Second Stage News

Additional casting has been announced for LUCKY GUY on Broadway. The production stars two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks, making his Broadway debut, in a new play by three-time Academy Award-nominee Nora Ephron and directed by two-time Tony Award-winner George C. Wolfe.

Welcome to middle age... proceed with caution! Diane Cary, Jane Kaczmarek and Sharon Sharth star as three successful women who challenge themselves to find love and personal fulfillment in the middle years of life. Steven Robman directs the ensemble cast, which also includes Gregory Harrison, James Lancaster and Joel Polis, in the world premiere of The Snake Can by Kathryn Graf (Hermetically Sealed). Performances run January 19 through February 24, presented by Indie Chi Productions at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre (DMT) is excited to introduce GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, the first production in the 2013-2014 BARE BONES staged reading series. The eccentrically amusing and affecting play by Rajiv Joseph was inspired by a barroom conversation the playwright had with a friend who shared wild stories about all the injuries he had as a child.

THE MACCABEES announce North American Tour Dates for 2013. 'Given To the Wild' goes gold and receives various 'Album of the Year' nods for 2012.

From the author of Pride and Prejudice comes this heartwarming, humorous tale of two sisters struggling to move past a family disaster. Sensible, reserved Elinor and passionate, impulsive Marianne find the road to true love beset with dashing suitors and well-meaning relatives, devoted friends and devious rivals, and scandalous secrets and unexpected twists in a period-perfect adaptation that captures all of the deliciousness, flirtation and folly of Jane Austen's well-loved novel.

The Plowmen will present the World Premiere of Soldier, written and performed by Jonathan Draxton, and directed by Kevin O'Rourke (Mayor Edward Bader on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire"). Soldier runs from tonight, December 11 - 22, 2012 in a limited engagement at HERE, located at 145 6th Avenue (Enter on Dominick, 1 block south of Spring) in New York City. Previews begin tonight, December 11 for a December 13 opening.

The world premiere production of the Frank McGuinness adaptation of James Joyce's The Dead plays Dublin's Abbey Theatre, under the direction of former Abbey and current Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling. The Dead opens tonight, December 11 and will play through January 19, 2013.

The Drama League announced today that a new new initiative, the Resident Artist Program, will be added to The 2013 Drama League Directors Project series of program offerings. Now in its 30th year, The Drama League's career development program will feature seven (7) initiatives that include The New York Directing Program, The Hangar Summer Residency, New Directors/New Works, The Classical Fellowship for Directors of Color, The Musical Theatre Directing Fellowship, and The U.S./Bulgaria Stage Directors Exchange.

"Smash" returns to the NBC lineup for a second season on Tuesday, February 5 (9-10 p.m. ET) and will continue in its regular time slot on Tuesday, February 12 (10-11 p.m. ET). Below, check out the just-released behind-the-scenes first look at Season 2, featuring Jennifer Hudson as 'Veronica', Karen (Katharine McPhee)'s new love interest played by Newsies' Jeremy Jordan, tensions growing between songwriting collaborators Julia (Debra Messing) and Tom (Christian Borle)!

Professional Actress Dee Smith has confirmed that she is producing an AEA production of Stephen Adly Guirgis's play, THE LAST DAYS OFJUDAS ISCARIOT at The Victory Theatre in Burbank. Smith is best known for playing the role of Ellis in the Festival Film, ALL OUT, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Texas Black Film Festival. She also co-starred in the highly touted American Premiere of THE IMAGINARY LIFE OF THE STREET SWEEPER, AUGUST G last year at Casa 0101 Theatre in Los Angeles.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, December 9, 2012 - Sunday, December 9, 2012.

The Araca Group has announced a biannual series of new play readings will return for the fifth time for an abbreviated edition today, December 10th and the 13th.

As night comes quicker and cold sets in, getting into BC BEAT tonight, December 10th, 7pm sharp seems like the best thing going. Walking into Cielo's warmly lit interior with Declan Bennett spinning music as the evening's dancers and choreographers glide around the room conversing and playing on the dance floor, it's easy to order a hot toddy from the bar and say hello to old and new friends. BC BEAT has become a staple for the Broadway community. It's an access point to new work, new people, and an inspiring sense of possibility.

David Sisco (Founder/Curator) and Lorene Phillips (Contributing Editor) will celebrate the launch of THE DIRECTORY OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE WRITERS in a star-studded concert on Monday, January 21 at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43 Street).

The world premiere of The Second City's "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!," a hilarious take on Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale, is currently playing the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre through December 30, 2012. Click below to watch video interviews with the cast at the opening night party!

Huntington Theatre Company announces its 2012-2014 cohort of Huntington Playwriting Fellows: Lila Rose Kaplan, Walt McGough, and Lenelle Moise. This artistically diverse group of writers began their two-year residency in September. They follow in the footsteps of renowned past Huntington Fellows Lydia R. Diamond (Stick Fly), Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro (Before I Leave You), Kirsten Greenidge (The Luck of the Irish), Melinda Lopez (Sonia Flew), Ronan Noone (The Atheist, Brendan), and Ryan Landry (the upcoming "M") to name a few.

On Monday, December 10th at 2:30pm, with an audience of 300 in attendance, the winners of the 3rd annual Clive Barnes Awards will be announced. With Michael Reidel serving as host, the presenters this year include Frederic Franklin, CBE, Paloma Herrera, and Maya Johansen (Bernes).The Clive Barnes Foundation have previously announced the nominees for the 2012 Clive Barnes Awards, a distinguished annual honor recognizing the work of young actors and dancers in New York City. This years' nominees for theatre are Joaquina Kalukango for her performance in Signature Theatre Company's production of Katori Hall's Hurt Village, Derek Klena for his performance in Second Stage Theatre's production of Dogfight, directed by Joe Mantello, Rob McClure for his performance in Chaplin, now in performances at the Barrymore Theatre, and Stephen Tyrone Williams for his performance in Signature Theatre Company's production of Athol Fugard's My Children, My Africa. For dance, the nominees are Lauren Lovette (New York City Ballet), Steven Melendez (New York Theater Ballet), and Ashley Murphy (Dance Theater of Harlem).

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. Click below to go backstage with the stars, plus watch highlights from the show!

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the pair onstage in the photos below!