Lucille Lortel News

Just in time for Halloween, the first national tour of the new musical The Addams Family, will make its Seattle premiere October 24-November 11, 2012 at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, this smash Broadway hit brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life.

The Actors Fund today that ONCE will perform a benefit performance tonight, September 30 at 7pm.

Goodman Theatre opens its 2012/2013 Season in the Owen Theatre with playwright, actor and poet Dael Orlandersmith's Black n Blue Boys/Broken Men, a co-commission with Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Directed by Chay Yew, Black n Blue Boys/Broken Men is Orlandersmith's solo-performed examination of humanity's capacity for hope and survival, rendered through the eyes of five men ages 11 to 50.

Before Fifty Shades of Grey, there was Rona Jaffe's scandalous 1958 bestseller THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. Now this controversial novel, which was the basis for the hit 1959 movie starring Joan Crawford, comes to the stage courtesy of the new theater company 95 WordsPerMinute. It is adapted and directed by Julie Kramer, and developed with actor and writer Amy Wilson. Previews begin tonight, September 29, with opening set for October 4 at HERE.

The new weekly web interview series "The Graham Show," hosted by Graham Douglass, premieres today, Friday, September 28. The inaugural episode features an interview with Tony Award-winning actor Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, "Smash"). Watch the episode below or at www.TheGrahamShow.com!

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center today announced FREUD'S LAST SESSION, New York's long-running hit play by Mark St. Germain, is set to open in Los Angeles this winter starring Judd Hirsch as Sigmund Freudand Tom Cavanagh as C. S. Lewis under the direction of Tyler Marchant, who helmed the original New York production. Presented by The Broad Stage and CRC Productions, FREUD'S LAST SESSION will begin preview performances January 11(th) through January 15(th). Opening Night is Wednesday, January 16(th) and will run for a limited engagement through February 10(th) at The Broad Stage.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, has announced that their upcoming production of Anton Chekhov's IVANOV, starring Ethan Hawke, Joely Richardson and Juliet Rylance, which begins performances Wednesday, October 17 at CSC (136 East 13th Street), has extended its run by popular demand through Sunday, December 9.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) begins previews today for the world premiere production of Don't Go Gentle by Stephen Belber and directed by Lucie Tiberghien, who also directed Belber's play Geometry of Fire at the Rattlestick Theater.

Off-Broadway's Page 73 Productions - a company dedicated to producing and developing works by early-career playwrights - will double the financial award associated with their annual P73 Playwriting Fellowship to $10,000 beginning in 2013, it has been announced by Page 73 Executive Directors Liz Jones and Asher Richelli. "We're thrilled to provide more financial assistance to playwrights who are just starting out and who are trying to make a name for themselves in New York City and all over the country," said Executive Director Liz Jones.

A packed house honored the theatrical achievements of award-winning playwright Terrence McNally at Westport Country Playhouse's annual fundraising gala, "The Full McNally: A Celebration of the Writing and Works of Terrence McNally," on Monday evening, September 24.

American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night-The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God-directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner.

Producers Terry Schnuck, James & Catherine Berges, Crystal Beuerlein and Michael F. Neidorff today announced that they will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Falling, the new play by Deanna Jent, that will begin an open-ended run tonight, September 27th at the Minetta Lane Theater (18 Minetta Lane, one block south of West 3rd Street, just off of Sixth Avenue). Opening Night is set for Monday October 15th (7PM).

Ghostlight Records has announced that the release of the long-awaited cast recording of Carrie: The Musical has topped the Musical Album Charts on Amazon.com for 24-hours straight and counting, ahead of staple best sellers Wicked, Jersey Boys, and Once, among others.

Off-Broadway's Irish Repertory Theatre launches its 25th Anniversary Season with Brian Friel's THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY - with previews set to begin October 3, prior to an official press opening October 14 on the Irish Repertory's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage (132 West 22nd Street). Performances are set to run through November 25. Ciaran O'Reilly directs.

Ghostlight Records released the long-awaited cast recording of Carrie: The Musical yesterday, September 25, 2012, preserving the recent MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) Off-Broadway revival. Just yesterday, the cast gathered at Barnes & Noble to celebrate the release with a special performance and CD signing. BroadwayWorld was there for the big event and we bring you full photo coverage below!

Media At Large Productions has announced that it will present a unique revival of Tennessee Williams' IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL. The play will run off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) with previews beginning on Saturday, October 13th and continue until Sunday, October 28th. The production will have it's official opening on Wednesday, October 17th at 8PM. This distinctive revival, co-directed by Shashi Balooja and Maria Torres will be the first to incorporate live streaming video and dance. Maria Torres will also choreograph.