Elaine Stritch News

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce the winning selections of the 2009 TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series. In a series that is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, three works were chosen from submissions by emerging or established producers, as well as writers. The works will be read on Monday, December 14; Tuesday, December 15; and Monday, December 21, 2009 at 7pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting announced it will present an event commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the death of Jacob Gordin through its Jacob Adler Center for the Translation of Yiddish Plays (or JC).

Ventura's new holiday tradition 'A RUBICON FAMILY CHRISTMAS' Conceived and Directed by Brian McDonald With Musical Arrangements by Steven Cahill Opens Saturday, December 6th at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura! Move over Scrooge...here comes Santa Claus! From December 4 through December 28, Rubicon Theatre Company swings and sings its way through the holidays with the delightful musical presentation of A Rubicon Family Christmas. Enjoy complementary warm cider and sweet treats as the stellar cast of Broadway performers and a choir of the region's brightest young stars serenade you with fanciful renditions of traditional Christmas classics and favorite holiday songs. This magical concert, framed in a glorious wintery wonderland is sure to bring a smile to the face and warmth to the heart.

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.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews Tuesday, December 1 for the world premiere of JUAN AND JOHN, written, directed and performed by Roger Guenveur Smith and featuring sound and video design by Marc Anthony Thompson.

Metropolitan favorite Liz Callaway returns to the Metropolitan Room on December 31 with two shows. Her first show, beginning at 8pm, is to celebrate the release of her newest CD Passage of Time. The album -her first in 8 years- includes music by Stephen Sondheim, James Taylor, Rogers and Hammerstein, Maltby and Shire, Ahrens and Flaherty, Stephen Schwartz, and Carly Simon.

As previously reported, Michael Feinstein and Dame Edna have decided to collaborate on their upcoming show efforts and will jointly star in All About Me. The New York Times has reported today that All About Me shall run at the Golden Theater. Previews will begin on February 19 with an official opening night of March 18.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present the New York premiere of THE LAST CARGO CULT, created and performed by Mike Daisey and directed by Jean-Michele Gregory in the Public's Newman Theater.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will bring Broadway uptown for four weeks only with Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the new production of the groundbreaking musical. The national tour of Dreamgirls will kick-off at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday, November 7, 2009, and opening Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will bring Broadway uptown for four weeks only with Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the new production of the groundbreaking musical. The national tour of Dreamgirls will kick-off at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday, November 7, 2009, and opening Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009.

Arena Stage presents an innovative take on the world's longest-running musical, The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Director Amanda Dehnert (Oregon Shakespeare Festival‘s All's Well That Ends Well and Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Cabaret) and famed set designer Eugene Lee (Tony Award for Broadway's Wicked, Candide, Sweeney Todd) take a spin on this timeless love story by staging it in Rocky Point, an abandoned amusement park in Rhode Island. This whimsical twist on the classic musical is full of buoyant humor, charming music and incredible magic that will thrill audiences of all ages. The Fantasticks runs November 20, 2009 - January 10, 2010 at Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre, with an official opening on Friday, November 27, 2009.

Following enthusiastic reviews, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will extend THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Tina Landau and Robert O'Hara, through Sunday, December 20. THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS began previews October 21 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 13.

Philip J. Smith, Chairman of the Shubert Organization and Robert E. Wankel, President of the Shubert Organization, announced today that they have entered into a development and production agreement with Broadway producers Robert Cole and Frederick Zollo.

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting announced it will present an event commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the death of Jacob Gordin through its Jacob Adler Center for the Translation of Yiddish Plays (or JC).

Singer/songwriter Michael Feinstein was appointed today as the new director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Feinstein will arrange three jazz programs to take place in 2010, as well as a family oriented evening that will discuss the connection between jazz and songwriting. All concerts will occur at the Frederick P. Rose Hall in Lincoln Center.

A panel discussion on the theatre and film works of Tennessee Williams will feature actors Ellen Burstyn, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jodie Markell, Elaine Stritch, and Eli Wallach. Burstyn and Howard are set to star in the newly discovered 'The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond' screenplay by Williams. The film is directed by Markell.

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. This celebration of the 80th birthday of the great Broadway and film composer/lyricist will include his most enduring orchestral music and songs - performed, in some cases, by the stars of the original Broadway cast productions - in addition to rarely-heard material. Joining the celebration will be (in alphabetical order) Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and others to be announced, including surprise guests. Paul Gemignani, Mr. Sondheim's longtime collaborator, will conduct the New York Philharmonic; Lonny Price is the director; and Mr. Price and Matt Cowart are the producers.

Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays have officially launched at the Public Theater. The series Part 2, The Brothers Size and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet, directed by Robert O'Hara, began previews on October 21. Part 1, In the red and Brown Water, hits the stage. Tina Landau directs. McCraney, one of America's most acclaimed young writers, returns to The Public to complete his trilogy following the success of The Brothers Size in 2007. Performances will run through December 13.

The world premiere of Rajiv Joseph's (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) Gruesome Playground Injuries features Selma Blair (Hellboy, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Storytelling, Legally Blonde, NBC's Kath & Kim) playing Kayleen and Brad Fleischer (Center Theatre Group's premiere of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Broadway's Coram Boy, Off Broadway's Streamers) playing Doug.

Do Not Miss Morton in a Cabaret Setting