Elaine Stritch News

Today, Saturday, April 10, Tony-winner Donna McKechnie will premiere her new one-woman show, My Musical Comedy Life, at the Springside Inn in Auburn New York. McKechnie, who won a Tony for her performance as Cassie in A Chorus Line, played the inn last night as well. Richard Jay-Alexander will direct the shows with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz. The series, its inaugral year, is being produced by Barbara Walsh (Thommie's sister), Baayork Lee (who starred in A CHORUS LINE with Thommie) and Merete Muenter. Here, McKechnie and director Jay-Alexander chat with WCNY Connected.

McCarter Theatre has announced the complete casting and creative team for the American premiere of Take Flight, a new musical by Richard Maltby Jr, David Shire and John Weidman that blends fact and fiction to tell the interweaving stories of three pioneers of aeronautics: the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 8, 2010. BroadwayWorld.com was there to cover the starry red carpet!

Tomorrow, Friday, April 9, Tony-winner Donna McKechnie will premiere her new one-woman show, My Musical Comedy Life, at the Springside Inn in Auburn New York. McKechnie, who won a Tony for her performance as Cassie in A Chorus Line, will play the Inn through Saturday April 10. Richard Jay-Alexander will direct the shows with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents BATTLE OF BLACK AND DOGS by Bernard-Marie Koltès, translated by Michaël Attias, and directed by Robert Woodruff, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York), April 16-May 8. Opening Night is Thursday, April 22.

The American Repertory Theater is pleased to announce the cast for Johnny Baseball, a world premiere musical about the Red Sox, with music by Robert Reale, lyrics by Willie Reale, book by Richard Dresser, story by Richard Dresser and Willie Reale, with musical direction and vocal arrangements by Wendy Bobbitt Cavett; musical arrangements by Bruce Coughlin.

Due to popular demand, The Public Theater will extend the critically acclaimed rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON through Sunday, May 9. A co-production with Center Theatre Group and in association with Les Freres Corbusier, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON is written and directed by Alex Timbers and features music and lyrics by Michael Friedman. The show began previews on March 23, officially opened on April 6 and was scheduled to close on April 25.

This Sunday on EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN we present A Tribute to STEPHEN SONDHEIM, coverage of the 24th Annual MAC Awards, and more!

The Public Theater has announced additional casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif, and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, in repertory June 9-August 1.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for Smokey Joe's Café. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Denis Jones, Smokey Joe's Café will run at the Millburn theater from April 7 through May 2, 2010. Smokey Joe's Café is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

Tom Viertel, Chairman of the Board of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, has announced that Stephen Sondheim will present Harold Prince with the organization's Monte Cristo Award at a gala benefit on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Bridgewaters. The Award, given annually in recognition of a distinguished career exemplifying Eugene O'Neill's pioneering spirit and standard of excellence, has previously been presented to Kevin Spacey, Neil Simon, Jason Robards, Jr., Edward Albee, August Wilson, Zoe Caldwell, Brian Dennehy, Karl Malden, Arthur and Barbara Gelb, and Wendy Wasserstein.

Elaine Stritch and Donna McKechnie stopped in to see GOOD OL' GIRLS which only runs, as scheduled, through April 11th. They meet with the cast after the show.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that the 2010 Summer Gala will honor Lincoln Center Theater Executive Producer and former Public Theater Associate Producer Bernard Gersten and Bank of America.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway producer and director Harold Prince, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community.

Elaine Stritch will end her limited engagement of 'At Home At The Carlyle: Elaine Stritch Singin' Sondheim. . . One Song At A Tim,' on April 5th.

The Public Theater will end its premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks' THE BOOK OF GRACE, directed by James Macdonald on April 4th. The cast featured Amari Cheatom as Buddy, John Doman as Vet, and Elizabeth Marvel as Grace.

'Cast Party is Broadway mainstay Jim Caruso's always-packed showcase for the theater-world A-list,' says New York Magazine. Well now the popular New York open mic is headed to Los Angeles for its West Coast premiere at the Magic Castle's Cabaret at the Castle.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will continue its popular Shakespeare Salon series on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m. with Shakespeare Initiative Director Barry Edelstein and acclaimed director Daniel Sullivan discussing the upcoming Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice, featuring Al Pacino as Shylock.

'My spies at 30 Rock tell me about a special Mother's Day episode that just wrapped which features a bevy of Broadway belters. Returning guests include Elaine Stritch as Alec Baldwin's mom, Patti LuPone as Judah Friedlander's mom, Jan Hooks as Jane Krakowski's mom, and Anita Gillette as Tina Fey's mom. With Broadway regulars Cheyenne Jackson and Krakowski, the final scene will be something like Mother's Day - The Musical.'

The producers of the hit Broadway musical MEMPHIS announced today that the critically acclaimed production will launch a U. S. national tour in Memphis, TN. Performances will begin in October, 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre (203 South Main Street). Additional cities, dates and casting will be announced at a later date.