David Lindsay-Abaire News

Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).

As in Wonder of the World and Rabbit Hole, previous works of David Lindsay-Abaire, the playwright is not afraid to go to extremes to make a point. World is exceedingly comedic, Hole far more serious, but both have characters who find their way via a path less tread. Such is also the case with his dramedy Good People. Southie Margie (Jane Kaczmarek) makes a choice to pay an unusual visit to her 'lace curtain' former boyfriend, Mike (Jon Tenney), now a successful doctor in the suburbs. She finds that as polite as he is, he wants little to do with her, yet insists on practically inviting herself to his posh home for a party, and when he calls to cancel, she shows up anyway. Talk about guts! Southies - from South Boston - have them in spades, as we can see from her two gossipy chums landlady Dottie (Marylouise Burke) and Jean (Sara Botsford), who trash just about anyone and everyone as they hang out playing bingo. Now onstage at the Geffen, Good People gets a deservedly stunning production with great direction from Matt Shakman and a sterling ensemble.

Opening Theatre In The Park's season in September is the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next to Normal. With what's being described as 'a thrilling contemporary score by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. Making its Triangle debut, this emotionally charged contemporary classic is not to be missed.'

Paul Gross, one of Canada's acclaimed actors, will lead the cast of Are You There, McPhee? a world premiere by John Guare at McCarter Theatre Center. Directed by Sam Buntrock, the production will run from May 4 through June 3, 2012. (Opening Night: Friday, May 11.)

The Huntington Theatre Company announces its 2012-2013 Season. Continuing its 30-year tradition, the Huntington will present world-class productions of new works and classics made current that are created by the best local and national talent.

Will Pomerantz, director of The Blue Flower at Prospect Theater Company and Second Stage and Dai at the Culture Project, will direct Prospect Theater Company's upcoming production of Cole Porter's 1933 musical Nymph Errant. Performances will begin July 7 at the Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will close its 21st season May31-June 23, 2012, with HIGH FIDELITY, the funny, rowdy, emotional rock musical that garnered positive reviews in New Line's 2008 production, the first production of the show after its Broadway run.

Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).

Rabbit Hole plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sunday matinees April 15th, 22th, and 29th at 2pm, opening April 6th and closing April 29th. Tickets are $20, $11 for ages 16 and under and may be purchased online at www.ccct.org or by phone at 510-524-9132. Contra Costa Civic Theatre is located at 951 Pomona Avenue (at Moeser) El Cerrito, with free parking in an adjoining lot.

The Geffen Playhouse presents David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, starring Jane Kaczmarek (Broadway's Lost in Yonkers and television's Malcolm in the Middle), and acclaimed stage and screen actor Jon Tenney, last seen at the Geffen Playhouse in David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow. Presented by One West Bank, Good People began previews yesterday, April 3, 2012 and officially opens in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on April 11, 2012. BroadwayWord brings you production shots below!

Dancap Productions presents SHREK THE MUSICAL with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. It will play the Toronto Centre for the Arts, through April 1, for two weeks only.

Avila Productions, LLC, by special arrangement with Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Jack Sharkey, presents the world premiere of TERESA'S ECSTASY, written by Begonya Plaza and directed by Will Pomerantz.

Seattle Repertory Theatre and Artistic Director Jerry Manning announced today its full 50th Anniversary Season. The Seattle Rep artistic team has spent years putting together this landmark season-one that showcases what the Rep does best and celebrates its history. Seattle Rep's 50th Anniversary season will run from September 2012-May 2013.

Actors Theatre's 2012-13 season brings five plays to Stage West at The Herberger Theater Center beginning with Mike Daisey's controversial The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs (Sept. 21-Oct. 7) and ending with the critically acclaimed Good People (May 3-19) by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) is today announced its 2012-2013 season of performances on the Mainstage, as well as the three productions to be performed by its Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC). The three productions to be included in the Studio Theatre season will be announced in July.

Strong leading performances, some tasty production values and well executed effects help compensate for many of the deficiencies in Shrek The Musical. The show is another sad reminder of how Broadway is currently bereft of creativity and imagination. Shrek is derivative drek. * * (out of 5)

Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) announces its "Excellent Eighth" Season with four shows including two mysteries, one holiday spoof and one regional premiere.

Two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises, Noises Off, TV's "I Hate My Teenage Daughter") will offer an acting and musical theatre performance master class on Friday, April 27th from 6:30pm to 10:30pm at The Davenport Studios in Midtown Manhattan.

Shrek the Musical just wrapped a successful week in Montreal, and heads into Toronto tomorrow night for a two week engagement at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. BWW sat down to talk with the Merritt David Janes, who plays Lord Farquaad, the 'vertically challenged villain' of the story.