Lucille Lortel News

To remember the acclaimed Mr. Foote, BWW Photographer Walter McBride has assembled a collection of his favorite photos that he was honored to be able to take of the stage legend.

Young Audiences New York (YANY) will recognize four preeminent honorees for their contributions to the arts and advocacy of children's arts education at its 8th annual Children's Arts Award Benefit, to be held Monday, March 9 at Cipriani - Wall Street. The 2009 Children's Arts Awards will be presented to: Artist Honoree Julianna Margulies, Emmy-award winning actor; Media Honoree Rino Scanzoni, chief investment officer, GroupM North America & chairman - Mediaedge:cia North America; and Humanitarian Honorees Kathy Eldon (CEO and co-founder) and Amy Eldon Turteltaub, (executive vice president and co-founder) of Creative Visions Foundation.

The New York Times reports the sad news that Horton Foote, who chronicled America's many voices and many lives and who will leave a dramatic and literary legacy as one of the country's greatest storytellers, has passed away today in Hartford, Connecticut. He was 92, said his daughter Hallie Foote.

It was announced today that MEMPHIS, a new musical about the birth of rock 'n' roll in the turbulent 50s which recently played a critically acclaimed and sold-out engagement at Seattle?s 5th Avenue Theatre, is aiming to open on Broadway in the fall of 2009. Based on a concept by George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce & film: My Dinner With Andre), MEMPHIS features a book & lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), and music & lyrics by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan, in his Broadway debut. The new musical is directed by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for the New York premiere of Craig Lucas? THE SINGING FOREST. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE SINGING FOREST will begin previews on Tuesday, April 7 and run through Sunday, May 17 with an official press opening on Monday, April 27 at 7 PM.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera - an event showcasing three of the playwright's works including Master Class, The Lisbon Traviata, and Golden Age concurrently in Kennedy Center theaters from March 20 - April 18, 2010. Directors include Walter Bobbie for Master Class and Christopher Ashley for The Lisbon Traviata.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Terrence McNally's newest play The Golden Age as part of its 2009-2010 season. Following its run in Philadelphia, the PTC production will move to the Kennedy Center as part of its 'Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera' Festival.

Broadway darlings Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich are slated to headline Los Angeles? Catalina Jazz Club on March 19, 2009, 8pm it was announced today by their concert promoters, Spot-On Entertainment. Joining Heisler and Goldrich will be a bevy of musical talents including Broadway stars Susan Egan and Adam Hunter along with Dave Barrus, David Goldsmith, Mike Croiter and Sarah O?Brien. Reservations are currently available and can be made by calling (323) 466-2210.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to Cleveland. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will open at PlayhouseSquare's PalaceTheatre and play for 16 performances, March 3-15. Spring Awakening is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards? winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced casting for the three productions slated to headline the theater?s Tony Kushner Celebration. A company of more than 25 Minneapolis and New York actors will come together at the Guthrie from April through June to participate in a one-of-a-kind celebration the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright?s work. More information on the Kushner Celebration can be found at www.CelebrateKushner.com.

After a record-breaking run of 27 years, including 18 separate editions and more than 9,000 performances, Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY will play their final New York performance at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street) on Sunday, March 1, 2009.

Variety is reporting that Gerard Allesandrini's Forbidden Broadway Goes To Rehab is extending and will now end its 27-year New York run on March 1st rather than January 15th.

THIRD STORY will offer a special performance to benefit the Actors Fund on March 8th, 2009. Charles Busch's THIRD STORY co-stars the playwright and Kathleen Turner. A mother and son screenwriting team hunker down in Omaha after fleeing Commie-obsessed 1940's Hollywood. A romantically-inclined but socially-inept princess makes a deal with an ancient witch. And tommy guns meet test tubes as a way-too-well-dressed first lady of the mob forms a desperate alliance with a cloning scientist whose experiments have had, um, less-than-consistent results. Gangster flicks, fairy tales, and B-movie sci-fi collide in this epic comic fable from the imagination of Charles Busch.

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter present the acclaimed David Cromer production of' Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Performances will began on February 17th with an official opening night set for tonight, Thursday, February 26th, 7:30 p.m., at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street), whose space was completely redesigned for this production.

The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) is hosting a NEW WORKS READING SERIES to support new plays and emerging playwrights. As part of its mission statement, The Irish Repertory Theatre 'encourages the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures.' The next of the free staged readings is Rosemary by Jim O'Connor. The reading is on Friday, February 27th at 3 PM, tickets are free, and the event is open to the public. An RSVP to 212-727-2737 is required.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

Tectonic Theater Project will be hosting a benefit performance and post-performance reception honoring the Broadway Premiere of Mois?s Kaufman?s new play, 33 Variations starring Jane Fonda, Samantha Mathis, and Colin Hanks on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Eugene O?Neill Theater, 230 W 49th St., New York City. The Post-Play Reception following the evening performance will be hosted by Morgans Hotel Group at Royalton, 44 West 44th Street, and catered by Valrhona Chocolates.

Celebration Theatre announces that Sharon McNight brings her critically-acclaimed, smash-hit, 'Songs to Offend Almost Everyone' to Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood. SONGS TO OFFEND ALMOST EVERYONE is the new over-the-top show of Sharon McNight. The selection of songs is a throwback to the party records of the 1950s and is designed to offend minorities and majorities of every persuasion.

Pandora Productions proudly presents the Louisville debut of Douglas Carter Beane's hit Broadway comedy The Little Dog Laughed, at the Henry Clay Theatre, with an exclusive three week engagement beginning Thursday evening, February 26.