A. Smith News

Celebrating two years on stage, one million tickets sold and three Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Toronto production of JERSEY BOYS will say 'Bye, Bye Baby' to Toronto on Sunday, August 22, 2010, the date of their second anniversary.

Fela!, recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Choreography, will celebrate its 250th performance on Wednesday, June 30 @ 8pm. Produced by Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, this critically acclaimed show based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Kuti, began performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) on October 19 and opened to rave reviews on November 23.

Richard Israel directs a staged reading of the new musical HAVING IT ALMOST which will be performed at the El Portal Forum Theatre on June 29 and 30 at 7:30. The cast features Jennifer Leigh Warren, Michelle Duffy, Andi Gibson, Shannon Warne and Kim Huber.

The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre Announces the 2009-2010 ANTHONY AWARD Recipients!

Richard Israel directs a staged reading of the new musical HAVING IT ALMOST which will be performed at the El Portal Forum Theatre on June 29 and 30 at 7:30. The cast features Jennifer Leigh Warren, Michelle Duffy, Andi Gibson, Shannon Warne and Kim Huber.

The Savannah Disputation, written by Evan Smith, plays the Mainstage July 28 through August 22. Tickets are $26 to $54, with discounts available to groups, seniors, military, and students. Call the Box Office at 301.924.3400 or visit olneytheatre.org for tickets and information. In addition, Olney offers several special performances that include sign interpretation, audio description, and post-show discussions.

Images by Christopher Duggan, a Festival photographer for Jacob's Pillow Dance, are being presented in a solo exhibit at Dance New Amsterdam in New York City, June 23 through August 11. Festival 2010 marks Duggan's fifth season as a primary photographer of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, which annually presents more than 50 outstanding dance companies from all over the world, and 200 free talks, performances, and exhibits. An opening reception with the photographer will be held at Dance New Amsterdam, Wednesday, June 23, at 7pm.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast for its upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, playing in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 20 - August 22, 2010 (press opening: July 27 at 7:00 pm).

ACT's 2010 Mainstage season continues with a savagely funny new comedy, The Female of the Species by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, June 18-July 18, 2010. This Seattle premiere is loosely based on a real-life incident when feminist icon, author, and professor Germaine Greer was attacked and held hostage in her home in the British countryside by a college co-ed obsessed with the famous writer.

Miller Theatre's 2010 - 2011 season is the first fully programmed by its exuberant new director Melissa Smey. The season is a richly drawn exploration of diverse musical genres and styles, confirming what The New York Times declared: 'For sheer adventurousness, Miller Theatre remains the place to go.'

As part of the theatre's Hometown season, Royal & Derngate is transforming the whole of the Derngate auditorium into a giant children's playmat for a fantastic interactive show for children and families to enjoy together. Flathampton runs from Friday 9 to Saturday 17 July.

The Irish play that led to riots in the streets of Dublin when it debuted 103 years ago and became a comic masterpiece, The Playboy of the Western World, opens the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 19th season. With previews June 16 and 17, the play opens June 18 in the Schubert Theatre and continues through July 3.

Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson), industry vets (Katie Finneran, Bill T. Jones, Michael Grandage), Broadway newcomers (Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge) and more!

Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City MusicAl Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson, industry vets Katie Finneran, Bill T. Jones, Michael Grandage, Broadway newcomers Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge, and more!

Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson), industry vets (Katie Finneran, Michael Grandage), Broadway newcomers (Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge) and more, including FELA!'s own director/choreographer, Bill T. Jones and costume designer Marina Draghici.

The American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 13, 2010 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.

The premiere of the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Wednesday, June 9 scored with 3.04 million total viewers, making it the most-watched awards premiere in channel history. According to Nielsen Media Research, the two-and-a-half hour show scored a 1.42 rating among P18-49, up 19 percent over last year with an average 1.5 million viewers in the key demo. The show's performance from 8-10:30 p.m. drove CMT to become the most-watched network in the time period across cable with P18-49 and W18-49 impressions. More than 10.8 million viewers cumulative* tuned in for all related CMT Music Awards programming, including the live Red Carpet show and encore.

The New York Times reports today that the Tony Award statuette has grown up for 2010. Where the statue used to be 3 1/4 inches tall, weighing in at a 1 1/2 pounds, this year's prize is larger by almost double: standing 5 inches high and weighing 3 1/2 pounds.

In a New York Times feature out today, the longtime Tony Awards ceremony production designer, Steve Bass, reveals what is involved in translating a live Broadway aesthetic for the screen and what audiences can expect this year.