Ellen Burstyn News

On the eve of Memorial Day, a star-studded line-up will grace the stage for one of PBS' highest-rated programs, the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT. The program is co-hosted for the seventh year by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS) and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise (CSI:NEW YORK)

Oscar(R), Emmy(R), Tony(R), Golden Globe(R) and BAFTA Award winner Ellen Burstyn ('Big Love,' 'Requiem for a Dream') joins the star studded cast of USA Network's provocative original series POLITICAL ANIMALS, from Warner Horizon Television. Starring Sigourney Weaver ('Avatar'), Ciarán Hinds ('Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'), Carla Gugino ('Entourage'), James Wolk ('Shameless'), Sebastian Stan ('Gossip Girl') and Brittany Ishibashi ('The Mentalist'), the six-hour event drama from acclaimed television and film producers Greg Berlanti ('Brothers & Sisters') and Laurence Mark ('Julie & Julia' ) is slated for the network's blockbuster summer lineup.

Burning Coal Theatre Company will close its 15th season with the world premiere of Jude the Obscure, Parts 1 & 2 by Ian Finley, with music and lyrics by Thomas Hardy, Bruce Benedict, Jerome Davis and Jonathan Fitts. The production will run April 12 - May 5, 2012 at the Murphey School, 224 Polk Street, Raleigh, NC. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm (April 12 - 14, 19 - 21, 26 - 28 and May 3 - 5, 2012), Saturdays at 2 pm (April 21, 28 and May 5, 2012) and Sundays at 2 pm (April 15, 22, 29, 2012). Sunday, April 15 (Part 1) and Sunday, April 22nd (Part 2) at 2 pm are our 'Pay What You Can' days. Those performances will also be Audio Described. Tickets are $20 or $15 for students, seniors and active military. All tickets are $10 on Thursday evenings. For reservations and information, please call 919-834-4001 or visit www.burningcoal.org.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER. The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins previews Friday April 6, opens Wednesday April 11 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $25 and are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.220.5700 and asking for the group sales department.

Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN opened last night, Sunday, April 1st, 2012 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre for a strictly limited 18 week engagement is directed by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Wilson (The Orphans Home Cycle Part I, II and III, Dividing The Estate). Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN comes to Broadway in an all-star theatrical event with two time Tony Award winner James Earl Jones, Tony and Emmy Award winner John Larroquette, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Candice Bergen, Emmy Award winner Eric McCormack, Tony Award nominee Kerry Butler, Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays, Drama Desk Award winner Michael McKean and five time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the arrivals and brings you photo coverage below!

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER. The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins previews Friday April 6, opens Wednesday April 11 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $25 and are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.220.5700 and asking for the group sales department.

Burning Coal Theatre Company presents BUSINESS SPEAK - How Business People Can Use the Tools of an Actor's Trade, a four week class that presents the non-actor with the fundamental tools of the actor's trade: confidence, articulation, improvisation, and how to concisely convey ideas, using your voice and your body. Burning Coal Theatre Company's Artistic Director, Jerome Davis, and Education Director Ian Finley will teach this class on the art of public speaking. Dates and times are May 7- May 28, 2012, Mondays from 6:30-9:30 pm. The class costs $120, due at the first class. Classes will take place at the Murphey School, 224 Polk Street, Raleigh, NC. For further information, visit www.burningcoal.org. To register, call 919-834-4001.

Burning Coal Theatre Company will close its 15th season with the world premiere of Jude the Obscure, Parts 1 & 2 by Ian Finley, with music and lyrics by Thomas Hardy, Bruce Benedict, Jerome Davis and Jonathan Fitts. The production will run April 12 - May 5, 2012 at the Murphey School, 224 Polk Street, Raleigh, NC. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm (April 12 - 14, 19 - 21, 26 - 28 and May 3 - 5, 2012), Saturdays at 2 pm (April 21, 28 and May 5, 2012) and Sundays at 2 pm (April 15, 22, 29, 2012). Sunday, April 15 (Part 1) and Sunday, April 22nd (Part 2) at 2 pm are our 'Pay What You Can' days. Those performances will also be Audio Described. Tickets are $20 or $15 for students, seniors and active military. All tickets are $10 on Thursday evenings. For reservations and information, please call 919-834-4001 or visit www.burningcoal.org.

Megan Mullally stopped by the Ellen Degeneres Show and serenaded Justin Beiber for his 18th birthday. She sang him her version of 'Fever' which she appropriately changed to 'Beiber.' Check out the performance below!

MASKS is a buddy dramedy about two men growing up in the juvenile justice system, struggling to make it to manhood, battling with their past to shed their masks as they deal with crucial life issues that young people face.

Two Muses, a new non-profit professional theatre in West Bloomfield, is presenting Same Time Next Year by Bernard Slade.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, has announced the full company for the new Broadway production of Mary Chase's Harvey starring Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons), Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Larry Bryggman (Judge Omar Gaffney), Carol Kane (Betty Chumley), Peter Benson (E.J. Lofgren), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Holley Fain (Ruth Kelly, R.N.), Angela Paton (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson), Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.) and directed by Scott Ellis.

Emmy Award-winning actress Megan Mullally joins the cast as Veronica Mann with Christian Slater as Oz in the second season of BREAKING IN, premiering Tuesday, March 6 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Two Muses, a new non-profit professional theatre in West Bloomfield, is presenting Same Time Next Year by Bernard Slade.

As BroadwayWorld previously announced, Gerald Goehring, Michael F. Mitri and Dorothy Berloni are developing BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, a new Broadway musical based on the popular 2000 novel by Kate DeCamillo. Casting for a developmental reading is currently underway and set to take place in early March. This is set to be followed by an out of town engagement and Broadway production, the timing of which will be confirmed at a later date.

In honor of La MaMa's 50th Anniversary, Pace University's Performing Arts (students, alumni and faculty) celebrate La MaMa's "Homecomings" season with a tribute to three playwrights who called La MaMa their early home: Maria Irene Fornes, Sam Shepard and Lanford Wilson.

MASKS is a buddy dramedy about two men growing up in the juvenile justice system, struggling to make it to manhood, battling with their past to shed their masks as they deal with crucial life issues that young people face.

In honor of La MaMa's 50th Anniversary, Pace University's Performing Arts (students, alumni and faculty) celebrate La MaMa's "Homecomings" season with a tribute to three playwrights who called La MaMa their early home: Maria Irene Fornes, Sam Shepard and Lanford Wilson.