The Public Theater News

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, as part of a new series of musical concert performances at the Royal Festival Hall, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING makes its London concert debut on May 19. Now according to Whatsonstage, Jonathan Groff, Hannah Waddingham and Clive Rowe are set to lead the concert, as J. Pierrepont Finch, Hedy La Rue and Twimble respectively.

According to an Equity casting notice, HAMILTON is looking for fresh faces for its Broadway run. Read the character breakdowns, written by writer/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda himself.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents the World Premiere production of Five Presidents. Broadway and television veterans Mark Jacoby, Martin L'Herault, Steve Sheridan, Jeff Steitzer, and Brit Whittle, along with Rep Associate Artist Reese Madigan, make up the cast of Five Presidents from Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, House of Cards, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under). Directed by Milwaukee Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements, the production opens tonight, March 13, 2015 and runs through April 5, 2015.

Next spring, Tony Award winners Audra McDonald, George C. Wolfe, and Savion Glover will team up to collaborate on SHUFFLE ALONG, Or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, a musical about the events that led to the creation of the groundbreaking Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle musical Shuffle Along. Starring Audra McDonald as the 1920's star Lottie Gee, directed by George C. Wolfe -- with a book written by Wolfe -- and choreographed by Savion Glover, the musical marks the first time that the writer/director and choreographer will have worked together since their 1996 hit Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Previews will begin Monday, March 14, 2016. Opening night is Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

The Public Theater announced today that Richard Nelson's award-winning THE APPLE FAMILY PLAYS: SCENES FROM LIFE IN THE COUNTRY will tour Europe for five weeks beginning April 23 at The Find Festival in Berlin. The other tour venues include The May International Festival in Weisbaden, Germany; The Brighton Festival in the United Kingdom; and the Vienna Festival in Austria where the tour will conclude on May 23. The tour is being produced by David Eden, Executive Producer for David Eden Productions, and co-produced and general managed by Tim Smith for Pemberley Productions.

A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter and her drug-dealing boyfriend in a powerful story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. The West Coast premiere of Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored Sunset Baby opens on April 18 at the Odyssey Theatre.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company will present a one night only concert to benefit the company: Tony Award and Grammy Award-nominated composer and lyricist ANDREW LIPPA will be joined by Christina DeCicco (Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark, Evita), Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years, Rent, Avenue Q), and Christiane Noll (Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde) and in a unique one night only concert, We're Keen on Andrew Lippa.

In a new interview with Gold Derby, discusses his new hit HBO series LOOKING, lending his voice to the new FROZEN short 'Frozen Fever,' and taking over a starring role in the Broadway bound musical HAMILTON.

On April 2-4, the Houston Symphony celebrates the iconic pop music of the United Kingdom inU.K. Rocks. Storm Large from the group Pink Martini and J. Robert Spencer of the Midtown Men perform songs ranging from The Beatles to contemporary artists such as Coldplay and Adele in this "across the pond" spectacle.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly welcomes MacArthur "Genius" Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney for the West Coast premiere of Head of Passes, a poignant and poetic story about the journey of family and faith, trial and tribulation. In a dilapidated house near the ever-shifting mouth of the Mississippi, Shelah's family gathers on a stormy night for her birthday -- bringing ghosts and secrets of the past with them. As her roof buckles under the weight of the rain, Shelah's convictions begin to wash away, leaving her to excavate the truths buried below. Directed by Tina Landau, the riveting Head of Passes comes to the Bay Area straight from its critically lauded world premiere in Chicago. Head of Passes is a co-production with the Public Theater in New York. It begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage on Friday, April 10, opens on Friday, April 17, and runs through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Press night for Head of Passes will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015.

On April 2-4, the Houston Symphony celebrates the iconic pop music of the United Kingdom in U.K. Rocks.

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, the political controversy surrounding the release of The Interview, and continued suppression of plays, books, and art in American schools, libraries and museums, the battle for freedom of speech and expression is more essential than ever. Planet Connections Theatre Festivity will present an evening of world premiere plays by Erik Ehn, Halley Feiffer, Israel Horovitz and Neil LaBute addressing censorship in the arts in Playwrights for a Cause, to be held at 7:30pm on June 14, 2015 at the Sheen Center, located at 18 Bleecker Street.

Tony® Award-winner Michael Cerveris ('Bruce Bechdel'), three time Tony® Award nominee Judy Kuhn('Helen Bechdel'), Beth Malone ('Alison'), Obie Award-winner Sydney Lucas ('Small Alison'),Emily Skeggs ('Medium Alison'), and more will reprise their roles from The Public Theater's acclaimed production of Fun Home on Broadway this Spring. Joel Perez and Roberta Colindrez will also return to the cast, with Zell Morrow and Oscar Williams joining the production as Alison's brothers John and Christian respectively. With music by four-time Tony® Award nominee Jeanine Tesori, a book and lyrics by Tony® Award nominee Lisa Kron and direction by Drama Desk nominee Sam Gold, Fun Home will now begin preview performances at the Circle in the Square Theatre (1633 Broadway, NYC) on Friday, March 27th, with an official opening night set for Sunday, April 19th. Check out a just-released commercial for the show below!

The New York premiere of JOSEPHINE AND I opened at the Public Theater last night, March 10. Written by Olivier nominated actress and writer Cush Jumbo, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, JOSEPHINE AND I runs through Sunday, April 5 at Joe's Pub at The Public. Check out pictures from opening night below!

The Public Theater officially opens the New York premiere of JOSEPHINE AND I tonight, March 10. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Mordecai Richler's landmark coming of age novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is getting the all-star musical treatment in a world premiere musical adaptation produced by the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal from June 7 to 28th, 2015.

On last night's 'All In' on MSNBC, host Chris Hayes talked to Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the off-Broadway smash hit HAMILTON about the genius of Alexander Hamilton. Watch the appearance in full below!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming nightly shows for March 11 - 22, 2015. Details below!

The Public Theater will officially open the New York premiere of JOSEPHINE AND I tonight, March 10. Written by Olivier nominated actress and writer Cush Jumbo, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, JOSEPHINE AND I began previews on Friday, March 27 and runs through Sunday, April 5 at Joe's Pub at The Public. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Jumbo onstage below!

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced final casting for the upcoming World Premiere production of Five Presidents. Broadway and television veterans Mark Jacoby, Martin L'Herault, Steve Sheridan, Jeff Steitzer, and Brit Whittle, along with Rep Associate Artist Reese Madigan, make up the cast of Five Presidents from Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, House of Cards, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under).