Michael Mayer News

William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Picnic returns to Broadway in a striking new production helmed by acclaimed director Sam Gold (Roundabout's Look Back in Anger, Seminar). Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn stars alongside theatre veterans Reed Birney (The Dream of the Burning Boy) and Elizabeth Marvel (Other Desert Cities), rising stars Maggie Grace ('Lost') and Sebastian Stan ('Gossip Girl'), Emmy Award winner Mare Winningham (recently seen in Tribes), Madeleine Martin (August: Osage County) and Ben Rappaport (Hope Springs). BroadwayWorld was there last night for all of the opening night festivities and you can check out full coverage from the star-studded arrivals below!

Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer will make his Met debut with a new production of Verdi's Rigoletto, in a staging that moves the opera's tragic events from a decadent 16th-century Italian court to the glitzy, depraved setting of the Las Vegas strip circa 1960.

AMERICAN IDIOT will make its Philadelphia premiere Feb. 12 - 17 at the Merriam Theater as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is scheduled for Tues. Feb. 12 at 7:30 pm.

The national tour of the explosive Broadway hit AMERICAN IDIOT, called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by The New York Times and "flat-out electrifying" by the Boston Globe, will make its Philadelphia premiere Feb. 12 - 17 at the Merriam Theater as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is scheduled for Tues. Feb. 12 at 7:30 pm.

92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, continues his popular interview series, "Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth," with award winning stage and screen actress Edie Falco on Sunday, April 7th at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Falco, the Emmy Award-winning star of "Nurse Jackie", will return to the New York stage this season in Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming The Madrid.

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has announced its 2013 lineup. The 28th edition features films from 49 countries and runs January 24-February 3. The festival will open with DISCONNECT, a drama starring Jason Bateman and will conclude with Rowan Athale's Wasteland.

Today, in honor of the release of the complete Season One of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH on DVD, we are revisiting some of the most memorable and truly tremendous musical numbers from the show so far - all available on the four-disc box set, available now - as we anticipate the grand return of the show on February 5. A look at Season Two, too!

The Attic Theater Company will present THE MNEMONIST OF DUTCHESS COUNTY, a new comedy written by Josh Koenigsberg (Herman Kline's Midlife Crisis, Al's Business Cards) and directed by Laura Savia, which will be performed at The Beckett Theatre -Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, at 9th Avenue) from Friday, February 8th through Saturday, March 2, 2013. THE MNEMONIST OF DUTCHESS COUNTY will open on Wednesday, February 13.

TVline reports exclusively that James Cromwell has joined the cast of the new NBC drama series DO NO HARM, premiering Thursday, January 31 at 10/9c. It had earlier been revealed that the actor would guest star on the show, but according to the report, he will now take on a 'pivotal role' in the thriller.

Reprise Records' multi-platinum GrammyAward-winning Green Day today announced they would return to the road in 2013 and revealed the routing for their upcoming tour, which can be found below.

The national tour of the explosive Broadway hit AMERICAN IDIOT will make its Providence premiere February 8 - 10, 2013 at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) for four performances only. Please note that AMERICAN IDIOT contains adult language and content.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim has announced its spring 2013 season. Since 1984, the performing-arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading creators and performers. Each intimate, 80-minute performance uniquely combines artistic creation and stimulating conversation and takes place in the Guggenheim's Frank Lloyd Wright-designed, 285-seat Peter B. Lewis Theater, where new reserved seating is now offered. A reception for the audience and artists follows most programs. Described by the New York Times as "a popular series devoted to shedding light on the creative process," Works & Process is produced by founder Mary Sharp Cronson. Past performance highlights can be viewed at youtube.com/worksandprocess.

TVGuide.com reports that James Cromwell is set to appear in an unspecified number of episodes of the upcoming NBC midseason drama DO NO HARM. The actor will portray a 'renowned' surgeon on the show which stars Steven Pasquale.

Nashville Children's Theatre this season-during the run of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown-has understandably selected Project Linus as its annual holiday season charity, inviting audiences to become involved in the process.

Angelinos looking for a unique and satisfying "family-friendly-experience" in American music, featuring some of the best talent in the Los Angeles musical theatre world, are in for a real treat! This revised production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN will open at Theatre Banshee, Burbank, on January 18th thru February 10th, 2013. Produced by John Peters for J & J Productions, this warmhearted musical comedy based on the "Peanuts" comic strip, welcomes Television, Movie, Broadway Musical Theatre, & Award-Winning Stars: Carla Jimenez, Eymard Cabling, Colette Peters, Chris Duir, Chaz Feuerstine, Frankie Marrone, James Oronoz, Adam Trent, & Jennifer Strattan.

NBC will premiere the new drama DO NOT HARM on Thursday, January 31 (10-11 p.m. ET) following the hour-long series finale of the Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" (8-9 p.m. ET) earlier that same night.

The Drama League (Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director; Roger T. Danforth, Artistic Director) has announced full casting for the 29th Annual DirectorFest, a festival of one-act plays staged by the Fall Directing Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project, beginning December 6 - 9 at The Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex, 312 West 36th street (at 8th Avenue).