Richard Winkler News

A Christmas Story, The Musical!, prepares to launch a five-city national tour for the 2011 holiday season, the show's producers, including Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in the original 1983 film, have announced that they will begin their search for young actors at an open audition for children between the ages of 8-13 at the Chicago Theatre Downstairs (enter just south of the main venue), 175 N. State Street, Chicago, Monday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Denver's favorite fast-talking Tupperware lady returns to the Garner Galleria Theatre for four weeks only beginning July 27. Single tickets for DIXIE'S TUPPERWARE PARTY are now on sale at www.denvercenter.org.

This holiday season, America's #1 Christmas movie comes to life on stage as a hilarious holiday musical. A Christmas Story, The Musical! features a bright holiday score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Broadway's Finian's Rainbow, Follies at The Kennedy Center, An Evening With Hugh Jackman) will helm the production. Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in the original 1983 film, serves as a producer for the holiday tour.

The Forestburgh Theatre Arts Center at the Forestburgh Playhouse announced today that it will open its Main Stage 2011 season with the original musical IDAHO!, winner of the Best of Fest Audience Prize at the New York Musical Theater Festival in 2008. Starring Austin Miller ('Grease: You're The One That I Want'), Jessica Hershberg (Little House on the Prairie), and Paul Vogt (Broadway's Hairspray, 'MadTV'), the original musical, with a book and lyrics by Buddy Sheffield and music by Sheffield and Keith Thompson will run at the Forestburgh Playhouse from June 1st through 12th. IDAHO! will be directed by Matt Lenz (Associate Director of Broadway's Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can).

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Roy Reams at the magnificent Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU once again honored excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Susan Stroman took top honors for Best Choreographer on Broadway in a field of nine nominees for her stunning work in 'The Scottsboro Boys'. It was a record breaking 5th Astaire Award for the 5 time Tony Award and 5 time Drama Desk winner. Two time Tony Award Winner Bebe Neuwirth presented the award to Ms. Stroman. Sutton Foster star of 'Anything Goes' took home her second Astaire for Best Female Dancer on Broadway for her rousing performance as 'Reno Sweeney'. Her first Astaire was for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Desmond Richardson, Tony nominee for 'Fosse' and co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet presented the award to Ms. Sutton. First timer Norbert Leo Butz star of 'Catch Me if You Can' took the prize for Best Male Dancer on Broadway presented by Tony and Drama Desk winner Karen Ziemba . Australia's Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon won the Astaire for Excellence in Choreography in Film for their breathtaking dances in 'Mao's Last Dancer' presented by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin. Legendary dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of the National Dance Institute Jacques d'Amboise received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late drama critic and co-founder of the Award with Fred Astaire. Following a major tribute in dance including a brilliant performance by NYCB's Russell Janzen of a piece from the ballet 'Who Cares' created by George Balanchine and first danced by d'Amboise; an exuberant performance of 'Shall We Dance' by d'Amboise's students at the National Dance Institute and praiseful introductions by Len Cariou, Charlotte & Christopher d'Amboise, Brian Stokes Mitchell presented the award to Mr. d'Amboise.

Don't miss your last chance to see "Dixie's Tupperware Party," the hilarious show starring Dixie Longate which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination.

'Dixie's Tupperware Party,' the hilarious show starring Dixie Longate which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination rolls into the Royal George Theatre Cabaret (1641 North Halsted, Chicago) for a limited eight-week engagement beginning March 18th through May 15th, 2011. Written by Kris Andersson, the production is playing in Chicago as part of a 20-city national tour.

"Dixie's Tupperware Party," the hilarious show starring Dixie Longate which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination rolls into the Royal George Theatre Cabaret (1641 North Halsted, Chicago) for a limited eight-week engagement opening tonight and playing through May 15, 2011.

'Dixie's Tupperware Party,' the hilarious show starring Dixie Longate which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination rolls into the Royal George Theatre Cabaret (1641 North Halsted, Chicago) for a limited eight-week engagement, ending May 15th, 2011.

Called 'The biggest hit on Broadway' by WOR Radio the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today dates and cities for the U.S. national tour of the critically acclaimed production.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, played its final Broadway performance on Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). At closing, the production had played 433 performances and 15 previews. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will be launching a national tour this fall, starting in October in Des Moines, IA and starring George Hamilton.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). At closing, the production will have played 433 performances and 15 previews. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will be launching a national tour this fall, starting in October in Des Moines, IA.

"Dixie's Tupperware Party," the hilarious show starring Dixie Longate which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination has been extended by popular demand through June 12th, 2011 at the Royal George Theatre Cabaret (1641 North Halsted, Chicago).

Taped before a live audience at the Helen Hayes Theater in New York City in February, COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT showcases the comedian's keen observations in an uproarious history of the world, juxtaposing modern-day human behavior with the rise and fall of empires. From his personification of Caesar as the original Italian mobster to his complaints about ancient Greece and Antigone giving way to Costco and Snooki, Quinn is at his satirical best, taking on the attitudes, appetites and bad habits that have toppled the world's most powerful nations.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, is now in its last four weeks on Broadway. Final performance will be Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). At closing, the production will have played 433 performances and 15 previews. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will be launching a national tour this fall, starting in October in Des Moines, IA.

Tony Award-nominee Veanne Cox (Company, Caroline, or Change, A Free Man of Color) returns to the Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES as Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud tonight, Tuesday April 5. Also at tonight's performance, Heather Lindell (Hairspray) assumes the role of Anne and Ashley Kate Adams joins the cast as Colette. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES recently re-opened to rave reviews for its new stars four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Albin) and two-time Tony Award-nominee Christopher Sieber (Georges) and is playing at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).