Ben Brantley News

The producers of Peter and the Starcatcher, the five-time Tony Award-winning play that Ben Brantley of The New York Times says has "more imagination and innovation than you'll find in a host of Hollywood spectacles," announced today that the critical and audience favorite will offer special tickets prices, in conjunction with NYCGo's 2013 Off-Broadway Week. Although Peter and the Starcatcher does not begin performances at New World Stages (340 West 50th St.) until March 18, 2013, theatergoers can purchase tickets at this special 2-for-1 rate beginning January 28 through February 10, for performances during the first two weeks of the Off-Broadway run by visiting BroadwayOffers.com and using this code: OBW13W.

The producers of Gerard Alessandrini's acclaimed FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING! are pleased to announce that Lindsay Nicole Chambers will join the cast of the hit musical on Tuesday, February 5 at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street). Last seen on Broadway in Lysistrata Jones, Ms. Chambers replaces Jenny Lee Stern whose last performance is Sunday, February 3rd. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING! is scheduled to run through April 28th . The new recording, from DRG Records, is now available in stores, on iTunes and at Amazon.com.

Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, will begin tonight, January 17, and will play a limited engagement through March 30, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Roundabout Theatre Company's new Broadway production of Picnic, in association with Darren Bagert and Martin Massman, opens officially today, Sunday, January 13, 2013, at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, the explosive Off-Broadway play, has announced today that it will play a weekend of performances once a month at The SoHo Playhouse Mainstage (15 Vandam Street, NYC). Previously scheduled to play weekly performances through Sunday, January 6th, effective immediately the production is now playing four performances during the second weekend of each month beginning January 11, 2013. This monthly cycle will continue on the weekends of February 8th and March 8th. A closing date has not been announced.

Red Bull Theater's (Jesse Berger, Artistic Director) acclaimed revival of Ben Jonson's VOLPONE, or The Fox, ends its limited engagement Sunday December 23rd at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets).

The holiday season totally snuck up on me this year. I'm writing this on December 11, just TWO WEEKS before Christmas (and already three nights into Hannukah), and I'm more than a little bit panicked!! Two weeks to do all of my shopping? EEK to say the least. Luckily I have the BC/EFA Catalogue of Giving, which offers hundreds of Broadway-themed gifts, my favorite of which I'll share with you below. Proceeds to the wonderful causes supported by Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, which this year includes help for victims of Hurricane Sandy and similar disasters.

In the Heights, the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will make a return with much of its original Broadway cast for one night only this February.

FELA! has announced its return to Chicago for six performances only February 19 - 23, 2013 at the Arie Crown Theater (2301 South Lake Shore Drive).

The Rhino New Year's Eve Spectacular returns with LEA DeLARIA LIVE! for two performances only on Monday, December 31, at 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM. A genre defying theatrical performer, Broadway star and vocalist Lea DeLaria brings her one of a kind blend of song and hilarious satire to the Victoria. Ring in the New Year with the most outrageous, tuneful show in town. Tickets can be purchased at www.TheRhino.org or by calling 800-838-3006. Tickets range from $30-$35.

In the Heights, the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will make a return with much of its original Broadway cast for one night only this February.

Glengarry Glen Ross opened last night, Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). The limited run has been extended through Sunday, January 20, 2013. Let's see what the critics had to say...

THE ANARCHIST, a new play written and directed by David Mamet opened tonight on Broadway at the newly refurbished Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say!

DEAD ACCOUNTS, the new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, stars two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Katie Holmes. Dead Accounts also stars Judy Greer, Josh Hamilton, and two-time Tony Award nominee Jayne Houdyshell. The limited engagement of Dead Accounts opens tonight, November 29, at Broadway's Music Box Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING, The UN-Original Cast Album features Gerard Alessandrini's parodies of Broadway's biggest shows and brightest stars, including Annie, Newsies, Once, The Book of Mormon, Spiderman, Evita, Porgy and Bess, Anything Goes, and Follies, as well of send-ups of Catherine Zeta Jones, Matthew Broderick, Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, among others.

Red Bull Theater presents a rare revival of Ben Jonson's VOLPONE, or The Fox, for a strictly limited engagement beginning tonight, November 27th at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets).