Lucille Lortel News

The cast of the Tony nominated Best Musical, ONCE will perform on ABC's "The View" on Thursday, May 17. "The View" airs locally on WABC7, 11AM-12PM EST. ONCE currently plays on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street). The production opened to raves on Sunday, March 18, 2012. A national tour will begin in the summer of 2013.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Eve Ensler's EMOTIONAL CREATURE. This positive and propulsive new show - from the Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist who created The Vagina Monologues - features a choreographer, a composer, four top designers, and an ensemble of talented young women. Directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney, Emotional Creature plays only 36 performances in the Roda Theatre. The limited engagement at Berkeley Rep begins previews on June 14, opens June 22, and runs through July 15. The lead producers of this premiere are Wayne Jordan and Quinn Delaney, Marjorie Randolph, and Jack and Betty Schafer; the executive producer is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family. The development of this production has been supported in part by The Mosse Artistic Development Fund.

Oberon in association with the Ministry of Theater will present a pre-New York tryout of ROLLER DISCO THE MUSICAL!, an unautherized parody of the classic film Roller Boogie, from May 30 to August 30 at Oberon in Cambridge Massachusetts, with its world premiere opening night on June 13. With executive producer Pablo Rojas, Roller Disco aims to transfer to Off-Broadway in Spring 2013.

Producers Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price and Tom Smedes announced today that Rick Elice's new play, Peter and the Starcatcher, will embark on a national tour, opening in August 2013 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, CO. The play's Tony Award-nominated directors, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, will direct the touring production, which will be represented by The Road Company.

On May 11, Becky Ann Baker (GOOD PEOPLE, "Freaks and Geeks"), Dylan Baker (GOD OF CARNAGE, "Kings"), Christopher Abbott ("Martha Marcy May Marlene," HBO's Girls and 2011 Broadway revival of HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES) took part in the "bake off" portion of Page 73 Productions' Spring Benefit at City Winery (155 Varick Street) in Manhattan. Tony Award-winner Julie White (THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED) hosted. Check out photos from the event below!

FREUD'S LAST SESSION, the play by Mark St. Germain, will celebrate its 700th New York performance this Friday, May 18th at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Downton Abbey meets Broadway! BWW can report that Dan Stevens, star of the Golden Globe-winning series "Downton Abbey," will play the role of "Morris Townsend" opposite Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain (Catherine Sloper) and Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner David Strathairn (Dr. Austin Sloper) in the Tony Award-winning play The Heiress. Written by Ruth Goetz & Augustus Goetz, The Heiress will be directed by Tony Award nominated playwright and director Moises Kaufman. Performances will begin October 2012 at a theatre to be announced.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre honors two of its most distinguished members, the acclaimed actress Lois Smith and two-time Board chair G.H. 'Denny' Denniston, Jr with its 2012 Distinguished Member Award at a "Fun-Raiser" benefit celebration this evening, May 14.

Tonight, May 14, 2012, the League of Professional Theatre Women presents The Legacy Project, a celebration of Pioneering Women Producers, at the Martin E. Segal Theatre, The Graduate Center at the City University of New York (365 Fifth Avenue). Scheduled for the day after Mother's Day, this event will be an all-day tribute to the foremothers of the American stage.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: FOLLIES travels to LA, Sumissions Only wraps Season 2, Drama Desk Nominees celebrate, and so much more!

Becky Ann Baker (GOOD PEOPLE, "Freaks and Geeks") and Dylan Baker (GOD OF CARNAGE, "Kings") will join previously announced Christopher Abbott ("Martha Marcy May Marlene," HBO's Girls and 2011 Broadway revival of HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES) for the "bake off" portion of Page 73 Productions' Spring Benefit on Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm at City Winery (155 Varick Street) in Manhattan. Tony Award-winner Julie White (THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED) will host.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre will honor two of its most distinguished members, the acclaimed actress Lois Smith and two-time Board chair G.H. 'Denny' Denniston, Jr with its 2012 Distinguished Member Award at a "Fun-Raiser" benefit celebration Monday evening, May 14.

Last night, May 9, VOCA PEOPLE (www.VocaPeopleNYC.com), the hit musical, welcomed "Police Academy" star and "the man of 10,000 sound effects" Michael Winslow as he joins the VOCA PEOPLE for four select performances through May 20 at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street). Mr. Winslow will perform with VOCA PEOPLE again May 13 at 5:30pm, May 14 at 8pm, May 16 at 7pm and May 17 at 7pm. Winslow blasts into this out-of-this-world musical, which combines vocal sounds, a-cappella singing, comedy and the art of beat box. See photos of Michael Winslow in VOCA PEOPLE below!

Tony Award-winner Julie White (THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED) is set to host the 2012 Page 73 Spring Benefit on tonight, May 11 at 7:00pm at City Winery (155 Varick Street) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Page 73's Executive Directors Liz Jones and Asher Richelli.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd previously announced the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's new production of Theresa Rebeck's WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, part of the Alley Theatre's New Play Initiative. WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST runs on the Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage tonight, May 11 through June 12, 2012.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, actor and Tony Award-winning creator and composer-lyricist of Broadway's In the Heights, will join Arturo O'Farrill's GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble, The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, for its 10th Anniversary season celebration, 'Música Nueva 5: Big Band Poetry Jam & Beyond.'