Joe Mantello News

Tony Award winning actress Idina Menzel is set to perform on October 13 at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Cabaret gala. The event will be hosted by Katie Couric and will take place at 6:30pm. A black tie event will be held after the performance- tickets start at $2,000 per person. For additional information on the event, contact Jessica at 212-921-9070 ext. 14.

LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences, has announced that Steven Boyer, Jarlath Conroy, John Patrick Dougherty, Stephen Ellis, Richard Poe, Kristen Schaal, Jeremy Strong, and Christopher Evan Welch will be featured in its world premiere production of THE COWARD, a new play by Nick Jones, directed by Sam Gold, the first of LCT3's three productions during the 2010-2011 season.

Broadway's current Elphaba (Mandy Gonzalez), Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke) and the cast of WICKED surprised the 5 millionth Broadway audience member at the smash-hit musical on September 29. The winner was surprised during the matinee curtain call and presented with the Key to the Emerald City in addition to additional prizes. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you video coverage of the surprise.

Broadway's current Elphaba (Mandy Gonzalez), Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke) and the cast of WICKED surprised the 5 millionth Broadway audience member at the smash-hit musical yesterday, September 29. The winner was surprised during the matinee curtain call and presented with the Key to the Emerald City in addition to additional prizes. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below!

According to WhatsonStage.com, Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera, and Five guys Named Moe have all announced booking extensions. Wicked is now booking through October 29, 2011, adding another six months to its schedule. Tickets are available for Mamma Mia through October 22, 2011, and Five Guys Nammed Moe has extended its run through October 9, 2010. The phantom of the Opera has added another 8 months of bookings, making tickets now available through October 29, 2011.

WICKED is a new musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething") based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recently announced that Tony Award-winning actress and singer, Idina Menzel will make her Cincinnati Pops debut at Music Hall for the Orchestra's 2010-11 season opener on September 24, 25 and 26, performing diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album, I Stand. Bernadette Peters was initially scheduled for the Pops opening concert, but is now scheduled to open the following Pops season, Sept. 16-18, 2011 in Music Hall.

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.

Lincoln Center Theater, under the direction of Andre Bishop (Artistic Director) and Bernard Gersten (Executive Producer), has announced that Stockard Channing, Stacy Keach, Linda Lavin and Elizabeth Marvel will be featured in the cast of its upcoming production of OTHER DESERT CITIES, a new play by Jon Robin Baitz, directed by Joe Mantello, beginning performances Thursday, December 16 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 W. 65 Street.) Opening night is Thursday, January 13 at 6:45pm.

WICKED is a new musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ("My So Called Life," "Once And Again" and "thirtysomething") based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire.

30 Rock's Jack McBrayer, who plays Kenneth the page on the hit NBC TV show has just been cast to make his Broadway debut in the staged reading of The Normal Heart on October 18th, reports the New York Times.

Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel opens the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra season with three performances September 24th through September 26th. Ms. Menzel will perform a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album, I Stand.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the return engagement of WICKED will go on sale Wednesday, September 15, 2010. The longest running Broadway musical in Chicago history will return this holiday season for eight weeks only, December 1, 2010 - January 23, 2011.

WICKED, the smash hit musical, will kick off The Smith Center for the Performing Arts' 2012-2013 Broadway-subscription series with a limited six-week engagement. After breaking box office records and selling out across the country, WICKED has added The Smith Center to its 2012-2013 tour, with performances scheduled for August 29 - October 7, 2012.

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED welcomes Gene Weygandt as The Wizard on Tuesday, September 14 in Boston, MA. Weygandt, a WICKED veteran, has previously played The Wizard in Chicago and on Broadway. On Broadway, he created the role of Paul in big: The Musical and is a three-time recipient of Chicago's Jefferson Award. Mr. Weygandt's many film and TV credits include: The Birdcage, The Babe, 'The Beast,' 'Cybill,' 'Home Improvement,' 'Murphy Brown,' 'Drew Carey,' 'Ellen,' 'Coach' and 'USA High.'

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.

Lincoln Center Theater 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. Also joining the cast of 32 will be Yao Ababio, Derric Harris, Esau Pritchett, Jerome Stigler and Senfaub Stoney. A FREE MAN OF COLOR will begin performances Thursday, October 21 at 8pm at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Opening night is Thursday, November 18 at 6:45pm.

TopDog Productions in a co-production with the Elephant Theatre Company are thrilled to announce the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Marty Papazian.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that the first cast members are in place for the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson are set to star in the one-night-only event on Broadway that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed. Additional casting news will be announced shortly. This reading comes on the heels of the sold-out, acclaimed reading of The Normal Heart at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse in September, which was also directed by Mr. Grey.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the return engagement of WICKED will go on sale Wednesday, September 15, 2010. The longest running Broadway musical in Chicago history will return this holiday season for eight weeks only, December 1, 2010 - January 23, 2011.