It's Only a Play 1986 - Articles Page 19

Opened: January 12, 1986
Closing: January 26, 1986

It's Only a Play - 1986 - Off-Broadway History , Info & More

Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I
131 West 55th Street New York, NY 10019

It’s the opening night of The Golden Egg on Broadway, and the wealthy producer Julia Budder is throwing a lavish party in her lavish Manhattan townhouse. Downstairs the celebrities are pouring in, but the real action is upstairs in the bedroom, where a group of insiders have staked themselves out to await the reviews. The group includes the excitable playwright; the possibly unstable wunderkind director; the pill-popping leading lady, treading the boards after becoming infamous in Hollywood; and the playwright’s best friend, for whom the play was written but who passed up this production for a television series. Add to this a drama critic who’s panned the playwright in the past and a new-in-town aspiring singer, and you have a prime recipe for the narcissism, ambition, childishness, and just plain irrationality that infuse the theatre—and for comedy. But don’t worry: This play is sure to be the hit they have all been hoping for.

It's Only a Play - 1986 - Off-Broadway Cast

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It's Only a Play - 1986 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 19

REBECCA to Play Broadhurst Theatre Opening April 2012; Sierra Boggess Now Confirmed to Star!
by Robert Diamond - Nov 2, 2011


Producers Ben Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, The Shubert Organization, Peter Bezemes, Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman, Nanda Anand and Peter Bogyo by special arrangement with/and based on the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien GmbH production, announced that the new musical REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, will open on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27. Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, Love Never Dies, Master Class and as Christine in last month's 25th Anniversary Concert of The Phantom of the Opera in London) will play the lead role of 'I'. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

PHANTOM's 25th in London Journal
by Robert Diamond - Oct 4, 2011


It was March 12, 1994 when a young, 15 year-old Rob Diamond saw THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway for the first time, and came home on 'cloud nine', my life forever changed. I still remember vividly falling asleep that night listening to and discovering Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Steve Barton and more on the show's original cast recording. I did this listening to a cassette tape that my parents had (which I had of course never before listened to), on my Walkman.

Pure Theatre Presents KICKING A DEAD HORSE, Closes 8/20
by BWW News Desk - Aug 20, 2011


PURE Theatre presents the regional premiere of Kicking a Dead Horse by Sam Shepard. Directed by PURE's Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sharon Graci, and will feature Randy Neale. The show closes August 20th.

DTC Presents THE TEMPEST/Celebrates Project Discovery with $25 Tickets
by Gabrielle Sierra - Aug 12, 2011


Dallas Theater Center launches its 2011-2012 season with Shakespeare's beloved final play, The Tempest, at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Sept. 9 - Oct. 9.

Pure Theatre Presents KICKING A DEAD HORSE 8/5-20
by BWW News Desk - Aug 5, 2011


PURE Theatre is proud to present the regional premiere of Kicking a Dead Horse by Sam Shepard. Directed by PURE's Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sharon Graci, and will feature Randy Neale. The show opens Friday, August 5th and will run through August 20th.

Pure Theatre Presents KICKING A DEAD HORSE 8/5-20
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jul 22, 2011


PURE Theatre is proud to present the regional premiere of Kicking a Dead Horse by Sam Shepard. Directed by PURE's Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sharon Graci, and will feature Randy Neale. The show opens Friday, August 5th and will run through August 20th.

Playwrights Theatre Presents YOURE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, 7/21-3
by Caryn Robbins - Jul 12, 2011


The Madison Recreation Department and Playwrights Theatre present You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. The production (appropriate for all ages) will have three performances: July 21 and July 22 at 7:30pm and July 23 at 2:00pm.

Martin Sheen Set for BILL W. AND DR. BOB Reading at Geffen Playhouse Today
by BWW News Desk - Jun 27, 2011


Award-winning actor Martin Sheen will appear for one-night only as part of a reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse and Hazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights and a dessert reception.

Ryan Tracy's ALL ABOUT MARRIAGE Plays HOT! Festival, 7/26
by Kelsey Denette - Jun 20, 2011


The HOT! Festival, Dixon Place's annual summer queer performance series, will present a semi-staged reading of the evening-length first act of ALL ABOUT MARRIAGE, the epic marriage play by RYAN TRACY, on July 26, 2011 at 9:30pm.

Ed Begley Jr., JoBeth Williams, et al. Join BILL W. & DR. BOB Reading, 6/27
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 16, 2011


Award-winning actor Martin Sheen, set to star in a one-night only reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob, will be sharing the stage with a diverse group of acclaimed actors: Emmy Award nominee Ed Begley Jr. (Spinal Tap, St. Elsewhere), veteran stage and screen actress JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, Kramer vs. Kramer) and Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele, The Story Lady). Two more actors are still to be announced. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse andHazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights as well as a dessert reception. Directed by Jenny Sullivan, Bill W. and Dr. Bob recounts the story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Together with their wives, who went on to develop Al-Anon Family Groups, their discoveries have touched and saved countless lives since the program's inception. The reading will take place on Monday, June 27 at 8pm.

2011 Tony Awards: Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris Win 'Best Direction of a Play'
by BWW Special Coverage - Jun 12, 2011


Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

Keys to the Future Piano Fest Moves to Lower East Side May 24-26
by BWW News Desk - May 24, 2011


Following five seasons of sold-out concerts, KEYS TO THE FUTURE-New York's only festival of contemporary solo piano music-is back with 10 'front-rank soloists' (The New Yorker) who will perform 27 classical and jazz-inspired works by an aesthetically diverse group of modern masters and emerging composers over the course of three evenings.

Martin Sheen Set for BILL W. AND DR. BOB Reading at Geffen Playhouse, 6/27
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2011


Award-winning actor Martin Sheen will appear for one-night only as part of a reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse and Hazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights and a dessert reception.

Robert Randolph, Pat DiNizio & The Nuge Play Iridium's Les Paul Mondays
by BWW News Desk - May 16, 2011


The Iridium's trademark Les Paul Mondays series continues to bring 'Best In Breed' guitarists into the heart of Manhattan for one-of-a-kind collaborations with The Les Paul Trio.

Works by DiPietro, Bryan, Rebeck, Logan & More Play Alley Theater in 2011-2012
by Gabrielle Sierra - May 9, 2011


Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announced that the Alley Theatre's 65th Season beginning in September 2011 will include two world premieres, Elizabeth Egloff's epic play Ether Dome and Theresa Rebeck's black comedy What We're Up Against, (the latter in a rolling world premiere that includes theatres in San Francisco and Chicago), and the Outer Critics Circle Award-winning rock musical The Toxic Avenger by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, winners of last year's Best Musical Tony Award for Memphis.

Keys to the Future Piano Fest Moves to Lower East Side May 24-26
by Gabrielle Sierra - May 6, 2011


Following five seasons of sold-out concerts, KEYS TO THE FUTURE-New York's only festival of contemporary solo piano music-is back with 10 'front-rank soloists' (The New Yorker) who will perform 27 classical and jazz-inspired works by an aesthetically diverse group of modern masters and emerging composers over the course of three evenings.

Robert Randolph, Pat DiNizio & The Nuge Play Iridium's Les Paul Mondays
by Gabrielle Sierra - May 5, 2011


The Iridium's trademark Les Paul Mondays series continues to bring 'Best In Breed' guitarists into the heart of Manhattan for one-of-a-kind collaborations with The Les Paul Trio.

2011 Tony Awards Nominees: 'Best Direction of a Play'
by Charlie Piane - May 4, 2011


Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

Luker, Von Essen, Cavenaugh, Balgord & More to Star in DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY; Previews Start June 10
by Robert Diamond - Apr 25, 2011


Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full company of the new musical Death Takes A Holiday, with a book by Peter Stone & Thomas Meehan, music & lyrics by Maury Yeston, directed by Doug Hughes. The cast will include Linda Balgord (Contessa Danielli), Matt Cavenaugh (Eric Fenton), Mara Davi (Alice), Joy Hermalyn (Cora), Jay Jaski (Lorenzo), Simon Jones (Dr. Dario Albione), Rebecca Luker (Duchess Lamberti), Patricia Noonan (Sophia), Julian Ovenden (Prince Sirki / Death), Jill Paice (Grazia), Michael Siberry (Duke Lamberti), Alexandra Socha (Daisy Fenton), Don Stephenson (Fidele), Max Von Essen (Corrado Montelli).

SATURDAY SPECIAL: A Salute To Sidney Lumet
by Robert Diamond - Apr 9, 2011


Today we lost one of the greats: the gentle giant of directors, Sidney Lumet. What a resume! Just to pick seven of perhaps the best known of the bunch, the bunch in question being over 100 titles strong: 12 ANGRY MEN, LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, SERPICO, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK and BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD - the films spanning fifty years from MEN in 1957 and DEVIL in 2007 - it is clear to see why Lumet was one of the most cherished and celebrated directors in Hollywood, especially known for his tough, gritty New York stories and his pristine stage-to-screen transfers. For an excellent example of the latter (in addition to LONG DAY'S JOURNEY and the others) check out DEATHTRAP - based on Ira Levin's play, the longest-running thriller in Broadway history - featuring Michael Caine in one of his best roles and Christopher Reeve and Dyan Cannon in their finest performances on film. For an example of the former genre, look no further than NETWORK, containing one of the strongest screenplays ever penned, from the fiery and ferocious pen of Paddy Cheyefsky, and Faye Dunaway in her Oscar-winning performance for all the ages. As far as theatrical screenplays on screen, Lumet would be hard-pressed to even come close to the power, prescience and transformative brilliance at the core of the conceit of that film - yet he did just that; with his final, 2007 film no less. I am speaking, of course, of the underrated and riveting BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, with Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris. Taking an original screenplay that could just as well have been written for the stage - shades of 12 ANGRY MEN, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK and SERPICO, certainly - Lumet made a bristling, biting brilliant work of staggering craft and ingenuity - all with verve, energy and drive of a man a quarter of his age at the time (80). His films were classics in his own time and, now, in his passing, they are just as timeless - if not more so. With each passing year, new layers of truth, beauty, sadness and soulfulness can be found in the countless frames in the innumerable unforgettable scenes in his many masterpieces.

AMERICAN IDIOT, DONNY & MARIE AND COLM WILKINSON Play Toronto in '11
by Jessica Lewis - Mar 7, 2011


At a media announcement today, Dancap Productions added two new shows to their 2011 line-up at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: DONNY & MARIE and COLM WILKINSON IN CONCERT: BROADWAY AND BEYOND; and one new show at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the explosive Broadway musical GREEN DAY'S AMERICAN IDIOT.

Yale Rep Announces A Cast Change For THE PIANO LESSON 1/28-2/19
by BWW News Desk - Jan 28, 2011


YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON, directed by Liesl Tommy, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York Street) January 28-February 19, 2011.

Letts, Coon, Morton Lead Signature's Edward Albee Fest
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 27, 2011


Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater continues its inaugural season this spring with an unparalleled tribute to one of the nation's greatest living playwrights, Edward Albee.

Roundabout Announces DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY by Yeston, Meehan and Stone to Open July 2011
by Robert Diamond - Jan 24, 2011


Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the world premiere of the new musical Death Takes a Holiday, with a book by Peter Stone & Thomas Meehan, music & lyrics by Maury Yeston, directed by Doug Hughes. Death Takes a Holiday is based on the dramatic play by Alberto Casella, rewritten for the American stage by Walter Ferris, and originally produced by Messrs. Shubert.

Yale Rep Announces A Cast Change For THE PIANO LESSON 1/28-2/19
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 4, 2011


YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON, directed by Liesl Tommy, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York Street) January 28-February 19, 2011.

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