Mandy Patinkin News

Bonnie Keen is, without doubt, one of the most fearless actors to ever take the stage in Nashville. With a gorgeous voice and a talent that is worthy of praise, she will do whatever it takes to connect with her audience, lacing her performances with warmth, wit and wonder. The first time I saw Bonnie onstage was years ago, back in the day, when she played the Witch in Circle Players' production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods; she was mesmerizing. Savvy and smart, she knows what works and what doesn't work onstage and in that role, in which she goes from ugly and twisted to beautiful and elegant, she displayed a range that other actors envy. At the time she did Into the Woods, she was taking a break from her burgeoning recording career: She's an award-winning member of the contemporary Christian music trio First Call.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, has added seven additional performances of David Ives' sold-out, highly-acclaimed new comedy, THE SCHOOL FOR LIES, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie Originally scheduled to close Sunday, May 22, THE SCHOOL FOR LIES will now end its limited engagement Sunday, May 29.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, as the final offering of its triumphant 2010-11 season.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present Tony Award winning actor Alan Cumming and Tony-nominated actress Jessica Hecht in a one night only staged reading of Tennessee Williams' THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY on Monday evening, May 9 at 8 pm at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

The Secret Garden opens soon and plays May 6 - 14 Tickets are $16-25, Kids under 16 only $10!

The Secret Garden opens soon and plays May 6 - 14 Tickets are $16-25, Kids under 16 only $10!

The Secret Garden opens soon and plays May 6 - 14 Tickets are $16-25, Kids under 16 only $10!

The Nora Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Cambridge playwright Amy Merrill and renowned folksinger and activist Si Kahn's romantic musical comedy, SILVER SPOON.

The newly formed Center City Theatre Works is set to produce its debut work later this spring. The company is pleased to bring Philadelphia audiences Michael Cristofer's award-winning The Shadow Box. This heartfelt drama begins previews on May 4, opens May 5, and will close May 21. The company is mounting its first production on the stage Upstairs at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Tickets cost $14-$22. Tickets are available online at www.centercitytheatreworks.org or by calling the box-office at 215-546-6718.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

The Broadway community once again opened its arms to the students of John A. Coleman Catholic High School of Hurley, New York. The school, which has gained a reputation for some of the best young musical theater talent in the Hudson River Valley, produced The Secret Garden in honor of the 20th anniversary of the show's Broadway debut in April of 1991. The cast of Coleman Musical Theater's production recently traveled into New York City to meet members of the original Broadway cast.

In a very short time since his Broadway debut roughly ten years ago, Aaron Lazar has crafted a particularly impressive career consisting of a striking series featured and leading roles in everything from LES MISERABLES and A TALE OF TWO CITIES to THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA - and the sensational PBS Live From Lincoln Center telecast of it - to his superb turn as Count Carl Magnus in the recent revival of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury to, most recently, Lonny Price's rapturously received presentation of Sondheim's COMPANY: IN CONCERT starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone at Lincoln Center - which will soon be seen in 500+ movie theaters nationwide starting in June. In this revealing conversation we discuss all of the aforementioned peformances, as well as what we can expect from the forthcoming Clint Eastwood film J. EDGAR starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Josh Lucas, written by Dustin Lance Black, with Lazar in a featured role, as well as his upcoming dates premiering his new show at Feinstein‘s in June. Before all of that, you can catch Aaron live and in person May 2 at the NY Pops Tribute to Bob Hope, which will also feature performances by Kelli O'Hara, Tom Wopat and many more in addition to a special presentation by Angela Lansbury. More information about the event - and tickets - is available here.

The Secret Garden opens soon and plays May 6 - 14 Tickets are $16-25, Kids under 16 only $10!

From her creation of the pivotal roles of Susan in Marvin Hamlisch & Craig Carnelia's simply smashing (if underappreciated) SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and Clara in Adam Guettel & Craig Lucas's five-time Tony-winning THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, to her effortless essaying of two of the most beloved female roles in the musical theater canon, opposite two of the biggest leading men on Broadway - THE PAJAMA GAME with Harry Connick, Jr. and SOUTH PACIFIC with Matthew Morrison (and Paulo Szot) - in addition to her work in Frank Wildhorn's JEKYLL & HYDE and DRACULA, Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, along with her stunning studio albums - all of these are just some of the reasons why Kelli O'Hara is in a very special class of performers. In this all-encompassing conversation we discuss all of the aforementioned shows, as well as working with all of her fabulous co-stars and collaborators, and we also take a look at her recording studio work with Harry Connick, Jr. and take a look ahead to her sophomore solo album, ALWAYS which will be released on June 3. Plus, we have first news on her new roles in the musical versions of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, written by Jason Robert Brown, and FINDING NEVERLAND by Scott Frankel. We even have dish on working with Liza Minnelli and shooting SEX & THE CITY 2! This is all coming in anticipation of the tribute to Bob Hope at the NY Pops gala on May 2, which will also feature performances by Tom Wopat and Aaron Lazar - both of whom we will continue our SPOTLIGHT ON NY POPS series with later on this weekend. Don't miss them or a special presentation by theatre legend Angela Lansbury! Further information about the NY POPS event - including tickets - is available here.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will honor legendary actor, director and CSC veteran Austin Pendleton at this year's annual benefit gala Monday, May 23 at Bridgewaters at South Street Seaport.

The Secret Garden opens soon and plays May 6 - 14 Tickets are $16-25, Kids under 16 only $10!

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Wayne Kelton, Executive Director) today announced that their acclaimed 25th Anniversary production of Benefactors would extend to May 7th to accommodate overwhelming demand.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present Tony Award winning actor Alan Cumming and Tony-nominated actress Jessica Hecht in a one night only staged reading of Tennessee Williams' THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY on Monday evening, May 9 at 8 pm at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Wayne Kelton, Executive Director) today announced that their acclaimed 25th Anniversary production of Benefactors would extend to May 7th to accommodate overwhelming demand.

There was a packed house at the Embassy of Italy on Monday night, April 11 as close to 400 Signature Theatre enthusiasts paid $650 and upwards per person for the theatre's annual Gala. And when the evening was over, no one was disappointed.