tales that cross time and cultures, Betrothed features ensemble story-telling, a live score by Vijay Iyer, and Ripe Time's signature dynamic imagery. Inspired by Indian Kathak folk dance, Marc Chagall, and wedding ceremonies from South Asian and Western cultures, the play offers a unique look inside three women's struggle between marriage and personal independence, to explore what is one of the most controversial ceremonies of our time."

Betrothed plays Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 7 and 10pm, and Sunday at 7pm, through Saturday, May 26, at the Ohio Theatre. There is a special preview performance Saturday, May 5 at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 and available at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. For more information, visit www.ripetime.org.

Joey Lawrence Joins Chicago - 5/4/2007

Joey Lawrence, who portrays Clay Dobson on the hit CBS series "CSI: NY," will soon step onto the Broadway stage as Billy Flynn in the smash musical Chicago. Lawrence will begin performances on May 4th and will continue through June 17th.

In the Schoolyard - 5/4/2007

Theater for the New City will present the world premiere production of the musical, In the Schoolyard, written and directed by Paulanne Simmons, with musical direction by Margaret Hetherman. In the Schoolyard will play a three-week limited engagement at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, between 9th and 10th streets). Performances begin Friday, May 4 and continue through Sunday, May 20. Opening Night is Friday, May 4 (8 p.m.). The musical "tells the story of native Brooklynite childhood buddies, Larry, Jerry, Dave, Eddie and Manny. They played stoopball and stickball on the streets and basketball in the schoolyard of P.S. 8. They all worked in or stole from the grocery store owned by Manny's mother, Mrs. Rivera. Although they have all married, started their careers and moved away, they still come back to Brooklyn on the last Saturday of September to play basketball, have a few drinks at O'Leary's bar and talk about old times and new. But this time things are a little different, Larry is going through a major crisis that's causing him to reevaluate the some of the decisions he's made in his life and Dave is in trouble once again. As the guys look back to the past, they figure out how they are going to face the future," state press notes. In the Schoolyard is based on a newspaper story playwright Paulanne Simmons wrote for the Brooklyn Papers about a group of former Brooklynites who come back to their old neighborhood to play basketball once a year. In 2001 she turned the story into a drama that ran for three weeks at Theater for the New City. Now, with Margaret Hetherman as composer and musical director, In the Schoolyard has become a musical – the kind of old-fashioned, exuberant show that is so greatly loved and missed.

The show plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, May 20: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are now available online at www.theatermania.com or by calling (212) 254-1109. Tickets are also available at www.theaterforthenewcity.net.

Marin Mazzie & Jason Danieley - Concert - 5/5/2007

"Broadway's Golden couple" (San Francisco Chronicle), both have enjoyed successful Broadway careers that have crossed over into the fields of Symphonies, Concert Halls and Cabaret venues. Marin is currently starring in Spamalot and is a three time Tony Award nominee for her performances in Stephen Sondheim's Passion, Ragtime and the hit revival of Kiss Me Kate (the latter two opposite Brian Stokes Mitchell). Jason is currently starring in the new Kander & Ebb musical Curtains! and past performances include Candide and taking it all off in The Full Monty. He was also seen in the Emmy nominated, Carnegie Hall concert of South Pacific (filmed for PBS). Together, they sing about the universal theme of love in the critically acclaimed "Opposite You." At the Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street in Port Washington (Long Island). www.landmarkonmainstreet.org

Porgy & Bess - UK Closing Show - 5/5/2007

May 5th, Trevor Nunn's West End revival of Porgy and Bess will close in order to make room for a new production of Fiddler on the Roof starring Olivier Award-winner Henry Goodman as Tevye.

It was previously announced that Porgy and Bess will transfer to Broadway during the 2007-2008 season at a theatre to be announced. As with the London staging, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and Tulchin/Bartner Productions will produce.

Porgy and Bess, which opened at the Savoy on November 9th, 2006, had previously extended its run through October 27th, 2007.

Masterpiece - Reading - 5/5/2007

The Readings at Bay Street Theatre 2007 series:

May 5 at 3 pm - New River Dramatists' Masterpiece, by M.Z. Ribalow. "A new play based on the actual events of the 20th century's most notorious art forgery scandal, this mesmerizing thriller explores questions of reality and illusion, what is great art and who gets to decide, and the relationship between love, passion and truth. "

The Readings at Bay Street Theatre offer established and emerging playwrights an opportunity to hear their plays in front of an audience. It is also a forum for Bay Street's artistic team to determine a play's readiness and suitability for possible production on the Theatre's Mainstage. The Readings series gives audiences the opportunity to see the creative process in action with plays read by professional actors in an intimate setting.

Admission is free to the public and may be ordered by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500. Seating is general admission. The Bay Street Box Office is open 11am – 6pm. Log on to www.baystreet.org for all the latest information on Bay Street Theatre.

Fat Pig - LA - 5/5/2007

Jo Bonney (SubUrbia), who also directed the 2004 world premiere production in New York, heads for the left coast and helms the West Coast premiere of Fat Pig: Neil LaBute's cynical play that explores a larger-than-life dilemma when love and affection go against the grain of conventional society.

Television veteran Scott Wolf will play Tom, with Kirsten Vangsness as Helen, Chris Pine as Carter and Andrea Anders as Jeannie.

"Looking for Ms. Right, Tom meets Helen and is bowled over by her wit, her intellect and her interests, with one problem: Helen is fat. Overcoming his own bias for her love, Tom doesn't account for the reaction of friends and co-workers, forcing a man to choose between the woman he loves and how others perceive her," state press notes. The original production dates for this run have changed; previews performances for Fat Pig are May 5 through May 10, 2007, with Opening Night occurring on Friday, May 11th. The play runs through June 10, 2007.

Tickets ($55) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at www.GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May and Ritmo Latino locations), or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.365.3500. Eight performances are scheduled per week: Tuesday through Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Fridays at 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Adult rush tickets ($35) and student rush tickets ($15) are available 10 minutes prior to curtain. For general information or to request a brochure, call 310.208.5454, or visit the theatre's website.

An Octopus Love Story - 5/5/2007

Kids with Guns is proud to present the World Premiere of "An Octopus Love Story," a dramedy written by Delaney Britt Brewer and directed by Mike Klar. Performances will run from May 2 to May 20, 2007 at Center Stage (48 West 21 St.) in NYC. Previews begin May 2 for a May 5 opening.

What if falling in love with the wrong person was the best thing you've ever done? Jane and Danny, two drifting New Yorkers, identify themselves as gay…until their friendship catches their hearts off guard. A political protest against the ban on same-sex marriage ignites an unlikely and heartbreaking romance in An Octopus Love Story.

PERFORMANCE INFO: Center Stage Theater – 48 West 21 Street between 5 & 6 Avenues in NYC. Limited Engagement: May 2–20, 2007. Previews begin May 2 for a May 5 opening. Performances run Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $18 for shows 5/5 to 5/20 and $10 for previews 5/2 to 5/4 and can be purchased by calling 212-868-4444 or visiting http://www.smarttix.com. Direct ticket link is http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=OCT1. Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Appropriate for ages 14 and up. Trains: 1,F,R,V,W to 23 St.

Memory - 5/5/2007

59E59 Theaters will welcome the return of playwright Jonathan Lichtenstein to Brits Off Broadway with the Clwyd Theatr Cymru's production of Memory, directed by three-time Tony Award-nominee Terry Hands, former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In Memory, "Welsh playwright Jonathan Lichtenstein explores how people choose to remember events and the consequences of these choices. In East Berlin, 1990, during the fall of the Berlin Wall, a young man arrives at the flat of his grandmother with awkward questions about the past and her connections to the Holocaust. A generation later, in Bethlehem, a new wall is erected as the Israeli security barrier goes up. The past and the present collide in a series of compelling scenes, as memories are challenged in the search for truth," state press notes.

This powerful and dynamic new play, expertly directed by Terry Hands, three time Tony Award-nominee and former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, was called "An innovative thought provoker that draws in the audience and enthrals" by the UK's Jewish Telegraph. Memory comes direct from the Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Wales' premiere national performing arts company, where Mr. Hands serves as its Director and Chief Executive.

Memory begins previews on Saturday, May 5 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 27. Opening Night is Thursday, May 10 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday – Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM and 7 PM. Single tickets are $45 ($31.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.ticketcentral.com. For more information, visit www.59e59.org or www.britsoffbroadway.com.

Peasant - 5/5/2007

Collective Past at Chashama will present the solo show Peasant, written and performed by Susan Ferrara (film Stephanie Daley, Barefoot Theater's Dog Day Afternoon, The Burial of Thebes), May 3 - 27, 2007 at Chashama Theatre (217 E. 42nd Street). Dale Heinen (Silk Road Theater Project's Caravaggio in Chicago) directs, opening night is May 5, 2007.

Press notes state, "Peasant tells of one family's heartwarming search for the American dream. In 1926, three black-clad Italian sisters come to America with visions of electric light and Jesus and the fate of the family packed in their bags. A Dracula-loving nine-year old wants to know how they got there. As the sisters' journey unfolds, they realize that you can leave one place for another, but that you carry everything with you." The press release continues, "Writer-actor Susan Ferrara created Peasant to explore and pay homage to her Italian-American heritage. In the solo piece, she brings nine characters to life."

Performances of Peasant run May 3 - 27, 2007, Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm, at Chashama Theatre (217 E. 42nd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.; Subway: 4/5/6 to Grand Central Station). There is an additional performance on Wednesday, May 23 at 8:00 pm, and no performance on Friday, May 25 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15. For reservations, call (917) 776-9726 or E-mail peasant2007@mac.com. The play's running time is 60 minutes. Press dates are May 5, 10, 11, and 12 at 8:00 pm, and May 6 and 13 at 2:00 pm. Peasant is an Equity approved showcase.

Deuce - 5/6/2007

Legendary star Angela Lansbury will make her long-awaited return to the Broadway stage this spring, starring opposite Marian Seldes in the world premiere of Deuce, a new play by Terrence McNally and directed by Michael Blakemore.

Deuce, which marks Ms. Lansbury's first role on Broadway in almost 25 years, will open Sunday, May 6th at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), with previews beginning Monday, April 16th. The production will play a strictly limited engagement of 18 weeks.

"Lansbury and Seldes star in Deuce as two former doubles tennis legends, reunited at a championship match, in McNally's warmly funny and unexpectedly moving new play," as press materials describe the show.

In her 60-plus year career on stage, film and television, Ms. Lansbury received four Tony Awards for her starring roles in Mame, Dear World, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd, three Academy Award nominations for Gaslight (her screen debut), The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Manchurian Candidate, and 18 Emmy Award nominations, including 12 for her long-running television series, "Murder, She Wrote."

Seldes won a Tony for A Delicate Balance, and has been nominated for her performances in Father's Day, Deathtrap, Ring Round the Moon, and Dinner at Eight. Last season, she earned rave reviews for her performance in McNally's Dedication, or the Stuff of Dreams.

McNally has won Tony Awards for his plays, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, and for his books for the musicals, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. Blakemore won Tony Awards in the same year for his direction of the play, Copenhagen, and the musical, Kiss Me Kate.

Additional casting and the Deuce creative team will be announced in coming weeks.

Deuce will be produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Maberry Theatricals, The Shubert Organization, Roger Berlind, Debra Black, Bob Boyett, Susan Dietz and Daryl Roth, in association with Primary Stages.

Tickets for Deuce will be on sale exclusively to American Express Card members beginning Sunday, January 14, 2007 at www.telecharge.com or by calling TeleCharge at 212: 239-6200. Public on sale will begin on Saturday, January 27.

Night of 1000 Voices - UK - 5/6/2007

For the first time Tony and Academy Award Winner and Broadway legend Joel Grey will be headlining at The Night of 1000 Voices. He will be joined by the current Phantom in Las Vegas, Anthony Crivello, Tony Award Winner for his performance in Kiss of The Spider Woman, Ruthie Henshall and members of the Cast of Avenue Q and special guests. This exciting and exclusive performance will introduced by I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Queen, Myleene Klass and will be for the benefit of The National Artistic Society.

The evening will take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May 6th at 8 PM.

The evening is devised and directed by Hugh Wooldridge. Tickets are available at prices from £17.50 to £60.00; and there are a limited number of special Gala packages at £150.00.

Visit www.nas.org.uk or www.royalalberthall.com for more information.

Euan Mortan @ Metropolitan Room - 5/6/2007

Award winning singer/actor Euan Morton will perform a new show for two upcoming Sunday evenings at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22 Street): May 6 and 13 (all shows at 9:30 p.m. ).

This engagement will be Morton's most intimate to date, as it marks the first time he will be performing in concert not fronting his rock band. Morton will mix old favorites with new songs, accompanied by Bryan Reeder on piano. The show will also involve visual artists, as well as special guest vocalists.

Tickets are $20.00 (with a 2-drink minimum). Reservations can be made by calling 212-206-0440.

For more information, visit www.officiallyeuanmorton.com.

David Hasselhoff Leaves Vegas Producers - 5/6/2007

After his short stint in the Las Vegas production of the Broadway musical The Producers, David Hasselhoff will leave the role of Roger De Bris next month, Paris Las Vegas announced today, April 10.

Because of Hasselhoff's prior commitment as a judge on the hit NBC show "America's Got Talent," he will be leaving the show on May 6. David Hasselhoff ("Baywatch," Jekyll & Hyde) joined the production as the flamboyant director, Roger De Bris in January 2007

Ethan Frome - Reading - 5/6/2007

Christiane Noll and Michael Minarik, co-stars of the Urinetown National Tour, will reunite in a by-invitation only reading of the new musical Ethan Frome: An American Romance on Sunday, May 6.

Noll has also starred in Broadway's Jekyll & Hyde and Off-Broadway's Little by Little and A Fine and Private Place. Minarik's credits include the National Tours of Little Women, Yeston and Kopit's Phantom, and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Presented by The York Theatre Company and Lively Arts Productions, the reading will also feature Leah Horowitz (Woman in White, La Cage auxFolles, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Nick Dalton (Hairspray Las Vegas, Ernest In Love).

The show has music and lyrics by Adam Gwon, a book by Michael Ruby, and is directed by Daniel T. Lavender.

"Based on the classic 1911 novella by Edith Wharton, the story takes place in rural New England. Ethan Frome, a poor farmer, is unhappily married to Zeena, a demanding and overbearing hypochondriac. When Zeena's younger cousin Mattie comes to live with them, Ethan is driven by his star-crossed love for Mattie, which makes the pair suffer devastating consequences," state press notes.

Ethan Frome was previously seen in a staged reading at The York Theatre last Spring and in the NAMT 2006 Songwriter's Showcase. The piece will also receive a fully-staged workshop at The University of Oklahoma in May. Visit www.yorktheatre.org for more on the York Theatre Company.

Spelling Bee - Adult Show - 5/6/2007

The cast of Broadway's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will present an Adults Only performance on Sunday, May 6 at 7:30pm.

"Due to the overwhelming success of last year's adult nights and the fact that the students of Putnam County can no longer be kept g-rated, the show will offer a much anticipated and all-risqué version of the Tony Award-winning musical. Leave your children at home with the sitter and come get an education of your own from the kids who know how to spell 'D-I-R-T-Y,'" state press materials.

Gutenberg! - Closing Show - 5/6/2007

Gutenberg! The Musical! — the critically acclaimed off-Broadway comedy — will play its final performance at The Actors' Playhouse on Sunday, May 6th at 7pm.

During its six-month Off-Broadway run, the production will have played a total of 173 performances (159 regular performances and 14 previews). Gutenberg! The Musical! opened as a six-week run at 59E59 Theaters in November 2006, before transferring to The Actors' Playhouse in January 2007.