Sam Mendes News

The F.U.D.G.E. (FRIENDS UNITED DEVELOPING GENUINE ENTERTAINMENT) Theatre Company will present their 12th Anniversary Season's production of Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics) and John Weidman's (Book) award-drenched, internationally acclaimed musical, "ASSASSINS," 'which will open on Friday, July 12 at The Arsenal Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre (321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA) where it will play through Saturday, July 20.

Sam Mendes' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which opened Tuesday, June 26th on London's West End, just added six months to its run and is now set to continue until May 31, 2014. The official trailer was just released and you can watch it below!

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced on June 28 the nine musicals selected to be part of the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: BROADWAY BARES is back, TKTS celebrates 40 years, Willy Wonka gets a West End debut, and so much more!

Tony award-winning singer, actress and American icon, Bernadette Peters performs with the Pasadena POPS for one night only tonight, June 29 at 7:30 pm at the Los Angeles Arboretum. The star of stage, film and television will sing from her extensive songbook including 'Let Me Entertain You' (Gypsy), 'No One Is Alone' (Into the Woods), 'Some Enchanted Evening' (South Pacific), 'Send in the Clowns' (A Little Night Music), 'Being Alive' (Company) plus signature songs from her illustrious career.

Producers Letty Aronson and Julian Schlossberg have announced initial casting, preview and opening dates for the world premiere production of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, the new Broadway musical adaptation of Woody Allen's and Douglas McGrath's screenplay of the 1994 film.

The UK's The Guardian reports that Sam Mendes' CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which opened Tuesday, June 26th on London's West End, will add six months to its run

Douglas Hodge stars as Willy Wonka in the brand-new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics byScott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). The show opened last night, June 25 and you can check out highlights of the cast in action below!

Douglas Hodge stars as Willy Wonka in the brand-new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). The shows opened last night, June 25 and you can check out photos from the opening night curtain call and after party below!

Douglas Hodge stars as Willy Wonka in the brand-new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). The show opens tonight, June 25. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Douglas Hodge stars as Willy Wonka in the brand-new production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London. Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, the story is brought to life with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (Grammy winners for Hairspray; Smash), with a book by award-winning playwright and adaptor David Greig (The Bacchae; Tintin In Tibet). The shows opens tonight, June 25 and you can check out photos from the opening night red carpet below!

When it comes to sky-high expectations, this production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has it harder than most, the challenge being how to satisfy an audience likely to have read and loved Roald Dahl's book and seen the story already realised - twice.

Peep behind the scenes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where the cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are getting ready for another show before this week's opening night!

According to The Gazette, Susan Egan has cancelled her concert set for tomorrow, June 22, 2013, at the Centre Pierre-Peladeau in Montreal, as well as her master class on Saturday morning.

Actor and singer-songwriter Matthew James Thomas, currently starring in the title role in the Tony Award winning hit Broadway show Pippin, has released his debut EP No Sound At All, which is available today on iTunes, Amazon and wherever music is sold digitally online. The EP is produced by Grammy & Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik ('Barely Breathing', Spring Awakening) and features complete original music by Thomas.

Today, Michael Riedel reports that in addition to upcoming productions of MISS SAIGON, BARNUM and a Broadway return of LES MIS that 'As if three shows weren't enough, Mackintosh is also planning a Broadway revival of 'Oliver!' Lionel Bart's chirpy old musical hasn't been seen in New York since a short-lived 1983 production starring Patti LuPone. It's said to be Mackintosh's favorite musical, and it's how he got his start in the theater. 'Oliver!' played the New Theatre in London in 1960, and a teenage Mackintosh got a job polishing the brass railing in the theater lobby.'

Critically-acclaimed, award-winning Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible, The Orphanage) will helm the first two episodes in the eight episode series order of the upcoming Showtime drama PENNY DREADFUL - created, written and executive produced by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan (Hugo, The Aviator, Gladiator) and executive produced by Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty,Skyfall) and Neal Street's Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road, Call The Midwife).