Jennifer Laura Thompson News

Despite most of the media's attention being focused on Charlie Sheen these days, his former 'Two and a Half Men' co-star Jon Cryer has reportedly - and much more quietly - been cast in the NY Philharmonic production of COMPANY as David.

The 2006 movie dramedy Little Miss Sunshine was and still remains such a low-key charmer that to attempt to simulate it on stage with music is at once challenging, courageous and perplexing. Why? Why retell a story that is so perfect on film unless you can achieve a brand new and interesting take on it? I guess Spider-Man and other films being translated to the stage is the rage these days, especially when there's a dearth of original musicals. All this aside, the production values, the cast and the very artistic endeavor of the stage musical Little Miss Sunshine, now at the Mandell Weiss Theatre of La Jolla Playhouse through March 27, should be lauded and appreciated.

The Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and writer/director James Lapine, who previously collaborated on the Tony Award-winning musicals Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will bring their latest project to, Little Miss Sunshine to The Playhouse. The production runs through March 27, 2011 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's ‘This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix.

The Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and writer/director James Lapine, who previously collaborated on the Tony Award-winning musicals Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will bring their latest project to, Little Miss Sunshine to The Playhouse. The production runs through March 27, 2011 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

The first video has turned up from the world premiere of Little Miss Sunshine at the La Jolla Playhouse. The musical features Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James Lapine.

La Jolla Playhouse has just released costume sketches by Jennifer Caprio for the upcoming world-premiere musical Little Miss Sunshine. The musical features Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James Lapine. Below are two of the costumes for 'Olive Hoover.'

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the cast and creative team of its upcoming world-premiere musical Little Miss Sunshine, by the Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James Lapine. Mr. Lapine has enjoyed a long association with the Playhouse, having previously directed Merrily We Roll Along (1985) and Luck, Pluck and Virtue (1993). The production runs February 15 - March 27, 2011 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Over the course of our ninety minute conversation earlier this week, Tony-winning Broadway star Alice Ripley was kind enough to open up about her role in the phenomenon of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, which is now kicking off a US Tour beginning in Los Angeles, as well as offer thoughts on many of her significant stage roles that she has taken on over the course of her impressive and varied career. Pete Townshend and THE WHO'S TOMMY to Andrew Lloyd Webber and SUNSET BOULEVARD and TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, to Sondheim with COMPANY (as the greatest Amy of all time), and even a turn in ROCKY HORROR; Alice Ripley has seemingly done it all, and her passion, dedication and insight into her craft are amply evident in both her studied performances on stage as well as in discussing the art of acting in musical theatre in conversation and what she has taken as her inspirations to play Diana Goodman, ranging from Albee to O'Neill to actors like Cynthia Nixon, Toni Collette and more. In this portion of her most comprehensive interview to date, BroadwayWorld is proud to present Part I of InDepth InterView: Alice Ripley.

Broadway Divas is the first in this seasons POPS Series with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Featuring two spectacular Broadway leading ladies (from the hit musical WICKED) Julia Murney and Jennifer Laura Thompson are coming to Toronto to perform a medley of showstoppers that will be conducted by Steven Reineke. Mr. Reineke spoke to BWW about what they can expect at this unique and exciting event!

Ken Ludwig's LEND ME A TENOR's starring Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub, Justin Bartha, Brooke Adams, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jay Klaitz, and Jan Maxwell, directed by Stanley Tucci will play its final performance today, Sunday, August 15, ending its acclaimed limited engagement at the Music Box Theatre (239 W. 45th Street) The production will have played 153 performances and 24 previews.

Ken Ludwig's LEND ME A TENOR's starring Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub, Justin Bartha, Brooke Adams, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jay Klaitz, and Jan Maxwell, directed by Stanley Tucci will play its final performance next Sunday, August 15, ending its acclaimed limited engagement at the Music Box Theatre (239 W. 45th Street) The production will have played 153 performances and 24 previews.

LEND ME A TENOR's Anthony LaPaglia and Tony Shalhoub will be featured on 'The Wendy Williams Show' this Friday, July 23 at 10:00AM on FOX Channel 5 and at 10:00PM on MY9 Channel 9 in New York.

Broadway's LEND ME A TENOR, currently playing at The Music Box Theatre on Broadway, dedicated a special 8:00pm performance on June 27, 2010 to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. BroadwayWorld brings you Tony Shalhoub's curtain speech below.

The Broadway productions of LEND ME A TENOR and THE ADDAMS FAMILY will dedicate performances to The Actors Fund on June 27 and July 11, respectively, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. Both performances begin at 8pm.

This Saturday June 26th, two previous Elphabas from the widely popular Broadway musical Wicked will take the stage in Columbus. Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block will sing in a special "Wicked Divas" concert with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as part of the Nationwide Insurance Picnic with the Pops series. The orchestra is scheduled to perform selections from George Bizet's Carmen. Murney and Block will sing selections from Wicked, as well as Ragtime, Chicago, Funny Girl, and much more.

LEND ME A TENOR's Justin Bartha will be featured on NBC TV's 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' tomorrow Thursday June 10 at 12:35 AM (actually very early on June 11). 'Late Night' airs on WNBC TV Channel 4 in New York.

Jan Maxwell And Katie Finneran talked to the New York Times about their backstage habits while appearing on Broadway. Maxwell, currently appearing in LEND ME A TENOR, spends much of her off-stage time in her dressing room with Will Maxwell-Lunney, her 14-year-old son.

On Tuesday, June 1, Tony's di Napoli Restaurant in Times Square honored Broadway's LEND ME A TENOR with the 'Bartha, LaPaglia, Shalhoub' portrait - the newest addition to their prestigious Broadway Wall of Fame, created by Dan May. Poster copies signed by the stars will be auctioned off at a future event to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.