Jessica Lewis - Page 156

The longest-running show in Broadway history, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, reaches an unprecedented milestone today, Wednesday, January 26, 2011, when it celebrates its Twenty-Third Anniversary on Broadway. Playing its 9,566th & 9,567th performances at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), it becomes the first Broadway production ever to have run 23 years.

Directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Wendy Seyb, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opened January 23 at the Paper Mill Playhouse. The production began performances on January 19 and runs through February 13, 2010.

In an interview with the UK Guardian out this morning, former Green Goblin Alan Cumming (who departed the production before rehearsals began last year due to the numerous delays), speaks openly about his decision to depart the production, and what it was like to continue to work with Julie Taymor on The Tempest film thereafter.

Ben Vereen is back. And he's brought his bowl of cherries. On February 18, 2011, the legendary song and dance man will perform his concert, Stepping Out With Ben Vereen, at Town Hall in celebration of the release of his corresponding album. In the concert, recorded live during its recent Hartford engagement, Vereen highlights his stage career and delivers American Standards with his signature 'razzle dazzle' as only he can.

Lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris announced today that tickets have gone on sale for the 8:00 p.m. preview performance on Monday, February 7th. The performance was previously reserved for the show's opening night. In addition, as of today, tickets are now on sale for performances of SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark through Sunday, May 8th. Directed by Julie Taymor and featuring a book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger, and new music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is now in previews at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street).

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis. The cast features Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian, and Mandy Patinkin, with puppet design and puppetry supervision by Matt Acheson. COMPULSION runs through Sunday, March 13 at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street) with an official press opening on Thursday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now.

As previously announced, Anne Hathaway and James Franco will co-host the 83rd Annual Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. The show will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

AsianInNY, New York's premier online destination for multicultural networking and entertainment, is partnering with the Greater Chinatown Community Association (GCCA) to present a festive celebration of Lunar New Year on February 5, 2011, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, at the Chinese Community Center Auditorium, 62 Mott Street, in Chinatown. We have gathered an exciting lineup of Asian and Asian American talent to bring guests a night of comedy, music, and fashion. There will be great live performances, two fabulous fashion runway shows, foot-stomping music, a top martial arts and dance group, and amazing drinks. The night will be a fun, unforgettable celebration to start the Year of the Rabbit. This will also give everyone a chance to see what people do to celebrate the most important holiday in Asia and provide a venue for Asians to share the amazing night together.

This morning, music duo Alan Menken and Glenn Slater received an Oscar nomination for Best Song for 'I See The Light' from Disney's Tangled. This is the 19th nomination for Menken, who has earned 8 Academy Awards already, more than any living person. This is the first nomination for Slater, who has collaborated with Menken on several projects, including Broadway's The Little Mermaid and Sister Act, which is scheduled to open on Broadway on April 20, 2011. The show has played in the West End and is currently a hit in Hamburg, Germany.

The New York Times reports today that a group of Republican politicians are campaigning to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The congressional group is called the Republican Study Committee is comprised of 165 Republican house members and 'also called for eliminating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which got $430 million.' The NEA and NEH were granted $167.5 million from the Federal Government last year.

An all-star roster of celebrated CHICAGO alumni will celebrate 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 include 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), joined by 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!!

The Broadway company of 'Driving Miss Daisy' has announced that their Special Benefit Performance for The Actors Fund will be dedicated to the memory of Lynn and Corin Redgrave. The benefit performance is scheduled for Monday, February 7 at 8 pm. All proceeds will go to The Actors Fund.

Last night, the fans of AMERICAN IDIOT were treated to a special surprise when Green Day band member Mike Dirnt joined Billie Joe and the IDIOT crew onstage for the show's encore performance of 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).' Check out his cameo below.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to announce that Steffanie Leigh will star as 'Mary Poppins' in the North American tour of MARY POPPINS. Leigh, who previously understudied the title role in the touring production, replaces Caroline Sheen, who will play her final performance in Omaha at the Orpheum Theatre on Sunday, February 6th. Leigh officially takes over the role in Omaha on Tuesday, February 8th before the show arrives at the Opera House in Boston on Thursday, February 17th for a limited engagement of five weeks through March 20th. The opening night is Friday, February 18th at 8pm. The Boston engagement of MARY POPPINS is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across America - Boston and is a subscription offering of the Lexus Boston Area Dealers Broadway Across America - Boston Series. Ticketing information may be found at the end of the release.

Linda Eder reunites with Frank Wildhorn on the new album, NOW, marking the musical return of this legendary team. After six years apart, Eder and Wildhorn collaborate to recapture the magic that began over two decades ago with the international hit, Jekyll & Hyde. Pre orders for the album are now being accepted, with the bonus CD booklet signed by Eder.

A New Musical by Bruce Hornsby officially opens at The Wells Theatre tonight, Friday, January 21. This world premiere production features music and lyrics by Williamsburg native and Grammy Winner Bruce Hornsby, lyrics by Chip deMatteo and book by Clay McLeod Chapman. The show is based on an original story by Bruce Hornsby.

In need of new headshots? New York City photographer Peter James Zielinski is offering a $100 discount on headshots through January 31, 2011. Clients will be taken on a first come/first serve basis with the price of $350 per session locked in. Beginning February 1, 2011, headshot sessions will cost $450. Clients wanting to shoot in 'buddy sessions' (sharing a session with a friend) will be charged an additional $25 each. Check out Peter's work at http://www.pjzstudios.com/ and email peter.zielinski@gmail.com to book now and save while availability lasts!

A New Musical by Bruce Hornsby officially opens at The Wells Theatre tonight, Friday, January 21. This world premiere production features music and lyrics by Williamsburg native and Grammy Winner Bruce Hornsby, lyrics by Chip deMatteo and book by Clay McLeod Chapman. The show is based on an original story by Bruce Hornsby.

As BroadwayWorld reported, Theoni V. Alredge, the costume designer for such Broadway stage hits as A Chorus Line, the original production of La Cage Aux Folles and Annie, has passed away after suffering from an infection. She was 78 years old. BroadwayWorld has spoken to A Chorus Line's original Cassie, Donna McKechnie, who worked with Alredge throughout the development of the show, collaborating with her in creating Cassie's now iconic red leotard/skirt ensemble.

Producers Leonard Soloway, Chase Mishkin, Terry Schnuck, Ann Cady Scott, Timothy J. Hampton, James & Catherine Berges, The Shubert Organization and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis announce two-time Golden Globe® winner, Academy Award® & Tony Award® nominee Kathleen Turner will return to Broadway this spring in Matthew Lombardo's new play HIGH, directed by Rob Ruggiero. HIGH will begin previews on Friday, March 25 and open officially on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street).