Joanna Merlin News

Merlin was the original Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. Merlin cast several Stephen Sondheim musicals, including Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Pacific Overtures. She also cast Evita and On the Twentieth Century. She was seen on screen in Fame and Law & Order.

The Broadway Podcast Network is launching new podcast, “Giants in the Sky: How Sondheim and Lapine Went Into the Woods” hosted by Ben Rimalower, makes its series debut. Listen now!

MICHA, The Michael Chekhov Association has announced that American playwright Gracie Gardner has been selected as the first recipient of the Theater of the Future Fellowship. 

The 45th anniversary reunion of On the Twentieth Century hosted by 15-year-old podcaster Charles Kirsch will include special messages from Amanda Green, daughter of lyricist and bookwriiter Adolph Green, production replacements Jeff Keller and Nick Wyman, understudy Melanie Vaughan and dancer Maris Clement.

On February 19 at 8 PM EST, Charles Kirsch, the 15-year-old host of the hit theater podcast Backstage Babble, will present a reunion of the 1978 Broadway sensation On the Twentieth Century in honor of the 45th anniversary of its opening night.

In the wake of Stephen Sondheim's passing, there has been an outpouring of grief from the Broadway community and beyond. Read them all here.

Learn more about all of the additional archival footage added to the event, including Ariana Grande (at age 15 making her Broadway debut) and Brynn Williams in 13; Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit, Philip Seymour Hoffman in Death of a Salesman, Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime, Sutton Foster in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and more!

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts announced today that Jason Robert Brown, Savion Glover, Priscilla López, Susan Stroman, Marisha Wallace, and Christopher Wheeldon have joined the growing list of Broadway stars participating in I'm Still Here: A Virtual Benefit for the Billy Rose Theatre Division, airing June 23, 2021 on Broadway On Demand at 8pm EST and 8pm PST. The fundraiser will help raise critical funds for the Library for the Performing Arts' beloved Theatre Division as it celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

I'm Still Here, a new virtual benefit for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Billy Rose Theatre Division, will stream on Broadway On Demand on June 23. The evening is a celebration of the division's 90th Anniversary, and the 50th  Anniversary of its beloved Theatre on Film and Tape Archive and will honor Harold Prince and George C. Wolfe. 

Follies at 50: A Conversation with the Cast and Crew of the Original Broadway Production is a one-time event, featuring a panel of people involved in the creation of one of the most groundbreaking musicals of all time, Follies.

Dress Circle Publishing has announced the release of THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY, VOLUME 4, the latest in a series by historian and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper. The book will be available on Tuesday, March 9 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the 2020-2021 Broadway shutdown.

The Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA)--the not-for-profit association dedicated to preserving the artistic vision and technique of actor/director/author Michael Chekhov-- in collaboration with the University of Windsor, today announced the launch of the digital version of Deirdre Hurst du Prey's Michael Chekhov: The Actor is the Theatre Archives.

Director Joel Grey and stars from the critically-acclaimed, award-winning and groundbreaking production of a?oeFiddler on the Roof in Yiddisha?? will celebrate the success of their original cast recording at Barnes & Noble (150 East 86th Street) in New York City at 3:30pm on Tuesday, October 15, 2019. 

The Actors Center has announced the appointment of Alex Birnie as the organization's new executive director. Birnie most recently served as the Center's managing director and enters his first full season in his new role in September 2019.

For the first time ever in its 55-year history, the musically complete cast recording of a?oeFiddler on the Roofa?? will be released, including 11 songs in English that were cut from the original Broadway production in 1964.

Pioneer Theatre Company's incoming managing director, CHRIS MASSIMINE joins PTC effective July 1, but he arrives after bringing in major awards and citations from four prestigious awards organizations: Drama Desk, Outer Critics' Circle, Off Broadway Alliance and Drama Critics' Circle.

The UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance presents Shame Spiral, written by Ali Viterbi and directed by Natalie Griffith Robichaux, as part of the 2019 Wagner New Play Festival.

The Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), the not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic vision and technique of Michael Chekhov, celebrating its 20th year in 2019, today announced that the next recipients of the Zelda Fichandler Scholarship will be multi-faceted performers, stage and screen actress Tia James and writer/director/choreographer, Chuk Obasi.

Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), the not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic vision and technique of actor/director/author Michael Chekhov, today announced the appointment of Thomas Morrissey as its Managing Director. He will work alongside former Managing Director, Jessica Cerullo who now steps into the newly created role of MICHA's Artistic Director. Together, they will manage the day-to day operations of MICHA, produce the annual International Summer Workshop and Festival at Connecticut College in June, and seek out other ways to extend and preserve the legacy of Michael Chekhov and the MICHA.

Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), the not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the artistic vision and technique of actor/director/author Michael Chekhov, today announced the appointment of Thomas Morrissey as its Managing Director. He will work alongside former Managing Director, Jessica Cerullo who now steps into the newly created role of MICHA's Artistic Director. Together, they will manage the day-to day operations of MICHA, produce the annual International Summer Workshop and Festival at Connecticut College in June, and seek out other ways to extend and preserve the legacy of Michael Chekhov and the MICHA.