Joan Marcus News

Carson McCullers, Erika Mann and Gypsy Rose Lee are sharing a house in Brooklyn.  No, it's not the theme for a costume ball at Sarah Lawrence.  It's a taste of February House, the heady new chamber musical at The Public (by way of Long Wharf) that may still be in need of some sharpening and editing to match its lofty ambitions, but still offers some refreshingly high-minded moments of musical theatre.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), will close on Sunday, June 24 following 901 performances on Broadway and at New World Stages.

Signature Theatre (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director)presents MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! by Athol Fugard and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The production began previews May 1 and runs through June 10, 2012. The show opens tonight, May 24, in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at the Company's new home The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between Dyer and 10th Avenues). See photos from the production below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's production of MerEdith Wilson's The Music Man, helmed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, stars Kate Baldwin (Tony Award nominee for Broadway's Finian's Rainbow) as Marian the librarian, joined by Burke Moses (original Gaston in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast) as Harold Hill. The Music Man runs through July 22, 2012 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld brings you production shots of Burke Moses and Kate Baldwin in action below!

Masterworks Broadway will release the Encores! cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The album will be recorded in New York City this week, and will feature "A Little Girl From Little Rock," "Bye Bye Baby," and of course, the classic made famous by Marilyn Monroe, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend."

The Public Theater's world premiere production of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, is currently in previews at The Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10, with an official press opening tonight, Tuesday, May 22. BroadwayWorld brings you just released production shots below!

Tune in to see the cast of the Tony nominated JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR perform on ABC-TV's "The View" this Thursday, May 24. In the New York Area, "The View" airs from 11:00AM to 12:00PM. Check local listings for times outside the NY area. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just received Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations for Best Musical Revival. Josh Young, who plays Judas Iscariot and will be performing on "The View," also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and won a Theatre World Award. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is now playing at the Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street.

Signature Theatre began performances for MEDIEVAL PLAY, written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, on May 15 in anticipation of a Thursday, June 7 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at the Company's new Frank Gehry-designed home, The Pershing Square Signature Center. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the production below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: SONS OF THE PROPHET wins big at DCC Awards, Town Hall celebrates 1975, THE NORMAL HEART cast preps for tour, and so much more!

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED welcomes PJ Benjamin as The Wizard on Tuesday, May 8 and Nicole Parker as Elphaba on Friday, May 18 in Denver, CO.

The American premiere of The Royal Court Theatre's Olivier Award-winning new production, COCK starring Jason Butler Harner as M, Amanda Quaid as W, Cory Michael Smith as John and Cotter Smith as F, opens Off-Broadway at The Duke tonight, May 17! See photos of the cast on stage below.

The new off-Broadway show OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES will begin performances on Tuesday May 1 and open on May 20 at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street). BroadwayWorld brings you production shots below!

Signature Theatre presents the US premiere of TITLE AND DEED, a new play by Will Eno and directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett. The production, starring Conor Lovett, will run May 8 - June 17, 2012 with a May 20 opening night in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Company's new home The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). The production is presented in association with Gare St Lazare Players Ireland. Tickets for these additional performances will be $25, as part of the groundbreaking Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access. BroadwayWorld brings you production shots below!

Match.com ain't got nuthin' on New York's cabaret scene, where composers, lyricists and performers are constantly on the lookout for perfect mates; whether for a lifetime commitment or just a brief, but mutually satisfying, fling.

In its 15th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, recently becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 64 million people, grossed over $4.8 billion and, cumulatively, run a staggering 91 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the sixth longest running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

LEAP OF FAITH plays its final performance today, May 13, at Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street) after the matinee performance. Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH opened on Thursday April 26 and will have played 24 previews and 20 regular performances. Take a look back through photos of Raul Esparza and the company on stage, the show's opening night curtain calls and party, its Gypsy Robe Ceremony with Dennis Stowe and more below!

The American premiere of The Royal Court Theatre's Olivier Award-winning new production, COCK starring Jason Butler Harner as M, Amanda Quaid as W, Cory Michael Smith as John and Cotter Smith as F, is currently in previews Off-Broadway at The Duke and opens May 17. See photos of the cast on stage below!