Nathan Lane News

According to the New York Times, Broadway favorite Nathan Lane will be heading back to Broadway in Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance, a new play about a performer who played the role of the nance in burlesque shows in the early 20th century. Lincoln Center Theater is looking to bring the show to Broadway in spring 2013, with Jack O'Brien attached to direct.

Manhattan Theatre Club has created a special short film in celebration of Lynne Meadow's 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization. The film premiered on Monday, June 18 during a special tribute event honoring Meadow at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - now view the video below!

The Hollywood Bowl officially launched its 91st season with the 13TH Annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and Opening Night Concert, last night, Friday, June 22, at 8 pm, which for the first time honored all women artists.

Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson released 'Drive,' the 1st single from his upcoming July EP, last month, and according to his official website, the second single is coming soon. 'Before You' will be released on July 10, and will be available for download on iTunes and Amazon.

Broadway stars Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie & Clyde, West Side Story) and Morgan James (Godspell, The Addams Family, Wonderland) will offer musical theatre master classes this July at The Davenport Studios in Midtown Manhattan.

Geoffrey Rush will lead John Frost's production of Sondheim's A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM when it opens in Melbourne Saturday, October 27 at Her Majesty's Theatre. The show will be directed by Simon Phillips and will feature a cast of Australian comedy actors, according to funnything.com.au.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced that their production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open at the London Palladium in June 2013 after a preview period. The new stage musical will be directed by Sam Mendes, with a book by David Greig and new songs from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

This holiday season, Nickelodeon will present it's first full-length stop-motion animated special, IT'S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS! inspired by the classic Rankin/Bass (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town) specials, and the popular SpongeBob song released in 2009, 'Don't Be a Jerk, It's Christmas,' written by Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob) and Andy Paley.

6th Street Playhouse presents 'The Producers' with book and music by Mel Brooks, lyrics and libretto by Thomas Meehan and Mel Brooks.

Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson recently released 'DRIVE,' the 1st single from his upcoming July EP, available for download on iTunes and Amazon. Check out an acoustic performance of the song below!

According to Indie Wire, Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson is currently in talks to star in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming 'Behind The Candelabra' film about the life of Liberace. Jackson would join previously announced Academy Award(R) winners Michael Douglas ('Wall Street,' 'Traffic,' 'Solitary Man') and Matt Damon ('Contagion,' 'Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,' 'Invictus'). Also in negotiationas are Rob Lowe and Boyd Holbrook.

Producer Scott Rudin, who holds the rights to produce the show on Broadway, has decided not to stage the Goodman Theatre production on the Great White Way.

Bay Street Theatre is busy planning for the annual ROCK THE DOCK! SUMMER BENEFIT BASH on Saturday, July 21 with the water view location on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Tickets are available online at www.baystreet.org or by calling Jessica Lemire at 631-725-0818 ext. 129.

It pleases me no end to learn how a show improves during the course of its Broadway to tour transfer. Such is the case with the musical The Addams Family, whose Broadway run was clouded with negative reviews and less than powerful performances from its two talented stars Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. When the stars are unhappy with the material, it doesn't play well. Now with Douglas Sills and Sara Gettelfinger as Gomez and Morticia Addams heading a marvelously happy cast, The Addams Family rocks joyfully from beginning to end.

Actor/singer Douglas Sills began his Broadway career in the 90s essaying the role of infamous Sir Percy in Frank Wildhorn's musical of The Scarlet Pimpernel for which he won critical acclaim and a Tony Award nomination. Since then, he has been in, among many others, the revival of Little Shop of Horrors, Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, all on Broadway, as well as the rarely seen concert of the 1930s Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein Music in the Air with Kristin Chenoweth and a slew of musical roles in LA including Mack Sennett in Reprise's Mack and Mabel and Ravenal in the Hollywood Bowl's production of Showboat. He has just started the tour of The Addams Family starring as Gomez and will open at the Pantages Theatre on June 5. In our chat, he talks at length about playing Gomez, the changes since New York in the road version of Addams Family and chooses some of his favorite all-time roles.

Producers Debbie Bisno, Fox Theatricals and Paula Wagner announced today the Broadway Premiere of GRACE, the acclaimed American play by Award-winning writer Craig Wright (Mistakes Were Made, Recent Tragic Events, Lady; "Six Feet Under"). Grace will premiere in a strictly limited engagement beginning on Friday, September 14, 2012 at a Shubert Theater to be announced. Dexter Bullard (Tracy Letts' BUG) will direct the production, which will feature an all-star cast that includes Paul Rudd and Academy Award® nominee Michael Shannon, with Kate Arrington and seven-time Emmy Award®-winner Edward Asner, who returns to Broadway for the first time in nearly 25 years. Opening Night is set for Thursday, October 4, 2012.

Earlier this month, the 2012 Tony Awards Nominations were announced by Tony winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Parsons. The Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from the Beacon Theatre, on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 10, 2012. BroadwayWorld was there for this year's official Tony Brunch, and got a chance to chat with this year's nominees! Today we bring you Lifetime Achievement honoree Emanuel 'Manny' Azenberg.