Joe DiPietro News

You know you're in for a good one when there's a huge laugh before the first person on stage can even let out the third syllable of the show. But by the time the actors start growling to customers, 'There's no intermission!' and 'The show's eight hours long!' The Toxic Avenger has firmly established itself as one of the funniest musicals in town.

Four plays will be developed in July at The Cape Cod Theatre Project, culminating in three performances of each play as staged readings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm through the month of July at Falmouth Academy (7 Highfield Dr., Falmouth, MA).

Nominations for the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club by Faith Prince and Jim Dale, multi-award winning stage stars. They were joined for the announcement by William Wolf, Drama Desk President, Barbara Siegel, Chairperson of the Drama Desk Nominating Committee, Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards ceremony, and Randie Levine-Miller, Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) proudly announces nominations for the 2008-09 Drama League Awards, to be awarded at The 75th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 15, 2009 (noon) in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). The event will be co-hosted by Jeremy Irons (Impressionism) and Cynthia Nixon (Distracted).

Written by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect,) The Last Romance is a touching new love story that uses music & opera to weave its magic as it shows audiences it is never too late to fall in love.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.

As the Arvada Center closes the 2008/2009 season on a financial high note, and it's anticipating that the upcoming season will be even more impressive. 'We recognize there are economic issues out there for our audiences,' states Executive Director Gene Sobczak.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, April 10, 2009.

Over the River and Through the Woods, a comedy by Joe DiPietro, is a show for the entire family, starring Laura McLeod (Emma), Carol Skipper (Aida), Bob Reich (Nunzio), James Skipper (Frank), Misti Solomon (Caitlin), and Jeff Harris (Nick). It features music by Lynn Ivey. The show will be performed on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 from April 10 - April 25. Make sure to arrive between 6:30 and 6:45. For reservations call: 334-693-0846.

The Toxic Avenger, the brand new musical about New Jersey's first superhero, features a score by Bon Jovi's David Bryan and Joe Di Pietro. The cast includes Nancy Opel, Sara Chase, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Matthew Saldivar. Tony Award-winner John Rando directs.

Finborough Theater announces their new Season for April - June 2009 April to June 2009 at the finboroughtheatre The multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre's second season of 2009 features the world premiere of a new adaptation of a rediscovered classic; the European premiere of a new South African play, starring Janet Suzman; and the world premiere of the first winner of Amnesty International's Protect The Human Playwriting Competition; together with Sunday and Monday productions of three plays, all revived for the first time since their original productions

The Arvada Center's 2009/2010 theater season includes four Broadway musicals, a regional premiere and a classic, and offers a variety of subscription packages; the 6-show, 'see-it-all' subscription, a 4-Musical subscription and the create-your-own flex subscription. Several new, patron-friendly initiatives are also introduced for next season

Known most notably for his Off Broadway musical sensation, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, and the comedy about family relations, Over the River and Through the Woods, DiPietro is one of America's most prolific playwrights with new productions of his work popping up all over the country. At the time of his visit, DiPietro will have three plays in production in Fort Myers.

Finborough Theater announces their new Season for April - June 2009 April to June 2009 at the finboroughtheatre The multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre's second season of 2009 features the world premiere of a new adaptation of a rediscovered classic; the European premiere of a new South African play, starring Janet Suzman; and the world premiere of the first winner of Amnesty International's Protect The Human Playwriting Competition; together with Sunday and Monday productions of three plays, all revived for the first time since their original productions

Taproot Theatre Company celebrates the close of its 2008 Season of Discovery and a successful start of 2009. On the Mainstage, Taproot served 29,728 ticketholders in 2008, from its dedicated subscribers to single-ticket holders-many of whom discovered Taproot Theatre for the first time. Kicking off its 2008 season was Shakespeare's As You Like It, which was given a free-spirited American 1960s twist.

The wait is over! Victoria Theatre Association has announced the 2009-2010 Miami Valley and Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series, and it includes the Dayton Premiere of Broadway's biggest blockbuster, WICKED!

Based on the classic 1985 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger premiered this past fall at The George Street Playhouse, where the show became the biggest grossing musical in the theatre's 34 year history.

Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Play, Art of Murder plunges audiences into the art world, exposing some of its most dangerous and grasping personalities. It tells the story of a world-renowned & eccentric artist, Jack Brooks, and his devious plot to murder his flamboyant art dealer, Vincent.

Center Repertory Company?s Artistic Director Michael Butler unveiled the company's 43rd subscription season. Running from September 3, 2009 to June 26, 2010, the season will be expanding Center Rep?s programming to include eight productions to be performed in all three theatres of the Lesher Center for the Arts. From the suspense of Agatha Christie to the music of Elvis Presley, Center Rep?s 09-10 season will delight audiences while also featuring the works of Caryl Churchill, No?l Coward, Reduced Shakespeare Company, Michael Frayn and five-time Emmy Award nominee Harold Gould. A variety of subscription packages, ranging from $128 to $522, can be purchased by calling 925-943-SHOW.

The Toxic Avenger, based on the cult-film favorite by Lloyd Kaufman and Troma Studios, is fast-tracking the production of its highly anticipated cast recording to be available in time for the show's opening night in New York City (Monday, April 6th). Therefore, the cast took a break from rehearsal to hit the Avatar recording studios and laid down final tracks of the David Bryan/Joe DiPietro score. BroadwayWorld.com sent in our cameras to grab all the 'Toxie' fun!