The New Group News

Primary Stages has announced that Richard Topol (Broadway's The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) will assume the role of Yogi Berra in their World Premiere production of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Due to artistic differences, Joe Pantoliano, initially announced to play the role of Yogi Berra, will not continue with the production. The production has delayed its first performance to Friday, September 20. Opening night remains scheduled for October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.

The full cast for To Sir With Love, joining the previously announced Olivier Award winning actor Matthew Kelly (Florian), is Mykola Allen (Denham), Harriet Ballard (Monica), Peta Cornish (Gillian), Kerron Darby (Seales), Ansu Kabia(Ricky), Paul Kemp (Weston), Heather Nicol (Pamela) and Nicola Reynolds(Clinty).

The music of legendary Asian rock group, Ming Dynasty, is revived in The Sister Rosettas, presented by terraNOVA Collective tonight, September 13th and September 20th & 27th at 9:30 at IRT Theater. Featuring Diana Oh.

PICT Theatre's fifth production of the season is the Pittsburgh premiere of Martin McDonagh's hilarious whodunit A Skull in Connemara, one of a the Leenane trilogy of plays written by the contemporary Irish playwright. McDonagh's dark humor features the colloquial idioms of the west of Ireland, its rugged landscape, and its even more rugged people. McDonagh wrote one of PICT's most popular shows, The Lieutenant of Inishmore. His short film Six Shooter won an Academy Award in 2006, and he was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay for In Bruges, a feature-length film in which two hitmen hide in the Flemish city of Bruges after a problematic job.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

In To Sir With Love, joining the previously announced Olivier Award winning actor Matthew Kelly (Florian), are Mykola Allen (Denham), Harriet Ballard (Monica), Peta Cornish (Gillian), Kerron Darby (Seales), Ansu Kabia (Ricky),Paul Kemp (Weston), Heather Nicol (Pamela) and Nicola Reynolds (Clinty).

PICT Theatre's fifth production of the season is the Pittsburgh premiere of Martin McDonagh's hilarious whodunit A Skull in Connemara, one of a the Leenane trilogy of plays written by the contemporary Irish playwright. McDonagh's dark humor features the colloquial idioms of the west of Ireland, its rugged landscape, and its even more rugged people. McDonagh wrote one of PICT's most popular shows, The Lieutenant of Inishmore. His short film Six Shooter won an Academy Award in 2006, and he was nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay for In Bruges, a feature-length film in which two hitmen hide in the Flemish city of Bruges after a problematic job.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for Natural Affection by William Inge, the first production of the company's 21st Season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Opening night is set for Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through October 26, 2013.

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Lincoln Center Theater, under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Andre Bishop, has announced that Bianca Amato, Shirine Babb, John Patrick Doherty, Austin Durant, Richard Easton, Francesca Faridany, Stephanie Fieger, Malcolm Gets, John Glover, Ben Horner, Ruy Iskandar, Brian d'Arcy James, Byron Jennings, Aaron Krohn, Jeremiah Maestas, Christopher McHale, Jonny Orsini, Sam Poon, Triney Sandoval, Nathan Stark, Daniel Sunjata, Patrick Vaill, Tyler Lansing Weaks and Derek Wilson will join Ethan Hawke and Anne-Marie Duff in its upcoming production of Shakespeare's MACBETH, directed by Jack O'Brien. The production, which will feature a cast of 27, will begin previews on Thursday, October 24 and open on Thursday, November 21 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Rod, the puppet star of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q -- who made international headlines on July 24, 2011 when he married his puppet boyfriend Ricky on the first day same-sex marriage became legal in the State of New York -- has himself been invited to the same-sex wedding of Mississippi couple Scott Barnes and Gary Holcomb in Washington, DC on Sunday, September 1. Sadly, Rod has sent his regrets to the grooms since Sunday is a two-show day at AVENUE Q and he is obligated to perform in the musical, now in its 10th year in New York. (New World Stages, 340 W. 50 St.)

The New Group launches its 2013-2014 season with the New York premiere of the Geffen Playhouse production of The Jacksonian, by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this production features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan, Bill Pullman and Juliet Brett. Previews begin October 25 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 7 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through December 15 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

The House Theatre of Chicago announces the addition of 10 artists to its roster of Company Members. This marks first addition of Company Members since 2008.

The music of legendary Asian rock group, Ming Dynasty, is revived in The Sister Rosettas, presented by terraNOVA Collective September 13th, 20th & 27th at 9:30 at IRT Theater. Featuring Diana Oh.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola has announced that Fetch Clay, Make Man, written by Will Power and directed by Des McAnuff, will begin performances tonight, August 23 at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue. Opening night is set for Thursday, September 12 at 7pm. Fetch Clay, Make Man is scheduled to run through Sunday, October 13; tickets are on sale now.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) will welcome kef theatrical productions THE AWAKE, written by Ken Urban and directed by Adam Fitzgerald. THE AWAKE begins performances tonight, August 22 for a limited engagement through Sunday, September 8.

With several new shows having opened on Broadway in the past couple of months, and a constant need for replacements, there has been a solid group of performers making their Broadway debuts this Summer. Meet all of Broadway's newest stars below!

As Tony Awards host Neil Patrick Harris sang in the opening number of the 2013 ceremony: 'They're the reason that this season seems to look like Chucky Cheese!' This Broadway season is littered with child actors in major roles, and below BroadwayWorld salutes them all. Get to know the child stars of the 2013 Broadway season below!