Richard Benjamin News

Tony Award nominee Mark Linn-Baker, will join the company of the revival of The Music Man on Broadway as Mayor Shinn, beginning October 25. As previously announced, Tony Award Winner Jefferson Mays will depart the production on October 23, 2022.

 Museum of the Moving Image has announced See It Big: Sondheim, a ten-film series devoted to the celebrated composer, lyricist, author, artist, and all-around innovator Stephen Sondheim. When Sondheim died last November, he didn’t just leave behind an extraordinary corpus of work—he had exited a world that his art had forever changed.

SHADOWLAND STAGES today announced that the theatre will present a special online benefit reading of CHRISTMAS EVE 1953, a short story by Tom Hanks that has been adapted for the stage by SHADOWLAND STAGES' artistic associate, James Glossman.

Boston Landmarks Orchestra (LO) under the direction of Music Director Christopher Wilkins, and Co-Executive Directors Mary Deissler and Arthur Rishi, has announced the first events in a series of virtual programming this summer.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this month, Buck Henry passed away at the age of 89. Henry was an American actor, screenwriter, and director. He was twice nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Graduate (1967) and for Best Director for Heaven Can Wait (1978) alongside Warren Beatty.

White Plains Performing Arts Center proudly presents star of stage and screen, Lainie Kazan, on Saturday, November 9 at 8:00pm to help celebrate the Westchester theatre's 16th Anniversary.

Actor-singer-dancer-choreographer Adam Fleming became a part of Broadway history originating the roles of Sketch in Hairspray and Lucas in Bare. In 2005, he starred in David Brind and Adam Salky's acclaimed short film, Dare, about two teenage boys' tense, spark-filled encounter in a pool following high school play practice. Dare gained a cult following as part of Strand Releasing's 'Boys Life' series and ultimately achieved worldwide popularity via more than 12 Million views on Youtube. The fan fervor (and fan fiction!) eventually inspired a sequel, ten years later. The original and the sequel are now being presented together as The Dare Project and attracting new legions of fans.

The award-winning, autobiographical comedy MY LIFE ON A DIET, starring Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning writer and actress Renee Taylor ("The Nanny"), is now on tour. The current stop is at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210), where the show opened this weekend, and will perform a limited engagement through Sunday, April 14.

BroadwayWorld is sad to report that legendary playwright Neil Simon has died at 91. 

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 25 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21 and will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 25 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21 and will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE just announced the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray). Executive Director Ellen Richard comments, We are just thrilled to welcome Melanie Griffith to the Laguna Playhouse in one of the most iconic roles of all time Mrs. Robinson. Adds Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham. We have been trying to seduce Melanie to perform on our stage for quite some time. We are overjoyed that she has said yes and know our subscribers and audiences will be utterly mesmerized by her return to the stage under the inspired direction of Michael Matthews! THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21; will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm and perform through Sunday, March 18, 2018 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach.

NEW YORK WATER, a comedy written by Sam Bobrick and directed by Howard Teichman, is being produced by Bill Froggatt and Howard Teichman for West Coast Jewish Theatre at the Pico Playhouse in West LA through December 17, 2017. The title refers to the quality of New York tap water for drinking: It's usually delicious, if you can get past the fact that rusty pipes sometimes impart to it an odd hue. The same applies to modern romantic involvements which start out great then change as you really get to know one another better or decide to travel in different directions.

Tribeca Shortlist has released its list of November offerings and highlights, including an exclusive streaming of Operation Avalanche and Saturday Night Fever. TO STREAM, START YOUR FREE 7-DAY TRIAL AT TRIBECASHORTLIST.COM ($4.99/MONTH AFTER)

Laguna Playhouse announced today that Academy Award nominee Melanie Griffith will star as Mrs. Robinson in their upcoming production of THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham and directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews.

The Providence Speaking Society is proud to announce that TEDxProvidence 2017 will take place on September 30th at the VETS auditorium in downtown Providence. This year's themes are Past, Present, and Future and speaker nominations are now open. The public is invited to nominate speakers in these categories at tedxprovidence.com/nominate2017. Nominations will be open for at least 60 days, while the TEDx Team curates this year's lineup.

Actress/LA theatre inaugurator, Penny Fuller has embarked on a new leg of her career as a cabaret artiste. Ms. Fuller will be bringing her solo musical play 13 THINGS ABOUT ED CARPOLOTTI to the Broad Stage beginning January 11. I had the most delightful opportunity to chat with the vibrant, vivacious Ms. Fuller. She possesses a memory of an elephant, effortlessly listing off names of cast compatriots and retelling intriguing incidents of her theatre highlights.

Only one more night tonight Monday February 15 to catch celebrated stars of stage, screen and television Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss in Dearest Friend, a reading of the actual love letters of second U.S. President John Adams and his First Lady, Abigail Adams. These powerful and moving letters, written as our nation was being formed, by one of America's founders and his wife are extraordinary, moving and deeply insightful into their love for each other and for our great country.

Celebrated stars of stage, screen and television Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss star in Dearest Friend, as the famed couple perform a reading of the actual love letters of second U.S. President John Adams and his First Lady, Abigail Adams. These powerful and moving letters, written as our nation was being formed, by one of America's founders and his wife are extraordinary, moving and deeply insightful into their love for each other and for our great country.

Luna Stage begins 2015 with a revival of A Perfect Ganesh, Terrence McNally's beautiful story of love and redemption. A Perfect Ganesh opens to previews on Thursday January 29, 2015 and runs Thursdays through Sundays through February 22nd. Opening night is Saturday January 31, 2015. Select performances are followed by Talkbacks with the creative team. Tickets range from $25-$35. Group sales available. $10 Student Rush tickets available one half-hour before curtain. Individual tickets can be purchased at lunastage.org, or at the box office Tues.-Fri. 10am-3pm (973-395-5551).