Joan Marcus News

The Public Theater began previews for the world premiere production of THE TWENTY-SEVENTH MAN, by Nathan Englander, on Thursday, November 8. Directed by Barry Edelstein, THE TWENTY-SEVENTH MAN runs through Sunday, December 9 in The Public's Martinson Theater at its Astor Place home, with an official press opening on Sunday, November 18. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Playwright Richard Nelson first introduced audiences to the family of Apple siblings with That Hopey Changey Thing, which took place on election night 2010 and, by design, opened on that same night.  He pulled the same trick last year with Sweet and Sad, which opened and was set on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre plays host to Disney's 'The Lion King' now through January 13, 2013. I put that out there right away because if you're one for keeping a bucket list of must-see things to do and see before you 'exit stage left' then this show is surely one for the list.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is a 'tale as old as time' and while the story and music are wonderful and as good as the audience may remember, the new NETworks touring production - currently playing at PlayhouseSquare - is a far cry from the magic of the original Broadway and touring productions.

You know those people who can eat whatever they want and never gain a pound?  Charlie, the central character of Samuel D. Hunter's touching drama The Whale, isn't one of them.  Charlie's dietary habits declined in a sharp downward spiral after losing his lover under tragic circumstances.  He lives a reclusive existence in his Idaho home, teaching how to write basic essays from his laptop while spread across his couch, with his students able to hear his voice, but never see his face.  When he last used a scale, Charlie weighed in at 550 pounds.  He suspects to be close to 600 now.

Television and movie legend William Shatner will bring his one man show SHATNER'S WORLD: WE JUST LIVE IN IT to the State Theatre in Easton tonight, November 11, 7 PM.

I daresay that playwright Jon Kern probably found a previously untried twist in the old staple of “meeting cute” in a romantic comedy by having the central couple of his play be a suicide bomber on a mission to sacrifice himself, and take as many lives as possible with him, on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, and a fellow terrorist helping to achieve his goal as revenge against an American drone attack that killed her husband on her wedding day when the celebration was mistaken for a Taliban gathering.

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) Broadway production ofThe Mystery of Edwin Drood began previews on October 19th. The show opens officially on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St.). This is a limited engagement through February 10th, 2013. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below!

Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner will play Elder Price and Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon, which previews at the Prince of Wales Theatre from 25 February 2013. They are currently leading the company in the Los Angeles production, which has broken all box office records at the Pantages Theatre.

This year's MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE will feature performances from Broadway's best musicals, including "Annie," "Bring It On," Rodgers + Hammerstein's "Cinderella," "Elf" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It." In addition, the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® will join the presentation to help kick-off the holidays.

The Public Theater presents the New York premiere production of Giant, an epic love story with book by Sybille Pearson and music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa. Currently in previews at the Newman Theater, the show has pushed back opening night to November 15. Directed by Michael Greif, Giant runs through Sunday, December 2. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

The Off-Broadway production of MURDER BALLAD is currently playing at The Studio at Stage II at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street) and opens Thursday, November 15. Manhattan Theatre Club's MURDER BALLAD, the new musical that is the inaugural production of MTC's The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II, runs through December 2. Get a first look at stars Will Swenson, Karen Olivo, Rebecca Naomi Jones and John Ellison Conlee in the photos below!

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents a family treat for the holidays, the Tony Award-winning musical BIG RIVER. Helmed by TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, BIG RIVER plays November 28-December 30, 2012 (press opening December 1) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

The Public Theater announced today that the acclaimed production of Wild With Happy, written by Colman Domingo and directed by Robert O'Hara, will extend an additional week to Sunday, November 18.

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, celebrates its 7th Anniversary on Broadway today, Tuesday, November 6. Take a look back at the past 7 years below!

The Public Theater presents the world premiere production of Richard Nelson's new play SORRY. SORRY, play three of The Apple Family Plays, takes place over a meal during the day the country will choose the next president - Election Day. The cast features Jon Devries, Maryann Plunkett, Laila Robins, Jay O. Sanders, and J. Smith-Cameron. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

The National Tour of ELF THE MUSICAL will begin performances on November 4, 2012, kickng off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Rhode Island November 4-10 and will make stops throughout the holiday season, including Appleton, WI (Nov. 13-18, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center); Tampa, FL (Nov. 20-25, Straz Center for the Performing Arts); Fort Myers, FL (Nov. 27 - Dec. 2, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall); and St. Paul, MN (Dec. 5-30, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

'Elf the Musical' boasts a jazzy, highly enjoyable score by Doug Besterman, and traces Buddy the Elf's quest to find his biological father in the faraway land of New York City.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Cleveland as part of the KeyBank Broadway Series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at PlayhouseSquare for two weeks; tonight, November 6-18.

Annie, the new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). For a look back at the original Broadway production of ANNIE, click here, and for a look at the current Broadway production, scroll down!