Angela Lansbury News

Martha Wilkinson, the nine-time First Night Award-winning actress (who's been singled out for honors by both The Tennessean and Nashville Scene, as well) who is one of the few actors in Nashville whose very name can lend starpower to the box office of any show she's in, is back onstage this weekend in Nashville Shakespeare Festival's World War II-era adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. So, in honor of Martha's role as "the ultimate diva of Nashville theater," we've come up with a poll, asking the $64,000 Question: What Martha Wilkinson role would you love to see her play onstage again?

Charing Cross Theatre has announced its second season, opening with the world premiere of THE MAN ON HER MIND, followed by the Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose production of LA BOHEME, and concluding with the UK premiere of the 1969 Jerry Herman musical DEAR WORLD.

As previously reported, Tony Award winner Betty Buckley will be playing the 'Madwoman of Chaillot,' the Countess Aurelia, in a London revival of Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD at Charing Cross Theatre. The show has an opening date of February 4, running for eight weeks until March 30, 2013.

Two days after the death of its author, I had the pleasure of taking in director Michael Wilson's outstanding revival of The Best Man – one of the best evenings Broadway had to offer last season – for the third time.  Gore Vidal most certainly went out with a landslide victory.

AIDS Walk Los Angeles is the world's first fundraising event of its kind, and the event continues to keep the public engaged in the HIV/AIDS crisis. Last year, a passionate crowd of 30,000 walkers and 2,500 volunteers raised $3 million for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and advocacy programs. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $72 million to fight the disease in Los Angeles County.

...we'll still be playin' his songs.

Imelda Staunton, the actress who earned rave reviews for her work in the new West End production of SWEENEY TODD, may be headed back to the stage in another Stephen Sondheim show not long after SWEENEY TODD closes its doors on September 22.

Tony Award winner Betty Buckley will be playing the 'Madwoman of Chaillot,' the Countess Aurelia, in a London revival of Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD at Charing Cross Theatre, according to Buckley's Facebook and Twitter pages. Rehearsals begin in December 2012 under the direction of Gillian Lynne, and the show is set to open in February 2013, running for eight weeks until the end of March.

Producer Clifford Bell (www.Cabarabia.com) brings an eclectic collection of the best of the best working in the Cabaret Scene-Brad Ellis of 'Glee' and 'The Glee Project', recent Emmy nominee for his work on Jason Segel's Muppets Song on 'Saturday Night Live', Eli Brueggemann, the newest musical director, composer and arranger on 'SNL' (www.elibmusic.com), Joanne Tatham, direct from 'Feinstein's At Loews Regency' in New York, with a preview of her new show 'CINEMA NYC: Music From Movies Made In Manhattan' (www.joannetatham.com), Kid Hollywood, a hot new up and coming band generating a lot of buzz (www.kidhollywood.net), and a special appearance by singer-songwriter Sarah White (soundcloud.com/sarah_white), tonight, August 5 at 8 p.m.

With this week's news of the passing of American literary and political icon Gore Vidal at the advanced age of 86, now seems a particularly apt time to look back at a truly anomalous career and some of the highlights of a life lived on pages, stages, planes, trains and many of the most exclusive locales in the world.

In this, his 19th Broadway show, Hearn will portray the dual roles of James Kennedy, Aimee's kindhearted father; and Brother Bob, a popular preacher whose growing resentment of Aimee and her public power fuels him to vehemently discredit her from his pulpit.

Five-time Tony Award® and three-time Academy Award® nominee Angela Lansbury and two-time Tony Award® winner and Academy Award® winner James Earl Jones are coming together in Brisbane in Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic play Driving Miss Daisy. It was announced today by Events Queensland and Australian theatre producer John Frost that Driving Miss Daisy will play an exclusive Australian season at the Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane from February 5, 2013.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones will lead an Australian premiere of DRIVING MISS DAISY next winter. According to Courier Mail, the show is set to open at the Playhouse Theatre at QPAC on February 5.

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld, ANASTASIA - A New Musical is being brought to the stage in a 29-hour reading, which entered rehearsals last week, based on the hit 1997 animated motion picture from Fox Animation Studios. The musical, which is in its early stages of development, will feature the five songs from the film along with fifteen new songs written for the stage. Joining the creative team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will be bookwriter Terrence McNally and music director Ben Cohn. Joining the previously announced cast is Kelli Barrett in the title role of Anya (Anastasia). Patrick Page once again dons the role of the villain, Vladimir. Angela Lansbury will reprise her role from the film as the Empress Maria, and Aaron Tveit will play Dimitri.

Producer Clifford Bell (www.Cabarabia.com) brings an eclectic collection of the best of the best working in the Cabaret Scene-Brad Ellis of 'Glee' and 'The Glee Project', recent Emmy nominee for his work on Jason Segel's Muppets Song on 'Saturday Night Live', Eli Brueggemann, the newest musical director, composer and arranger on 'SNL' (www.elibmusic.com), Joanne Tatham, direct from 'Feinstein's At Loews Regency' in New York, with a preview of her new show 'CINEMA NYC: Music From Movies Made In Manhattan' (www.joannetatham.com), Kid Hollywood, a hot new up and coming band generating a lot of buzz (www.kidhollywood.net), and a special appearance by singer-songwriter Sarah White (soundcloud.com/sarah_white), on Sunday, August 5 at 8 p.m.

Candice Bergen, Eric McCormack, Kerry Butler, Michael McKean, and Angela Lansbury have now been replaced in the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN by Cybill Shepherd, John Stamos, Kristin Davis, Mark Blum, and Elizabeth Ashley, respectively. Original cast members James Earl Jones, John Larroquette and Jefferson Mays will remain with the production through its final performance on Sunday, September 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the new cast of THE BEST MAN on stage in the photos below!

According to the Associated Press, Broadway producer and agent Archer King died in New York City of natural causes on July 19, 2012. He was 95.

Howard Panter (Mr West End himself) for The Ambassador Theatre Group presents Monty Python's Spamalot, a new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, directed by Christopher Luscombe. Galloping into the West End for a truly bespoke season at the Harold Pinter Theatre (long pause) tonight, 24 July - Sunday 9 September 2012 (press night Tuesday 31 July). Tickets on sale now.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, July 22, 2012 - Sunday, July 22, 2012.

Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury leaves her role as Mrs. Sue-Ellen Gamadge in the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN today, July 22, 2012. Original cast members Candice Bergen, Eric McCormack and Kerry Butler also departed the production this month.