William Finn News

How do you follow up thirteen Carbonell nominations? Actors' Playhouse has chosen to present four Tony Award-winning shows and one world premiere from a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright in its new season line up.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced a two-week extension for the World Premiere of CLYBOURNE PARK, a new play by Bruce Norris ('A wonderful, original, grab-you-by-the-guts playwright' - WOR Radio; 'He specializes in comedies of discomfort' - The New York Times) that has just opened to excellent reviews.

For old-world cabaret, performers still swoon over the stately, romantic elegance of the Oak Room at the Algonquin, but this sleek, two-year-old spot is threatening to encroach on the turf of such established institutions.

The Gretna Theatre has announced their 2010 summer season. Productions will include Nunsense starring Sally Struthers, The Marvelous Wonderettes, The Will Rogers Follies, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Peter Pan, Mr. Hobbs' Vacation, and Mame. The season will begin with Nunsense, opening June 3rd.

On Monday, February 22nd, New York Theatre Barn presents its monthly showcase for emerging writers and performers at the D-Lounge at the Daryl Roth Theater which will feature the music of Katya Stanislavskaya and Eric March.

Tony Award winners John Lithgow and Jennifer Ehle star as MR. & MRS. FITCH in the world premiere comedy from Douglas Carter Beane at Second Stage Theatre. The production marks MR. Beane's return to Second Stage Theatre where his critically acclaimed, Tony-nominated play The Little Dog Laughed premiered in 2005. MR. & MRS. FITCH will be directed by Scott Ellis, who also staged the world premiere and Broadway transfer of The Little Dog Laughed. Opening night for MR & MRS FITCH is scheduled for Thursday, February 22.

Playwrights Horizons has announced complete casting for the World Premiere of CLYBOURNE PARK, a new play by Bruce Norris (The Pain and the Itch at Playwrights Horizons/PH 2006-2007 Season).

On Monday, February 22nd, New York Theatre Barn presents its monthly showcase for emerging writers and performers at the D-Lounge at the Daryl Roth Theater which will feature the music of Katya Stanislavskaya and Eric March.

The Canadian Stage Company's Festival of Ideas & Creation returns May 10 - 22 to the Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street, Toronto.

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner will help make Times Square a little pinker - and all of New York City, in fact - when they present actor Leslie Jordan in his acclaimed solo show, My Trip Down The Pink Carpet, at the Midtown Theater (163 West 46th Street) this Spring.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee comes to Kean University's Wilkins Theatre in a hysterical production by the Department of Theatre February 26th through March 6th. This award-winning musical features a cast of Kean students and alumni, and offers opportunities for audience participation that keep the laughs coming.

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner will help make Times Square a little pinker - and all of New York City, in fact - when they present actor Leslie Jordan in his acclaimed solo show, My Trip Down The Pink Carpet, at the Midtown Theater (163 West 46th Street) this Spring.

On Friday, February 26 at 8 p.m., TheatreWorks New Milford opens its 2010 season with the Connecticut premiere of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, with music and lyrics by William Finn, and book by Rachel Sheinkin. The show is scheduled for a five-week run.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are t-h-r-i-l-l-e-d to present the third production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season of shows, the Tony Award-winning musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, additional material by Jay Reiss, choreography by DJ Gray, musical direction by David O and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Following its critically acclaimed production of THE SEAGULL earlier this season, the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO), in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of A PLAY ON WAR, by Jenny Connell and Rubén Polendo

The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) - now in its 20th season - in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of Rubén Polendo and Jenny Connell's new play MAMA CORAJE.

Following its critically acclaimed production of THE SEAGULL earlier this season, the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO), in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of A PLAY ON WAR, by Jenny Connell and Rubén Polendo

The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) - now in its 20th season - in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of Rubén Polendo and Jenny Connell's new play MAMA CORAJE.

The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) - now in its 20th season - in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of Rubén Polendo and Jenny Connell's new play MAMA CORAJE.

Probably my favorite recording of my all-time favorite Christmas song, Frank Loesser's 'Baby, It's Cold Outside!', is the barn-burning opener to one of the best Christmas albums out there, Broadway Cares' HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. While Christmas may be passed, and Valentine's Day just around the corner, it certainly warms the heart a bit to think that the audible affection affected by Alan Cumming and Liza Minnelli on that track spills over into real life, as they happen to be the best of friends. This week we will take a look at Alan Cumming's first solo album, I BOUGHT A BLUE CAR TODAY and Liza's just-released concert film which was recorded at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas late last year, around Christmastime, LIZA'S AT THE PALACE...