James Lapine News

Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, who stars in the hit FOXtelevision show 'Glee' as ruthless cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, will soon make her Broadway debut as tyrannical orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in Annie. Lynch joins the production for eight weeks only, and according to the musical's official Twitter page, she will begin on May 15- one day sooner than previously announced.

Shout! Broadway has announced that the New 2012 Broadway Cast Recording for ANNIE is available for purchase at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets), beginning tonight, May 7. The merchandise stand is open to the public one hour prior to performance. Digital release will be on Tuesday, May 28. The recording will be released to national retail outlets on Tuesday, July 2.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will celebrate the theater's past, present and future at its 45th Anniversary Bash this Friday evening, May 10 at the Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The evening will include an exclusive sneak peek at works under consideration for the company's future Musical Theatre Initiative productions with performances from Judy Kuhn, Stephen Bogardus and Jeffry Denman-all of whom were featured in this season's critically-acclaimed Passion-as well as Alexander Gemignani, Alexandra Silba, Jenny Fellner and more, directed by Jack Cummings III, with musical direction by Greg Jarrett.

San Francisco Playhouse Artistic Director Bill Englishand Producing Director Susi Damilano announced selections today for the 2013-14 Season.

The Off-Broadway League today gave out awards in 14 categories and two additional special awards for the 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards were handed out on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at NYU Skirball Center, hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event once again benefited The Actors Fund.

According to the Daily Mail, Samantha Mumba has just signed a $1 million deal to star in a Hollywood film musical. She revealed the news to friends at a launch party for Stacey Jackson's new album.

The Off-Broadway League previously announced award nominations in 14 categories and two additional special awards for the 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out today, May 5, 2013 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

Kevin Spirtas and Tyler Maynard are joining the cast of Off-Broadway's smash hit Silence! The Musical at today's matinee, May 4th at the Elektra Theatre. Spirtas is set to play Dr. Hannibal Lecter's nemesis Dr. Chilton, and Maynard will assume the role of the hapless Sgt. Pembry.

According to the Daily Mail, James Corden has signed on to appear alongside Daniel Mays in Nick Payne's play The Same Deep Water As Me at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by John Crawley. Corden also recently met with Into the Woods film director Rob Marshall to discuss appearing in the movie adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical. If the dates for both projects do not conflict, Corden will take part in the pair.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present a new production of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle featuring Christopher Lloyd (Azdak), directed by Brian Kulick (who directed Brecht's Galileo last season), and featuring new music by Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening). The Caucasian Chalk Circle will begin performances tonight, May 3 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 9. The official opening is Thursday, May 30.

Kevin Spirtas and Tyler Maynard are joining the cast of Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical this Saturday, May 4th at the Elektra Theatre. Spirtas is set to play Dr. Hannibal Lecter's nemesis Dr. Chilton, and Maynard will assume the role of the hapless Sgt. Pembry.

Today in 2005, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for 1136 performances. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a one act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally-quirky grown-ups. The 2005 Broadway production, directed by James Lapine, was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Book. The show has spawned various other productions in the U.S., including a national tour with performances in Canada, and Australian productions.

On April 29th at New York City's Pierre Hotel, the National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) honored Vanessa Williams, American Express and five resident theatres celebrating their 50th anniversary - Actors Theatre of Louisville, Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Seattle Repertory Theatre and Trinity Repertory Company - at NCTF's annual Chairman's Awards Gala. Actor George Takei, star of the Broadway-bound musical Allegiance, emceed the event. Scroll down for photos of the stars!

According to a recent casting notice, Rob Marshall's film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's classic musical is set to begin shooting this September in the U.K.

The Tony Award winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS will run at the MCL Grand Theatre, 100 North Charles Street, tonight, May 1, 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and May 4 and 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Beginning this Saturday, May 4th, Sarah O'Gleby will be the new Dream Clarice in Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical at the Elektra Theatre.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained) is in talks to star opposite Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) in producers Will Smith and Jay-Z's film adaptation of Annie for Sony. Foxx would play 'Benjamin Stacks', the film's 'Daddy Warbucks' character.

The Tony Award winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS will run at the MCL Grand Theatre, 100 North Charles Street, May 1, 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and May 4 and 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Tonight, April 29th, at New York City's Pierre Hotel, the National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will honor Vanessa Williams, American Express and five resident theatres celebrating their 50th anniversary - Actors Theatre of Louisville, Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Seattle Repertory Theatre and Trinity Repertory Company - at NCTF's annual Chairman's Awards Gala. Actor George Takei, star of the Broadway-bound musical Allegiance, emcees the event.

Acting Up Stage opened their newest production this past Thursday, a new version of Falsettos that is being produced with The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. The show was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1992, and took home the prize for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. On Friday night, writer William Finn joined Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian for a special post-performance Q&A, where the two discussed the evolution of Falsettos as well as Finn's life and other works. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers photos from the event.