Mike Nichols News

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Hugh Jackman has his sights set on the stage again, having just participated in a reading of Nora Ephron's new play, Stories about McAlary. Directed by Mike Nichols, the play cernters on the life of the late New York Post and Daily News columnist Mike McAlary (read by Jackman). The reading also included Sarah Paulson and Richard Kind.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is pleased to announce casting for the first New York revival of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning epic work, ANGELS IN AMERICA: A GAY FANTASIA ON NATIONAL THEMES. The production will be directed by Michael Greif. ANGELS IN AMERICA is the first production of Signature's 20th Anniversary season, celebrating the works of Tony Kushner.

The 2010 Summer Gala will honor Lincoln Center Theater Executive Producer and former Public Theater Associate Producer Bernard Gersten and Bank of America. The Gala will be held on Monday, June 21 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and will include a dinner under the stars, a performance of The Merchant of Venice featuring Al Pacino as Shylock and a party afterward at the Belvedere Castle.

Lyric Stage's BYE BYE BIRDIE, 1961's Best Musical Tony Award winner, opens tonight at the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall. Lyric Stage's production will feature a 31 piece orchestra playing Robert Ginzler's original Broadway orchestrations.

Al Pacino, currently starring in the Public Theater's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, has been named the first-ever recipient of Oxford Shakespeare Company's Oxford Prize. The award will be presented to Pacino later this summer, along with an Al Pacino Scholarship to OSC student Frank Franconeri.

The Hollywoord Reporter reports that Martin Sheen has recently been cast in the Hyde Park/Imagenation-produced 'The Double,' a spy thriller written and directed by Michael Brandt and starring Richard Gere and Topher Grace. Sheen is reported to play the CIA director. Filming will begin Monday in Detroit. Additional cast members include Stephen Moyer, Stana Katic, and Odette Yustman. The film was co-written by Derek Haas.

Emmy(R) Award nominee Maura Tierney ('ER') has joined 'The Whole Truth' as a series regular. The new drama series from Jerry Bruckheimer Television will air Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET this fall on ABC. With a unique alternative narrative structure that chronicles the way a case is built from the perspectives of both the defense and prosecution, 'The Whole Truth' shows each side equally and keeps its audience guessing, shifting allegiances of guilt or innocence until the very final scene.

Tuesday nights are about to get a lot hotter as Oxygen Media rouses those lazy days of summer with August premieres including the return of hit series 'Bad Girls Club,' in its new city and its new time, Tuesday, August 3 at 9pm ET/PT; and the series premiere of fantasy hair competition series 'Hair Battle Spectacular,' Tuesday, August 10 at 10pm ET/PT. The new Tuesday lineup marks the network's first night of programming with weekly, back-to-back premieres of two original series.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to announce that Caroline Aaron will star as Marjorie Taub opposite Marilu Henner who will star as Lee Green in Charles Busch's hilarious Broadway hit, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, opening October 1 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

The American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 13, 2010 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.

Multi award winning playwright/lyricist Steven Sater has chosen LA's Rogue Machine to present the World premiere of his play New York Animals.

As part of their celebrated 20th Anniversary Season, Theatre at the Center announces that they will host a special limited engagement of The Second City 50th Anniversary Tour. Chicago's legendary comedy theatre, The Second City will appear at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12 at 8 p.m.

On Thursday, June 10, the AFI honored Mike Nichols with their Life Achievement Award at Sony Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Nichols, who directed Broadway's Tony-winning Spamalot, among others, is one of only twelve people to have won an EGOT, all the major American entertainment awards: an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. In 2001, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

As part of their celebrated 20th Anniversary Season, Theatre at the Center announces that they will host a special limited engagement of The Second City 50th Anniversary Tour. Chicago's legendary comedy theatre, The Second City will appear at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12 at 8 p.m.

Gastro-politico-rock 'n' roll sass! Writer/actress Donna Jo Thorndale brings an all new, expanded version of ALL CAKE, NO FILE: The Johnny Cash Prison Tribute Comedy Cooking Show/Concert, starring celebrity chef Jewell Rae Jeffers, to The Actors' Gang every Friday and Saturday, June 11 through July 31, at 9 pm.

The American Film Institute and TV Land announced today that many of Hollywood's finest will be on hand to salute acclaimed and beloved film, television and stage director Mike Nichols when he receives the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award on June 10, 2010 on the historic Stage 15 at the Sony Pictures Studios.

After a two-decade absence from the stage, former Saturday Night Live writer, Paul Barrosse and his wife, Victoria Zielinski, will perform in The Vic & Paul Show, an original two-person comedy revue with music that will play for three weeks this June at PUSH Lounge in Woodland Hills.

The American Film Institute and TV Land announced today that American film's finest performers Cher, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep are among the many in the arts and entertainment community who are scheduled to appear when AFI honors beloved film, television and stage director Mike Nichols with the AFI Life Achievement Award. The gala will take place on Thursday, June 10th in the historic Stage 15 on the Sony Studios lot in Culver City, CA. 'TV Land Presents: The AFI Life Achievement Awards Honoring Mike Nichols' premieres on TV Land in June.

The summer sizzles with hot jokes and laughter at Philadelphia Theatre Company's special presentation of THE SECOND CITY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR, running July 13-25 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

This September, The Second City, Chicago's legendary comedy theatre, will return to Denver with a new show celebrating the company's 50th anniversary. A well-known launching pad for some of today's most dynamic comedic talent, The Second City will present A Mile High Celebration: The Second City's 50th Anniversary September 14 through October 10, 2010 at the Garner Galleria Theatre.