The Public Theater News

The Public Theater announced a one-week extension today for George Brant's Grounded, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Julie Taymor and featuring Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway. Grounded began previews on Tuesday, April 7 and will now run an additional week through Sunday, May 24 in the Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Sunday, April 26.

Today we are shining a spotlight on some rarely discussed and unusual connections between the world of William Shakespeare and theatrical pop culture at large. Given the wide breadth of material contained within the canon of the Bard, it is certainly no understatement to claim that the connections are virtually endless between many modern tropes, terms, themes and ideas that derive in his classic plays - whether they be tragedies, comedies, histories or latter plays - yet the intriguing aspects of many of the lesser-known theatrical connections between Shakespeare and modern theatre are illuminating and fascinating to unearth. Ranging from the influence of Shakespeare on some of our greatest musical theatre masters - Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and William Finn included - through to the inspiration behind both Broadway's most lucrative production in history (THE LION KING) and the longest-running show in NYC to date (THE FANTASTICKS), the impact of Shakespeare on Broadway is impossible to accurately calculate - and, now, with the lovable and hilarious Shakespeare paean SOMETHING ROTTEN! poised to open later this month, the Bard is about to get a fresh jolt of electricity, buzz and excitement from the theatre community at large. Fear no more, indeed.

According to Deadline, Steven Pasquale, currently starring in Lyric Opera of Chicago's CAROUSEL, will return to the small screen in DirecTV's new comedy series ALMOST THERE. Pasquale will also executive produce.

THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE is a glittering example of a musical that captures and is imbued with that magic in every perfectly cast note and each keenly written lyric. Celebrating Ghostlight Records' release of the original cast recording, members of the cast and creative team came together at Joe's Pub for a spirited and rousing night of music at last night's THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE CD RELEASE CONCERT.

More than 25 nominations of outstanding actors, directors, designers and ensembles were announced today by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA), with winners to be revealed at the 33nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 7 PM, at Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre.

Fun Home, the Award-winning new musical that began previews on Broadway on March 27, announced today that an updated and expanded Broadway version of the cast recording will be released next month on PS Classics.

Miranda has just announced via Twitter that the cast recording will hit shelves this fall. He writes: 'Hamilton Cast Album? September. Double Album. All of it. That's all I can tell you.'

Point Foundation (Point) just honored actor Jonathan Groff, with the Point HORIZON Award. The Award recognizes a young trailblazer who has taken a leadership role as an advocate of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Groff, currently starring in HBO's critically acclaimed series 'Looking' and appearing in the Public Theater's hit musical 'Hamilton,' was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in 'Spring Awakening.' BroadwayWorld takes you inside the ceremony below!

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, joining celebrated director Jessica Stone, who recently made her Globe debut with Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Shaw's romantic comedy, which continues the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration, will run May 9 - June 14, 2015 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run May 9 through 13. Opening night is Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m.

An off-Broadway poster, signed by the full cast, is currently up for auction on eBay. A similar item sold for over $5000 on the site last week- the difference this time is that this item also comes with a voicemail greeting by Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. The description reads: 'If you are in the NYC area, you will have the chance to go backstage after a performance of Hamilton to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda when he records your voice-mail & to receive your signed poster. If you aren't able to come to the NYC area, Lin-Manuel Miranda will record your voice-mail remotely and your poster will be shipped to you.'

Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly, Tony Award winner Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess and Lisa Howard head an outstanding cast in It Shoulda Been You, the hilarious and heartwarming new musical comedy that proves when it comes to wedding day insanity, everything is relative. It Shoulda Been You, which had a sold-out premiere at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse, officially opens tonight, April 14, 2015 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus watch interviews with the company!

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director) has selected two original book musicals to be developed in an intensive lab setting in New Haven, June 13-28: gilgamesh & the mosquito, music by Bob Kelly and book and lyrics by Sam Chanse; and Horizons, music by Ben Wexler and book and lyrics by Mark Sonnenblick. The Institute culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as a part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, on June 26 and 27.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, April 19 at 9:30 PM to continue the Winter/Spring 2015 Season.

The Playwrights Horizons world premiere of IOWA, a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz, opens tonight, April 13, 2015.

Jonathan Groff will receive the Point HORIZON Award at tonight's (April 13) Point Honors gala at the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. The gala program also features the presentation of the Point Courage Award to actor Jeffrey Tambor. The evening is a benefit for Point Foundation, the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit.

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) and Chairman James S. Turley will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala tonight, April 13th at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue) at 6:30pm. The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the creation of theatrical works and arts education at theatres across America.

Now in its second month of performances, HAMILTON has attracted what seems like every entertainment industry celebrity from Sara Bareilles to Daniel Craig. The latest to be added to the list of 'Hamiltonians,' Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Bridget Everett, and Morgan Murphy stopped by the Sunday matinee. Below, check out pics of the comedians with HAMILTON writer/star Lin-Manuel Miranda!

Below, watch as HAMILTON actress Phillipa Soo provides a beat and Miranda raps, beginning with, 'You've reached the voicemail for Daniel Craig. This is Lin Miranda, we are not pulling your leg...'

Cultural partners Jacob's Pillow Dance and MASS MoCA present KEIGWIN + COMPANY, this weekend, April 11 at 8pm and April 12 at 3pm at the Hunter Center.

On May 3, 2015 at 2pm, New York Theatre Barn (Theatre Barn) presents its exclusive Spring Benefit - a one-time only presentation of Gotta Dance: A Choreography Conversation at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street.