Stephen Sondheim News

Due to popular demand Virginia's Signature Theatre announces that the world premiere musical Beaches is now extended through March 30, 2014. Adapted from the beloved 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart, Beaches is directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). This heartfelt chronicle of a decades-long friendship between two unforgettable women stars Mara Davi (Broadway's A Chorus Line and The Drowsy Chaperone) as Bertie and Alysha Umphress (Broadway's American Idiot and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cee Cee Bloom.

Speaking with The New York Times, Landless' producing artist director, Andrew Baughman, confirmed that Sondheim had given the company the go-ahead to stage a 'Prog Metal' edition of the famous musical at the Undercroft Theater this summer.

Today we are setting our sights on one of the most iconic Broadway leading ladies alive and looking back at her astonishingly rich and varied career onstage and onscreen, having worked with many of the most important entertainment figures of the 20th and 21st century over her 60-year career and winning multiple awards and honors in the process - the one and only Elaine Stritch. Touching upon her time in many notable theatrical entities ranging from her early work at The New School under director Erwin Piscator to rubbing elbows with legends like Bertolt Brecht, William Inge, Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando to her unforgettable turns in Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY and FOLLIES IN CONCERT, Stritch also shines a light on her indelible performances in the plays of Edward Albee and looks ahead to a staged reading of THREE TALL WOMEN she is pursuing later this year. Most importantly, Stritch opens up about the multi-year process in creating the stunning and awe-inspiring new all-access documentary ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME, directed by Chiemi Karasawa, and outlines how she dealt with cameras documenting her every move for more than two years. Additionally, Stritch comments on her memorable moments in the films of Woody Allen byway of SEPTEMBER and SMALL TIME CROOKS, as well as shares insights into some of her most famous and fabulous co-stars - Ben Gazzara, Alec Baldwin, James Gandolfini, Steve Buscemi and many more included. Plus, Stritch details her recent move back to her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and shares details about her recent recuperation from hip surgery and ongoing battles with alcoholism as well as learning to see with only eye. As if all of that were not enough, Stritch also imparts her thoughts on why she appeals to the younger generation and how her Emmy-winning 30 ROCK role has raised awareness for her in the last decade and whether she would ever consider pursuing a reality series or new solo cabaret act. All of that, why she hates the word diva and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with the veritable reigning queen of Broadway herself.

St. James Studio has announced its March 2014 events and performances. Details below!

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 2/14/2014.

Today in 1980, the first Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY opened at the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for 333 performances. West Side Story is an American musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes 'Something's Coming', 'Maria', 'America', 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'Jet Song', 'I Feel Pretty', 'A Boy Like That', 'One Hand, One Heart', 'Gee, Officer Krupke' and 'Cool'.

According to the Daily Mail, Kevin Whately and Lara Pulver are in talks to join the cast of GYPSY, led by Imelda Staunton as Rose at the Chichester Festival Theatre this October. Whately would play Herbie, Rose's love interest and manager, and Pulver would star as Louise Hovick, a.k.a. Gypsy Rose Lee. The production will be directed by Jonathan Kent.

Eric Michael Gillett will bring BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME to the Laurie Beechman Theater on Valentine's Day, tonight, February 14 at 7 PM.

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Desert Foothills Theater (DFT), a division of the Foothills Community Foundation, presents 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' running tonight, Feb. 14 through Sun., March 2 in the Black Box Theatre of Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606 N. 60th Street, in North Scottsdale.

THEATER 2020, Brooklyn Heights' NY Innovative Theater award nominated professional theater company is pleased to announce its Winter 2014 run of the 40th Anniversary of the Hal Prince production of Leonard Bernstein's 'CANDIDE' running 12 performances, tonight, February 14th through Sunday, March 9th, 2014.

Tony Award nominee and recording artist MELISSA ERRICO, who recently starred in the hit revival of Stephen Sondheim's Passion and will soon be seen in the upcoming Cinemax series, "The Knick," will join TOVAH FELDSHUH (who will host), the singing string quartet WELL-STRUNG (Edmund Bagnell, Christopher Marchant, Daniel Shevlin and Trevor Wadleigh), and acrobats from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, including Ringmaster JOHNATHAN LEE IVERSON, to perform at Theatre Development Fund's (TDF) 2014 Gala on Monday, March 3 which celebrates the 35th season of TDF's Accessibility Programs (TAP). TAP are TDF's services for people with physical disabilities, as well as individuals on the autism spectrum. Ms. Errico will be accompanied on piano by TEDD FIRTH. She replaces Victoria Clark who had previously been announced. The program will be directed by DONNA DRAKE.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST) presents Gypsy at CST's Courtyard Theater, running now through March 23), directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin and starring Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre as Rose. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, and opened on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m., running through Sunday, March 30. Check out a look back at opening night below!

Ghostlight Records has announced the release of the Original Cast Recording of the new Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical. The album, produced by Jason Howland and Steve Sidwell, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, will be recorded on Monday, February 17th and will be available for purchase digitally and in stores this spring. Like the musical, the cast record of Beautiful will feature a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow,' 'One Fine Day,' (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman,' 'On Broadway,' 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling,' and many more.

Stage and screen legend Elaine Stritch moved back to Michigan a year ago - but on Monday, Feb. 17 she returns to New York for a rare public talk at 92nd Street Y. Stritch will discuss her extraordinary life and career with director Chiemi Karasawa, whose new filmElaine Stritch: Shoot Me, features the uncompromising Tony and Emmy Award-winner. The event includes clips from the new film, which features Stritch on and off stage via archival footage and intimate cinema verite, candid reflections that are punctuated with photographs from Stritch's personal collection, and words from friends, including Alec Baldwin, Hal Prince, George C. Wolfe, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones, Tina Fey, James Gandolfini and John Turturro.

Curtain Call Productions is blurring the lines between comedy and tragedy in its poignant and darkly comedy Assassins at their new home in Flagler Place in Historic Downtown Stuart. Assassins, a tony-award winning musical that explores the personalities and the motives behind some of America's most infamous characters, will be Curtain Call's biggest undertaking of the season with an ensemble cast of 16.

City Theatre has announced The Skivvies, a City Events special presentation featuring the musical duo's signature undie rock and comedy pop. The Skivvies will perform in City Theatre's Hamburg Studio for four shows, one weekend only, tonight, February 13-15, 2014.