Joe Mantello News

Four of today's most powerful plays, plus a world premiere musical and a timeless Beckett play have been scheduled for Center Theatre Group's 2012 season at the Mark Taper Forum, it was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

Academy, Tony and four-time Emmy Award nominee Bob Balaban; acclaimed 'White Collar' television star Matt Bomer; Emmy Award-winning journalist Campbell Brown; celebrated playwright and gay rights activist Larry Kramer; two-time Academy Award-nominated, multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning, two-time Tony Award-winning actor John Lithgow; Tony Award nominee and Broadway Impact Co-Founder Rory O'Malley; and Emmy Award winner and three-time Golden Globe Award nominee Bradley Whitford will appear in the world premiere of '8' on Broadway, joining the previously announced Anthony Edwards, Morgan Freeman, Cheyenne Jackson, Christine Lahti, Rob Reiner, Yeardley Smith and Marisa Tomei. The production is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which eliminated the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples in California.

Theater Wit's annual holiday classic The Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris's true, hilarious holiday tale, returns for its eighth consecutive outing in 2011 featuring a newly-enhanced set and once again starring Mitchell Fain who always plays to rave reviews and sold out houses.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2005 and 2008, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Benedum Center on September 7-October 2, 2011, as part of the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh Series.

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County announced six new presentations featuring internationally and nationally-renowned plays, two world premieres and critically-acclaimed artists, many from South Florida, to headline the 2011-2012 THEATER UP CLOSE SEASON in the Arsht Center's intimate Carnival Studio Theater.

As previously reported, Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 'Milk', has penned a new play about the fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage in California that will receive a one-night-only reading on Broadway September 19, directed by Joe Mantello. Matt Bomer is the lastest addition to the cast.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from Wednesday, September 7 through Sunday, October 2, at the Benedum Center. Each day, 2½ hours prior to show time people who present themselves at the Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person.

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County announced six new presentations featuring internationally and nationally-renowned plays, two world premieres and critically-acclaimed artists, many from South Florida, to headline the 2011-2012 THEATER UP CLOSE SEASON in the Arsht Center's intimate Carnival Studio Theater.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced today that due to Hurricane Irene, performances of The Wood, a new play by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores about the life of New York columnist Mike McAlary, have been delayed. The Wood will now begin performances on Thursday, September 1 at Rattlestick Theater (224 Waverly Place - off Seventh Avenue South, between Perry & West 11th Streets). Opening night, previously set for Friday, September 9, will now be Thursday, September 15 at 8pm. David Bar Katz directs.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced today that Vladimir Versailles has joined the cast of The Wood, a new play by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores about the life of New York columnist Mike McAlary. Mr. Versailles assumes the role of Abner Louima, replacing Gregory Bastien who has left the production.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Jackie Burns and Chandra Lee Schwartz will assume the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, in the Broadway cast of Wicked. Ms. Burns and Ms. Schwartz come to Broadway directly from Wicked's First National Tour. The Broadway company currently features Richard H. Blake as Fiyero, Kathy Fitzgerald as Madame Morrible, Tom McGowan as The Wizard, Etai BenShlomo as Boq, Cristy Candler as Nessarose, and Tom Flynn as Dr. Dillamond.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from August 24 through September 11 at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford.