Lucille Lortel News

Culture Project will rename their mainstage theatre, currently known as 45 Bleecker Street, the Lynn Redgrave Theatre this June. The announcement was made onstage by Mr. Buchman during the opening night curtain call for Culture Project's current production of Shaheed: The Dream and Death of Benazir Bhutto. A naming ceremony and commemorative gala in honor of the late Ms. Redgrave will take place on Monday, June 3, 2013 at Stage 48 (605 West 48th Street, New York City). Honorary Chairs for the evening are Vanessa Redgrave, Liam Neeson, and Ms. Redgrave's three children Annabel Clark, Ben Clark, and Pema Clark.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced a two week extension today for the world premiere musical HERE LIES LOVE, with concept and lyrics by David Byrne, music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, additional music by Tom Gandey and J Pardo, and choreography by Annie-B Parson. Directed by Alex Timbers, HERE LIES LOVE begins performances on Tuesday, April 2 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, May 5. It will now run an additional two weeks through Sunday, May 19.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 2013 Grammy Award, celebrates its first Anniversary with a special encore performance and cake after the matinee tomorrow, Wednesday, March 20 (the actual date of the 1st Anniversary was Monday, March 18 but the show was dark). The production, based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning film, opened to rave reviews on Sunday, March 18, 2012 and is playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street.

Theatrical Outfit has announced the world premiere of The Fabulous Lipitones, written by Mark St. Germain (playwright, Freud's Last Session) and John Markus (writer/producer of The Cosby Show). The show runs March 27 - April 21 at the Balzer Theater at Herren's, 84 Luckie Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia.

Don't miss this 54 Below debut on Sunday April 7th at 7pm. Described as equal parts James Taylor and Stephen Sondheim, Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen's songs have been performed everywhere from East Village rock clubs, to Off-Broadway theaters, to Sesame Street. The concert will feature some of Broadway's best talent including Carolee Carmello, Kyle Dean Massey, Michael McElroy, Molly Hager, Sadie Sink, Taylor Trensch, and Barrett Wilbert Weed.

Beginning Tuesday, March 26, Ben Hope will play the role of 'Guy,' Laura Dreyfuss will play the role of 'Girl,' Carlos Valdes will play the role of 'Andrej' and Claire Wellin will play the role of 'Reza.' Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti, Will Connolly and Elizabeth A. Davis, from the original cast, will play their final performance on Sunday, March 24, 2013.

The very popular and Tony winning Karen Olivo, who was most recently seen appearing in the sold out IN THE HEIGHTS reunion concert in New York City, shared a blog on her web site this morning, revealing a new direction. BWW selfishly hopes that this won't be a permanent break.

This past weekend the cast of the Grammy award and eight time Tony award-winning Dublin based musical Once joined together to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. On stage in the show's fully functioning bar at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End proved to be the ideal setting for their celebrations.

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) tonight, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm).

The Improvisational Repertory Theatre Ensemble returns for another season of on-the-spot laughs, including The Groovy Gang Adventures and its 2013 Improvisational Acting Workshop Series.

Composer Glen Hansard from the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, Once will be featured on 'CBS Sunday Morning' today, March 17th, from 9-10:30AM on channel 2. Check local listings.

Composer Glen Hansard from the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, Once will be featured on 'CBS Sunday Morning' this Sunday, March 17th, from 9-10:30AM on channel 2. Check local listings.

The Award-Winning Epic Theatre Ensemble, now in their 12th year presents William Shakespeare's RICHARD III: Born With Teeth, part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins previews Off-Broadway on Tuesday, April 16th and opens Saturday, April 20th at 8:00 PM at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The play will run through May 4th. Epic Theatre Ensemble's tickets are $25 for this production. Student Rush is also available. For tickets, please visit www.Ticketcentral.com or call (212) 270-4200. For more information, visit www.epictheatreensemble.org/R3.

Joe's Pub recently welcomed Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins in her return to their stage for an ongoing series BRING ON THE MEN. Best known for her celebrated roles in Caroline, or Change and Jelly's Last Jam, Tonya made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Merrily We Roll Along. Broadway audiences have also delighted in her performances in Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Play On!, The Wild Party and Radio Golf, while television audiences know her from As The World Turns, All My Children, Army Wives and 24. Check out highlights from her concert below!

The Vineyard Theatre has announced the cast for the world-premiere of Jenny Schwartz's SOMEWHERE FUN. Ms. Schwartz returns to The Vineyard following her critically acclaimed play GOD'S EAR in 2008.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that PS Classics, home to a dozen Sondheim cast albums, will record and release the cast recording of its critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle.