Joan Marcus News

William Finn and James Lapine's sluggish new musical only occasionally hints at the brilliance of its creators.

Previews are now underway for the Playwrights Horizons World Premiere production of THE (curious case of the) WATSON INTELLIGENCE, a new play by Madeleine George (The Zero Hour). Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Leigh Silverman (Go Back to Where You Are, Blue Door and The Call at PH; The Madrid, Chinglish, Golden Child, Well), the production has an Opening Night set for Monday, December 9 at 7PM . It will play a limited engagement through Sunday evening, December 29 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street). Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Blythe Danner and Sarah Jessica Parker might trick you into thinking Amanda Peet's slight drama has real depth.

Tune in to hear Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, who star in Harold Pinter's NO MAN'S LAND and Samuel Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT, and director Sean Mathias on NPR's "Weekend Edition" this Sunday, November 24. McKellen, Stewart and Mathias talk with NPR's Jeff Lunden about bringing these two fascinating plays to Broadway in repertory. "Weekend Edition" airs nationally between 8am and 10am Eastern (on WNYC Radio in the New York area).

The Broadway repertory season of Harold Pinter¹s NO MAN¹S LAND and Samuel Beckett¹s WAITING FOR GODOT opens this Sunday, November 24. Starring Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Billy Crudup and Shuler Hensley and directed by Sean Mathias, this limited engagement repertory season plays throughSunday, March 2 at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). For performance schedule and more information, visit TwoPlaysInRep.com.

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA by Amanda Peet, directed by MTC's award-winning artistic director Lynne Meadow opens tonight at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

MCC THEATER announced today that the New York Premiere of John Pollono's Small Engine Repair will now play through December 21, 2013. Keegan Allen, James Badge Dale, playwright/actor John Pollono, and James Ransone star in the production directed by longtime MCC collaborator Jo Bonney (MCC's The Break of Noon, Fat Pig). Small Engine Repair at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) had its official opening night on November 20, 2013 and was previously extended through December 15, 2013. The show must close December 21st to make way for the next Lortel tenant.

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA by Amanda Peet, directed by MTC's award-winning artistic director Lynne Meadow opens tonight at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

John Pollono's terrific new play starts as a genial comedy, but switches gears with a fast and hard entrance into the danger zone.

A Christmas Carol (AChristmasCarolOnStage.com) by Charles Dickens, in an adaptation by Patrick Barlow (39 Steps) plays the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46th Street). The show is currently in previews with an opening night set for Monday, November 25th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Directed by Richard Nelson, REGULAR SINGING began performances at The Public Theater on Saturday, November 16 and runs in repertory with the previous Apple Family Plays through Sunday, December 15. Below, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the premiere in action!

The old sayings, 'You've got to see it to believe it,' and 'You either get 'IT'or you don't,' are certainly sayings that could be (and probably are) applied to WICKED. With its 10th anniversary this year, and nine current productions performing around the globe, I must say I was completely surprised during intermission. A gentleman sitting in front of me struck up a conversation and nonchalantly stated he had bought the ticket on a whim while in town for business ~ with no clue what the show was about. He had no idea it was in reference to Wizard of Oz and had no anticipation. He was simply ready to enjoy a live theater production and that was what caught his eye online. Wow. The winner of more than 50 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, was unknown to this gentleman. Naturally, I reflected back to my first time of seeing it in Chicago, and the subsequent reviews of 'Wicked' I have written ~ each one a totally different experience and finding different aspects most notable. At my first experience, I was blown away ~ as almost everyone is. The second, I noticed the nods to the book, film and characters. At my third, I noticed, and wrote about, the symbolism transportation played ~ in this review (REVIEW: WICKED 2010). After seeing any show several times, the viewer naturally compares the actors and have those they feel most closely fit the bill, the ones they believe most talented, etc. This production stars Jennifer DiNoia as Elphaba and Hayley Podschun as Glinda. If you are a fan of Kristin Chenoweth and, frankly, who isn't? ~ then, you will absolutely adore Podschun. She practically radiates on stage during 'Popular,' drawing ecstatic applause from the engaged audience. Naturally, DiNoia's rendition of the power ballad won thunderous applause. It is definitely one of DiNoia's finer moments in the performance. Her other being the duet, 'What is this Feeling?' with Podschun as the two opposing witches realize how much they loathe each other. The main issue with anyone stepping into the sparkly shoes of Glinda or the work boots of Elphaba in the musical loosely based on Gregory Maguire's novel, is they are attempting to fill seriously talented footsteps. Even those who have not (gasp) seen the musical, have more than likely heard of the Broadway originators of the roles ~ Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel (read review of her solo performance here). And therein lies the problem. Can anyone ever make the role truly their own, while compared to the greats at every turn? Probably not. At least not for another 10 years. It would be equivalent to performing a role so well the audience forgets Judy Garland (The Wizard of Oz), Michael Crawford (Phantom of the Opera), or Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean). Whether a stage or screen production, some performers become the standard for all others after them. A tough act. With that said, it's like being in the top 10 percent of your graduating class. No, you aren't No. 1 or 2, but you're still in the top percentile. Nothing to be upset over. Bottom Line: Whether this is your first, or 15th time, Wicked is a must-see anytime it is in town. Performance Schedule There is no performance on Thanksgiving Day,Thursday, November 28. November 13-17: Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Thursday matinee at 2:00 pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm, Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm and Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; November 19-24: Tuesday -Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm, Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm and Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; November 26 - December 1: Monday - Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm. Click here for information on $25 ticket lottery for Wicked in Indianapolis. Images: provided by BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Joan Marcus Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel, food, wine and spirits columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy's Personal Lifestyle Adviser on Indy Style, WISH8 (CBS). Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, and in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Roundabout Theatre Company's Underground production of Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, a new play by Meghan Kennedy, began previews on Friday, October 25th and officially opens tonight, November 20, 2013 at Roundabout's Black Box Theatre, at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street, NYC, NY, 10036). This is a limited engagement through January 5, 2014. The cast of Too Much, Too Much, Too Many includes Rebecca Henderson, Luke Kirby, James Rebhorn, and Phyllis Somerville, directed by Sheryl Kaller. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

MCC THEATER announced today that the New York Premiere of John Pollono's celebrated Small Engine Repair will now play through December 15, 2013 due to popular demand. Keegan Allen, James Badge Dale, playwright/actor John Pollono, and James Ransone star in the production directed by longtime MCC collaborator Jo Bonney (MCC's The Break of Noon, Fat Pig). Small Engine Repair at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) has its official opening night on November 20, 2013 and was previously scheduled to run through December 8, 2013.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents the next Roundabout Underground production Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, officially opening tomorrow, November 20 at Roundabout's Black Box Theatre, at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street, NYC, NY, 10036). This is a limited engagement throughJanuary 5, 2014.

Producers Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre have announced the Murderous Musical Mondays Concert Series at New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street) following the 7pm performances of the new hit musical comedy Murder For Two on Mondays beginning December 2, 2013 and culminating with the Kellen and Joe Christmastime Show on December 16, 2013. Admission to the post-show 'singbacks' is exclusive to ticket holders of the December 2, 9, and 16, 2013 performances of Murder For Two. A portion of ticket sales for the designated performances will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today a general rush ticket policy for the highly anticipated new musical Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. Beginning with the show's first preview this Thursday, November 21st, a number of $40 tickets will be made available for each performance, for purchase day-of at the box office of the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street). Tickets are subject to availability, and patrons are limited to two rush tickets per person. Beautiful - The Carole King Musical comes to Broadway on the heels of a sold-out, critically acclaimed World Premiere in San Francisco, and officially opens on Sunday, January 12, 2014.

'There's no cure like travel, to help you unravel the worries of living today.' The cast and crew of the National Tour of Anything Goes recently bid bon voyage to the road as they returned home from their 13 month voyage across North America. Traveling through 22 states, 28 cities and 2 countries, the company helped audience members unravel aboard the S.S. American with plenty of madcap antics and hijinks on the high seas.

The Public Theater announced today that David Byrne and the original cast of the acclaimed musical HERE LIES LOVE will perform a one-time-only special benefit concert in support of the people of the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). All proceeds for the special show on Monday, November 25 at 8:00 p.m. at Terminal 5 (610 W. 56th Street) will go to support Doctors Without Borders Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) relief efforts in the Philippines.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of the hit new musical comedy MURDER FOR TWO in early 2014. MURDER FOR TWO, which was a hit at Second Stage Theatre Uptown before transferring to New World Stages, has already extended its run through March 16, 2014. The album will be produced by Joel Moss with Kurt Deutsch serving as executive producer. Sign up to pre-order at www.sh-k-boom.com/murderfortwo.html.