Dena Hammerstein News

Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theatre for children in hospitals and care facilities, will present the world premiere of DISASTER!!! THE 1970'S DISASTER FILM MUSICAL a new show written by Only Make Believe honorary board member Seth Rudetsky, Drew Geraci and Jack Plotnick.

2010 was a year filled with all sorts of exciting BroadwayWorld interviews - here's some of this year's highlights!

Dena Hammerstein, Founder of Only Make Believe and the President of James Hammerstein Productions along with Actor Sir Ian McKellan were on-hand at the Empire State Building for a lighting ceremony on Monday, November 1st in anticipation of the Only Make Believe Gala later that evening. The Empire State Building, the world's most famous office building, glowed brightly in the colors of Only Make Believe - purple, blue and yellow - in celebration of their 11th Anniversary.

Hosted by Sir Ian McKellen, last night, November 1, the Only Make Believe Gala featured a number of performances including the casts of Memphis, the Cast of Billy Elliot: The Musical, and others. Also on-hand was Josh Lucas, James Wesley, Brad Oscar, Matthew Settle, Seth Rudetsky, The Glamazons among others. BroadwayWorld was there to celebrate the benefit and brings you photo coverage below.

Sir Ian Mckellen will host the Only Make Believe 11th Anniversary Gala on Monday, November 1st at 7:00 pm in New York City.

Only Make Believe, the non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theatre for children in hospitals and care facilities, will celebrate their 11th Anniversary on November 1st with an evening at the Shubert Theatre.

Today, we present a particularly thrilling taste of the forthcoming InDepth InterView in this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE with one of the finest actors of stage and screen - and, now, thanks to the Scissor Sisters NIGHT WORK album, recording studio - the foremost Shakespearean interpreter of our age and star of two of the biggest film franchises of all time - LORD OF THE RINGS and X MEN - Sir Ian McKellen! In this portion of the complete discussion, we discuss his second year hosting the ONLY MAKE BELIEVE gala to benefit hospitalized children, as well as discuss how he became involved with the Dena Hammerstein-founded charity. We also discuss his participation in Peter Jackson's forthcoming LORD OF THE RINGS prequel THE HOBBIT and his cameo in the epic music video for his Sister Sisters collaboration 'Invisible Light' - plus thoughts on Shakespeare, stage, screen and monster movies and not just GODS & MONSTERS. All god, no monster, Ian McKellen is as renowned and respected as it gets. And rightfully so.

Today, we present a particularly thrilling taste of the forthcoming InDepth InterView in this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE with one of the finest actors of stage and screen - and, now, thanks to the Scissor Sisters NIGHT WORK album, recording studio - the foremost Shakespearean interpreter of our age and star of two of the biggest film franchises of all time - LORD OF THE RINGS and X MEN - Sir Ian McKellen! In this portion of the complete discussion, we discuss his second year hosting the ONLY MAKE BELIEVE gala to benefit hospitalized children, as well as discuss how he became involved with the Dena Hammerstein-founded charity. We also discuss his participation in Peter Jackson's forthcoming LORD OF THE RINGS prequel THE HOBBIT and his cameo in the epic music video for his Sister Sisters collaboration "Invisible Light" - plus thoughts on Shakespeare, stage, screen and monster movies (and not just GODS & MONSTERS). All god, no monster, Ian McKellen is as renowned and respected as it gets. And rightfully so.

Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter, the producers of David Cromer's record-breaking production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town at the Barrow Street Theatre, announced today the Off-Broadway hit has officially recouped its entire investment.

Only Make Believe, the non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theatre for children in hospitals and care facilities, will celebrate their 11th Anniversary on November 1st with an evening at the Shubert Theatre.

Obie and Lucille Lortel Award winner David Cromer, who directed and originated the role of 'The Stage Manager' in this record-breaking landmark production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town at the Barrow Street Theatre returns for the final three weeks of performances beginning Tuesday, August 24th.

Obie and Lucille Lortel Award winner David Cromer, who directed and originated the role of 'The Stage Manager' in this record-breaking landmark production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town at the Barrow Street Theatre returns for the final three weeks of performances beginning Tuesday, August 24th.

After a successful engagement earlier this summer, and by popular demand, producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter welcome back to Grover's Corner Academy Award-nominee Michael McKean who rejoins the cast of David Cromer's critically acclaimed record breaking production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town for three-weeks in the role of ‘The Stage Manager,' August 3rd through August 22nd at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street).

After a successful engagement earlier this summer, and by popular demand, producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter welcome back to Grover's Corner Academy Award-nominee Michael McKean who rejoins the cast of David Cromer's critically acclaimed record breaking production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town for three-weeks in the role of ‘The Stage Manager,' August 3rd through August 22nd at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street).

Helen Hunt will depart David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town Sunday, August 1st, at the Barrow Street Theatre. Ms. Hunt was the sixth actor to assume the iconic role in this record-breaking production.

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter announced today the record-breaking production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town at the Barrow Street Theatre will play its final performance on Sunday evening, September 12th.

In July sixth's New York Times, Helen Hunt spoke with Patrick Healy about joining the Barrow Street Theatre production of OUR TOWN as its first female 'Stage Manager.'

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter welcomed Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt to the cast of David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's OUR TOWN, last night, July 6. Hunt will appear in OUR TOWN for four weeks only (through Sunday, August 1st) at the Barrow Street Theatre, succeeding Michael McKean, who gave his final performance on Sunday evening, July 4. Hunt becomes the sixth actor to assume the iconic role of 'Stage Manager' in this record-breaking production. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of her debut evening.

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter announced today that Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt will join the cast of David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, for four weeks only (Tuesday, July 6th to Sunday, August 1st), at the Barrow Street Theatre, succeeding Michael McKean, who will give his final performance on Sunday evening, July 4. Ms. Hunt becomes the sixth actor to assume the iconic role in this record-breaking production.

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter announced today that Academy Award-winning actress Helen Hunt will join the cast of David Cromer's acclaimed production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, for four weeks only (Tuesday, July 6th to Sunday, August 1st), at the Barrow Street Theatre, succeeding Michael McKean, who will give his final performance on Sunday evening, July 4. Ms. Hunt becomes the sixth actor to assume the iconic role in this record-breaking production.