Morgan Freeman News

I mean it with the most sincere amount of respect and admiration for both gentlemen when I write that Peter Gallagher seems to have morphed into Jerry Orbach.  At least in his portrayal of Bernie Dodd, the hard-driving Broadway director convinced that when the star of his new play suddenly leaves for a Hollywood gig he can get a great turn out of the washed-up alcoholic actor whose performances twIce Thrilled him many years ago.  He's the best part of Mike Nichols' new production of Clifford Odets' The Country Girl (which has undergone some text tweaking by Jon Robin Baitz).  His tough, but passionate mannerisms and gruff speaking voice bring out a sense of urgency to the proceedings as he convinces a skeptical producer (Chip Zien), a reluctant actor and his long-suffering wife that his high-stakes risk can pay off big.  By the end of the evening I was half expecting the man to send his star on stage with an exhilarated, 'Think of musical comedy!'

James McAvoy joins Nigel Harman in Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain, which opens at the Apollo Theatre on February 10th 2009. Previews begin January 30th. The female lead is yet to be cast.

The Casting Society of America will honor producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron with career achievement awards at the 24th Annual Artios Awards. On November 10th they will be honored with a dinner hosted by Neil Patrick Harris at the Century Plaza Hotelin Century City, CA.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops open its 30th anniversary season with the sensational annual hit series known as Broadway Showstoppers! Once again, Peter Nero combines Broadway's most exceptional talent with the magic of The POPS by inviting three of New York's top talents to share the stage for these performances. Broadway star Anne Runolfsson (James Joyce's The Dead, Victor/Victoria), Julia Murney (Wicked, The Wild Party) and POPS veteran Gary Mauer (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables), perform Broadway's biggest hits together with 'the best orchestra of its kind in the entire cosmos' in one absolutely unforgettable performance!

Philadelphia Orchestra Association President and CEO James Undercofler announced today that Maestro Peter Nero, Artistic Director of Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®, has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will insure his presence on the podium through the 2013-14 season.

The Village Voice, the nation's first and largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced the judges for the 54th Annual Village Voice Obie Awards. The Voice's chief theater critic, Michael Feingold, will again chair the Obie Awards committee. Joining him will be Voice critic Alexis Soloski and six guest judges: Eric Grode, New York Sun; Andy Probst, AmericanTheaterWeb.com (also a frequent Voice contributor); Eisa Davis, actress-playwright, Obie Award winner for her performance last year in 'Passing Strange'; Ty Jones, actor-playwright, 2003 Obie Award winner for his performance in 'The Blacks' (Classical Theatre of Harlem); Moises Kaufman, playwright-director, 2004 Obie Award winner for his direction of 'I Am My Own Wife'; Chay Yew, playwright-director, 2007 Obie Award winner for his direction of 'Durango' (Public Theater). Mr. Propst will also serve as secretary to the committee.

The Village Voice, the nation's first and largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced the judges for the 54th Annual Village Voice Obie Awards.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the selection of the individuals who will receive the Kennedy Center Honors of 2008. Recipients to be honored at the 31st annual national celebration of the arts are: actor Morgan Freeman, singer George Jones, actress and singer Barbra Streisand, choreographer Twyla Tharp, and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.

Various news sources are reporting that actor Morgan Freeman is in critical condition after being involved in a serious car accident on Sunday near his hometown in Mississippi.

Clifford Odets's THE COUNTRY GIRL, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher, is now in the last three weeks of its limited engagement on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street).

Clifford Odets's THE COUNTRY GIRL, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher, is now in the last three weeks of its limited engagement on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street).

TSP Artists' Platform presents the world premiere of 'Dreams', Norman Beim's prize-winning comedy-drama.

All New Production of the Beloved Classic 'Fiddler on the Roof' is set for the Ogunquit Playhouse Stage, Starring Sally Struthers and Eddie Mekka.

TSP Artists' Platform presents the world premiere of 'Dreams', Norman Beim's prize-winning comedy-drama.

With the opening last night of the Manhattan Theatre Club's Top Girls, the 2007- 2008 Broadway Season officially comes to an end.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Roger T. Danforth and Gabriel Shanks, Executive Directors) proudly announces the roster of presenters scheduled to appear for the The 74th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 (noon) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street).

The revival of Clifford Odets's 'The Country Girl' opened on April 27th, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre directed by Mike Nichols and starring Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher.

The revival of Clifford Odets's 'The Country Girl' opened on April 27th, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre directed by Mike Nichols and starring Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher.

The revival of Clifford Odets's 'The Country Girl' opened on April 27th, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre directed by Mike Nichols and starring Morgan Freeman, Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Roger T. Danforth and Gabriel Shanks, Co-Managing Directors) proudly announces nominations for the 2007-08 Drama League Awards, to be awarded at The 74th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 (noon) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street).