Sam Mendes News

The New York Times reports that Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will star for the first time on Broadway as 'Sally Bowles' in Roundabout Theater Company's upcoming production of Cabaret. She will take the stage alongside Alan Cumming as the M.C. at Studio 54 in 2014, co-directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall. Roundabout is expected to make an official announcement soon.

Sofia's Downstairs Theatre and it's sister restaurant on West 46th Street--the site where the Luca Brasi murder scene was filmed for The Godfather--may now sleep with the fishes, but Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, who for the past five years and more than 500 shows have been playing at the venue and keeping alive the big band music of the jazz and swing eras of the 1920s, will be swimming upstream to a new home at the Iguana Restaurant on 54th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue). Giordano was forced to move when earlier this summer The Hotel Edison decided not to renew Sofia Restaurant's lease (after jacking up the rent exponentially). The Nighthawks, who played at Sofia's downstairs club every Monday and Tuesday nights from 8 to 11pm, will have the same weekly performance schedule at Iguana beginning on September 9. The cover will be $15 with a $20 food/drink minimum.

West Side Story, one of the greatest love stories of all time, opens on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage September 4 through September 28. This all new production of the timeless classic, helmed by Broadway veteran director BT McNicholl, mesmerizes audiences of all ages from the first note to the final breath. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features beloved American musical theatre classics including "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." With a set designed exclusively for the Ogunquit Playhouse by Michael Schweikardt, an extraordinary cast and an iconic score soaring throughout, theatre goers will fall in love with West Side Story all over again.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the original 'Peter Parker' in Broadway's SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK has landed a series regular role in the John Logan-Sam Mendes drama PENNY DREAFUL. Carney will Exit SPIDER-MAN on Sept. 15 in order to begin filming later this fall.

Image Entertainment, an RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand, has officially announced the release of BLOOD on DVD, Blu-rayTM and Digital Download on Sept. 10, 2013.

Renowned film and television star Timothy Dalton (“James Bond” in The Living Daylights and License to Kill) has been cast in the new SHOWTIME drama series PENNY DREADFUL

The Gala Tribute to Cate Blanchett will take place on Wednesday, October 2, and the Gala Tribute to Ralph Fiennes will take place on Wednesday, October 9

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present two free staged readings of 'notes to MariAnne', a new musical by David Rossmer and Dan Lipton, directed by Leigh Silverman. The readings will take place on Thursday, September 12th at 1:00pm and 4:30pm, at The Steve and Marie Sgouros Theatre (formerly The Players Loft), 115 MacDougal Street. Tickets are free and reservations are available via email at boxoffice@amasmusical.org or by calling212-563-2565.

Sam Mendes' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opened on June 26th in London's West End, is now playing through May 31, 2014 in the UK, and according to the Washington Post, the show will have a life overseas soon after.

'The Hollow Crown' is a lavish new series of filmed adaptations of four of Shakespeare's most gripping history plays; RICHARD II, HENRY IV, PARTS I and II and HENRY V on THIRTEEN's GREAT PERFORMANCES beginning Friday, September 20 at 9 p.m.

Today we are talking to the daughter of one of the most iconic performers in entertainment history, Judy Garland, who has made a name for herself in show business over the course of an impressive fifty-year career comprising starring roles...

Click below for a first listen to Broadway legend Liza Minnelli singing 'You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Mama At All)' on the new soundtrack for BOARDWALK EMPIRE: VOLUME 2! The BOARDWALK EMPRIE: VOLUME 2 soundtrack is out September 3 and the series returns on September 8.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Jenni Barber, who most recently starred in THE NANCE on Broadway will take on 'Grace Farrell' in ANNIE beginning August 20. Brynn O'Malley, who currently plays the role, will temporarily depart to star in HONEYMOON IN VEGAS at Paper Mill Playouse. She will return to the production on November 5.

Go behind the scenes of the West End's biggest new stage spectacular, CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, based on the classic Roald Dahl's children's book, in a new series of backstage shots depicting the convivial company of the new musical.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series welcomed Broadway's Clarke Thorell in Songs I Wish I'd Written for one night only, Monday, August 5 at 7pm. The concert featured songs by Harry Nilsson, Paul McCartney, Adam Guettel, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Elvis Costello, Chris Thile, and Sting. Joining Clarke were Musical Director/pianist Dan Lipton, along with singers Brian d'Arcy James, Cortes Alexander, Haven Burton and Jim Caruso. The band also included Simon Kafka on guitar & other strings, Mark Vanderpoel on bass and Shannon Ford on drums. Scroll down for photos!

Living legend Liza Minnelli and Broadway regular Stephen DeRosa appear on the new soundtrack for BOARDWALK EMPIRE: VOLUME 2, out later this month, according to the new track-listing just revealed for the HBO hit as it enters its fourth season.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series is proud to present the club's debut of Clarke Thorell in Songs I Wish I'd Written for one night only, Monday, August 5 at 7pm. Broadway's Brian D'Arcy James will duet with Thorell.

The electrifying Susan Egan will perform her internationally acclaimed concert: The Belle Of Broadway at Le Centre Pierre-Peladeau in Montreal on Sat., Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.

The Daily Mail reports that Kate Fleetwood and Anna Maxwell Martin will play KING LEAR's daughters Goneril and Regan, respectively, in the National Theatre's upcoming production of the Shakespearen tragedy. Olivia Vinall, who is currently appearing in the National's OTHELLO, will portray Cordelia.

Thorell recently chatted with BroadwayWorld about the upcoming concert and you can check out what he had to say below!