Michael Mayer News

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) has launched The Saturday Arts Program (SAP), a training ground for passionate young performers. Classes will take place weekly from September 22nd - November 17th at the Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope Solebury High School, and the Solebury School.

Tickets to THE PERFORMERS -- the new Broadway comedy by David West Read -- will go on sale via Telecharge on Monday, August 13 it has been announced by the play's producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz. Patrons can purchase tickets by calling Telecharge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

BWW was there to help celebrate all the excitement of opening night including photos from the opening night red carpet!

Due to popular demand Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater is adding an additional workshop performance tonight, July 29 at 7:30pm of the new indie rock musical Murder Ballad by Julia Jordan & Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman. The cast features Tony nominees Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange; Shrek: The Musical) and Will Swenson (Hair; Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as well as Dee Roscioli (Wicked) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot; Passing Strange).

THE PERFORMERS -- a new comedy by David West Read (THE DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY) -- will open on Broadway this fall with a cast starring Cheyenne Jackson, Ari Graynor, Daniel Breaker, Jenni Barber and Henry Winkler, it has been announced by the play's producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz.

New casting and additional dates have been announced for the international tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway hit. Alex Nee will star as Johnny, along with Thomas Hettrick as Tunny, Casey O'Farrell as Will, Alyssa DiPalma as Whatsername, Jenna Rubaii as The Extraordinary Girl, Kennedy Caughell as Heather and Trent Saunders as St. Jimmy.

Due to popular demand Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater is adding an additional workshop performance on Sunday, July 29 at 7:30pm of the new indie rock musical Murder Ballad by Julia Jordan & Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman. The cast features Tony nominees Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange; Shrek: The Musical) and Will Swenson (Hair; Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as well as Dee Roscioli (Wicked) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot; Passing Strange).

Vassar & New York Stage and Film present the 28th Powerhouse Theater season workshop MURDER BALLAD, starring Tony nominees Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange; Shrek: The Musical) and Will Swenson (Hair; Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as well as Dee Roscioli (Wicked) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot; Passing Strange). The indie rock musical Murder Ballad is written by award-winning playwright Julia Jordan (Tatjana in Color; Sarah, Plain and Tall) and Juliana Nash (frontwoman for the indie rock band Talking to Animals), directed by Trip Cullman (Lonely, I'm Not; Assistance; A Small Fire). The show plays July 27 through July 29, 2012. See below for photos of the cast and creative team in rehearsal!

Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who co-write the music for NBC's hit musical drama SMASH, reacted to this morning's news that they received an Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the show.

Denise Burse (Peace Love and Understanding, Brother to Brother, "House of Payne"), Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!, The American Plan, Once On This Island), Lynda Gravatt (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Doubt), Nikiya Mathis (Milk Like Sugar), Dennis Parlato (Salome, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chess), Saycon Sengbloh (Fela!, Hair), and Tracie Thoms (Rent, Stick Fly) join Vassar & New York Stage and Film's 28th Powerhouse Theater season in the workshop of award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley's The House That Will Not Stand, directed by Marion McClinton (July 20-22). Check out photos of the cast in rehearsal below!

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater previously announced casting updates for the season, including Ilana Levine (Jake's Women, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Last Night of Ballyhoo), who joins Dominic Fumusa, Greg Kinnear, and Jennifer Westfeldt in the cast of the second Mainstage production of The Power of Duff by Stephen Belber, directed by Peter DuBois (7/18-29).

Patriotism seems to be a running theme in the Houston theatre scene this summer, and each piece is just as mesmerizing as the one before it. Generations: A Theatre Company's fantastic contribution to this summer's theme of patriotism is Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman's Wild West, rock anthem filled musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces casting updates for the season, including Griffin Dunne (After Hours, An American Werewolf in London) and Samantha Mathis (33 Variations, Pump Up the Volume) who join the cast of Fires Are Confusing by Eva Anderson, Will Berson, and Zach Helm, created by Teatro de Facto. Ilana Levine (Jake's Women, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Last Night of Ballyhoo) joins Dominic Fumusa, Greg Kinnear, and Jennifer Westfeldt in the cast of the second Mainstage production of The Power of Duff by Stephen Belber, directed by Peter DuBois (7/18-29).

La MaMa concluded its 50th anniversary season with a successful benefit evening highlighted by entertainment and tributes-the La MaMa 50 Big Bash-on Sunday, June 24 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU in Manhattan. The evening was emceed by the inimitable Tony nominee and longtime La MaMa artist Andre DeShields, who joined other performers, including Gavin Creel, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Adrian Bailey, Everett Quinton, Lady J and Culture Hub, in entertaining the audience of 600-plus with music and dance that celebrated La MaMa's first 50 years, including an excerpt from its recent hit production of Scott Wittman's JUKEBOX JACKIE featuring Cole Escola and Bridget Everett. The evening was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who appeared as an actor at La MaMa during the early days of his career. Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, also La MaMa artists, served as the anniversary celebrations' co-chairs. See below for pictures of the BIG BASH's speakers and performers!

Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT returns to the Bay Area beginning June 12. A limited number of $25 orchestra pit rush seats will be available for all performances.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces casting updates for the season, including Griffin Dunne (After Hours, An American Werewolf in London) and Samantha Mathis (33 Variations, Pump Up the Volume) who join the cast of Fires Are Confusing by Eva Anderson, Will Berson, and Zach Helm, created by Teatro de Facto. Ilana Levine (Jake's Women, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Last Night of Ballyhoo) joins Dominic Fumusa, Greg Kinnear, and Jennifer Westfeldt in the cast of the second Mainstage production of The Power of Duff by Stephen Belber, directed by Peter DuBois (7/18-29).

The Orpheum Theatre is set to welcome the AMERICAN IDIOT national tour this summer, the punk rock adaptation of Green Day's conceptual album of the same name from July 1 through the 8th. For more information on the national tour of AMERICAN IDIOT, visit www.americanidiotthemusical.com. Tickets are available at www.san-francisco-theater.com.

On Monday, June 25th, The Trevor Project honored Academy Award® winner, Susan Sarandon with the Trevor Hero Award, presented by Stanley Tucci. President of MTV, Stephen Friedman also was hand to accept the Trevor 2020 Award for MTV at "Trevor Live" in New York. This high-profile annual event benefits the life-saving, life-affirming work of The Trevor Project, providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) teens and young adults. The show was directed by Tony Award® winner, Michael Mayer. On hand to celebrate were Stanley Tucci, Debra Messing and Eric McCormack, Anthony Rapp, Thomas Roberts, and many more. BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet to speak to the stars about this important initiative and shares their insights below.