Drew Barr News

Metropolitan Entertainment welcomes the return of comedian Bill Maher to Shea's Performing Arts Center on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at 7:30pm.

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! According to the non-clock thing hanging on the wall - what's it called? Oh, yeah, a calendar (yeah, like we'd ever allow a calendar to hang on any wall under our control - today is May 31, 2017! It's another day to allow yourself to live life dramatically and to gain ownership of your own schedule for the rest of the week so you can be certain to get to the theater. Yesterday, in our never-ending quest to enlist all of you to write our daily column for us, we posted TODAY'S QUERY on Facebook, asking our gentle readers to weigh in or whether or not 'dressing for the theater' is de rigueur or is it more of a 'come as you are' nature. Little did we know that such a question could engender such passionate responses and we daresay rather passionate defenses of the wear-whatever-the-hell-you-want school of thought.

TWILIGHT SONG, the final play by Kevin Elyot, writer of the classic comedy My Night with Reg, will receive its world premiere at Park Theatre from 12 July - 12 August, with a press night on 17 July.

The Shakespeare Forum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating empowered communities through education and performance, announces El Barrio's Shakespeare Festival, supported by TD Bank. The three-week festival will present professional and student performances, and seeks to help foster the actors and audiences of tomorrow. El Barrio's Shakespeare Festival will kick off on June 1 with the premiere of TITUS, directed by The Shakespeare Forum's Executive Director, Sybille Bruun-Moss. The festival will also feature free student performances by young actors from across New York City. The Shakespeare Forum has trained each of the young performers through the organization's various education programs. All performances will be presented at El Barrio's Artspace PS109.

Star of Mercury Fur, G.B.F., and MTV's The Hard Times Of RJ Berger, Paul Iacono stars along with the underground personalities of Downtown New York in the world premiere of his musical-cabaret epic, PSYCHEDELIC PLAYHOUSE at The Green Room 42 , Thursday, May 4th & Friday, May 5th 8:00pm.

Kathryn Gallagher (Dust Can't Kill Me , Spring Awakening), Garth Taylor (The Rooks), and Sydney Torin Shepherd (First Date) join the company of HALF BAKED, a new theatrical concert experience showcasing three new works in progress by songwriter, Elliah Heifetz ( Dust Can't Kill Me), and director, Srda Vasiljevic (Dust Can't Kill Me, Spring Awakening).

Sweat, the new Broadway play opens today at Studio 54. The critically acclaimed new play from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage, comes to Broadway following its sold-out run at The Public Theater. Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, SWEAT tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat. Get to know the company before they take their opening bows!

GLAAD, the world's LGBTQ media advocacy organization, announced today it will honor Academy Award-winning actress and activist Patricia Arquette at the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton on April 1, 2017.

Comedian, satirist and TV star Joel McHale will make his Treasure Island debut May 26 at 9 p.m. 

Michelle Wolf is available in studio Thursday March 23 as well as advance phoners and Kevin Nealon is available in studio Friday March 24 as well as advance phoners.

???????NINA MEHTA has joined the cast of the FUTURE IS FEMALE FESTIVAL, to be presented at Bernie Wohl Center, Wednesday, March 22, at 7pm. The popular actress has appeared in HBO's GIRLS, and Comedy Central's INSIDE AMY SCHUMER and is a permanent ensemble member of The Collective NY (JACKSON HEIGHTS 3AM).

On Wednesday, March 22, 7pm, the 29th Street Playwrights Collective and Goddard Riverside will join theaters, playwrights, directors and actors throughout the US and Canada who have united during Women's History Month to present THE FUTURE IS FEMALE FESTIVAL, a national series of staged readings and productions of 10-minute plays written by women of all backgrounds on the subject 'The Future is Female' and what that means to them.

It's March Madness at Carnegie Stage!  Join in this month as they prove that the future is indeed female with a new play reading, sketch comedy, and more!

Grey Gardens, The Musical is the hilarious and heartbreaking story of Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, the peculiar aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The musical takes place at Grey Gardens, the Bouviers' mansion in East Hampton, New York and tracks the progression of the two women's lives. Trustus Art Director, Chad Henderson, states, "Our production, based on the real-life cousins of Jackie Onassis, is prefaced by the cult classic documentary of the same name from the 70's, an HBO film starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore, and even a parody piece featuring SNL's Bill Hader and Fred Armisen. America has long had a curiosity for these real women and their story continues to intrigue us - especially since they are part of the Camelot story and one of America's most popular political families. I can't fail to mention that it's an incredibly funny piece. We are delighted to produce it this Spring!"

The searing new play Sweat begins previews on Broadway tomorrow Saturday, March 4 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Following a sold out, critically acclaimed engagement at New York's Public Theater, Sweat, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, directed by Kate Whoriskey will officially open on Broadway on March 26, 2017.

???????Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Live announce tickets to Bill Maher's return to Orlando are on sale today, Friday, February 24, 2017 at 10 a.m. The host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" will play the Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 8 p.m.

According to NewsDay.com, Grey Gardens, the famed East Hampton home once belonging to the relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, has hit the market for the first time since 1979.

Producers Stuart Thompson and Louise Gund have announced the full cast for the Broadway production of the searing new play Sweat. Alison Wright ('The Americans') joins the previously announced cast from the critically acclaimed Public Theater engagement.

For more than twenty years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on Politically Incorrect (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last fourteen years on HBO's Real Time. Now Maher will take the show on the road with a live stand-up tour, including a performance at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, April 8 at 8 p.m.

Last night, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced the winners of the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Check out highlights below!