James Earl Jones News

Angela Lansbury, who will return to Broadway this spring in Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN, has had a career spanning more than six decades that includes film, television and stage success.

Stars André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Suzzanne Douglas, Frankie Faison, and many more will perform in a staged reading of King Lear by William Shakespeare for two performances only: Saturday January 7th, 2012 at 7pm and Sunday January 8th, 2012 at 5pm.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and INFINITY Stages announced today that Tony Award nominee KERRY BUTLER (Xanadu) has joined the cast of the 2012 Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN in the role of Mabel Cantwell, a role that Edie Adams played in the film adaptation and later by Christine Ebersole in the 2000 Broadway revival. The addition of Butler marks the completion of principal casting for this star-studded theatrical event.

Though some shows headed for Broadway are set for theatres without stars, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE is in just the opposite position: in spite of hiring Daphne Rubin-Vega, Wood Harris, Blair Underwood and Nicole Ari Parker, the production has yet to book a Broadway house.

2012 is just around the corner, and there are a plethora of shows in store for this new Broadway season. From brand new musicals to vintage plays and West End transfers to American classics, 2012's upcoming shows should surely lead to a stellar awards season this spring. Check out a preview of all 21 announced productions below!

Producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced today that Tony Award winner JEFFERSON MAYS, Drama Desk Award winner DAKIN MATTHEWS and renowned journalist and television personality DONNA HANOVER have joined the cast of the 2012 Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN.

Broadway continues its 2011-2012 season momentum. In addition to the 19 shows that have already opened this season - joining the 17 long-running shows currently playing on the boards - over 16 more shows have announced opening dates this spring, with more expected to announce.

It's the most wonderful time of the year and San Francisco's Golden Gate Theater is adding magic of the season with Dr. Seuss' classic holiday story set to music, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The storybook that we all grew up with, along with the cartoon classic we eagerly waited to see each winter season, will be brought to life December 21 - 29, just in time for Christmas.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts invite high school students from across the state to compete in Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its 12th annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary film actor and O'Neill alum Michael Douglas in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community. Mr. Douglas embodies the "pioneering spirit, unceasing artistic commitment, and excellence" of America's only Nobel Prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill. The award will be presented to Mr. Douglas by his wife, Catherine Zeta Jones, at a gala dinner held in his honor at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on Monday, April 16th at 6:30pm.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, a beloved family tradition, Holiday POPS!, returns to the Kimmel Center for seven festive performances.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, a beloved family tradition, Holiday POPS!, returns to the Kimmel Center for seven festive performances.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced that Academy Honorary Award® winner James Earl Jones will join Artistic Director Michael Kahn for the third installment of the Classic Conversations series to be held at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW) on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 8 p.m.

Emmy Award winner ERIC McCORMACK will return to Broadway as presidential contender Joseph Cantwell in the star-studded cast of the 2012 Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN. The role of Senator Cantwell was played by Cliff Robertson in the film adaptation and Chris Noth in the 2000 Broadway revival.

Stars André Braugher, Ami Brabson, Suzzanne Douglas, Frankie Faison, and many more will perform in a staged reading of King Lear by William Shakespeare for two performances only: Saturday January 7th, 2012 at 7pm and Sunday January 8th, 2012 at 5pm.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, announced that Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons) and Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.) starring in a new Broadway production of the Pulitzer Prize winning comedy Harvey by Mary Chase and directed by Scott Ellis.

Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel have just announced the design team for the upcoming Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN. Tony and Drama Desk Award winning scenic designer DEREK McLANE (33 Variations, Anything Goes), Tony and Drama Desk Award winning lighting designer KENNETH POSNER (The Coast of Utopia, Part 2 - Shipwreck) and five-time Tony Award nominated costume designer ANN ROTH (The Book of Mormon) will design the play about power, ambition, political secrets, ruthlessness and the race for the presidency.

Cast members, Vanessa Redgrave, James Earl Jones and Boyd Gaines encouraged audiences of Driving Miss Daisy to donate £13, 847.89, the largest collection that charity Acting For Others has received since the collections were initiated in 2003.

On Monday, November 14, Sonnet Repertory Theatre hosted its Tenth Annual Benefit and Cabaret. The event brought together a diverse and talented group of performers and composers at Joe's Pub to honor award-winning director and teacher, Gerald Freedman. Celebrating Freedman's career, this evening featured some of Broadway's greatest talents and legends, including Brian d'Arcy James, Jennifer Ferrin, Penny Fuller, Hal Holbrook, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Jeremy Jordan, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Terrence Mann, John Mauceri, Estelle Parsons, Austin Pendleton, Bryce Pinkham,Wesley Taylor, Alfred Uhry, Price Waldman, and Emily Young, and including special video tributes by Olympia Dukakis and Chita Rivera. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the concert and brings you full photo coverage below!

We'll have photo coverage up shortly, but couldn't resist bringing you a quick preview 'Freeze Frame' from Sonnet Repertory Theatre's Tenth Annual Benefit and Cabaret on Monday, November 14 of Patti LuPone and Kevin Kline.