David Rasche News

The Casting Society of America (CSA) has announced the presenters for the organization's New York 29th Annual Artios Awards for outstanding achievement in casting given in 22 categories including film, television and theater.

Currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary Season, Second Stage Theatre will extend its production of James Lapine and William Finn's new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, by one week, now playing through Sunday, December 15. The musical has broken box office records for Second Stage Theatre, earning the highest pre-opening advance in the company's 35-year history.

Highlights this week include WICKED's 10th Anniversay Curtain Call and After Party, and First Looks at LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, and Angela Lansbury being the first inductee at the Bucks County Playhouse.

Little Miss Sunshine, anew musical is based on the film of the same name by Michael Arndt, is currently in previews at Second Stage Theatre. It was adapted for the stage by James Lapine, who wrote the book, and William Finn, who wrote the lyrics and music. Little Miss Sunshine will run until December 8. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Manhattan Concert Productions has announced the final cast of Broadway Classics at Carnegie Hall, which takes place on Friday November 29, 8PM at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall. Previously announced cast members include Phillip Boykin, Carolee Carmello, Cheyenne Jackson, and now esteemed soprano Julia Bullock, star of The Indian Queen, has been added to complete this star-studded line-up.

Second Stage begins previews for its production of Little Miss Sunshine tonight at 7pm. This new musical is based on the film of the same name by Michael Arndt. It was adapted for the stage by James Lapine, who wrote the book, and William Finn, who wrote the lyrics and music. Lapine and Finn also worked together on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Falsettos. Little Miss Sunshine will run until Dec 8.

Tony Award nominee WILL SWENSON (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert; Hair) will play the role of Richard Hoover in the upcoming off-Broadway musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, with book and direction by Tony Award-Winner JAMES LAPINE and music and lyrics by Tony Award Winner WILLIAM FINN. Mr. Swenson replaces the previously announced Will Chase.

Award-winning Writer/Director Ash Christian (Fat Girl, Mangus!) assembled a stellar ensemble cast for his idiosyncratic family comedy PETUNIA, debuting across all digital platforms beginning August 6th and landing on DVD today, September 3rd from Wolfe Video.

FilmBuff has just announced their slate for films set for VOD release this month. Check out details, trailers, and dates for the movies below!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced additional cast members for its upcoming new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. JOSH LAMON (Hair, Elf), Tony Award-Nominee RORY O'MALLEY (The Book of Mormon, 2ST's current Nobody Loves You), DAVID RASCHE (2ST's Warrior Class), LOGAN ROWLAND (The Addams Family), JENNIFER SANCHEZ (West Side Story), and WESLEY TAYLOR ('Smash,' Rock of Ages) will join previously announced cast members STEPHANIE J. BLOCK, WILL CHASE, and nine-year old HANNAH ROSE NORDBERG in the new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. With book and direction by Tony Award-Winner JAMES LAPINE and music and lyrics by Tony Award-Winner WILLIAM FINN, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE kicks off Second Stage Theatre's 35th anniversary season on October 15 and will officially open in mid-November.

Award-winning Writer/Director Ash Christian (Fat Girl, Mangus!) assembled a stellar ensemble cast for his idiosyncratic family comedy PETUNIA, debuting across all digital platforms beginning August 6th and landing on DVD September 3rd from Wolfe Video.

It was one of the most love-filled, musically-thrilling birthday parties ever, when the folks at Jim Caruso's Cast Party celebrated the 85th Birthday of the most energetic, vocally dazzling, swinging nightclub divas on Earth, Marvelous Marilyn Maye. Scroll below for photos from the concert!

The Ensemble Studio Theatre will honor two of Broadway's most distinguished producers, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, at its 45th Anniversary Gala, Monday evening, May 20, at 6:30pm at SIR Stage 37, 508 West 37th Street. Tickets are $500 and $1,000.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party continues to dazzle packed houses of showbiz insiders and the folks who love them every Monday night at the historic music room, Birdland. This past week, Carol Woods, currently Mama Morton in Chicago on Broadway, delighted the audience with a soulful performance of 'God Bless The Child,' and her co-workers, Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly) and Patrick Rinn led the applause. Scroll below for photos from the concert!

Barefoot Theatre Company will continue its new bareNaked Reading Series (Molly Marinik, Program Director; Jennie West, Co-Producer) with a reading of RUBBLE by four-time Emmy Award winning writer Mike Reiss ('The Simpsons,' 'The Critic') tonight, February 11, 2013 at 7:00pm.

Barefoot Theatre Company will continue its new bareNaked Reading Series (Molly Marinik, Program Director; Jennie West, Co-Producer) with a reading of RUBBLE by four-time Emmy Award winning writer Mike Reiss ("The Simpsons," "The Critic") on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 7:00pm.

We all come from Gilbert,' said Johnny Mercer. And if you've seen a musical, watched film or TV, read a book, participated in political discourse or have partaken in any aspect of popular culture during the past 125 years, you've likely been influenced by W. S. Gilbert too. Yet Lyrics & Lyricists has never paid tribute to this seminal figure. Over the weekend, the punishment fits this crime of oversight with The Very Model of a Modern Major Lyricist: W. S. Gilbert and the Broadway He Inspired.

Feinstein's at Loews Regnecy closes its Fall 2012 season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein and two-time Tony Award winning Broadway and TV star Christine Ebersole from December 23 through New Year's Eve.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre will begin its Hertz Stage series with the world premiere of APPLES & ORANGES, a play by Tony Award, Academy Award, and Pulitzer Prize winning author Alfred Uhry. APPLES & ORANGES is based on the memoir of the same name by Vanity Fair writer-at-large Marie Brenner and was originally commissioned by the Manhattan Theatre Club. Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director of Manhattan Theatre Club, will direct the world premiere.