Chita Rivera News

Will they or won't they...bring the Berkshires production to NY? Chita Rivera's costar brings us the scoop on the Kander and Ebb show.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include The Public Theatre's KING LEAR, Constantine Maroulis' return to ROCK OF AGES, the opening of the Off-Broadway production of PHOENIX, and more!

Williamstown Theatre Festival opened The Visit, starring Broadway legend, Chita Rivera and Tony Award winner, Roger Rees. The production runs through August 17, 2014.

New York City Center's 2014-15 season features an exciting lineup of dance and musical theater that begins with the 11th season of City Center's acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival. The Festival features 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, and will kick off in September with two free dance performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in association with The Public Theater, followed by five unique programs at City Center in October. The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, follows in November, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns for a month-long engagement in December.

Those foot-stopping aggies, those friendly ladies of the night (and day), Miss Mona, Sherriff Ed Earl Dodd, the side-stepping Governor, and master media manipulator Melvin P. Thorpe will populate Broadway in the brand-new production of the Larry L. King - Pete Masterson - Carol Hall musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Broadway legend Chita Rivera makes her Williamstown Theatre Festival debut opposite Festival favorite and former Artistic Director Roger Rees in the newest incarnation of Kander and Ebb's THE VISIT, the musical based on the 1956 tragicomedy by Swiss playwright Friedrich Durrenmatt, with book by Terrence McNally. Director John Doyle has reimagined it as a one-act with a focus on the love story, and his collaboration with Choreographer Graciela Daniele results in a show that makes movement a vital component to convey elements of the narrative without words.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical featuring music by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, lyrics by Brickell, and book by Martin, based on an original story by Martin and Brickell. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star will run September 13 - November 2, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 13 - September 27. Opening night is Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale on Friday, August 8 at noon.

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves) NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: KING LEAR opens at Shakespeare in the Park, and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE begins in D.C., plus Christopher Fitzgerald returns to CHICAGO in a new role and more!

Bay Area Cabaret, devoted to presenting audiences with top performers who expand the definition of cabaret, enters its 11th season this fall with a sparkling lineup at the Fairmont San Francisco's historic Venetian Room. The new season features a star-studded lineup of performers making their Bay Area Cabaret debuts, as well as the return of a few favorites. The season kicks off on Saturday, September 27, 2014 with a tribute to songwriter Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, Pocahontas, Enchanted, Prince of Egypt), starring Mr. Schwartz, SNL's Ana Gasteyer, Broadway's Liz Callaway and Michael McCorry Rose. The season continues November 2 with Tony winner Leslie Uggams (Hallelujah, Baby!, Beulah, Roots) and December 7 with Andrew Lloyd Webber protege and star of Broadway's Phantom of the Opera and Little Mermaid Sierra Boggess.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of The Public Theater's production of A SECOND CHANCE online and in stores today, August 5.

Multi-award-winning stage and screen composer John Kander discusses the latest edition of his long-aborning musical adaptation of the classic Friedrich Durrenmatt play THE VISIT as part of a new interview.

Williamstown Theatre Festival opened The Visit, starring Broadway legend, Chita Rivera and Tony Award winner, Roger Rees. The production runs through August 17, 2014.

Megan Hilty, was a breakout star of NBC's "Smash" and starred on Broadway in "Wicked" and "9 to 5: The Musical." She most recently starred as Liz on NBC's "Sean Saves The World" with Sean Hayes of "Will & Grace" fame. She returns to the original Broadway @ The Art House series this month by popular demand after her sold-out debut run at the theater last summer. She will be joined by husband and fellow Broadway star Brian Gallagher on guitar August 13, 14, 15 & 18, and will be joined by series host and SiriusXM star Seth Rudetsky at piano on August 16 & 17. For tickets please visit The Art House website, or call 508-487-9222.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents The Visit, running on the Main Stage from tonight, July 31 through August 17, 2014. Check out a first look below!

FlynnArts Summer Youth Theater opened THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD on Thursday, July 31 at Burlington's FlynnSpace at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

Legendary composer John Kander received a National Medal of Arts from President Obama at the White House on July 28, 2014, and today, friends and colleagues Terrence McNally and Chita Rivera have released a joint statement on his recognition.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents The Visit, running on the Main Stage from tonight, July 31 through August 17, 2014.

'Dance is a metaphor for expression, for freedom. In Footloose we use dance to express ourselves when we have no words. [As characters] we are all closed off, and finally at the end of the story, we are loosened; we become individuals again.' Speaking is Kristen Martin, who plays Ariel in Maine State Music Theatre's final season production of Footloose, which runs from August 6-23. Her co-star, Eric Sciotto, agrees that his character, Ren, is 'on a journey to find himself after being abandoned by his father. Ren sees in Ariel a troubled soul who reminds him of himself. They recognize immediately that they are kindred spirits.'

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Off-Broadway is heating up today with BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY and 'REVOLUTION IN THE ELBOW' kicking off performances, plus AVENUE Q's interactive 11th Anniversary celebration, and stars are popping up around the country with Chita Rivera in Williamstown's THE VISIT, Taylor Louderman in The Muny's GREASE and more!