City Center News

It's back - the funny, smart, and irreverent musical Nerds! Philadelphia Theatre Company revisits the musical satire Nerds with book and lyrics by Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner, music by Hal Goldberg, and a brand new cast and creative team. Directed by Casey Hushion with choreography by Joshua Bergasse, the ensemble features Stanley Bahorek, Matt Bradley, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Benny Elledge, Lexy Fridell, Raymond J. Lee, Alyse Alan Louis, Robert Morrison, Kevin Pariseau, Catherine Ricafort, and Blake Segal.

The exhausted GLEE star revealed that following some well-earned rest, she will be entertaining some interesting offers she has received since winning the hearts of America on the dance competition.

The Public Theater announced today that Emily Skeggs has joined the company as Medium Alison in the hit musical FUN HOME. Alexandra Socha, who originated the role, has left the show for personal reasons. Directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, the critically acclaimed musical has been extended three times due to overwhelming demand. FUN HOME will run through Sunday, December 29 and tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies and New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the New York City Center stage for the 42nd consecutive year from December 4, 2013 – January 5, 2014 with exciting performances that have become a joyous holiday tradition. Artistic Director Robert Battle continues to expand the Company's diverse repertory with premieres and new productions representing a wide range of important choreographic voices giving Ailey's extraordinary group of artists new ways to inspire audiences, including:

Vanessa Hidary, best known as the Hebrew Mamita and for her work on Russell Simmons 'Def Poetry Jam' on HBO, returns to the stage with her comedic solo show 10 DAYS. Written and performed by Vanessa Hidary and directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman, this limited engagement will run Dec 3 - 13 at the New Ohio Theatre. 10 DAYS is being presented by terraNOVA Collective, a soloNOVA ARTS workshop as part of the New Ohio Theatre's Producers' Club 2013.

Just a few months ago, Michael Riedel reported that Bette Midler has been approached for a revival, for which she seemingly passed, telling interviewers that she didn't see herself wanting to carry an entire musical for 8 shows a week. Now, it might be Kristin Chenoweth's turn. Riedel wrote that 'Kristin Chenoweth has said she'd love to play Dolly Levi in 'Hello, Dolly!' in about 10 years. But her wish may come true a lot sooner. I hear she's in discussions to star in a multimillion-dollar Broadway revival within the next two years.' He goes on to note that lined up as director and choreographer is Warren Carlyle (Cotton Club Parade, A Christmas Story, Chaplin, Follies & More.)

A holiday concert featuring three Broadway stars - including a Broadway success story from South St. Louis - is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Kirkwood's Robert G. Reim Theater, 111 South Geyer Road. For ticket information, visit www.retreattobroadway.com.

The Public Theater announced today that PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record and release the original cast recording of the acclaimed Public Theater musical FUN HOME, directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. Fox Theatricals and Barbara Whitman are serving as the recording's executive producers. Based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, FUN HOME will be recorded on Monday, December 2 and will be released as a single disc on February 18, 2014. FUN HOME received some of the best reviews of the season and was recently extended a third time due to overwhelming demand to Sunday, December 29. Anew block of tickets is on sale now and can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, visiting www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance proudly presents LOS NUTCRACKERS: A CHRISTMAS CARAJO, written by Charles Rice-Gonzalez, directed by Christopher Burris. The play, returning to BAAD!'s stage for the tenth exciting year, interweaves two holiday classics, The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, and creates a queer, Latino play about a gay couple who go on a psychedelic trip through their lives one Christmas Eve. The play will be presented December 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 8pm, and on Saturday, December 21 at 3pm at the new BAAD!, 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Westchester Square section of the Bronx. Tickets are $25 with discounts offered for seniors, groups and Bronx residents and members of BAAD!, BCA and NALAC. For reservations call 718-918-2110 or visit www.BronxAcademyOfArtsAndDance.org. To purchase tickets online visit BrownPaperTickets.com. BAAD! can be reached by the #6 train to Westchester Square.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) just announced complete casting for Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming world premiere of OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, the new play by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner John Patrick Shanley, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes.

I am thrilled to announce that our third production at the American Airlines Theatre this season will be Violet by Jeanine Tesori andBrian Crawley, directed by Leigh Silverman, and starring Sutton Foster. Leigh and Sutton started work on Violet at City Center as anEncores! Off Center concert, and we will be reuniting the creative team for our production.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, November 24, 2013 - Sunday, November 24, 2013.

It's Official! Sutton Foster is coming BACK to Broadway, as Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced that it will present two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in a Broadway production of VIOLET (first seen as part of Encores! Off-Center concert series in 2013), directed by Leigh Silverman. Based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, VIOLET features music by Jeanine Tesori and book & lyrics by Brian Crawley. VIOLET will be produced in association with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, David Mirvish, Barry and Fran Weissler, Elizabeth Armstrong, and Mary Jo and Ted Shen.

Fresh from its tours to New York City in October and Paris in November, Houston Ballet presents its tenth annual Jubilee of Dance, a special one-night only performance on Friday, December 6, 2013 at 7:30 pm.

Ballet Hispanico, recognized as the nation's leading Latino dance organization since 1970, returns to the legendary Apollo Theater tonight, November 23, 2013 at 7:30pm, following last season's sold-out holiday performance.

The Martha Graham Dance Company performed an intimate performance this week as part of the Company's “Graham Deconstructed” Series and Performa 13. The evening, entitled “Surreal Graham,” consisted of two pieces that exemplify the aura of surrealism, which sought to resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality through uncensored, unfiltered, and unconscious expression. Graham is perhaps the ultimate surrealist choreographer in that her work was ridden with shocking, sexual, and even violent undertones, themes that were popular amongst surrealist artists such as Salvador Dalí and René Magritte.

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of The Commons of Pensacola by Amanda Peet, directed by MTC's award-winning artistic director Lynne Meadow opened on Thursday night at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for all of the festivities and you can check out what the cast and creative team had to say at the after party below!

Highlights this week include 24 Hour Broadway, the opening of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and The Commons of Pensacola, as well as Chicago's 17th birthday!

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent conversation featured Broadway favorite Norm Lewis, moderated by Broadway World's Richard Ridge. Check out the conversation below!