Joe Mantello News

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.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Wood, a new play written by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) announced that Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy (Journey's End, 'The Big C') will star with Tony nominee Nina Arianda in Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie.

Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway production of Jon Robin Baitz's OTHER DESERT CITIES, starring Stacy Keach, Stockard Channing and Judith Light. OTHER DESERT CITIES will begin preview performances Oct. 12 at the Booth Theatre and will open Thursday, November 3.

Today we continue our series of conversations with the stars of DROP DEAD DIVA with a special guest on all three seasons of the show, portraying the essential character of Jane's biological mother, Elaine Bingum, and a Tony-winning Broadway leading lady in her own right - the hilarious and accomplished stage and screen veteran, Faith Prince.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced today complete casting for the world premiere of Asuncion, a new play written by Academy Award-nominee (The Social Network) and playwright Jesse Eisenberg. Joining the previously announced Mr. Eisenberg are Remy Auberjonois (The Country Girl Frost/Nixon), Justin Bartha (Lend Me A Tenor, The Hangover 1&2) and Camille Mana (Smart People, 'One on One') making her Off-Broadway debut in the title role.

In a recent interview with Deadline.com, GLEE creator revealed that Julia Roberts might be on board for the upcoming bg screen adaptation of THE NORMAL HEART. Murphy commented: 'Then The Normal Heart is the thing that I'm going to do next. I optioned it and there's a brilliant script that Larry Kramer wrote and I'm going to do that with Mark Ruffalo and maybe Julie Roberts. I believe in that play.'

Who Wants Cake? is thrilled to announce its line-up of productions for the upcoming 2011-2012 season.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Wood, a new play written by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores.

After breaking box office records during its last visit to the Aronoff Center, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Cincinnati, November 2-26 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 11/12 Season.

WICKED, the hit musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, has announced that Rachel Tucker will continue in her starring role as Elphaba into 2012. Julie Legrand (Madame Morrible), Nikki Davis-Jones (Standby Elphaba) and Chloe Taylor (Standby Glinda) are also all continuing in their roles. UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe commented: 'Since first joining our cast in March 2010, Rachel has thrilled audiences and critics alike with her powerful and passionate performance as Elphaba. We are all absolutely thrilled that Rachel has now decided to continue leading the company with her extraordinary professionalism and great dedication to the role - we couldn't be more proud of her success'.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced today that they will kick off their 2011/2012 season with the F*!@cking Good Plays (festival, II) - seven (7) days of new play readings by ten (10) of today's hottest playwrights. The festival, to be presented at Rattlestick Theater (224 Waverly Place - off 7th Avenue South between West 11th & Perry Streets), will begin on Monday, August 1st and continue through Sunday, August 7th. Playwrights include: Trent Creswell, Jessica Dickey, Laura Eason, Kathryn Hathaway, Andrew Hinderaker, Bruce Kronenberg, James Lecesne, Florencia Lozano, Erica Schmidt, and Ken Urban. The readings will be directed by Jessica Blank, Denis Butkus, Evan Cabnet, Trip Cullman, Jill DeArmon, Michael Padden, Erica Schmidt, and Daniella Topol.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2009, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines Wednesday, November 9 to Sunday, December 4. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale Saturday, August 20.

According to the LA Times, stage and screen star Justin Bartha has signed on to star in Jesse Eisenberg's new off-Broadway play Asuncion. Bartha will play 'Vinny, a progressive academic and roommate of left-wing blogger Edgar (Eisenberg), who's thrown for a loop when a Filipino roommate moves in.' The duo last worked together in the 2010 independent film 'Holy Rollers.'

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2006 and 2008, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Detroit with performances at the Detroit Opera House, December 7-31.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Michael Aronov, Jeremy Davidson, Robert Hogan, Jefferson Mays, Andrés Munar, Paul Niebanck, John Procaccino, Liv Rooth, Gabriel Ruiz, Pej Vahdat, Andrew Weems and Bernard White will be featured in its upcoming production of BLOOD AND GIFTS, a new play by J.T. Rogers, to be directed by Bartlett Sher, beginning Thursday, October 27 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street). Opening night is Monday, November 21.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced today that they will kick off their 2011/2012 season with the F*!@cking Good Plays (festival, II) - seven (7) days of new play readings by ten (10) of today's hottest playwrights. The festival, to be presented at Rattlestick Theater (224 Waverly Place - off 7th Avenue South between West 11th & Perry Streets), will begin on Monday, August 1st and continue through Sunday, August 7th. Playwrights include: Trent Creswell, Jessica Dickey, Laura Eason, Kathryn Hathaway, Andrew Hinderaker, Bruce Kronenberg, James Lecesne, Florencia Lozano, Erica Schmidt, and Ken Urban. The readings will be directed by Jessica Blank, Denis Butkus, Evan Cabnet, Trip Cullman, Jill DeArmon, Michael Padden, Erica Schmidt, and Daniella Topol.