Michael Greif News

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz Executive Director) just announced complete casting for its upcoming New York premiere production of SMART PEOPLE, the new play by LYDIA R. DIAMOND (Stick Fly), directed by Tony® Award winnerKENNY LEON (A Raisin in the Sun, The Wiz Live!).  MAHERSHALA ALI (House of Cards), JOSHUA JACKSON (The Affair), ANNE SON (My Generation), and TESSA THOMPSON (Creed) will co-star in the production.

RACHEL CALOF, a play with music, based on the life of Rachel Calof, a Jewish picture bride who was a homesteader on the Great Plains from 1894-1904, was chosen to be highlighted in the United Solo Theatre Festival.

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Stephen Karam's The Humans featuring Cassie Beck, Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell, Lauren Klein, Arian Moayed and Sarah Steele, began preview performances on Wednesday, September 30, 2015, and opened last night, October 25, 2015. Check out photos from opening night below!

I had the honor of seeing 'Next to Normal' with my daughter Madeleine at the Three Act Theatre Company.. Her first time seeing it, my gazillionth.

Acclaimed Director James Lapine was honored with the 2015 "Mr. Abbott" Award for the outstanding artistry and creativity of his forty-year (and counting) career on Monday October 19th.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 2015-16 season and its commitment to the creation of unforgettable new plays with the WORLD PREMIERE of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, written by and starring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by the critically acclaimed Lucie Tiberghien. This story is more than relevant. It's riveting. Those who stand up for equality in 2015 are following in the footsteps of Bayard Rustin, the lesser known but powerfully influential civil rights leader who orchestrated the March on Washington and stepped forward himself as an openly gay man at a time when few had the courage to do so. In this ode, an exiled Rustin masterminds 'a tribute to the ancestors' 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This exciting production begins tonight, Oct. 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15 at KC Rep's Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

The National Tour of IF/THEN, starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), Tony Award-winner LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once on This Island), Anthony Rapp(Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and James Snyder (Cry-Baby, Rock of Ages), begins performances tonight, October 13, at the Buell Theatre at Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

It's less than a week before the IF/THEN national tour officially opens in Denver, and the cast is hard at work. Check out Idina Menzel, James Snyder and LaChanze backstage below!

RACHEL CALOF, a play with music, based on the life of Rachel Calof, a Jewish picture bride who was a homesteader on the Great Plains from 1894-1904, was chosen to be highlighted in the United Solo Theatre Festival.   

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 2015-16 season and its commitment to the creation of unforgettable new plays with the WORLD PREMIERE of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, written by and starring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by the critically acclaimed Lucie Tiberghien. This story is more than relevant. It's riveting. Those who stand up for equality in 2015 are following in the footsteps of Bayard Rustin, the lesser known but powerfully influential civil rights leader who orchestrated the March on Washington and stepped forward himself as an openly gay man at a time when few had the courage to do so. In this ode, an exiled Rustin masterminds 'a tribute to the ancestors' 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This exciting production begins Friday, Oct. 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15 at KC Rep's Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Just in from the Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a great time lapse video of the show loading into the theatre as it gets ready to begin performances in just under ten days!

BroadwayWorld recently announced the full cast for the national tour of IF/THEN, starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), Tony Award-winner LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once on This Island), Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and James Snyder (Cry-Baby, Rock of Ages). Cast member Janine DiVita, who will play Anne, took to Twitter with a photo of the entire tour team in rehearsal. Check it out below!

After a sold-out Feinstein's/54 Below debut in February, Ryann Redmond brings her very first solo show back to the stage! Ryann first broke onto the scene as Bridget in the Tony nominated Bring It On the Musical for which she received abundant critical acclaim. Stephen Brown of New York Magazine raved, 'As for show-stealers, well, it's a talent melee: Ryann Redmond slays us as Bridget, a nerdy, big-boned laugh-track of a cheer-wannabe who ends up with her own storyline.' David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter applauded Ryann's 'winning comic turns.' Ryann recently appeared in Broadway's If/Then and then headed to the MUNY to play Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray this past summer.

BroadwayWorld has just learned the complete cast list for the national tour of IF/THEN, starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), Tony Award-winner LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once on This Island), Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and James Snyder (Cry-Baby, Rock of Ages).

Playwrights Horizons and Center Theatre Group present The Christians, the New York premiere of a new play by Lucas Hnath (A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Isaac's Eye, Death Tax). Directed by Obie Award winnerLes Waters (Doris to Darlene at PH; the recent 10 Out of 12; In the Next Room, or the vibrator play; Big Love; eurydice), the play is the opening production of the theater company's 2015/2016 Season.

Single tickets are now on sale to the general public for Second Stage Theatre's world premiere production of INVISIBLE THREAD, a new musical by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, in association with American Repertory Theater, directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin).  INVISIBLE THREAD will begin previews on Saturday, October 31st at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street).  Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2nd.   

La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Repertory Theatre is presenting the world-premiere production of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, by Michael Benjamin Washington, directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Blood and Gifts). Tiberghien replaced Phylicia Rashad, who had to depart the project due to scheduling conflicts. Check out photos from the production below!

Matt Cox's 3-part epic, geek comedy Kapow-i GoGo extends at The Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT) with additional marathon performances on September 27th, October 4th, & October 11th (special New York Comic Con performance).

The contemporary new musical IF/THEN, featuring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), Tony Award-winner LaChanze (The Color Purple, Once on This Island), Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and James Snyder (Cry-Baby, Rock of Ages) is coming to the SHN Orpheum Theatre November 10-December 6. LaChanze, Mr. Rapp, Mr. Snyder and Ms. Menzel will reprise their critically-acclaimed performances in this highly anticipated musical, which kicks off the 2015-2106 SHN Season. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, Sept. 11 at 10am.

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed complete casting for Secong Stage's upcoming world premiere production of INVISIBLE THREAD, a new musical by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, in association with American Repertory Theater, directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin).