Jessica Lewis - Page 152

The New York Times reports that the Syfy network will be treating the participants of its Upfront Presentation ('what ratings statistics it touts or who drinks the most cocktails at the bar') to a performance of SPIDER-MAN at the Foxwoods Theatre on March 22. Syfy is SPIDEY's main media partner for commercials, promotions etc.

OSCAR and GRAMMY Award winning rock star Melissa Etheridge will play the role of 'St. Jimmy' for a one-week engagement in AMERICAN IDIOT, February 1 - 6, 2011. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture her debut curtain call performance!

James Franco, will co-host the 2011 Oscars has confirmed to MTV news that he will co-star with Oscar winner Nicole Kidman in the upcoming Broadway revival of SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, according to Showbiz411.com. Franco says that he will appear appear as Chance Wayne, in the Fall 2011 production, which will be directed by David Cromer.

WONDERLAND opens April 17 and previews begin March 21 at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, 1535 Broadway between 45th & 46th Streets. Meet E Clayton Cornelius, WONDERLAND's Caterpillar.

Following the success of the 2002 Actors Fund Benefit in which stars such as Idina Menzel, Sutton Foster, Ricki Lake and more played the iconic lead role in FUNNY GIRL, the Actors Fund presents a Los Angeles edition on March 14th.

The New York Times has revealed that Sanaa Lathan will star in Second Stage's production of Meet Vera Stark this season. She joins Stephanie J. Block and Karen Olivo. The production also stars Daniel Breaker, KIMBERLY HÉBERT GREGORY and Kevin Isola in this world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, the new play by Lynn Nottage, directed by Jo Bonney. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009.

Roundabout Theatre Company will present 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. Click below for an introduction to the piece from the creators themselves.

Punxsutawney Phil saw Reno's shadow! There are only five more weeks until performances begin for Roundabout Theater Company's production of Anything Goes, starring Sutton Foster and Joel Grey. Below, Anything Goes' 'Reno,' Sutton Foster, wishes you a Happy Groundhog Day.

Whatsonstage.com suggests today that The King's Speech, currently out in theaters starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, may be getting a stage adaptation in London. According to the report: 'Speaking to the New York Times at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards, the film's writer David Seidler - who is nominated for a best original screenplay Oscar - said: 'It will be on the West End of London in the fall, and Adrian Noble is directing it.'

The 'Silly Love Songs' episode of GLEE airs Tuesday, Feb. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. In the February 8 return of GLEE, Jenna Ushkowitz will take a stab at 'My Funny Valentine' from Babes in Arms.

On January 30, an all-star roster of CHICAGO alumni celebrated CHICAGO's 'Facebook Fan Day,' a one-of-a-kind performance marking the first time in Broadway history that a production has given away its entire house to Facebook fans for FREE. Participants included Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (Broadway's original Velma Kelly), Vincent Pastore (Amos Hart), Tony Award winner Lillias White (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Roxie Hart), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton) and many more, plus current CHICAGO stars Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Leigh Zimmerman (Velma Kelly), Colman Domingo (Billy Flynn), Robert Creighton (Amos Hart) and LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Matron 'Mama' Morton). Also in attendance were producer Barry Weissler, special guest hosts Julie James and Seth Rudetsky of SiriusXM Radio's 'On Broadway' channel, and over 1,000 of CHICAGO's top fans, all of whom are attending this very special performance for free.

Ain't It Cool News has revealed the details of the first 25 minutes of The Book of Mormon musical. Seems audiences are in for a number of surprises, if the play-by-play provided is any indication.

WONDERLAND opens on Broadway April 17, with previews beginning March 21. Click below for a trip inside the show!

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating it's thirty-third year. The Houston-based Prize received the 2010 Theatre Communications Group's National Funder Award. The annual honor goes to a company, foundation or other entity for 'leadership and sustained national support of theater in America.'

Following the success of last summer's Shakespeare in the Park productions of The Merchant of Venice and The Winter's Tale, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will once again stage two Shakespeare plays in repertory, running June 6 through July 31 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Daniel Sullivan, who recently directed Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice in the Park, will direct ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL and David Esbjornson, who directed Much Ado About Nothing in the Park, will direct MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Bank of America returns as lead sponsor of Shakespeare in the Park 2011, supporting The Public's mission to keep Shakespeare in the Park free.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced that Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark will co-star as Mother Superior in the new Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, beginning preview performances on March 24, 2011 and opening on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). As previously announced, Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller will reprise her critically acclaimed performance as Deloris Van Cartier, which she originated in the West End production of SISTER ACT.

On Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House, the Kennedy Center will present its 19th annual Kennedy Center Spring Gala. Titled Michael Kaiser at the Kennedy Center: A Celebration of Ten Years, the event will be hosted by Smokey Robinson and will feature a selection of performers who have worked with Kaiser over the years, including Joshua Bell, Barbara Cook, Renée Fleming, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marcelo Gomes and Paloma Herrera of American Ballet Theatre, members of New York City Ballet, and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach. The evening will be co-chaired by Adrienne Arsht, Betsy DeVos, Alma Gildenhorn, Helen Henderson, Ann Jordan, Alma Powell, Catherine B. Reynolds, and Vicki Sant.

New York Theatre Workshop presents Peter and the Starcatcher, written by Rick Elice, directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, based upon the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The cast of Peter and the Starcatcher features Adam Chanler-Berat, Christian Borle, and Celia Keenan-Bolger. The company also includes Teddy Bergman, Arnie Burton, Matt D'Amico, Brandon Dirden, Carson Elrod, Kevin Del Aguila, Greg Hildreth, Karl Kenzler, and David Rossmer.

The Manhattan Theatre Club New York premiere of THE WHIPPING MAN, the acclaimed new play by Matthew Lopez, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes, announced today that due to popular demand, the limited engagement has been extended again with tickets now on sale through Sunday, March 27. This marks the second extension for THE WHIPPING MAN as the show prepares to open today, Tuesday February 1, at MTC at New York City Center-Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Last week, as part of a new work convening at Arena Stage, I was able to finally spark a conversation that I have been wanting to have for over a year now.Rocco Landesman, the Broadway producer responsible for a multitude of hits and current chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, published an post in his blog today which discussed the changing role of the NEA in the future, how to balance supply and demand in the arts, and more.