Martha Plimpton News

Today we are taking a look at the very best theatre-related entities in a variety of different categories - books, music, television, film, and, of course, theatre - as we look back on 2011 and all of the many marvelous moments of excitement, passion, joy and exultation that only theatre and theatre-related projects can possibly hope to provide. From Stephen Sondheim's LOOK, I MADE A HAT on the bookshelves of every Broadway baby worth their weight in sequins to Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone in Sondheim's COMPANY on the big screen courtesy of Fathom to the stunning Broadway revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters and its tremendous new cast album, all the way to the thrills and chills of Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL on the big screen and Blu-ray to the BOOK OF MORMON breaking Broadway records and even TV's best drama and comedy, both from mastermind Ryan Murphy - GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY. Plus, we also have top film picks in the categories of Drama and Comedy, as well as the best of the best of them all, with Lars Von Trier's apocalyptic masterpiece MELANCHOLIA, George Clooney's play adaptation THE IDES OF MARCH and the 80s music video stylized thriller/drama DRIVE topping the list. All of that and a whole lot more awaits in this all-encompassing look back at the theatrical highlights in all entertainment realms in 2011, as well as a look ahead to what we cannot wait for in 2012!

Today in 1940, Pal oey opened at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Pal Joey is a musical with a book by John O'Hara (from his novel of the same title) and music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart based on a character and situations O'Hara created in a series of short stories published in The New Yorker. It includes two songs that have become standards: 'I Could Write a Book' and 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered'.

Lincoln Center's American Songbook Week Two runs January 18-21, 2012 at The Allen Room, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, located at Broadway at 60th Street.

This Tuesday's episode of Fox's RAISING HOPE gives a nod to the holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life," as the Chances go to the movies and are surprised when they discover that the film they're watching is strikingly similar to their own family life.

Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Julianna Margulies will be the guest of honor at the third annual Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS fundraising luncheon on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Noon at The Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. Ms. Margulies, who currently stars in the hit CBS drama The Good Wife, will be interviewed about her stage, television and film career by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey in a format similar to Inside the Actors Studio.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns to the elegant Allen Room in January for its fourteenth season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 16 nights the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting. Week One of the 2012 season will start off with a relatively new composer on the scene, multiple Tony-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) who will be bringing his new rap composition about American historical figure Alexander Hamilton called The Hamilton Mixtape. Next up is the just-nominated-for-a-Grammy Award duo Chris Thile and Michael Daves, who play a dazzling, modern form of bluegrass that nonetheless references legendary bluegrass artists from the past. From the rock canon will be J.D. Souther, performing songs he wrote for Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles as well as newer compositions. To close out Week One, composer William Finn (Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), along with guest vocalists, will be performing a song cycle inspired by the poetry of William Blake.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will present post-show discussions following select performances of the Public Lab production, TITUS ANDRONICUS, directed by Michael Sexton. The Public Lab Thursday Night Speaker Series for TITUS ANDRONICUS will be held following the Thursday, December 8 and Thursday, December 15 performances and consist of engaging conversations with notable panelists. Tickets are $15 for all performances and include free admission to the post-show discussions. TITUS ANDRONICUS runs through Sunday, December 18. Check out production shots below!

Next up in its continuing series Dark Nights, The New Group presents Hamlet at Home, with readings from Shakespeare's Hamlet featuring Lisa Emery, Mamie Gummer, Josh Hamilton and Wallace Shawn, directed by Scott Elliott.

Last night, I spoke to two-time Tony-winner Katie Finneran all about her new Fox sitcom I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER, co-starring Jaime Pressly, which premiered yesterday at 9:30 PM. Additionally, Finneran and I discuss her recent role in the terrific live performance film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY, co-starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone, and we also take a look back at her two Tony-winning Broadway roles from earlier this decade - the lauded Jeremy Sams revival of the comedy NOISES OFF, as well as Rob Ashford's revival of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Neil Simon PROMISES, PROMISES. Also, Finneran describes the feeling of reaching a career peak such as she has achieved this year - a new Tony Award, the COMPANY film and headlining a sitcom of her own - and also relates how her role as a new mom has influenced her participation on the battle-of-the-generations comedy. All of that - plus, reminiscences of working on DAMAGES, OZ, roles she would like to play in the future (Dolly, Mame and The Baker's Wife included) and much, much more!

TV Guide reports that sharp-tongued comedian Andrew Dice Clay will be guest starring as himself in the November 29th episode of Fox's RAISING HOPE.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will present post-show discussions following select performances of the Public Lab production, TITUS ANDRONICUS, directed by Michael Sexton. The Public Lab Thursday Night Speaker Series for TITUS ANDRONICUS will be held following the Thursday, December 8 and Thursday, December 15 performances and consist of engaging conversations with notable panelists. Tickets are $15 for all performances and include free admission to the post-show discussions. TITUS ANDRONICUS begins previews on Tuesday, November 29 and runs through Sunday, December 18.

Steppenwolf has just announced that Emmy®, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Julianna Margulies will be the guest of honor at the third annual Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS fundraising luncheon on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Noon at The Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St. Ms. Margulies, who currently stars in the hit CBS drama The Good Wife, will be interviewed about her stage, television and film career by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey in a format similar to Inside the Actors Studio. Previous honorees at Steppenwolf Salutes WOMEN IN THE ARTS include ensemble members Joan Allen and Martha Plimpton.

Desperate Housewives stars Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Vanessa Williams have joined the dais of Broadcasting & Cable magazine's 2nd annual, off-the-record gathering, 'Keynotes & Cocktails: Women of Hollywood,' Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011.

Baby, it's cold outside. So, this season, FOX is decking the halls with holiday-themed programming that is sure to warm the hearts of kids from one to ninety two. First, gobble up all-new animated specials ICE AGE: A MAMMOTH CHRISTMAS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) and HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN (8:30-9:30 PM ET/PT) Thanksgiving night, Thursday, Nov. 24.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Disney's High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale is set to appear in the Fox hit comedy, RAISING HOPE in February. Tisdale will make a cameo appearance in the Valentine's Day episode

In its continuing series Dark Nights, The New Group welcomes filmmaker Todd Solondz in conversation with playwright Thomas Bradshaw.

TV Guide reports that sharp-tongued comedian Andrew Dice Clay will be guest starring as himself in the November 29th episode of Fox's RAISING HOPE.

As BroadwayWorld.com first reported this weekend, FOLLIES star Jan Maxwell was hit by a minivan while crossing 45th Street following the Saturday, October 29 matinee. The star suffered injuries to her arm and leg. She was unable to perform on Saturday night and was also be out at the Sunday matinee to stay home and recuperate. Her understudy, Colleen Fitzpatrick, went on in her absence this weekend. BroadwayWorld has just confirmed with a spokesperson for the show that Maxwell is back and better, and will resume performances tonight, November 1.

This November, FOX delivers major television events, all-new episodes and big guest stars