Pre-Tony 'Theater Talk' Available Nationwide

Nation's Theater-Lovers Can Turn to PBS Stations or the Web for Wealth of Broadway Insiders' Opinions Beginning June 11.

As theater-lovers look forward to the annual Antoinette Perry Awards ceremony at the conclusion of the 2007-2008 theater season, television and the web's long-running THEATER TALK series presents two original programs to fuel their anticipation.

First up is THEATER TALK's Critics' Cavalcade, a review of the past theater season featuring 16 of New York's theater critics and writers discussing their favorite productions and performances of the past year.

Featured on this year's Critics' Cavalcade are:

Melissa Rose Bernardo of Entertainment Weekly
Michael Feingold of The Village Voice
Adam Feldman of Time Out/New York
John Heilpern of The New York Observer
Barbara Hoffman of the New York Post
Charles Isherwood of The New York Times
Mike Kuchwara of The Associated Press
David Lefkowitz of Performing Arts Insider
Jacques le Sourd of Gannett News Service
Jeremy McCarter of New York Magazine
Michael Musto of The Village Voice
Patrick Pacheco of The Los Angeles Times
Aaron Riccio of The New Theater Corps
John Simon of Bloomberg News
Michael Sommers of The Newark Star Ledger
Matt Windman of AM New York, and
Linda Winer of Newsday and CUNY TV's Women in Theatre.

With THEATER TALK co-hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins, the illustrious assemblage chooses the highlights of the Broadway season, among them:  August: Osage County, Gypsy, South Pacific, Sunday in the Park with George, Grease, Cry-Baby, In The Heights, Passing Strange, Xanadu, A Catered Affair and Top Girls.

Also, included in the Critics' Cavalcade is a studio performance by Tony nominees Stew, and his co-composer Heidi Rodewald. The two perform "Work The Wound," a song from their show, Passing Strange, which is nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Score and Best Musical.

During next week's run-up to the Tonys, THEATER TALK is also premiering its 12th Annual TONY Predictions Special.  Top Broadway reporters Jesse Green of New York Magazine and Michael Musto of The Village Voice and Headline News, plus Patrick Pacheco of The Los Angeles Times join THEATER TALK's co-hosts to handicap the major Tony Awards contests, explaining who will win, who will lose, and why.

Beginning June 11, both of these THEATER TALK Tony-related shows are available for viewing online (www.cuny.tv/series/theatertalk) as well as on a variety of PBS stations.  The Critics' Cavalcade premieres Wednesday, June 11 at 12:30 a.m. on Thirteen/WNET in New York, followed by airings on CUNY TV the following Sunday and Monday. The 12th Annual TONY Predictions Special premieres Friday, June 13 at 12:30 a.m. on Thirteen/WNET, followed by airings on Saturday and Sunday on CUNY TV.  (See www.cuny.tv for exact times.)

The series is also seen on PBS stations in Washington (D.C.); Boston; Syracuse, Albany-Schenectady, Buffalo, and Rochester (NY); Providence; Kalamazoo (MI); Charlotte (N.C.), Sacramento, Eureka and Chico-Redding (CA); Odessa (TX); and Missoula (MT).

THEATER TALK was created as a unique forum for theater artists, featuring conversations with the actors, directors, playwrights and others whose work is "on the boards" in New York each season.  A staple on PBS in New York since 1996 - with over 400 programs since its debut - THEATER TALK is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, the influential Broadway columnist for the New York Post, and series producer Susan Haskins. Video excerpts from productions highlight in-depth interviews with outspoken personalities about their work and shows. THEATER TALK also features authors and historians discussing theater legends and classic works of the stage, as well as New York's top critics and reporters on the latest shows and trends.

THEATER TALK is jointly produced by the not-for-profit Theater Talk Productions and CUNY TV.  The series is taped at The City University of New York (CUNY) TV studios in Manhattan, and premieres weekly on the nation's largest public television station, Thirteen/WNET in New York City.  Programs are rebroadcast three times a week on CUNY TV, offered to other public television stations, and are available online at www.cuny.tv/series/theatertalk.

THEATER TALK is funded by contributions from private foundations and individuals, as well as The New York State Council on the Arts, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The CUNY TV Foundation, and the Friends of THEATER TALK.