William Goldman News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced Bernadette Peters will star as Sally Durant Plummer in the Kennedy Center production of Follies in the Eisenhower Theater May 7 to June 5, 2011.

Phoenix Theatre Artistic Director Michael Barnard announced the theatre's 90th season, which includes five hit musicals and a show many call the funniest farce ever written.

Today, we are taking a listen to five of the greatest and most deservedly classic-status cast albums of all time, with all five selections also being Tony-winning Best Musicals recently remastered, repackaged and re-released by Masterworks Broadway in time for Tony Award season which this week is finally coming to a close. In salute of Broadway now - and as it was fifty years ago when the first of these scores premiered - we take stock of what we have got, for better or worse. Surely, the strength of these shows' scores speak and sing out loud for themselves: 42nd Street, 1776, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, MAME and CITY OF ANGELS. From Herman to Coleman to Loesser and beyond we go, with a glance to the future and the all-to-recent past...

Today, we are continuing where we left off last week in our complete overview of Stephen Sondheim's career in honor of his 80th birthday, as well as the opening of his new musical SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, by taking a listen to all the Sondheim-related soundtracks available on CD and MP3...

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, 'Into the Woods,' Writers' Theatre, 'No Way To Treat a Lady,' Andrea McArdle, Michael Cullen, more.....

Phoenix Theatre Artistic Director Michael Barnard announced the theatre's 90th season, which includes five hit musicals and a show many call the funniest farce ever written.

American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center has announced its 2010-2011 Season, celebrating the theatre's 24th season of productions. AHT continues its tradition of providing variety in live theatre by showcasing 1 two-time Tony award winning comedy, 4 Kansas City Premieres, 1 AHT favorite and 1 Richard Rodgers Award Winner in its upcoming season.

One of the most interesting chapters in William Goldman's classic book of commercial Broadway, The Season, involves the pre-opening troubles with the musical, Golden Rainbow. (Yes, I'm beginning a review of Little House on the Prairie with an anecdote about a glitzy Steve & Eydie vehicle. Just go along with me on this.) Although the musical had a huge advance sale thanks to the popularity of its husband and wife stars, everyone agreed the book was a disaster. But, according to Goldman, spirits were boosted a bit when rumors started circulating that Neil Simon - who was not only the hottest playwright on Broadway at the time but a guy known for anonymously helping to doctor other shows that were in need of laughs - would be coming in to punch up the script. In the meantime another writer was recruited and told that he didn't have to come up with anything clever; just to write a straightforward, competent book that made sense of the story. Neil Simon would come in later and provide the gags. (P.S. He never did.)

The American Theatre Wing has announced that Producer Emanuel Azenberg is the next guest on their popular interview show, 'Downstage Center.' Hosted by American Theatre Wing Executive Director Howard Sherman, 'Downstage Center' features weekly in-depth interviews with the leading artists and professionals working on stage today. Azenberg's interview is available online and as a podcast through iTunes or an RSS feed. Click http://americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter to listen or subscribe.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, October 5, 2009.

From September 8-16, BAMcinématek, the repertory film program at BAM Rose Cinemas, presents Robert Redford: Artist & Activist, a 16-film tribute to Redford's 50-year career in film. Robert Redford will be at BAM in-person to discuss his work as one of the 20th century's most celebrated actors and as an Academy-award winning director, as well as a leading environmental and social change activist, and champion of independent cinema as founder of The Sundance Institute.

From September 8-16, BAMcinématek, the repertory film program at BAM Rose Cinemas, presents Robert Redford: Artist & Activist, a 16-film tribute to Redford's 50-year career in film. Robert Redford will be at BAM in-person to discuss his work as one of the 20th century's most celebrated actors and as an Academy-award winning director, as well as a leading environmental and social change activist, and champion of independent cinema as founder of The Sundance Institute.

From September 8-16, BAMcinématek, the repertory film program at BAM Rose Cinemas, presents Robert Redford: Artist & Activist, a 16-film tribute to Redford's 50-year career in film. Robert Redford will be at BAM in-person to discuss his work as one of the 20th century's most celebrated actors and as an Academy-award winning director, as well as a leading environmental and social change activist, and champion of independent cinema as founder of the Sundance Institute.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fifth and final production of its 2008 - 2009 season, the Los Angeles premiere of the Off-Broadway, Smash-Hit Musical Thriller, NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY, book, music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen, (based on the novel by William Goldman) and co-directed by West Hyler and Shelley Butler.

On Monday, May 4th, Legendary Canadian-born director, Norman Jewison, was awarded The National Arts Club's prestigious Medal of Honor for Film at a dinner held in his honor the historic Gramercy Park venue in New York City.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fifth and final production of its 2008 ? 2009 season, the Los Angeles premiere of the Off-Broadway, Smash-Hit Musical Thriller, No Way to Treat a Lady, book, music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen, (based on the novel by William Goldman) and co-directed by West Hyler and Shelley Butler. No Way to Treat a Lady will preview on Wednesday, April 15; Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fifth and final production of its 2008 - 2009 season, the Los Angeles premiere of the Off-Broadway, Smash-Hit Musical Thriller, NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY, book, music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen, (based on the novel by William Goldman) and co-directed by West Hyler and Shelley Butler.

CURTAINS, the hilarious new musical whodunit that was a 'must-see' hit of the 2007-2008 Broadway season, playing over 500 performances, kicks off Drury Lane Oakbrook's 25th anniversary season. The production previews March 19, opens Thursday, March 26 and runs through May 17 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. This is the first regional production of CURTAINS, preceding even the first National Tour. CURTAINS is the winner of nine Drama Desk Awards and eight 2007 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, and Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Hyde Pierce).

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fifth and final production of its 2008 ? 2009 season, the Los Angeles premiere of the Off-Broadway, Smash-Hit Musical Thriller, No Way to Treat a Lady, book, music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen, (based on the novel by William Goldman) and co-directed by West Hyler and Shelley Butler. No Way to Treat a Lady will preview on Wednesday, April 15; Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

CURTAINS, the hilarious new musical whodunit that was a 'must-see' hit of the 2007-2008 Broadway season, playing over 500 performances, previews March 19, opens Thursday, March 26 and runs through May 17 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. CURTAINS is the winner of nine Drama Desk Awards and eight 2007 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, and Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Hyde Pierce).