Neil Simon News

Actress/singer Stephanie J. Block who recently starred on Broadway in The Boy From Oz, The Pirate Queen and 9 to 5: The Musical, as well as winning a Helen Hayes Award for playing Elphaba in the National Tour of Wicked, is about to open the new season on September 28 of Reprise Theatre Company co-starring with Jason Alexander in They're Playing Our Song. In our chat she talks about Song, Sondheim and other theatrical passions.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of the Tony award-winning musical, Sweet Charity, which transferred to the West End in April 2010, will complete its run on 06 November 2010. Matthew White's critically acclaimed production, which originally opened at the Chocolate Factory in November last year, has a cast led by Tamzin Outhwaite, Mark Umbers, Josefina Gabrielle, Tiffany Graves and Paul J Medford.

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS & BROADWAY BOUND by Neil Simon and directed by Scott Schwartz runs September 14 - November 7, 2010 in rep at the Old Globe Theatre. Production photos have been released and appear below!

As the 2011 Season is fast approaching, The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has announced that it will add yet another regional premiere to its list of theatrical credits. Opening the theater's 17th Anniversary Season will be the over-the-top musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the newly revised adaptation of the timeless classic, 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' helmed by award-winning director Gerald Freedman, September 28 through October 30, as part of its 80th Anniversary Season.

The Sunday, October 24th performance of Charlotte's Web at The Way Off Broadway Children's Theatre will have a very special guest.

DUETS, a new comedy by Peter Quilter, directed by David C. Farmer is now playing at The Actors Group through September 19.

PROMISES, PROMISES and MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will hold special performances to benefit the Actors Fund.

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS & BROADWAY BOUND by Neil Simon and directed by Scott Schwartz runs thru November 7 at the Old Globe Theatre.

The producers of PROMISES, PROMISES announced today that the smash hit, Tony Award-winning revival will play its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, January 2, 2011, having played 30 preview and 291 regular performances. The show's stars Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Goldwyn, Dick Latessa and Molly Shannon have all extended their contracts for an additional week to ring in the New Year. PROMISES, PROMISES is expected to recoup its investment in the coming weeks with complete details to be announced at that time. In addition the producers are excited to announce that discussions have begun for a possible tour of this new production of PROMISES, PROMISES, with more details to follow. PROMISES, PROMISES, directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford with Neil Simon's funny and touching book and Burt Bacharach and Hal David's hit-packed score, began previews at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) Saturday, March 27, 2010, and since it opened Sunday, April 25, 2010, has been one of Broadway's top grossing shows week after week.

As the 2011 Season is fast approaching, The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has announced that it will add yet another regional premiere to its list of theatrical credits. Opening the theater's 17th Anniversary Season will be the over-the-top musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone, opening January 21st.

A Contemporary Theatre announces its 2011 Mainstage season, featuring six plays that range from playful to powerful, romantic to dramatic, musical to murderous -including two World Premieres!

The Group Rep presents Neil Simon's BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Stan Mazin. BAREFOOT IN THE PARK opens Friday, September 24 at 8pm and runs through Sunday, October 31 at 2pm at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood.

Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.

The West End's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES has extended ticket sales through March 2011. The show opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on March 9, 2010.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents Noel Coward's timeless comedic gem Blithe Spirit, directed by Damaso Rodriguez, which opens Saturday, October 9 and closes Friday, December 17, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 2).

The Open Fist Theatre Company announces that the Critically-Acclaimed, World Premiere of A WOLF INSIDE THE FENCE, written by Joseph Fisher and directed by Benjamin Burdick, as part if its second FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, will be EXTENDING through Saturday, October 9th! Extension dates begin Friday, September 24th at the Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

This holiday season, Mannheim Steamroller will celebrate a quarter century of being America's favorite Christmas music artist with a 25th Anniversary Tour of their spectacular and beloved holiday show.

Above the Title Entertainment (Jed Bernstein) has named Britt Marden as its new Vice President of Marketing and Development. Ms. Marden brings over a decade of theatrical experience in to her new position, where she will be in charge of expanding Above the Title Entertainment's capabilities in the areas of marketing and sponsorships, as well as in event production. She will begin on September 15th.

RAIN - A Tribute to The Beatles On Broadway will play a limited 11-week engagement this fall at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Previews begin Tuesday, October 19 with the official opening scheduled for Tuesday, October 26 at 6:30 PM.