John Lee News

ABC Family will air the basic cable premier of Warner Bros. THE BLIND SIDE starring Oscar® winner Sandra Bullock on Saturday, March 24th at 8pm ET/PT and Sunday, March 25 at 7:00pm ET/PT.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Damian Arnold, will present the Broadway premiere of Marc Camoletti's classic farce Don't Dress For Dinner, starring Ben Daniels as "Robert," Melora Hardin as "Jacqueline," Adam James as "Bernard" and Jennifer Tilly as "Suzanne" with Spencer Kayden as "Suzette." Don't Dress For Dinner is adapted by Robin Hawdon and directed by John Tillinger. The cast and creative team just met the press and BroadwayWorld was there for the big event. Check out a photo preview below and be sure to check back later for full coverage!

54 BELOW, the nightclub and restaurant announced earlier this year, today confirmed additional bookings at the new space located at 254 West 54th Street. Taking the stage will be the following newly confirmed acts.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 43rd Annual Awards Show will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. The show will feature performances from previously-announced hosts Jason Graae (recipient of the 2007 Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre) and Lesli Margherita (nominee for Kiss Me, Kate). In addition, the Awards show will feature the Los Angeles premiere performance of My Husband, by Paul Rudnick, a short play added to the New York production of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Also, Yvette Tucker and Salvatore Vasallo will perform an excerpt from "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," from On Your Toes, choreographed by this year's Hirschhorn Award recipient, Lee Martino.

The Public Theater announced the dates today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 and continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30. Joining the previously announced Lily Rabe (Rosalind) will be Macintyre Dixon (Adam); Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia); and Omar Metwally (Oliver).

The Highline Ballroom has announced upcoming shows for March 12th through April 12th. All shows will take place at the Highline Ballroom at 431 West 16th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketweb, online at ticketweb.com or at the Highline Box Office from noon until doors close at 866-468-7619.

LA-based artist Rocco DeLuca has signed with 429 Records which will release his forthcoming project 'DRUGS 'N HYMNS.'

Rhythm and blues musician Robert Cray, along with his band, will perform at The Orleans Showroom April 14 and 15.

Bombino, iTunes' Breakthrough Artist of 2011, is returning to North America this spring. With over 25 shows already confirmed and more to come, Bombino is bringing his rocking Desert Blues guitar music to a variety of cities for the first time.

The Highline Ballroom has announced a program including Chick Corea and Sam Sparro for April.

Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting the limited engagement of THE COLUMNIST by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn beginning Wednesday, April 4 and opening Wednesday, April 25 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan. Check out John Lithgow in THE COLUMNIST below!

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced additional casting for the upcoming world premiere of THE COLUMNIST, by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

Carnegie Hall today announced that its one-night-only concert performance of The Sound of Music on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage will star Laura Osnes (Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, Grease) as Maria Rainer alongside Tony Goldwyn (Broadway's Promises, Promises and film version of Ghost) as Captain von Trapp.

Broadway In Chicago just announced three additional shows: SISTER ACT and DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL will be part of the upcoming 2012 Broadway In Chicago Season Series and LES MISÉRABLES will be an Off-Season Special.

Walter Trout has added a new date to his March 2012 UK Tour. The former guitarist for John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Canned Heat, and John Lee Hooker, will play the Boom Boom Club at Sutton Utd Football Club on Tuesday 13th March.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that two time Drama Desk Award nominee Margaret Colin ("Gossip Girl," MTC's Defiance) and four time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines (Gypsy, Contact) will join Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow in the cast of the world premiere of THE COLUMNIST by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy began performances at its new home at the Lyceum Theatre earlier this month. Star of the show, Hugh Dancy visited 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' last night as a part of Broadway Week, and you can check out his full interview below!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, an upcoming restaurant and club, 54 Below, hopes to become a new staple for performers and patrons alike. The 160-seat space is set to kick off featuring Patti LuPone for two weeks in June, and has also confirmed that Brian d'Arcy James, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rebecca Luker and Megan Hilty have scheduled performances.