Ruth Hendel News

THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS begin performances tomorrow night at the Nederlander Theatre with the first preview of Brighton Beach Memoirs. The production, directed by David Cromer (Our Town), will open October 25.

The Play Company, one of New York's leading Off-Broadway theatre companies dedicated to new plays with an international perspective, will kick off its 10th anniversary season with an evening to benefit the company that includes a performance of the new play by Keith Huff, A STEADY RAIN starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 W. 45 St.) on Thursday, October 15.

Experience IN THE HEIGHTS before it embarks on its first national tour! This winner of four 2008 Tony Awards® and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, is coming to Gainesville's Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, October 25, 2 p.m.

As previously reported, Kyle Beltran, Rogelio Douglas Jr., Natalie Toro and Shaun Taylor-Corbett are set to star in the upcoming National Tour of IN THE HEIGHTS, which will launch October 27 at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Complete casting has been announced today.

Tony winning director and choreographer Bill T. Jones welcomed the press on Wednesday, September 23 to Theater A at 37 Arts as he introduced his Fela! cast, including stars Sahr Ngaujah, Kevin Mambo, Tony winner Lillias White, and the always stunning Saycon Sengbloh.

Casting was announced today for the national touring troupe of IN THE HEIGHTS, which will launch October 27 at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The cast will feature Kyle Beltran, Rogelio Douglas Jr., Natalie Toro, Shaun Taylor-Corbett.

Casting was announced today for the national touring troupe of IN THE HEIGHTS, which will launch October 27 at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The cast will feature Kyle Beltran, Rogelio Douglas Jr., Natalie Toro, Shaun Taylor-Corbett.

As previously announced, Fela!, the new musical based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will arrive on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) where performances will commence on Monday, October 19 with an official opening set for Monday, November 23.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) proudly announces the two honorees for their 8th annual TRU Love Benefit, which will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2009 from noon to 4pm at Caroline's on Broadway, 1626 Broadway at 49th Street, NYC. Elysabeth Kleinhans of 59E59 Theatres will receive the TRU 'Spirit of Theater' Award for her ongoing generosity towards TRU as well as the off-Broadway producing community in general; and Allan Buchman of Culture Project will be acknowledged with the TRU Humanitarian Award for his dedication to bringing politically and socially conscious works to life in New York theater, and successfully using the arts for social change.

It is difficult to imagine a greater fan of the recent Tony Award-winning Passing Strange than Spike Lee. After seeing the show twice in the same weekend during its stint at The Public Theater, Lee's 'nightmare,' he tells Blackbook.com was that 'at some point it was going to close and that it was just all going to all go away.' Hence the inspiration for his new documentary, 'Passing Strange,' which documents the stage show he filmed in July just prior to the show's closing. After winning several awards at Sundance, 'Passing Strange' is now playing at the IFC in New York, on the IFC channel and will soon be broadcast on PBS. Lee sat down this week with original creators Stew and Heidi Rodewald and Blackbook.com to discuss of 'Strange.'

BroadwayWorld.com presents its newest column, Twitter Watch, which will bring you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!

Based on the struggles that many families face to afford college, and inspired by Nina's story in the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, In the Heights has partnered with CLEAR CHANNEL NY to create the 'Graduate To New Heights Scholarship.'

Based on the struggles that many families face to afford college, and inspired by Nina's story in the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, In the Heights has partnered with CLEAR CHANNEL NY to create the 'Graduate To New Heights Scholarship.'

The Nederlander Theatre box office opens today, August 31 at 10:00 AM for THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS, the first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND. The box office will be open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Nederlander Theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

The Nederlander Theatre box office opens Monday, August 31 at 10:00 AM for THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS, the first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND. The box office will be open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Nederlander Theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

IN THE HEIGHTS, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards® and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, is coming to The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta from November 3-8, 2009, as part of the 2009-2010 Broadway Across America - Atlanta season.

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, the producers of the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, are proud to welcome back original cast member Andréa Burns, who returns to the role of 'Daniela' beginning today, Aug. 25. Joining alongside Burns is Will Wingfield, who replaces Seth Stewart as 'Graffiti Pete'. Wingfield is making his Broadway debut with the show, which plays Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

The first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND, two of Simon's beloved semi-autobiographical 'Eugene Jerome' plays will be directed by David Cromer (Our Town) and will play the beautifully restored Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Rehearsals began in New York on Monday, August 24th and the cast and creative team took a moment to meet and greet the press. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there to mingle with the talented theatrical team!

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, the producers of the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights, announced today that Justina Machado will take over the role of ?Daniela? for 8 weeks only from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Broadway?s Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

The website for THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS, the Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND, is now live at www.TheNeilSimonPlays.com.