Stephen Brackett News

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include Bryan Cranston's caricature unveiling at Sardi's, Barrett Foa in 'Buyer and Cellar,' Katie Finneran at 54 Below, and more!

The Shakespeare Theatre Company will present a special engagement of Buyer & Cellar. Written by Jonathan Tolins, directed by Stephen Brackett and starring Michael Urie, Buyer & Cellar was heralded by The New York Times as "a seriously funny and remarkably sustained slice of absurdist whimsy." Washington, D.C. marks the second stop of the production's national tour, where it will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), from June 20-29, 2014.

'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and Broadway veteran Barrett Foa (Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, ...Spelling Bee) will begin performances as Alex More in the smash hit comedy Buyer & Cellar tonight, May 27, 2014 at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street). For the past five seasons, Barrett Foa has co-starred opposite LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell as tech geek Eric Beale on CBS' top-rated hit series 'NCIS: Los Angeles' which is currently the #2 show on television.

Jonathan Groff stopped by BUYER & CELLAR to visit star Christopher J Hanke on May 10. Hanke Tweeted: 'Me & my pal #JonathanGroff do some sensible reading backstage post @BuyerAndCellar' along with an adorable series of images. Check them out below!

Lesser America will present the World Premiere of Lucas Kavner's (Fish Eye with Colt Coeur/HERE Arts Center; Love Money at Ars Nova) Carnival Kids, June 5-28 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue).

Kristin Chenoweth and Anne L. Nathan stopped by Buyer and Cellar this weekend to see star Christopher J. Hanke in the smash hit show and the trio had a lot to tweet about afterwards:

The 2014 Lucille Lortel Award winning smash hit comedy Buyer & Cellar, about a (fictional) Los Angeles actor who takes a job working in the (very real) basement shopping arcade of Barbra Streisand's Malibu estate, officially opens at Chicago's Broadway Playhouse (175 East Chestnut Street) on Saturday, May 10 for a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, June 14. Buyer & Cellar is produced by Darren Bagert, Dan Shaheen, Ted Snowdon and Daryl Roth.

Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF as the featured production of its 26th annual Free Summer Theatre Program in New York City.

SHN has announced the addition of three special engagements coming to the SHN Orpheum and Curran Theatres: BUYER & CELLAR starring Michael Urie from TV's "Ugly Betty"; CHICAGO starring John O'Hurley from TV's "Dancing With the Stars"; and the brand new hit stage show I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE adapted from the most beloved program in television history.

Michael Urie will launch the first national tour of Buyer & Cellar at Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place beginning Tuesday, May 6, 2014, through Sunday, June 15, 2014, followed by an engagement at Washington D.C.'s Harman Center for the Arts from Friday, June 20, 2014 through Sunday, June 29, 2014. Buyer & Cellar, starring Michael Urie will then play Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum for six weeks from Wednesday, July 9, 2014 through Sunday, August 17, 2014. Urie kicked off his stay in the Windy City at Wrigley Field last night, where he threw the first pitch for the Chicago Cubs. Check out photos below!

Lesser America will present the World Premiere of Lucas Kavner's (Fish Eye with Colt Coeur/HERE Arts Center; Love Money at Ars Nova) Carnival Kids, June 5-28 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue). The production will be directed by Stephen Brackett (Buyer and Cellar at Barrow Street) with Assistant Director Drew Foster. The cast and creative team will be announced at a later date.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, kicks off its 45th season with the World Premiere of THE GREAT PRETENDER, a touching comedy about friendship, love, and learning to let go by Broadway playwright David West Read. The show runs July 9 through August 3, 2014.

Rita Wilson and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star Nia Vardalos headed into the cellar this week with star Christopher J. Hanke and playwright Jonathan Tolins at the smash hit comedy (and 2014 Lucille Lortel Award nominated solo play), Buyer & Cellar at the Barrow Street Theatre. Check out photos of the duo backstage with Hanks and Tolins beRita Wilson and 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' star Nia Vardalos headed into the cellar this week with star Christopher J. Hanke and playwright Jonathan Tolins at the smash hit comedy (and 2014 Lucille Lortel Award nominated solo play), Buyer & Cellar at the Barrow Street Theatre. Check out photos of the duo backstage with Hanke and Tolins below!low!

'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and Broadway veteran Barrett Foa (Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, ...Spelling Bee) will begin performances as Alex More in the smash hit comedy Buyer & Cellar on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street). For the past five seasons, Barrett Foa has co-starred opposite LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell as tech geek Eric Beale on CBS' top-rated hit series 'NCIS: Los Angeles' which is currently the #2 show on television.

Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America, Wit, 'House of Cards'), Teal Wicks (Jekyll and Hyde, Wicked), Stephen DeRosa (HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire'), Josh Grisetti (Enter Laughing) and Matthew Schechter (Act One) have joined the roster of performers set to appear in the one-night-only benefit concert of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street).

The Playwrights Realm just announced the expansion of programming to include two productions as part of the 2014-2015 season. The two productions were announced at the theatre company's seventh annual 'Writers Block Party' on Monday, April 7, 2014. Scroll down for photos from the event!

The Playwrights Realm has announced the expansion of programming to include two productions as part of the 2014-2015 season. The first production will be the world premiere of MY MAÑANA COMES by next season's Page One Playwright Elizabeth Irwin, running August 26 - September 20, 2014 at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater. The inaugural Alumni Production will be the world premiere of CITY OF by Alumni Page One Playwright Anton Dudley, running January - February TBD, 2015 at a venue TBA. In an effort to further support and advance the careers of its playwrights, the Alumni Production will allow The Realm to produce new work by its growing contingency of Alumni Playwrights. The two productions were announced at the theatre company's seventh annual 'Writers Block Party' on Monday, April 7, 2014.

Ars Nova hosts Ars Nova's Diamond Ball, not just another f*@%ing benefit tonight. The evening will honor Elizabeth Meriwether, Ars Nova's inaugural Playwright-in-Residence and creator of Fox's New Girl, Stephen Siderow, member of Ars Nova's Board of Directors and Co-founder and President of BlueMountain Capital, and Beau Willimon, founding member of Ars Nova's Play Group and creator of Netflix's House of Cards.

Broadway leading man Christopher J. Hanke (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) began performances as Alex More in the smash hit comedy Buyer & Cellar on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street). Get a first look at him the production below!

Ars Nova announces Ars Nova's Diamond Ball, not just another f*@%ing benefit. The evening will honor Elizabeth Meriwether, Ars Nova's inaugural Playwright-in-Residence and creator of Fox's New Girl, Stephen Siderow, member of Ars Nova's Board of Directors and Co-founder and President of BlueMountain Capital, and Beau Willimon, founding member of Ars Nova's Play Group and creator of Netflix's House of Cards.