Donna Lynne Champlin News

In one of the most inappropriate announcements in entertainment history, Tony-nominee and FROZEN star Santino Fontana has been cast in Showtime comedy pilot CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND. Also part of the cast will be Broadway alum Donna Lynne Champlin. Series creator Rachel Bloom announces the principal cast in perhaps the most insecure way possible.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced a call for submissions for new musicals for its 2015 Festival. Also announced was the selection of preliminary panelists for the Grand Jury who will help to choose shows for acceptance into the Next Link Project, NYMF's primary writer-service program.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, has announced Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie (Bullets Over Broadway, Next To Normal, Kiss Me Kate), as the latest addition to the starry cast of '54 Sings Big River.'The one-night-only event takes place this Sunday, September 14 at 7PM and 9:30PM.

An NYC reading for the new musical CHASING RAINBOWS - THE ROAD TO OZ has been scheduled for this week in New York City, September 8-18. BroadwayWorld has learned that the reading will feature Ruby Rakos (Frances Gumm), Euan Morton (Frank Gumm / Roger Edens), Donna Lynne Champlin (Ethel Gumm), Michael Wartella (Joe Yule), Karen Mason (Kay Koverman), and Douglass Sills (George Jessel / L.B. Mayer), with Emily Rosenfeld, Beatice Tulchin, Emma Howard, Andrea Marie Laxton, Katie Wesler, Jessica Sheridan, Kevin B. McGlynn, Ben Crawford, Tommy Bracco, Sam Strassfeld, Katie Dixon, Tessa Grady, Jonalyn Saxer, Michael Milton, and Stephen Christopher Anthony.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, has announced Big River, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Mame as the next three musical scores to be celebrated in its acclaimed '54 Sings' series.

Fans and performers from around the world have gathered to honor the memory of Elaine Stritch. In a new video created and edited by Steven Carl McCasland, Artistic Director of Beautiful Soup Theater, over 25 participants have gathered to celebrate her most famous song, 'The Ladies Who Lunch'. Click below to check out appearances from Beth Leavel, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Elizabeth Stanley, Clyde Alves, Anne L. Nathan, Keala Settle, Nancy Shayne, and Lisa Brescia.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) just launched its 2014 season, featuring such stars as Lillias White, J. Robert Spencer, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jennifer Simard, Robin De Jesus, and more.NYMF exists to revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside opening night below!

Broadway's Donna Lynne Champlin (Sweeney Todd, Billy Elliott, Hollywood Arms) announces Ode To Joy, a national online auction of one-of-a-kind Broadway, film and TV memorabilia donated by her friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry to raise funds for her sister-in-law Joy Parker, one of a handful of young women in the United States living with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The auction will go live today, Tuesday, June 10 and continue through Friday, June 20.

Industry readings of the new musical Learning How to Drown will be presented in Manhattan this weekend, May 29-30 at Pearl Studios.

ValueVille, the musical about one man's hellish experience working the night-shift at a giant superstore -- where nothing is what it seems, is an official selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project (NYMF), and starts on July 7th at PTC Performance Space. ValueVille is one of the 10 plays chosen from among the over 250 submissions to this year's festival.

John Schreiber, NJPAC's President and CEO, and David Rodriguez, Executive Producer of the Arts Center, announced today a 2014-15 season packed with new, NJPAC- created, season-long series', collaborations with renowned artists and companies, an expansion of diverse programming, further integration of NJPAC's arts education programs within mainstage performances, and a continuation of the Arts Center's 17-year tradition of presenting world-class artists. With over 100 performances and special events announced for the acoustically superb 2,800- seat Prudential Hall, intimate 514-seat Victoria Theater, 250-seat Chase Room, and outdoors in Theater Square, by artists ranging from Patti LaBelle to The Metropolitan Opera Rising Stars; from Chris Botti to Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience; from Golda's Balcony with Tovah Feldshuh to the Brick City Jazz Orchestra; from Bela Fleck to Lula Washington Dance Theatre; from Beres Hammond to Audra McDonald; and from The Second City to Dinosaur Train Live!, NJPAC's new season has something for everyone.

Industry readings of the new musical Learning How to Drown will be presented in Manhattan May 29-30 at Pearl Studios.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) congratulates the 50th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, announced today by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The 20 Scholars in the Arts, all 2014 YoungArts Winners, were nominated to The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars by YoungArts, and selected based on academic, civic and artistic achievement. The award, presented on behalf of the President of the United States, is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an artistically talented graduating high school senior. Each year, up to 141 high school seniors are recognized as U.S. Presidential Scholars for their accomplishments.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Phil Geoffrey Bond will direct FUNNY GIRL, as part of 54 Sings' series, and will feature Carole J. Bufford, Donna Lynne Champlin, Tovah Feldshuh, Debbie Gravitte, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Karen Mason, Julia Murney, Molly Pope, Emily Skinner, John Tartaglia, Donna Vivino and special guest star Mimi Hines.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, has announced that its acclaimed production of Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani and directed by Jack Cummings III, will be taped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on February 27. Almost, Maine opened February 4.

The 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) today announced the Next Link Project musical selections. The 10 musicals were announced as part of the 11th edition of the Festival, which will take place from July 7 to July 27 at locations around midtown Manhattan in New York City, including The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).

It's wicked romantic and funny, ayuh.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company presents Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani and directed by Jack Cummings III. Due to strong ticket sales, this first New York revival of one of the country's most produced plays will now play through Sunday, March 2 at the Gym at Judson, 243 Thompson Street at West 4 Street. Opening was last night Tuesday, February 4, and you can check out photos from the big night below!

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, has announced a one-week extension of Almost, Maine, written by John Cariani and directed by Jack Cummings III. Due to strong ticket sales, this first New York revival of one of the country's most produced plays will now play through Sunday, March 2 at the Gym at Judson, 243 Thompson Street at West 4 Street. Opening night is set for Tuesday, February 4. (Almost, Maine was originally scheduled to run through Sunday, February 23.)