Paul Newman News

The Bickford Theatre opens its 14th Season with a starry line-up featuring the talented offspring of two show business greats as it announces complete casting for Maureen Hunter's Transit Of Venus, running Thursday, September 25, through Sunday, October 19.

Broadway talents Tituss Burgess ('The Little Mermaid'), Kerry Butler ('Xanadu'), Gavin Lee ('Mary Poppins'), Nedra McClyde, Julia Murney, Q. Smith and Aurelia Williams will join previously announced Laura Benanti ('Gypsy'), Raúl Esparza ('Company') and Steven Pasquale ('The Light in the Piazza') on Monday, September 15, at the annual gala for the venerable 78-year-old Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), Westport, Connecticut.

Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and other actors to be announced will read the classic play 'Golden Boy' written by Clifford Odets and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, August 25, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

Broadway and film actor Ned Eisenberg, Tony Award winner Dick Latessa, Emmy nominee Richard Masur and others will join previously announced Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei to read the classic play 'Golden Boy,' written by Clifford Odets and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, August 25, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

For the first time under the leadership of Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present the American classic A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.

The complete teenage cast and teenage band was announced today for 13, A New Musical, with music and lyrics by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, The Last Five Years).

Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and other actors to be announced will read the classic play 'Golden Boy' written by Clifford Odets and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, August 25, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

Westport Country Playhouse will stage a romantic thriller set in Edwardian London, 'Tryst' by Karoline Leach, August 5 - 23.

Arizona-based actress SUSAN CLAASSEN stars on London's West End as legendary Hollywood designer Edith Head in 'A CONVERSATION WITH EDITH HEAD'.

Laura Benanti, Raúl Esparza, Angela Lansbury, Steven Pasquale and Bernadette Peters have been added to the roster of stars on stage at Westport Country Playhouse's annual gala in Westport, CT (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on Monday, September 15.

Producer Robert Greenblatt announced today that 9 To 5: The Musical, based on the 20th Century Fox motion picture, will begin previews on Broadway Tuesday, March 24, 2009, and will open Thursday, April 23, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). 9 To 5: The Musical marks the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. The musical's book by Patricia Resnick is based on her original story and screenplay for the smash 1980 film comedy.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage a romantic thriller set in Edwardian London, 'Tryst' by Karoline Leach, August 5 - 23.

Arizona-based actress SUSAN CLAASSEN stars on London's West End as legendary Hollywood designer Edith Head in 'A CONVERSATION WITH EDITH HEAD'.

Westport Country Playhouse announces playwright-in-residence David Wiltse's 'tour de farce' office comedy, 'Scramble!, will be staged July 9 through 26.

Westport Country Playhouse announces playwright-in-residence David Wiltse's 'tour de farce' office comedy, 'Scramble!, will be staged July 9 through 26.

Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Arts Center will co-present two award-winning legends - playwright Edward Albee and film and theatre actor Kathleen Turner in 'Artists in Conversation,' a casual, intimate talk between two theatre professionals who also happen to be good friends, on Monday, June 23, 8 p.m., at the Playhouse.

Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Arts Center will co-present two award-winning legends - playwright Edward Albee and film and theatre actor Kathleen Turner in 'Artists in Conversation,' a casual, intimate talk between two theatre professionals who also happen to be good friends, on Monday, June 23, 8 p.m., at the Playhouse.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, Artistic Directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, Managing Director) announced that distinguished actor and director Paul Newman, who was slated to direct the fall production, 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck, will step down from making his directorial debut at the Playhouse due to health issues.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) will launch 'The Classical Series,' bringing together professional actors to read works by master playwrights. The series premiere will feature Emmy Award winner Jane Curtin, Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason, Obie Award winner Kristine Nielsen and stage, film and television actor Chris Sarandon.

Westport Country Playhouse announces its summer roster of shows, featuring Tony Award winner James Naughton directing a Cole Porter musical revue; 'Saturday Night Live's' Rachel Dratch appearing in David Wiltse's 'tour de farce' office comedy; and Playhouse favorite Mark Shanahan ('Sedition,' 'David Copperfield,' 'Journey's End') performing in a thriller.