Douglas Carter Beane News

Xanadu, Broadway's Surprise Hit Musical based on the 1980 cult film, Hits the Road! The National Tour Starts at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, December 15 - 27. Tickets on sale beginning October 25 with free CD soundtrack giveaway event.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center is offering a plethora of fun events to celebrate the kick-off of the XANADU National Tour at the Center from December 15 through 27. These include roller skating on the Center's community plaza on December 19 and 20, street muralist Melanie Stimmell Van Latum creating a 225-square-foot mural inspired by XANADU, a special Talk Back with cast members on December 22 and three Kids' Night on Broadway performances - December 15, 16 and 17.

COSTA MESA, CA-The national tour of the musical adventure XANADU opens at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on December 15 and runs through December 27. This engagement is the only Southern California appearance scheduled on the national tour. XANADU is based on Universal Pictures' cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly.

Second Stage Theatre is pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, has extended four weeks, through December 6. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY opened on Wednesday, October 7 and was originally scheduled to run through November 8.

Producers Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Mickey Liddell, Tara Smith /B. Swibel in association with Latitude Link proudly present the musical adventure XANADU that will open in Seattle at the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

Second Stage Theatre will host a post-performance conversation between Anna Deavere Smith and Elizabeth Alexander following the Thursday, December 3 evening performance of Let Me Down Easy. A renowned poet, essayist and playwright, Elizabeth Alexander most recently composed and delivered the poem 'Praise Song for the Day' for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The conversation is free to all in attendance at the Thursday, December 3 8:00pm performance.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) will present the world premiere of POP!, a new musical with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs, directed by Mark Brokaw, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 27-December 19, 2009. Opening Night is December 3.

Due to popular demand, the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, now playing at Second Stage Theatre, has extended a second time and will now close on January 3, 2010. The show, which is currently extended through December 6, will not be performed December 14 - 20 due to Smith's previous commitment to perform Hymn with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center.

The New York Musical Theater Festival honored TV's NY 1 ON STAGE and Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records at its sixth Anniversary Season Awards Gala on Sunday, November 22nd at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The winners of NYMF 2009 Awards for Excellence, which were announced earlier this month, were also honored at the gala.

New York Musical Theater Festival Announces Sixth Season Awards Gala To Honor NY1 ON STAGE and Sh-K-Boom /Ghostlight Records Sunday, November 22nd

In collaboration with The Broadway League, the Orange County Performing Arts Center has scheduled special Kids' Night on Broadway performances of XANADU on Tuesday, December 15; Wednesday, December 16; and Thursday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m.

New York Musical Theater Festival Announces Sixth Season Awards Gala To Honor NY1 ON STAGE and Sh-K-Boom /Ghostlight Records Sunday, November 22nd

Second Stage Theatre will host a post performance discussion with Anna Deavere Smith and three of her interview subjects from Let Me Down Easy following the Friday, November 20 performance.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

NCTC is proud to announce the San Francisco premiere of The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane and directed by Ed Decker.

The Yale Institute for Music Theatre (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director; Beth Morrison, Producer) will select three original music theatre works to receive two-week workshops in New Haven June 13-27, 2010. Submissions will be accepted November 1, 2009 through January 11, 2010.

West Coast Ensemble is thrilled to announce that the third show of their 2009 season, the critically-acclaimed, West Coast Premiere of Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins) is extending through Sunday, November 1 at The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director; Beth Morrison, Producer) will select three original music theatre works to receive two-week workshops in New Haven June 13-27, 2010. Submissions will be accepted November 1, 2009 through January 11, 2010.

The Yale Institute for Music Theatre (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director; Beth Morrison, Producer) will select three original music theatre works to receive two-week workshops in New Haven June 13-27, 2010. Submissions will be accepted November 1, 2009 through January 11, 2010.