Danny Goldstein News

A careful look through the New Testament indicates that Jesus Christ liked to eat. In addition to the notable Last Supper, he dined at the home of Martha and Mary; grilled fish at the seashore; multiplied loaves and fishes; was a guest at a friend's wedding at Cana; and ate with friends on the road to Emmaus. After healing Peter's mother-in-law, she got up and prepared a meal for Him and His coterie. It's a small wonder then that Hunter Parris, who plays Jesus in the Broadway revival of GODSPELL, chooses to be interviewed over lunch at one of his favorite Chelsea eateries.

The 2012 Actors Studio Drama School Repertory Season performances will take place at The Theater at Dance New Amsterdam, 53 Chambers St., just north of City Hall, Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. from March 28 through April 28. The full schedule and information about plays, actors, directors and playwrights can be found online at www.Pace.edu/ASDSRep

February 2nd marked the opening night for the Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) world premiere of the new play, Rx, written by Kate Fodor. Directed by Ethan McSweeny, the cast features Michael Bakkensen, Marylouise Burke, Marin Hinkle, Stephen Kunken, Paul Niebanck, and Elizabeth Rich. Rx will have set design by Lee Savage, costume design by Andrea Lauer, lighting design by Matthew Richards, original music and sound design by Lindsay Jones, and prop supervision by Faye Armon. See photos from opening night below.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is an extreme open mic that has been running every Monday for the past eight years at Birdland, the historic music room in Manhattan's Theater District. It's also a bi-monthly event at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles. Stars like Martin Short, Carol Channing, Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Feinstein, Liza Minnelli, Melissa Manchester and Tony Bennett have all joined in on the fun and impromptu performances - sharing the stage with Broadway chorus cuties, jazzers and composers.

On Monday, May 24, the National Arts Club hosted a pre-release celebration party for Mickey Rapkin's 'Theater Geek.' 'Theater Geek' tells the story of Stagedoor Manor's rich history and amazing track record for producing the next generation of stars. 'Theater Geek,' penned by GQ Senior Editor and author of 'Pitch Perfect,' is published by Free Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and will be released June 1, 2010.

CALVIN BERGER, a musical retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, will open tonight at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. The show will feature Broadway star Noah Weisberg as Calvin, alongside David Hull, Krystal Joy Brown and Dana Steingold. Previews for the production began February 10th.

Tony nominees Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Les Miserables), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Spelling Bee), Michael Rupert (Falsettos, Legally Blonde), Stephen Bogardus (Love! Valour! Compassion!) and Laura Osnes (South Pacific) among many other artists joined together for 'Broadway Stands up for Freedom!,' a benefit concert to support the youth programs of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson ('Lost') and Emmy and Tony nominee Roger Rees ('...Nicholas Nickleby', Indiscretions) to join Tony Award winners Michael Cerveris (Sweeny Todd) and Randy Graff (City of Angels) and Tony nominees Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Les Miserables), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Spelling Bee), Michael Rupert (Falsettos, Legally Blonde), Stephen Bogardus (Love! Valour! Compassion!), Liz Callaway (Baby) and Gavin Creel (Hair) for 'Broadway Stands up for Freedom!,' a benefit concert to support the youth programs of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson ('Lost') and Emmy and Tony nominee Roger Rees ('...Nicholas Nickleby', Indiscretions) to join Tony Award winners Michael Cerveris (Sweeny Todd) and Randy Graff (City of Angels) and Tony nominees Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Les Miserables), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Spelling Bee), Michael Rupert (Falsettos, Legally Blonde), Stephen Bogardus (Love! Valour! Compassion!), Liz Callaway (Baby) and Gavin Creel (Hair) for 'Broadway Stands up for Freedom!,' a benefit concert to support the youth programs of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

On Thursday June 26th, DON'T QUIT proudly celebrated its 2nd anniversary. The show began as a one-off benefit on June 26, 2006 at Joe's Pub, which grew into 10 sellout months. In the spring of 2007, a commercial production played off-Broadway at the HA! Comedy Club in Times Square. By 2008, the show was firmly planted at The Zipper Factory, playing to oversold houses for six months straight.

Wakka Wakka Productions has added weekend matinees (beginning Saturday, January 26): Saturdays and Sundays at 3PM for the New York premiere of its latest original theatre piece entitled Fabrik, due to ticket demand.

Wakka Wakka Productions will present the New York premiere of its latest original theatre piece entitled Fabrik, featuring expressive hand-and-rod puppets. Fabrik will begin performances on January 17 and will officially open on Wednesday, January 23 at 7PM at Urban Stages Theatre

Walmartopia begins performances August 21st at The Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane), with opening night set, appropriately, for Labor Day 2007 - Monday, September 3rd at 7:00 p.m.

Cheyenne Jackson will serve as the emcee for the latest Monday Nights, New Voices concert at the Duplex, where All Shook Up ensemble members will perform on July 25th

Stagedoor Manor, the Summer Camp that inspired Todd Graff's indie hit 'Camp' was the childhood haven for many future industry pros...