Michael Greif News

The producers of the off-Broadway production of Rent have announced that the musical will close after the performance on Sunday, September 9. The production will have played 32 previews and 450 performances.

The cast and creative team of Rent will be featured on an episode of MTV's hit show, MADE, airing today, June 25th at 4 PM.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

The cast and creative team of Rent will be featured on an upcoming episode of MTV's hit show, MADE, airing this Monday, June 25th at 4 PM.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the full cast and creative teams for Last of the Red Hot Lovers, which will be presented on the Nikos Stage from July 11 through July 22 (opening July 12), and the Preview Production of Far From Heaven, which will play the Main Stage from July 19 through July 29 (opening July 21). Both shows begin rehearsals today in preparation for their runs at the Festival.

Last night, June 18, The Public Theater celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Delacorte Theater, home of Shakespeare in the Park, and honored Al Pacino for his body of work at The Public. The evening included a benefit reading of Romeo and Julie featuring Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet. On hand to celebrate were the likes of Julia Stiles, Chelsea Clinton, Steve Martin and many more who have both particiated and enjoyed the works at the Delacorte. BroadwayWorld was also on hand and brings you photo coverage below!

NY_HEARTS: LES, featuring Jenny Maguire, is presented as part of The Brick Theater's Game Play Festival, July 6-22, in multiple locations across the Lower East Side.

The Tony Awards Nominating Committee is a rotating group of up to 35 theatre professionals selected by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Nominators serve for overlapping three-year terms. They are asked to see every new Broadway production and then meet each year shortly after the Tony eligibility deadline. They determine the nominations based on secret ballots supervised by an accounting firm. The results are announced early the following morning.

Anthony Fedorov and Natalie Wachen join the cast of Rent in the roles of Roger and Mimi beginning on Wednesday, July 11. Shaleah Adkisson took over the role of Joanne on June 11.

Today we are talking to a supremely gifted performer who can be seen eight times a week on Broadway in the currently running Des McAnuff revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Jeremy Kushnier. Tracing his Broadway trajectory from his memorable debut in FOOTLOOSE back in the late 1990s to his impressive regional theatre and concert work - CHESS to The Dream Engine to BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY and beyond - to his success touring in AIDA, RENT and others, up to his most recent gig in JERSEY BOYS, Kushnier opens up about his diverse career thus far and what we can expect from him in the future, near and far. Plus, Kushnier analyzes the five roles he has essayed in the current production of SUPERSTAR so far, since he was first brought into the production as a standby and understudy, after all - Jesus, Judas, Pilate and two different priests - and shares his enthusiasm for the dazzling, Tony Award-nominated production - all of this as he prepares for his long-awaited upcoming solo spotlight concert at Birdland on June 18! Additionally, Kushnier shares plans and wishes for a forthcoming solo album, as well as offers his thoughts on GLEE, SMASH and much, much more!

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten has announced today the full cast and creative teams for the first two productions of the 2012 season: The Importance of Being Earnest and the World Premiere of The Blue Deep. The Importance of Being Earnest will be presented on the Main Stage from June 26 through July 14 (opening June 28) and The Blue Deep will grace the Nikos Stage from June 27 through July 8 (opening June 28). Both casts arrived in Williamstown today for their first rehearsals on the bucolic Williams College campus in preparation for the runs of these exciting and unique productions at the Festival.

Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons celebrated its annual Spring Gala yesterday evening, June 11th at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Titled "The Highest Standard", the evening celebrated its five Pulitzer Prize-winning productions and honor the creators of these memorable works for the theater. The honorees were James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George), Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park), Stephen Sondheim (Sunday in the Park with George), Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy), Wendy Wasserstein (The Heidi Chronicles) and Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the festivities below!

The York Shakespeare Company presents Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST, directed by Seth Duerr. True West plays a three-week limited engagement at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor). Opening Night is tonight, June 9 (8pm). $18 tickets are available at www.smarttix.com.

The York Shakespeare Company is pleased to present Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST, directed by Seth Duerr. True West will play a three-week limited engagement at Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor). Performances begin tonight, June 8 and continue through Saturday, June 23. Opening Night is Saturday, June 9 (8 p.m.). $18 tickets are available at www.smarttix.com.

On Monday, June 4th at The Bowery Hotel (335 Bowery at East 3rd Street), Paige Davis hosted Red Bull Theater's gala, along with special guest NaTasha Yvette Williams. Check out photos from the event below!

The Kauffman Theatre brings NEXT TO NORMAL and the Goodman household to Houston audiences this month for a limited engagement. The rock musical plays the theater's main stage from tonight, June 5 to June 10.