Julie Taymor News

According to the Associated Press, a stuntman from Broadway's SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK is considering suing the production over injuries suffered in 2010-11. Richard Kobak (Joshua Kobak according to cast lists for the show), claims not only that he suffered knee injuries while filling in for another cast member in 2010, but that 'a computer program controlling one of his jumps from a balcony sent him flying into a wall on April 5, 2011.'

The Nutty Professor, the Jerry Lewis-helmed musical based on his successful film comedy, takes up residence at the James K. Polk Theatre in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center for a July 24-August 19 run, ahead of the production's anticipated November 15 opening on Broadway.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and playwright development workshop, today announced that two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters will be honored with their 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 63rd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Thursday, May 24th at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The Geffen Playhouse's annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising support for the theater's artistic and outreach initiatives, will honor Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos with the Distinction in Service Award.

The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. David Furr (Orlando) and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), and Lily Rabe (Rosalind) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Parsons Dance and Gala Chair Linda Stocknoff announce the company's 2012 Annual spring Gala, Paint it Red, honoring Nancy Browne, Parsons Dance friend and co-commissioner of 2011 premiere work Portinari, on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Espace. The evening will begin with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and silent auction at 7:30 p.m., followed by a dinner, live auction, and performance by Parsons Dance at 8:30 p.m., then a full night of social dancing. Festive cocktail attire with a splash of red requested. Tickets begin at $700 and are available by calling 212-869-9275, by emailing sandy@parsonsdance.org, or online at www.parsonsdance.org/gala.

Catalyst Collaborative@MIT, a science-theater collaboration between Underground Railway Theater and MIT, presents the World Premiere of Yesterday Happened: Remembering H.M., written and directed by Wesley Savick, running April 12 through May 13, 2012

Disney Theatrical Productions and Fox Associates announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of DISNEY'S THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Saturday, April 14 at 10:00am. St. Louis' most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the Fox Theatre stage on Wednesday, August 15 for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, September 2.

To inaugurate a new quarterly series of in-depth conversations with top behind-the-scenes talent from film, television, and video-game production, Museum of the Moving Image will present an afternoon with celebrated production designer Mark Friedberg. In coming months, the Moving Image Master Class series will feature leading cinematographers, editors, special-effects artists, game designers, and more. "The Master Class series is in keeping with the Museum's mission to not only show the best moving image works, but also to explore the creative and collaborative process," said Executive Director Carl Goodman.

Julie Taymor's SPIDER-MAN legal battle continues to press on, as producers 8 Legged Productions, LLC have filed a dismissal of her lawsuit, which claims that much of her work was used unrightfully by the new team. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, Taymor has responded by filing a dismissal of this dismissal.

SHN today announced the complete five-show 2012-2013 Season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Productions joining the previously announced engagement of 2011 Tony Award-Winning Best Musical - THE BOOK OF MORMON are: the pre-Broadway world premiere of DINER, Disney's THE LION KING, the Tony Award-winning revival of ANYTHING GOES and Bay Area favorite WICKED.

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS tonight, March 18, 2012 at 8 PM at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on West 42nd Street. THE BROADWAY BEARS is an annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers..

The New Orleans premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for a limited engagement of five weeks through Sunday, April 15. In New Orleans, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m., with an additional performance on Thursday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

One hundred years ago on the shores of Maine, the African American population of Malaga Island was forced to evacuate their homes under the guise of economic improvement for a nearby, neighboring town. Beginning Fri., March 16, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will mark the 100th anniversary of this event by bringing this, and the emotionally charged story of an unlikely friendship, to the stage in Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

By popular demand, Frank Strausser's new comedy PSYCHO THERAPY will resume performances Off-Broadway at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) beginning April 8 and running through May 26, it has been announced by the show's producer, Barbara Ligeti and Wishing Well Productions.

the cell, Nancy Manocherian (Founding Artistic Director) and Kira Simring (Artistic Director) today announced five additional performances of their World Premiere production of Seamus Scanlon's DANCING AT LUNACY and Larry Kirwan's BLOOD, directed by Simring.

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING, will celebrate another remarkable milestone when it plays its 5,960th performance at 2:00p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 to become the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history. THE LION KING moves up the top ten list of Broadway long runs, surpassing Oh! Calcutta! (with 5959 performances).

Last night, March 12, Robert Redford hosted the first-ever New York benefit celebrating the Sundance Institute Theatre Program at The Bowery Hotel. Participants included Sundance Institute Theatre Program alumni Denis O'Hare (Performance of An Iliad, at New York Theatre Workshop), Lisa Peterson Scott Frankel, Jeanine Tesori, Georgi James and Christine Ebersole, who recreated 'Little Edie Beale' from Grey Gardens. BroadwayWorld was on hand to speak to the guests and takes you inside the event below.

Last night, March 12, Robert Redford hosted the first-ever New York benefit celebrating The Sundance Institute Theatre Program at The Bowery Hotel. Participants included Sundance Institute Theatre Program alumni Denis O'Hare (Performance of An Iliad, at New York Theatre Workshop), Lisa Peterson Scott Frankel, Jeanine Tesori, Georgi James and Christine Ebersole, who recreated 'Little Edie Beale' from Grey Gardens. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage of the starry event below!