Charles Busch News

Yesterday evening, May 4, stage and screen actor Bryan Batt hosted a book signing release party at Covet Lounge in Manhattan. Batt's autobiography, 'She Ain't Heavy, She's My Mother: A Memoir' was released on May 4, 2010 by Random House and is now available wherever books are sold in both online and retail outlets. BroadwayWorld was on hand to celebrate the event.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 4, 2010 by Broadway Star Lea Michele and Tony Award Nominee Jeff Daniels.

Lortel Statues for 14 categories and 2 special awards were handed out by celebrity presenters at the 2010 Lucille Lortel Awards at a live awards ceremony last night, May 2, at Terminal 5. Hosted by the Off-Broadway League, the live show was co-hosted by Bryan Batt and Bebe Neuwirth and featured performances by Alan Menken, STOMP, Seth Rudetsky, Edward Watts of The Fanasticks and LaChanze. BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet to capture the evening's starry arrivals!

On Saturday, May 1, the Straight for Equality Awards Gala honored Liza Minnelli at the New York Marriott Marquis. Liza Minnelli was presented with the 2010 Straight for Equality in Entertainment Award. This honor recognizes Liza's lifelong role as a Straight Ally of the LGBT community. Additional honorees included NFL Super Bowl XLIV star, now of the Cleveland Browns Scott Fujita, and international food services corporation Sodexo. The event was hosted by comedienne Caroline Rhea, with the live auction hosted by actor and 'Amazing Race IV' winner Reichen Lehmkuhl. BroadwayWorld was on hand to celebrate.

'TalkOut Mondays' (after the performance) is honored to announce for May 3rd the guest will be Barney Frank at the critically acclaimed hit show 'The Temperamentals' by Jon Marans at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

WHORING IS HARD WORK. And now the competition is about to get stiffer with the influx of the newly jobless. Whore Works takes a sharp, witty, balls-out look at a black male hooker's day-to-night struggle with hating and sometimes loving men who are paying him to, well.........you know.

The Civil War has ended, but conflict rages backstage at Ford's Theatre on the night of Lincoln's assassination. Playwright Charles Busch mixes fact with outlandish fiction in this unlikely comedy (yes, comedy!) set against the backdrop of one of the most dramatic events in our nation's history: Our Leading Lady.

THE 15th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS will bring together under one roof in just three days a multitude of performing artists - actors, dancers, singers, painters, sculptors, playwrights, performance artists, poets, etc. -- all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, artistically rich Lower East Side -- for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

Anna Chlumsky (My Girl), Julie Halston (Gypsy), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Freedomland), Doris Roberts ('Everybody Loves Raymond') and Brooke Shields ('Lipstick Jungle') joined the May cast of Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's smash hit show Love, Loss, and What I Wore beginning this week on April 28 (through May 23). Love, Loss, and What I Wore, which opened in October 2009 and played its 200th performance on Sunday (3/28/10), has been playing to sold-out houses at the Westside Theatre. BroadwayWorld was on hand to help welcome the new cast last night.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) has announced a special addition to its 25th Anniversary Season with Primary Stages Spring Celebration, celebrating 25 years with 25 days of events.

The Manhattan Theatre Club Broadway premiere of COLLECTED STORIES, by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Time Stands Still, Dinner with Friends), directed by Lynne Meadow (The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, The Loman Family Picnic) opened last night at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). BroadwayWorld was there to capture the starry arrivals!

Anna Chlumsky (My Girl), Julie Halston (Gypsy), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Freedomland), Doris Roberts ('Everybody Loves Raymond') and Brooke Shields ('Lipstick Jungle') join the May cast of Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's smash hit show Love, Loss, and What I Wore beginning tonight, April 28 (through May 23). Love, Loss, and What I Wore, which opened in October 2009 and played its 200th performance on Sunday (3/28/10), has been playing to sold-out houses at the Westside Theatre (407 W 43rd Street).

'TalkOut Mondays' (after the performance) continues and is honored that the guest for May 3rd will be Barney Frank (US Congressman; just named # 2 in the Out magazine Power 50 - their annual guide to America's most influential gays), at the critically acclaimed hit show 'The Temperamentals' by Jon Marans at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The campy comedy 'Psycho Beach Party' by Charles Busch will be performed at the Newnan Community Theatre Company this summer. The play is a fun spoof of 1960s beach movies with a slight Hitchcock twist.

'TalkOut Mondays' (after the performance) continues April 26th with Chuck Wolfe (President & CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund) at the critically acclaimed hit show 'The Temperamentals' by Jon Marans at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Daryl Roth, Stacy Shane and Martian Entertainment are presenting the new American play.

Several Broadway stars are set for the upcoming Primary Stages Concert series, including Charles Busch, Mario Cantone, Penny Fuller, Julie Halston, Jamie deRoy, Gregg Edelman, and Karen Mason. The performances will take place in April and May over a one week span that will take place at the 59E59 Theatre.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) has announced a special addition to its 25th Anniversary Season with Primary Stages Spring Celebration, celebrating 25 years with 25 days of events.

The Lucille Lortel Awards recently hosted an reception for all 2010 Lucielle Lortel Award Nominees for the 25th Anniversary Lortel Awards Reception & Ceremony. The full Awards Reception will be held on May 2, 2010 at 6 PM EST with the Ceremony beginning at 8 PM EST at Terminal 5, 610 West 56th Street, between 11th & 12th Avenues. Members of the industry may purchase tickets through the Off-Broadway League while members of the public wishing to watch the show can purchase tickets at ticketcentral.com or via phone 212-279-4200.

PREMIERES (Paulette Haupt, Artistic Director/Producer), in association with Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), presents the special 4-week presentation of Inner Voices: Solo Musicals, with the premieres of two new one-act solo musicals: Mosaic with Book & Lyrics by Cheri Steinkellner and Music & Lyrics by Georgia Stitt, featuring Heidi Blickenstaff as Ruth, and Whida Peru: Resurrection Tangle with Book & Lyrics by David Simpatico and Music by Josh Schmidt, featuring Judith Blazer as Whida Peru.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to announce their 2010 - 2011 season of shows! This season, the company will offer its subscribers and audiences six unforgettable theatrical experiences: From the hilarious Broadway hit from Charles Busch, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife to the cotton-candy colored pop musical blast from the past, The Marvelous Wonderettes.