Frank Rich News

Lanford Wilson's Tony-nominated Fifth of July, called the "wisest and funniest play of its generation" by the New York Times, will make its Lehigh Valley debut when it opens in Civic's 19th Street Theatre on Friday, February 18th.

The New Theatre Project is pleased to announce a special one-night only event, for the closet masochist in all of us.

The New Theatre Project is pleased to announce a special one-night only event, for the closet masochist in all of us.

Stephen Sondheim to Jerry Herman to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael John LaChiusa to Kander & Ebb to Dempsey & Rowe, PUTTING IT TOGETHER to MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET on Broadway - the phenomenally gifted co-founder of the Signature Theater is one of the brightest lights in directing today - whether in regional theatre or on Broadway or the West End - and a mere glance at his resume reveals many of the reasons why. Discussing the current production of SUNSET BOULEVARD opening later this month at the Signature, plus a complete rundown of the upcoming Kennedy Center production of FOLLIES, in this, his most comprehensive interview to date, Eric Schaeffer bares all and reveals what makes his productions shine so bright on Broadway and beyond.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) celebrated its 2010-2011 playwright-in-residence Tony Kushner at its 20th anniversary gala on November 8 at Espace. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) will celebrate its 2010-2011 playwright-in-residence Tony Kushner at its 20th anniversary gala on Monday, November 8 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street).

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) will celebrate its 2010-2011 playwright-in-residence Tony Kushner at its 20th anniversary gala on Monday, November 8 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street).

On October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed.

Three quarters of a century before a Frank Rich review had the power to close a Broadway show on opening night, New York City Police Commissioner William McAdoo accomplished the same feat with his pan of the 1905 American premiere of George Bernard Shaw's, Mrs. Warren's Profession.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) opens the first New York revival of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning epic work, ANGELS IN AMERICA: A GAY FANTASIA ON NATIONAL THEMES on October 28. The production will be directed by Michael Greif. ANGELS IN AMERICA is the first production of Signature's 20th Anniversary season, celebrating the works of Tony Kushner.

Last night, October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed.

Producer Daryl Roth announced that Glenn Close will play the role of 'Dr. Emma Brookner' in the upcoming, Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart. She joins cast members Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed. The historic reading will take place at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.

In a career that has consisted of everything from voicing Howard the Duck to originating the roles of The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical INTO THE WOODS and Marvin (and Dr. Mendel) in the FALSETTOS trilogy by William Finn, as well as some DePalma and numerous stage roles in between, Chip Zien is a character actor extraordinaire who now is trying out a new role - that of book writer - in the New York Musical Theater Festival's new musical THE HISTORY OF WAR. Last week we spoke to one of the stars of the show, Max Von Essen, and today we shine some light on the process of bringing the show to the stage as well as a look back at many of the notable film and theatre appearances that Zien has made over his nearly four decades in show business. Working with Stephen Sondheim, William Finn, Dustin Hoffman and Nicolas Cage is just the tip of the iceberg, as Zien also opens up about his unusual career and the many friendships he has built along the way. All that, and what it was like to be at the birth of a brand new Sondheim song written just for him in the form of 'No More' from INTO THE WOODS. Marvin to Mendel, Baker to book writer, Chip Zien is an authority of all the glitters and the gold of having a true collaborative breakthrough as he has had on FALSETTOS, INTO THE WOODS and, now, THE HISTORY OF WAR. Tickets are on sale at the link below! Only three performances left, tonight and tomorrow only!

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that Glenn Close will play the role of 'Dr. Emma Brookner' in the upcoming, Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart. She joins previously announced cast members Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed. The historic reading will take place at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Ron Hutchinson's searing drama 'Rat in the Skull,' a mind-bending dissection of the psychology of enemies locked in an unending cycle of aggression and retribution, is being staged by Wallfly Theater Company as part of 1st Irish 2010, New York's only all-Irish theatre festival.

Theatre and TV stars are coming out to support Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS at the 24TH ANNUAL Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction to be held on Sunday, September 26 from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM in Shubert Alley (Shubert Alley & West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld.com will be there as always streaming live video throughout the day including the grand auction and more! Come say hi if you're in the area and check back here for the video!

30 Rock's Jack McBrayer, who plays Kenneth the page on the hit NBC TV show has just been cast to make his Broadway debut in the staged reading of The Normal Heart on October 18th, reports the New York Times.

Ron Hutchinson's searing drama 'Rat in the Skull,' a mind-bending dissection of the psychology of enemies locked in an unending cycle of aggression and retribution, is being staged by Wallfly Theater Company as part of 1st Irish 2010, New York's only all-Irish theatre festival.

Ron Hutchinson's searing drama 'Rat in the Skull,' a mind-bending dissection of the psychology of enemies locked in an unending cycle of aggression and retribution, is being staged by Wallfly Theater Company as part of 1st Irish 2010, New York's only all-Irish theatre festival.

This fall, some of the brightest names in film, television, theater, books, popular music, technology and culinary arts are sitting down with New York Times journalists for TimesTalks events at TheTimesCenter. Yesterday evening, September 20, TimesTalks hosted James Earl Jones, the award-winning actor in conversation with the New York Time's Patrick Healy. Jones is returning to Broadway in October in 'Driving Miss Daisy' alongside Vanessa Redgrave, and discussed his work in theater, film and TV. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the photo op and brings you coverage below!