Natasha Katz News

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have just announced a nationwide open call audition tour for African American singers for the Broadway world premiere of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus has announced the complete cast for its February 2013 production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, to be directed by Tony Award-winning director John Tiffany. Multiple Tony and Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones returns to the A.R.T. to play Amanda Wingfield, and will be joined by Zachary Quinto as Tom, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Laura, and Brian J. Smith as the Gentleman Caller. The Tony Award-winning design team includes set and costumes by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, and sound by Clive Goodwin.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. A couple of weeks ago, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre, and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

The gala 44th Annual Jeff Equity Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area was held on Monday, October 15, at Drury Lane Oakbrook.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Cleveland as part of the KeyBank Broadway Series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at PlayhouseSquare for two weeks; November 6-18.

Prior to its West End opening Once will run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from 22 February - 9 March 2013.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) has just announced a two week extension of the American Premiere of Nick Payne's If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, directed by Michael Longhurst. The limited run, which was originally scheduled to run through November 25 only, will take a 12 day break before resuming performances on December 8 and play two additional weeks through December 23.

The stars of The Addams Family tour, Douglas Sills (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Tony nomination) and Sarah Gettelfinger (Nine) who play Gomez and Morticia, respectively, sat down to talk with The Column in Dallas to talk about the show. In this video, they discuss the total revamping of the show from Broadway to the tour, Douglas's hilarious knack for keeping the other cast-members on their toes with his ad-libs, Sarah's costume, and much more.

Sister Act is a musical production based on the hugely popular 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, who is also a producer on the show. Having had a massively successful run in the West End, regional audiences have been treated to this production for the past year or so now and Birmingham Hippodrome marks it's final venue on this outing.

The Tony Awards has just announced members of the 2012-13 Administration and Management Committees for next season's ceremony. The 2012-13 management committee will include: Mark Abrahams, Kristin Caskey, Ted Chapin, Sondra Gilman, James Higgins, Heather Hitchens, Paul Libin, William Ivey Long, Michael Price, Jane Safer, Charlotte St. Martin, Scott Sanders, Nick Scandalios, Thomas Viertel, Robert Wankel, and Barry Weissler.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. In the video below, check out highlights from the special event, including a sneak peek at some of the performances!

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Columbus as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Palace Theatre tonight, October 9-14.

Over 20 years in the making, singer songwriter Glen Hansard released his first ever solo album, Rhythm and Repose, on Anti- Records on June 19. Best known for his work with The Frames, The Swell Season and in the feature film Once, for which he won an Academy Award, Rhythm and Repose is Hansard's debut solo album and first album of new material since his 2009 release Strict Joy with The Swell Season. In the video below, he chats about his support of the Nature Conservancey and sings one of his own tunes. Click below to check it out!

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures in association with Unique Features and Jujamcyn Theaters announced today that Jordan Gelber (Avenue Q, All My Sons) will play Broadway's favorite elf, 'Buddy' in the hit holiday musical ELF. He will be joined by Leslie Kritzer (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair) as 'Jovie' and Mitchell Sink as 'Michael' in his Broadway debut.

Just in time for Halloween, the first national tour of the new musical The Addams Family, will make its Seattle premiere October 24-November 11, 2012 at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, this smash Broadway hit brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life.

The Actors Fund today that ONCE will perform a benefit performance tonight, September 30 at 7pm.

The new weekly web interview series "The Graham Show," hosted by Graham Douglass, premieres today, Friday, September 28. The inaugural episode features an interview with Tony Award-winning actor Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, "Smash"). Watch the episode below or at www.TheGrahamShow.com!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the festivities, where he chatted with the cast and creative team. Check out what they had to say and catch an exclusive interview with music legend Aretha Franklin Below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out full photo coverage below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out a preview below! Be sure to check back later for full coverage!