Ben Brantley News

There are only a few more performances to catch for Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING! at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street). The smash musical, which received unanimous raves from critics and audiences alike, broke all box-office records at the 47th Street Theatre and won spots on the Top Ten Lists of Time Magazine and the Associated Press, will begin its hiatus on Sunday, April 28, in order to make room for The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre's own season, as required by the show's lease agreement with the theatre.

The Broadway revival of Horton Foote's beloved classic, The Trip to Bountiful, opens tonight, April 23, at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 W 43rd St). Directed by Michael Wilson, the cast features Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding, Jr, Emmy Award nominee and recording star Vanessa Williams, and Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Award-winning stage and screen actress Fiona Shaw returns to Broadway tonight, April 22, for the opening of The Testament of Mary, by the acclaimed author Colm Toibin, directed by Deborah Warner. The production will run for a twelve-week limited engagement through Sunday, June 16, at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI - Lehigh Valley) will sponsor a post-performance talkback at Civic Theatre on May 9, to explore the range of mental health issues raised by the Pulitzer-winning musical "Next to Normal." The post-show talk back is free. Tickets to 'Next to Normal' range from $20-31.

The Broadway production of Lyle Kessler's Orphans starring Alec Baldwin, Ben Foster and Tom Sturridge and directed by Daniel Sullivan, opens tonight, April 18, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere production of Richard Greenberg's The Assembled Parties opens tonight, April 17, at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham announced the line-up today for The Public's 2013-2014 season, continuing the theater's nearly 60 year tradition of producing Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental works in equal measure while engaging a wide range of audiences and artists at its six downtown theaters at Astor Place, including Joe's Pub, as well as the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public's 58th season will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed Under the Radar Festival and the 15th anniversary of the world-renowned Joe's Pub. 'This season - whether classics, new plays, musicals or experimental ensembles - speaks to the way we live now,' said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. 'We will bring you the triumphant return (and climax) of Richard Nelson's Apply Family Plays, the heartbreaking and gorgeous new musical Fun Home, and Tarell Alvin McCraney's thrilling Antony & Cleopatra, in a collaboration between England and America's leading Shakespeare companies. We are deeply proud of the range and depth of the work of these remarkable artists and are delighted to add them to the rich history of The Public Theater.'

The Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) presents Douglas Carter Beane's new play The Nance directed by Jack O'Brien, opening tonight, April 15. This production features Jenni Barber, Andrea Burns, Cady Huffman, Mylinda Hull, Nathan Lane, Geoffrey Allen Murphy, Jonny Orsini and Lewis J. Stadlen.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opens tonight April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). The four girls sharing the title role are Sophia Gennusa -- who will play the lead for tonight's opening -- Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, each of whom will be making her Broadway debut. Let's see what the critics had to say...

'The Book of Mormon' may be outrageous, irreverent, and puerile in the extreme, but the most offensive thing about this insipid show is its insulting lack of wit.

Mint Theater (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) today announced the cast for the American Premiere of A Picture of Autumn by N.C. Hunter, directed by Gus Kaikkonen. The Mint production will run from May 23rd until July 14th at its home (311 West 43rd Street). Opening Night is set for Monday, June 10 th.

Red Bull Theater will present the American Premiere of a new adaptation of August Strindberg's The Dance of Death by Mike Poulton (Tony Award Nominee for Best Play for Fortune's Fool), directed by Joseph Hardy (Tony Award winner for Best Director for Child's Play), for a strictly limited engagement beginning tonight, April 10th and continuing through May 4th only, at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets). Opening Night is set for Thursday April 18th.

Red Bull Theater (Jesse Berger, Artistic Director) today announced that Derek Smith would join the cast for the American Premiere of a new adaptation of August Strindberg's The Dance of Death by Mike Poulton (Tony Award Nominee for Best Play for Fortune's Fool), directed by Joseph Hardy (Tony Award winner for Best Director for Child's Play). This strictly limited engagement begins Wednesday April 10th and continues through May 4th only, at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets). Opening Night is set for Thursday April 18th. Hardy directs a company that features Daniel Davis, Laila Robins, and Derek Smith.

The Flea Theater will present the world premiere of a cautionary tale by playwright christopher oscar peña. Directed by Flea Resident Director Benjamin H. Kamine (Thomas Bradshaw's Job), previews begin May 29 with opening night set for June 10.

Kinky Boots, from four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (book), Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Music & Lyrics), Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Director & Choreographer), began preview performances on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) on March 3, 2013 and opens tonight, April 4, 2013.

Tina Packer's Women of Will: The Complete Journey, the five play series that explores and deconstructs William Shakespeare's most famous female characters, will begin performances (Parts 1 - 5) today, April 5, 2013 at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson Street @ Washington Square South) it has been announced by the show's producer Sarah Hancock and its star/creator Tina Packer.

Two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks makes his Broadway debut in Lucky Guy, a new play written by three-time Academy Award nominee Nora Ephron and directed by two-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe. Lucky Guy opens tonight, April 1, at Broadhurst Theatre.