Diana Rigg News

Today we are taking a look at the extended streak of genius exhibited by Stephen Sondheim, along with director/producer Hal Prince, following the resounding success of COMPANY in 1970. Throughout the rest of the 70s they would continue to change the form of theatre itself with four momentous musicals tackling every topic from aging showgirls singing one last tune to Ingmar Bergman sunsets and a topic for a concept musical no less epic than the westernization of Japan in the wake of Commodore Perry - plus, who could forget the remorseful Barber and his knife (or should that be “wife“?). Without question, these are four richly-encrusted crowning achievements of a legendary career and these musical jewels are still sparkling and shining, as glistening and beautiful as ever dazzling us and enticing us to inspect them closer...

This week, we are taking a listen to the sparkling new cast recording of the hit 2009 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. While tickets are hard to come by due to the star-wattage on display each night at the Martin Beck, Tommy Krasker & Co. at PS Classics have given us an embarrassment of riches with this near-note-complete, 2-disc recording of the Sondheim masterpiece.

The 2010 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the most prestigious award given annually to women playwrights, has been awarded to American playwright Julia Cho for her play 'The Language Archive.' Ms. Cho received the honor at a private reception in New York City on Wednesday, March 3. The award of $20,000 and a signed and numbered print by artist Willem de Kooning were presented to Ms. Cho by Tony Award-winning director Doug Hughes, one of the distinguished judges for the 2010 Blackburn Prize.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize - the prestigious international award given each year to a woman who has written an outstanding new work for the English-speaking theatre - has announced the 10 finalists for the 32nd annual award.

Broadway veteran Allen Fitzpatrick ('Les Miserables', 'Sweet Smell of Success', 'Damn Yankees', 'Passion', 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', '42nd Street') will star as Gus. Broadway, Off-Broadway and television actress Elizabeth Hess ('M Butterfly', 'Beggars in the House of Plenty' and television's 'Law and Order' and 'Clarissa Explains it All') will portray Honor, the central character of this drama. Jessica Rothert, who will appear as Sophie and Heidi-Marie Ferren, who portrays Claudia, will round out the cast.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Next summer, from 26 May to 30 August 2009, a new production of JM Barrie's Peter Pan will be performed in the specially commissioned Neverland Pavilion in London's historic Kensington Gardens.

Next summer, from 26 May to 30 August 2009, a new production of JM Barrie's Peter Pan will be performed in the specially commissioned Neverland Pavilion in London's historic Kensington Gardens.

With summer here all types of exotic locations become available with producers scrambling to turn every usual and never tried out place into a theatrical 'event'. None more so than Charlie Burnell & Mat Churchill's staging of the J.M.Barrie classic 'Peter Pan'.

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).

Chichester Festival Theatre has announced that Joseph Fiennes will play the role of Cyrano de Bergerac, directed by Trevor Nunn.

Joseph Fiennes, Iain Glen, Charlotte Emmerson, Leila Benn Harris, Natalie Casey, Stephanie Cole and directors Trevor Nunn, Howard Davies, and Rupert Goold are all amongst the big names signed up to take part in this Summer's Chichester Festival extended season.

Alan Ayckbourn's comic trilogy of plays, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, will come to Broadway directly following its sold out critically acclaimed run in London. The production, the latest success for The Old Vic Theatre Company under the artistic leadership of Kevin Spacey, will play for 16 weeks only. THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, directed by Matthew Warchus, opens Thursday, April 23 at Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street). Previews begin Tuesday, April 7.

Reprise Theatre Company announced today that 'The Fantasticks' will replace the previously announced production of 'Chess,' May 5-17 at the Freud Playhouse. With music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, 'The Fantasticks' is the world's longest-running musical and will be performed in Los Angeles as its current New York revival continues running off-Broadway. Jason Alexander, artistic director of Reprise, said, 'I am saddened to report the reason why. Our world premiere production of 'Chess' was commissioned and brokered by Gerald Schoenfeld, President of the Shubert Organization. Just before the end of last year, Gerry passed away unexpectedly. Without his support our production of 'Chess' simply is not possible at this time. I am disappointed, both for the loss of this wonderful opportunity and for the loss of an old and good friend.'

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival 2009 season ? a playbill reflecting the Festival's commitment to producing the works of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries, along with other classical theatre repertoire and the work of living playwrights is now offering tickets to the public.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to host the NYC premiere of Simon Green Sings COWARD AT CHRISTMAS: A Cabaret for Noel. Simon Green Sings COWARD AT CHRISTMAS: A Cabaret for Noel began performances on Sunday, December 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4. There was a special Noel Coward Birthday Celebration Performance on Tuesday, December 16 at 8:30 PM, which included a champagne toast, birthday cake and special guest theatre icon Elaine Stritch.