Terrence McNally News

Bucks County Playhouse Producers Robyn Goodman and Alexander Fraser announce the launch of a musical theatre development program focusing on the importance of lyrics in the creation of new musicals: The Oscar Hammerstein Festival - named in honor of the master writer whose countless accomplishments during his illustrious career include having mentored a young Stephen Sondheim at Hammerstein's Bucks County farm -- is a year-long program that offers expert mentorship to early career composers and lyricists. The Oscar Hammerstein Festival will culminate in a weekend with musical theatre experts, artists, and enthusiasts and various events open to the general public. The Festival will launch this weekend, September 26 - 28, 2014.

Be sure to set your DVRs for NBC's TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON tonight, September 26th when the stars of Broadway's It's Only a Play Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane stop by to talk about their hilarious new ensemble comedy. Robert Plant will be the musical guest on the show.

108 Productions has announced the kickoff to the national I AM Love Campaign Tour this weekend, September 25-28, 2014, in partnership with Webster University Moore's Auditorium and co-produced by Keith Thompson.

Dramatists Guild Fund Executive Director Rachel Routh and Board President Gretchen Cryer today announced the star-studded line up for their annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, set for Monday, October 27 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The cocktail reception will begin at 6:30pm, followed by the dinner and celebration at 7:30pm. The Gala is the most critical fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund, the public charity arm of the Dramatists Guild of America. This very special evening pays tribute to legendary writers and recognizes their significant contributions to American theater.

Be sure to set your DVRs for NBC's TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON this Friday, September 26th when the stars of Broadway's It's Only a Play Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane stop by to talk about their hilarious new ensemble comedy.

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz (Fela!, Mothers and Sons), presents the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall, Adrift in Macao). While I Yet Live plays a limited, six-week engagement, tonight, September 24, through October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 5PM.

Today, Micah Stock speaks exclusively with BWW about making his Broadway debut as a character who sees the world through rose-colored glasses.

Primary Stages has announced that the world premiere of While I Yet Live will begin performances on Wednesday, September 24 at 7PM. Producers have decided to delay the start of previews due to technical issues.

Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London's West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in Noel Coward's smash-hit comedic play 'Blithe Spirit' in an exciting North American tour to be launched at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre.

Neil Stuke joins the previously announced Dervla Kirwan at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester where they will play two cautious lovers whose tender and funny fledging romance unfolds over one memorable night in a New York apartment. FRANKIE & JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE by Terrence McNally will be directed by Paulette Randall and runs 6 November - 6 December 2014.

Bucks County Playhouse under the direction of Alexander Fraser and Robyn Goodman is delighted to announce the launch of the upcoming Bridge Street Concert Series: Jazz Fest 2014.

Philadelphia Theatre Company opens its 40th Anniversary season with the Pulitzer Prize finalist Detroit by Lisa D'Amour running October 10-November 9 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Maria Mileaf, the cast features K.O. DelMarcelle, Tom McCarthy, Genevieve Perrier, Steven Rishard, and Matteo J. Scammell.

Terrence McNally has both a hit play on Broadway and a new film documentary about a traveling group of actors performing CORPUS CHRISTIE: PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION soon to be released on DVD and via streaming. We ask the playwright some questions about what prompted him to write a play about religion with an LGBT subtext..

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Barbra and Betty release their new albums today, EVITA opens at the Dominion, TALK RADIO opens at the Chain, and stars take to regional stages across the U.S. tonight!

The Geffen Playhouse presents the West Coast premiere of Choir Boy. This new production -- featuring gospel music -- will highlight several performers from the Manhattan Theatre Club run. Nicholas L. Ashe and Grantham Coleman will join the previously announced Jeremy Pope.

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) will honor Tony and Emmy Award-winning playwright and librettist Terrence McNally, whose art and activism have profoundly affected the visibility and understanding of HIV/AIDS. McNally will receive the 2014 Howard Ashman Award, named for the Grammy and Academy Award-winning lyricist, who passed away in 1991 due to complications from AIDS. The Howard Ashman award is given annually to honor theater professionals who have made a difference in the fight to end the epidemic.

Audience member Barbra Streisand proved to be a good sport when an on-stage zinger about her was spoken at Thursday night's performance of Terrence McNally's IT'S ONLY A PLAY.

Bad Hindu in association with East 4th Street and Off-Chance Productions has announced Rise and Shine [I Thought I Was White], written and performed by Anil Kumar for a limited engagement at the Let Live Theatre @ The Actors Company. Directed by Reena Dutt, Rise and Shine opens tonight, September 13 at 8pm. The show will run through October 12 only.

It used to be, in days gone by, that hit Broadway shows would be made into movies; now, it's the reverse. With a dearth of ideas for Broadway musicals, the trend lately has been to turn to the big screen and revamp a popular film for the stage, adding song and dance. Such was the case with 9 to 5 and later Legally Blonde engendering quite a bit of success. Those two had female stars at the core, so it's high time a male got some attention. Voila! Catch Me If You Can has a quirky real-life story about an anti-hero Frank Abagnale Jr. (Jacob Haren) who in the 60s was called the Johnny Appleseed of fraud. The outstanding creative team of book writer Terrence McNally and musical wizards Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman took an old idea and created an entertainingly fresh showcase around it. The resultant Catch Me If You Can which received several Tony Award nominations in 2012 - one win for Norbert Leo Butz as Best Featured Actor playing Agent Carl Hanratty - is now playing in its West Coast regional premiere in Vista at the Moonlight Amphitheatre with Josh Adamson essaying Hanratty.

Founder and Artistic Director Nicole Paiement has announced details of Opera Parallèle's 2014--2015 season, which will feature the premiere of a new production of Jake Heggie's acclaimed Dead Man Walking--marking the 15th anniversary of one of the most widely performed operas of the 21st century--and the U.S. premiere of vibrant composer Tarik O'Regan's Heart of Darkness. Both operas, based on significant literary works, plumb the depths of human emotion, resilience, fortitude, hope and redemption, making them ideal subjects for the operatic stage and for Opera Parallèle's brand of story-telling and rich exploration of the human experience in provocative and intense stagings. Both original Opera Parallèle productions will be led by Paiement on the podium, with production design and direction by Opera Parallèle Creative Director Brian Staufenbiel and members of the creative team responsible for OP's acclaimed productions of Orphée, The Great Gatsby, Ainadamar, and Trouble in Tahiti.