Daphne Rubin-Vega News

Labyrinth Theater Company (Artistic Director Mimi O'Donnell, Managing Director Danny Feldman), the award-winning, downtown ensemble, presents Sunset Baby, written by Dominique Morisseau, at the Bank Street Theater (155 Bank Street), Labyrinth Theater Company's home in New York City's West Village. Sunset Baby will play through December 6, 2013. Check out photos from opening night below!

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented and versatile stage and screen performer who has excelled in many arenas throughout her compellingly varied career - comedy, drama, stand-up, cabaret, jazz and beyond - the fiercely, fabulously idiosyncratic and ebulliently engaging Lea DeLaria. Espousing upon a wide range of topics and tracing her unique professional trajectory thus far, DeLaria sheds some light on a few of her most fondly remembered stage roles - revivals of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and ON THE TOWN on Broadway, as well as Off-Broadway turns in LITTLE FISH and PROMETHEUS BOUND included - as well as recounts her experiences participating in a handful of feature films, new and old, as well - including the recent Hallmark original movie musical DEAR DUMB DIARY. Most importantly, DeLaria recounts her experiences starring on the Netflix mega-hit series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and offers a glimpse of the major impact that the pop culture lynchpin has had on her own life since its 2013 debut - while also preliminarily previewing what we can expect from Season Two, too. Plus, DeLaria reflects on her recording legacy, detailing the conception and production of some choice cuts from her many arresting albums - such as 'Broadway Baby', 'The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd', 'Puff' and 'Sleigh Ride' - as well as shares first news on her new album project, highlighting the music and lyrics of David Bowie. Additionally, DeLaria teases her upcoming scandalously titled series of holiday-themed shows at NYC cabaret hotspot 54 Below occurring in late December while also offering her candid perspective on favorite Christmas tunes and the season itself. All of that, FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY memories and much more in this engaging conversation with a true Broadway and Hollywood original.

Happy Birthday Daphne Rubin-Vega! Rubin Vega is a two-time Tony and Drama Desk nominee and recipient of the Theater World, Obie, Blockbuster awards and was recently nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in Jack Goes Boating. She is perhaps best known for the roles she originated, including Mimi (RENT) and Conchita (Anna in the Tropics), both Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway shows for which she was nominated for the Tony award. She also originated the role of Rahmi (Gum), Sofia (Nilo Cruz' Two Sisters and a Piano), Canary Mary (Suzan-Lori Parks' f**king A, Lucille Lortel nomination) and Lucy (Jack Goes Boating) at the Public Theater, as well as starred in the Broadway revivals of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Magenta) and Les Mis, ('Fantine') and most recently, The New Group's Blood From a Stone ('Yvette') opposite Ethan Hawke.'

Paul Rudd's 2nd Annual All-Star Bowling Benefit takes place today, Monday, October 21st, 2013 with a 7pm Cocktail Reception, followed by bowling, billiards, an open bar, dinner, and a special performance at Lucky Strike Lanes, 624-660 W. 42nd St. & 12th Ave, NYC.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive DirectorGreg Reiner, presents Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagic, and opened last night, October 16. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Elizabeth Olsen's Juliet makes a good argument that William Shakespeare's tragedy of teenage lust could have been submitted as a continuing arc for Lena Dunham's hit series, Girls.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, presents Shakespeare'sRomeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagic, and opening Wednesday, October 16. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, presents Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagic, and beginning previews today, September 28 at 3 pm, one day later than originally scheduled. The official press opening is set for Wednesday, October 16.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagi?, will now begin previews Saturday, September 28 at 3 pm, one day later than originally scheduled. The shift is due to a scenic element modification that will require additional technical rehearsal later this week. The official press opening remains Wednesday, October 16.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagi? will extend for one additional week through Sunday, November 10. Previews begin Friday, September 27 prior to an official press opening Wednesday, October 16. The cast also features McKinley Belcher III (Benvolio), Daniel Davis (Friar Laurence), Stan Demidoff (Paris/Sampson), Harry Ford (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman), David Garrison(Capulet), T. R. Knight (Mercutio), Anthony Michael Martinez (Prince), Kathryn Meisle (Lady Capulet), Dion Mucciacito (Tybalt), John Rothman(Montague/Apothecary) and Daphne Rubin-Vega (Nurse). Set design is by Marsha Ginsberg; costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Jason Lyons, and original music and sound by Ryan Rumery.

In the videos below, Jeremy Jordan, Corey Cott, Zak Resnick, Joey Contreras, Ali Stroker, Jonathan Reid Gealt and Krysta Rodriguez give advice to anyone looking to make it in the theatre industry.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced complete casting today for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Julian Cihi has been cast as Romeo. Daniel Davis replacesWilliam Hurt as Friar Laurence. Hurt has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons. Previously announced Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight(Mercutio) and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Nurse) will be joined by McKinley Belcher III (Benvolio), Stan Demidoff (Paris/Sampson),Harry Ford (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman), David Garrison (Capulet), Anthony Michael Martinez (Prince), Kathryn Meisle (Lady Capulet), Dion Mucciacito (Tybalt) and John Rothman (Montague/Apothecary). CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed byTea Alagi? (Jackie). Set design is by Marsha Ginsberg; costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Jason Lyons and sound by Ryan Rumery. The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 4 at 12pm.

Paul Rudd's 2nd Annual All-Star Bowling Benefit is set for Monday, October 21st, 2013 with a 7pm Cocktail Reception, followed by bowling, billiards, an open bar, dinner, and a special performance at Lucky Strike Lanes, 624-660 W. 42nd St. & 12th Ave, NYC. Among the Broadway names in attendance are veteran songstress Kristin Chenoweth, ANNIE's Katie Finneran, CINDERELLA's Ann Harada, ONCE's Steve Kazee, FIRST DATE's Zachary Levi, KINKY BOOTS' Billy Porter and many more!

Labyrinth Theater Company (Artistic Director Mimi O'Donnell, Managing Director Danny Feldman), the award-winning, downtown ensemble, today announced its Fall 2013 season, including 100, a selection of monologues written and performed by Eric Bogosian, and Sunset Baby, new play by Dominique Morisseau. The season will kick off with a new series of Artist Salons featuring Craig 'muMs' Grant, Daphne Rubin-Vega and David Bar Katz. All work will be presented at the Bank Street Theater (155 Bank Street), Labyrinth Theater Company's home in New York City's West Village.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today additional casting for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Academy Award winner William Hurt will play the role of Friar Laurence; Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight has been cast as Mercutio and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as the Nurse. CSC also announced that Finn Wittrock, previously announced to co-star as Romeo, has withdrawn from the production due to a film offer. A new Romeo and complete casting will be announced shortly. CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed by Tea Alagi? (Jackie). The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, September 5 at 12pm.

Daphne Rubin-Vega is joining the previously announced cast of the reading of 'You're Really Not Helping,' the second of three plays producer Aaron Grant is presenting this summer, as part of a new developmental reading series. Erik Shapiro's new sharp-edged comedy, which directed by Jeremy Scott Blaustein, also features Stacie Bono, Max Crumm, Ashton Foster, Aaron Simon Gross, Ari Benjamin Hirsch, Guy Lemonnier, Catherine Russel, Stewart Schneck, and Kevin Spirtas. The reading takes place in midtown today, July 29, at 2pm.

Daphne Rubin-Vega is joining the previously announced cast of the reading of 'You're Really Not Helping,' the second of three plays producer Aaron Grant is presenting this summer, as part of a new developmental reading series. Erik Shapiro's new sharp-edged comedy, which directed by Jeremy Scott Blaustein, also features Stacie Bono, Max Crumm, Ashton Foster, Aaron Simon Gross, Ari Benjamin Hirsch, Guy Lemonnier, Catherine Russel, Stewart Schneck, and Kevin Spirtas. The reading takes place in midtown on Monday July 29, at 2pm.