John Lee News

Yesterday, June 5, theatre legend Patti Lupone opened the new nightclub and restaurant, 54 Below, with a two-week engagement of a new act that will run through June 16. LuPone will play the venue Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 11pm. In honor of the grand opening, LuPone treated the press to a special sneak peek of the show and BroadwayWorld was there!

Theatre legend Patti LuPone opens the new nightclub and restaurant 54 BELOW (254 West 54th Street) with a two-week engagement from tonight, June 5 through June 16. The June entertainment line-up also includes Jackie Hoffman, Mx Justin VivIan Bond and Brian d'Arcy James, as well as late-night lounge entertainment Tuesday - Thursday, a Monday night new composers series, and an informal cocktail hour on Sunday evenings.

Manhattan Theatre Club announces the third and final extension for the world premiere of THE COLUMNIST, the new play by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan. The acclaimed engagement extends at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) through Sunday, July 8, with a special holiday performance schedule (please see listings information below for exact performance schedule).

The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

This June, 54 BELOW, a new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife opens its doors to the public. The venue, located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway brightest talent.

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, the acclaimed record-breaking revival of the Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO welcomes Japanese superstar Ryoko Yonekura in her Broadway stage debut as merry murderess Roxie Hart. She will play an exclusive one-week engagement through Sunday, July 15 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

The Public Theater will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park--home of free Shakespeare in the Park. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 21.

John Lithgow, who is nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Manhattan Theatre Club's THE COLUMNIST, will be a guest on tonight's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" which airs late night at 12:35 AM on NBC.

World-renowned Jazz and Rhythm & Blues Vocalist, Barbara Morrison will present top talent in The 1st Annual Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center Blues Festival to be performed on two stages at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center (BMPAC), 4305 Degnan Boulevard, #101, Los Angeles, CA 90036 tonight, Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19 and 20, 2012.

World-renowned Jazz and Rhythm & Blues Vocalist, Barbara Morrison will present top talent in The 1st Annual Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center Blues Festival to be performed on two stages at the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center (BMPAC), 4305 Degnan Boulevard, #101, Los Angeles, CA 90036 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 18, 19 and 20, 2012.

The Public Theater announced complete casting today for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 and continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, opening on Thursday, June 21.

Manhattan Theatre Club just announced that the world premiere production of THE COLUMNIST by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan has extended again due to popular demand. Tickets for THE COLUMNIST are now on sale through Sunday, July 1 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

After her critically-acclaimed debut as Roxie Hart on Broadway and in London's West End, Christie Brinkley will make her Broadway tour debut this spring as she reprises her killer role in the six-time Tony Award-winning musical smash hit CHICAGO. Also joining the cast is star of 'Seinfeld' and 'Family Feud', John O'Hurley as Billy Flynn. This killer show will play at the San Diego Civic Theatre tonight, May 8 through May 13, 2012. Tickets are available now.

Theatre legend Patti Lupone will open the new nightclub and restaurant 54 BELOW (254 West 54th Street) with a two-week engagement from June 5 - 16. The June entertainment line-up also includes Jackie Hoffman, Mx Justin Vivian Bond and Brian d'Arcy James, as well as late-night lounge entertainment Tuesday - Thursday, a Monday night new composers series, and an informal cocktail hour on Sunday evenings.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for THE 66th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS® were announced today by Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jim Parsons and Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement.

We'll be talking to nominees all day for their reactions!

Esta mañana se han presentado las Nominaciones a los Tony Awards 2012 por Kristin Chenoweth y el televisivo Jim Parsons. La ceremonia de los Premios más importantes del teatro en Broadway se celebrará en el Beacon Theatre, y seretransmitirán a través de la CBS el próximo domingo 10 de junio de 2012.

According to NY Magazine, Angela Lansbury, who is currently starring in GORE VIDAL'S THE BEST MAN on Broadway, has signed on to star alongside James Earl Jones in an Australian tour of DRIVING MISS DAISY next winter.

The 2012 Tony Awards Nominations Announcement was co-hosted this morning by Tony winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Parsons. The Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from the Beacon Theatre, on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 10, 2012.