Ann Roth News

Initial casting has been announced for THE BOOK OF MORMON, the first Broadway musical from the creators of 'South Park'. The production opens on Broadway on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). Previews begin on February 24, 2011.

Legendary costume designer ALBERT WOLSKY and world renowned scenic designer MING CHO LEE are among the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, April 23 at 6:30pm at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Two-time Academy Award-winner Albert Wolsky will receive the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for costume design, and Tony Award-winning scenic designer and educator Ming Cho Lee will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design.

Legendary costume designer ALBERT WOLSKY and world renowned scenic designer MING CHO LEE are among the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, April 23 at 6:30pm at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Two-time Academy Award-winner Albert Wolsky will receive the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for costume design, and Tony Award-winning scenic designer and educator Ming Cho Lee will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design.

Legendary costume designer ALBERT WOLSKY and world renowned scenic designer MING CHO LEE are among the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, April 23 at 6:30pm at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Two-time Academy Award-winner Albert Wolsky will receive the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for costume design, and Tony Award-winning scenic designer and educator Ming Cho Lee will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design.

The Costume Designers Guild has announced its nominees for their 12th annual awards show. The awards honor contemporary, period and fantasy costume design in films, TV and commercials. Lou Eyrich of GLEE received a nomination for 'Outstanding Contemporary Television Series', while Colleen Atwood of Rob Marshall's film musical NINE received a nomination nod for the category 'Excellence in Period Film'.

Producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi announced today that Warren Carlyle, the director/choreographer of the current acclaimed Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow, has joined the creative team of the Broadway-bound musical PURE COUNTRY. Carlyle will handle Musical Staging and Choreography. Based on the hit movie of the same name, PURE COUNTRY is on track to have its Broadway premiere as part of the 2010/2011 Season.

I don't know if Carol Burnett ever spoofed Hedda Gabler on her celebrated television variety show, but if she did I'm sure her reaction to a major plot twist late in Ibsen's 1890 drama would have been somewhat similar to Mary-Louise Parker's bug-eyed, open-mouthed, head-shaking, hands on cheeks shtick that drew appreciative howls from the audience at the press performance I attended. I suppose such an acting choice is consistent with a production that frequently has Michael Cerveris, as her bland academic husband, Jorgen Tesman, flashing goofy grins at his new bride while Paul Sparks, as her ex-lover, Eljert Lovborg, emotionlessly barks out his words of passion. Meanwhile, Peter Stormare, as the manipulative Judge Brack, appears to be playing 'Where's Waldo' with his sing-songy accent. (I lost count, but I believe this production has more accents than characters.)

It has been announced by Eddie Marks, President of the Western Costume Company, that the company has acquired the famed Dykeman-Young costume collection, the extraordinary resource for film and theater designers.

Multi-platinum Country music star Lorrie Morgan has been cast in the Broadway-bound production of the hit movie PURE COUNTRY, producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi announced today. Morgan joins fellow Country music star Joe Nichols to headline the new musical that is expected to open on Broadway in early 2010. As previously announced, Nichols takes on the role of ?Rusty' [?Dusty' in the movie], which was made famous in the film by George Strait. Morgan now joins him to play the role of ?Lula,' Rusty's ruthless manager, which was created on film by Lesley Anne Warren.

Country music star, CMA Winner, ACM Winner and four-time Grammy Nominee Joe Nichols has been offered the role made famous by George Strait in the Broadway production of the hit movie, Pure Country. According to producer Randall L. Wreghitt, the musical is in the process of securing the remainder of its financing and casting, and plans to open in early 2010.

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Hedda Gabler will play its final performance on Sunday, March 29th at 2:00 PM. Mary Louise Parker, Michael Cerveris, Paul Sparks and Peter Stormare star in this revival directed by Ian Rickson, featuring a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn, at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd St).

Legendary designers WILLIAM IVEY LONG and BOB CROWLEY are among the four recipients of 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards to be presented at a ceremony this Friday, March 27 at 6:30pm, at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Five-time Tony Award winning costume designer William Ivey Long will receive the 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for theatrical costume design, and, for his achievements as both a costume and scenic designer, Bob Crowley (also a five-time Tony Award winner) will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards' special Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatrical Design.

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Hedda Gabler will play its final performance on Sunday, March 29th at 2:00 PM. Mary Louise Parker, Michael Cerveris, Paul Sparks and Peter Stormare star in this revival directed by Ian Rickson, featuring a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn, at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd St).

Mary-Louise Parker, star of Roundabout Theatre Company's HEDDA GABLER, will be featured on WNYC's 'The Leonard Lopate Show' on Friday, March 6th from 12:00PM-12:30PM on 93.9FM and AM 820. Mary-Louise will also appear on NY1's 'On Stage' this weekend beginning Saturday, March 7th on channel 1.

The world premiere of Keith Bridges stunning new play LIE WITH ME will be launched by Mutineer Theatre Company, the newest performing arts venture in Los Angeles, on March 7, 2009. This inaugural production for the company will be directed by Joe Banno, and will run at the Art/Works Theatre through April 5, 2009.

Morgan Karr's concert, entitled 'An Awfully Big Adventure,' will be presented March 24th at the legendary showcase venue for live music. Show time is 11:30pm. Special guests will be announced at a later date. Charity Wicks (Spring Awakening, In the Heights, Stephen Schwartz's S?ance on a Wet Afternoon) will music direct. Karr will take the audience on his 'awfully big adventure' with a throwback to his Nashville upbringing, featuring a mix of country, R&B, and Broadway tunes.

Mary-Louise Parker, star of Roundabout Theatre Company's HEDDA GABLER, will be featured on WOR's 'Joan Hamburg Show' tomorrow Thursday, February 5th from 11:00AM-12:00PM on 710AM. Mary-Louise will also appear on WNYC's 'The Leonard Lopate Show' on Friday, February 6th from 12:00PM-12:40PM. Tune in to both shows and hear Mary-Louise discuss her role in this classic Henrik Ibsen play. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents Tony? award winner Mary-Louise Parker (Hedda Gabler), Tony? award winner Michael Cerveris (Jorgen Tesman), Paul Sparks (Ejlert Lovborg) and Peter Stormare (Judge Brack) in a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. The production features a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn and is directed by Ian Rickson.

Mary-Louise Parker, star of Roundabout Theatre Company's HEDDA GABLER, will be featured on WOR's 'Joan Hamburg Show' tomorrow Thursday, February 5th from 11:00AM-12:00PM on 710AM. Mary-Louise will also appear on WNYC's 'The Leonard Lopate Show' on Friday, February 6th from 12:00PM-12:40PM. Tune in to both shows and hear Mary-Louise discuss her role in this classic Henrik Ibsen play. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents Tony? award winner Mary-Louise Parker (Hedda Gabler), Tony? award winner Michael Cerveris (Jorgen Tesman), Paul Sparks (Ejlert Lovborg) and Peter Stormare (Judge Brack) in a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. The production features a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn and is directed by Ian Rickson.

Legendary designers WILLIAM IVEY LONG and BOB CROWLEY are among the four recipients of the 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards. Five-time Tony Award winning costume designer William Ivey Long will receive the 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for theatrical costume design, and, for his achievements as both a costume and scenic designer, Bob Crowley (also a five-time Tony Award winner) will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards' special Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatrical Design at a ceremony on Friday, March 27, at the Hudson Theatre in New York City.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, February 3, 2009.