Ben Brantley News

Diversionary Theatre announced complete casting for its production of The Divine Sister written by Charles Busch and directed by Glenn Paris. Performances begin at Diversionary Theatre (4545 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116) tonight, May 23, 2013

Broadway star Megan Hilty makes her debut with the Boston Pops this week.

Mint Theater (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) today announced its line-up of EnrichMint Events for its upcoming production of A Picture of Autumn by N.C. Hunter. For each of their productions, Mint Theater hosts a number of post-show speakers for what are called "EnrichMint" Events. These post-show discussions are free and open to the public. The speakers may be experts on an author or era, or leaders in a humanities field that may bring an entirely different perspective on the play.

So what actress was "like a block of wood"? Who was "overrated" and who was pigeon-toed? As the 2012-13 theater season winds down and Tony Award voters are rushing to all of the nominated shows, THEATER TALK invites drama critics Ben Brantley (The New York Times), Peter Marks (The Washington Post), and fledgling Broadway pundit Joan Rivers (Beverly Hills Courier) to weigh in with their opinions about the late-opening productions. The 2013 Season's End Critics' Panel, co-hosted by Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins, premieres Friday, May 17, 2013 at 1 AM (Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, and repeats in the New York metro area on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 12:30 PM, and Monday at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM.

St. Ann's Warehouse has announced programming highlights of its 2013-14 season, which will kick off in October with the American Premiere of the Donmar Warehouse's tremendously acclaimed all-female production of Julius Caesar.

With less than a month until the Tony Awards, New York Times reviewers Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood released their list of Tony picks today, including who they believe will win, who should win, and who was snubbed.

Pittsburgh Public Theater's highly successful MADE IN AMERICA season concludes with Jon Robin Baitz's Broadway sensation Other Desert Cities, nominated for the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play. Other Desert Cities is directed by Rob Ruggiero, whose recent Broadway credits include High starring Kathleen Turner and Looped starring Valerie Harper. He was last at The Public to direct Ella. Other Desert Cities runs May 30 - June 30, 2013 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. The engagement of Helena Ruoti in this production has been generously supported by Richard W. Moriarty, M.D.

THEATER TALK welcomes Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, creators of Broadway's hit Kinky Boots. The fun and revealing new interview premieres Friday, May 10, 2013 at 1 AM (Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, and repeats in the New York metro area on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 12:30 PM, and Monday at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM.

New season subscriptions for the highly anticipated 2013-2014 Broadway Las Vegas series at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts are now available.

The producers of the Tony Award-nominated play ORPHANS announced yesterday that the Broadway production will play its final performance on May 19 after 27 previews and 37 regular performances at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). The production began performances on March 26 and opened on April 18 starring Alec Baldwin, Ben Foster and Tom Sturridge and is directed by Daniel Sullivan

New season subscriptions for the highly anticipated 2013-2014 Broadway Las Vegas series at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts are now available.

Diversionary Theatre announced complete casting for its production of The Divine Sister written by Charles Busch and directed by Glenn Paris. Performances begin at Diversionary Theatre (4545 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116) on May 23, 2013

The historic Woodlawn Theatre presents the San Antonio Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, May 24 through June 23, 2013. With a zesty score that skips from Latin pop to hip hop and back, the show is infused with simple, yet infectious joy….just like the barrio in which the story unfolds.

Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films, Old Vic Productions and NETworks Presentations, LLC announced today, in association with Time for Fun (T4F), that the North American Tour of Billy Elliot the Musical will travel to South America for a limited three-week engagement from Friday, August 2, to Sunday, August 18, at Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, direction by Stephen Daldry and choreography by Peter Darling Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim around the world and was the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

The historic Woodlawn Theatre presents the San Antonio Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, May 24 through June 23, 2013. With a zesty score that skips from Latin pop to hip hop and back, the show is infused with simple, yet infectious joy....just like the barrio in which the story unfolds.

Primary Stages has announced the fourth production of their upcoming 29th Season: A new production of their 1995 Obie Award-winning THE MODEL APARTMENT by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies.

The Whitney Museum in New York has commissioned a new work by playwright Thomas Bradshaw for the Blues For Smoke Exhibition Live Performances to premiere today, April 26 through April 28, at the Whitney.

Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's beloved coming-of-age musical comedy Pippin opens tonight, April 25, 2013, at Broadway's Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). This all-new production is directed by Diane Paulus featuring choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse and circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers). Let's see what the critics had to say...