MCC Theater News

MCC Theater's annual Miscast gala, one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town, was held last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom. At the event, Broadway's hottest stars performed songs from roles in which they would never be cast. This year's event was hosted by award-winning actress Allison Janney. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE has selected two original book musicals to be developed in an intensive lab setting in New Haven, June 3-15. Afterland, with music and lyrics by Benjamin Velez and book and lyrics by Kathryn Hathaway, will be directed by Mark Brokaw; and Clouds are Pillows for the Moon, with music by Tidtaya Sinutoke and book and lyrics by Ty Defoe, will be directed by Leigh Silverman. The Institute culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as a part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, on June 14 and 15.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Kristin Chenoweth will be honored at tonight's NCTF Gala, MCC is hosting its MISCAST celebration, and HEATHERS opens off-Broadway!

Cow. Slob. Pig. How many insults can you tolerate before taking a stand to defend the woman you love? Neil LaBute's provocative comedy, Fat Pig opens April 26 at the Hudson Mainstage in Hollywood. The revival, directed by Alexis Jacknow, features new material not seen before in L.A.

Past Tony-nominee Jonathan Groff will join Lucy Liu to reveal the names in a live webcast seen on TonyAwards.com.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long have announced that the New York premiere of The Few, written by Samuel D. Hunter and directed by Davis McCallum, will begin previews Wednesday, April 23 at 7pm at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place. The official opening night is set for Thursday, May 8 at 7pm; The Few is scheduled to run through Sunday, June 8.

Charitybuzz bidders have the opportunity to win some pretty fabulous prizes in support of MCC Theater, now through April 2, 2014.

In today's New York Times In Performance video, actor Steven Boyer, along with puppet Tyrone, share a scene from Robert Askins's dark comedy HAND TO GOD

MCC THEATER has announced that the annual Miscast 2014 gala has added Billy Porter, Jeremy Jordan, Megan Hilty, and Raul Esparza as performers, joining the previously announced Zosia Mamet, Christian Borle, Anika Noni Rose, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Steven Pasquale, Jesse L. Martin, Sasha Allen, Keala Settle, and Nicole Parker. Phil Reno will serve as Musical Director. Additional performers will be announced at a later date. Miscast 2014 will be held Monday, March 31, 2014 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street). The evening will begin with a cocktail hour and gala dinner followed by the Miscast performances. Gala and show-only tickets are now on sale at www.mcctheater.org.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the second installment in its new play reading series, called Play-By-Play: A Public Education by Jeff Talbott tonight and tomorrow, March 14 and 15, 2014. Guest artist Shana Gold directs the production.

Jeanna recently chatted with BroadwayWorld about making her KINKY debut, how she got the role, advice she got from Ashford and more! Check out the full interview below!

The world premiere of 17 Orchard Point, a new play starring Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk, will begin performances on Friday, April 25 for a limited four-week Off-Broadway run at The Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) through May 24. Written by Anton Dudley (Substitution, Getting Home) & Stephanie DiMaggio, and directed by Stella Powell-Jones, 17 Orchard Point will have its official opening night on Sunday, May 4 at 7pm. Tickets for 17 Orchard Point are $45 and can be arranged online at www.telecharge.com or 212.239.6200 or at the Theatre Row Box Office located at 410 West 42nd Street. For more information, please visit www.17OrchardPoint.com.

Last night, Robert Askins' Hand to God opened at the MCC Theater. Hand to God stars Steven Boyer who reprises his celebrated, Obie Award-winning performance from the Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) in 2011. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Last night, Robert Askins' Hand to God opened at the MCC Theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the opening- check out pictures of the cast below!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the second installment in its new play reading series, called Play-By-Play: A Public Education by Jeff Talbott on March 14 and 15, 2014. Guest artist Shana Gold directs the production.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

MCC Theater presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Robert Askins' Hand to God starring Steven Boyer who reprises his celebrated, Obie Award-winning performance from the Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) in 2011. Boyer is joined in this brand new production by Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch as well as Geneva Carr, Michael Oberholtzer, andSarah Stiles. Hand to God is directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel and is currently in previews at the Lucille LortelTheatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on February 19, 2014. An official opening night is set for March 10, 2014. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Kinky Boots will welcome new cast members beginning tonight, March 4, 2014. Jeanna de Waal joins the cast as 'Lauren' (replacing Annaleigh Ashford, who leaves to join the cast of Showtime's 'Masters of Sex'), and Cortney Wolfson, who was previously in the ensemble, moves up to the role of 'Nicola' (replacing Lena Hall, who leaves to join the cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch). Anna Eilinsfeld takes over Wolfson's role in the cast.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES begins previews on Broadway tomorrow, Saturday, March 1 at the Imperial Theatre. The official opening night for LES MISERABLES is Sunday, March 23. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast, plus watch a video of the company in rehearsal!