Joe Mantello News

Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel - the Tony Award-winning Elphaba from international blockbuster Wicked - performs together with a full symphony orchestra for one night only November 7 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center November in Segerstrom Hall. With a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album I Stand, Menzel demonstrates why she is one of the great vocal performers of our time.

Previews begin Monday, November 8 at 8pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET® project, (229 W. 42 Street), for LCT3's world premiere production of THE COWARD, a new play by Nick Jones, directed by Sam Gold. LCT3 is Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of the new musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher opens tomorrow night (November 4) at 6:45pm at The Belasco Theatre on Broadway (111 West 44 Street).

Lincoln Center Theater's production of the new musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on the film by Pedro Almodovar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher opens tomorrow night (November 4) at 6:45pm at The Belasco Theatre on Broadway (111 West 44 Street).

Today, perhaps the greatest gift a Broadway baby could receive was benevolently bestowed upon me in the form of an indepth and revealing discussion with the foremost composer and lyricist of his generation, one of the greatest writers in American history in any medium - the unmatched musical and lyrical genius himself, Stephen Sondheim. In this portion of our complete discussion we discuss his new book, FINISHING THE HAT, as well as take a look back at his legendary career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. Merman to Madonna, Brecht to Barbra Streisand, COMPANY to GROUNDHOG DAY (or not) - we cover it all. See here just a glimpse of the reason why the name Stephen Sondheim means more to musical theatre than any other name in the last fifty years. Plus, his promise to - in his own immortal words from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - 'give us more to see' in the very near future. That moment cannot come soon enough, as any fan of theatre - or art in America, for that matter - can assuredly attest.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) will present a special reading series at The Drama Book Shop's Arthur Seelen Theatre (250 W. 40th Street) this year in honor of the company's 25th Anniversary Season.

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, Adapted for the stage by Joe Mantello plays The Circuit Playhouse

On October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, November 2, ETAI BENSHLOMO will assume the role of Boq and TOM FLYNN will assume the role of Dr. Dillamond in the musical blockbuster WICKED.

New Village Arts, Carlsbad's award-winning, professional theatre is very proud to announce its Tenth Season. This will be NVA's biggest season ever, with eight full productions, NVA's first musical and two local premieres. Over the past nine seasons, NVA has established itself as one of the most important mid-sized theatres in San Diego, producing over 40 highly acclaimed productions, including a world-premiere holiday show, multiple regional and local premieres, unforgettable American and world classics, the intense work of Sam Shepard and the popular FREE Shakespeare in the Park. New Village Arts honors that history in Season 10 and introduces some exciting new traditions for North County, by selecting shows that honor the history of the company, recognize the amazing current growth and give an intriguing glimpse into the future. All of the plays take us on an adventure - into growing up, learning about love and loss and celebrating the power of the human soul.

In honor of its 7th Anniversary on Broadway on October 30, the blockbuster musical Wicked will host several special events and promotions throughout the month of October.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, November 2, ETAI BENSHLOMO will assume the role of Boq and TOM FLYNN will assume the role of Dr. Dillamond in the musical blockbuster WICKED.

Signature Theatre Company presents the first New York revival of Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, directed by Michael Greif. ANGELS IN AMERICA opened Thursday, October 28 at the Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd Street). The play began previews on September 14. Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, the two parts of ANGELS IN AMERICA, alternate in repertory.

The Lincoln Center Theater production of John Guare's new play, A FREE MAN OF COLOR, directed by George C. Wolfe, begins previews tomorrow (Saturday, October 23) at 8pm at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

The Lincoln Center Theater production of John Guare's new play, A FREE MAN OF COLOR, directed by George C. Wolfe, begins previews tomorrow (Saturday, October 23) at 8pm at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) will present a special reading series at The Drama Book Shop's Arthur Seelen Theatre (250 W. 40th Street) this year in honor of the company's 25th Anniversary Season.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced final casting for its upcoming production of John Guare's new play A FREE MAN OF COLOR. Justina Machada (HBO's Six Feet Under and Broadway's , In The Heights) and veteran actor John McMartin (Follies, Into The Woods, Showboat, Sweet Charity) will join Paul Dano, mos and Jeffrey Wright in the production, to be directed by George C. Wolfe.

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.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time during its 2005 and 2006 engagements, WICKED, the smash-hit musical, will return to Toronto, to the Canon Theatre, October 20 through November 28. Group tickets for the return engagement are currently on sale. Single tickets go on sale Monday June 7.

Last night, October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed.