Ally Sheedy News

Second Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of Sofia Alvarez's FRIEND ART, directed by Portia Krieger, and the New York premiere of Lucy Teitler's ENGAGEMENTS as part of the company's fourteenth annual SECOND STAGE THEATRE UPTOWN SERIES this summer.

New York City's 92nd Street Y will present a panel on the life and career of Madeline Kahn (1942-99), the Oscar-nominated, Emmy and Tony-winning actress, on January 25, 2016 at 12 noon.

When HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH opened off-Broadway in 1998, I'd just entered high school. As a teenage theatre geek in Massachusetts, my only available resources were local theatres, and the few Broadway cast recordings sold at the local mall, so I remained oblivious. When the 2001 movie was later produced, I'd grown to identify as a member of the LGBT community, but queer independent films were far off my radar, despite the cult following that had quickly developed surrounding this particular film. Now, although I will miss the recent Broadway revival of HEDWIG (which will close on September 13), I've grown familiar with the material, thanks in part to YouTube, and many years of visiting the famous Musical Theatre Mondays at NYC's Splash bar (R.I.P.), which frequently showed clips of "Wig in a Box," "Wicked Little Town," and "The Origin of Love."

Lines are blurring. Gender-bending is seemingly everywhere these days, from high fashion ads to news coverage to I AM CAIT, Queen Latifah as The Wiz and beyond. Furthermore, one of the most provocative and popular stories of last week was the news of a Canadian regional production of A CHORUS LINE casting a male actor in the leading role of Cassie, renamed Casey. With the additional angle of Broadway currently being abuzz with the appearance of stage and screen star Taye Diggs stepping into the iconic high heels of the titular character in the recently multi-Tony Award-winning musical HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH - itself centered on a transsexual character - it seems as though now would be the ideal time to consider some other musical theatre mainstays and how they could be re-purposed and refreshed with a gender-bended twist. Although certain roles seems tailor-made to such treatment, it is illuminating to consider the rich possibilities that could potentially be afforded in the experience of witnessing the right performer of perhaps the perceivably wrong sex tackling a role normally associated with the opposite gender. Who knows, maybe a female Phantom or a make Elphaba are not that wildly spurious or far-fetched to consider given the compelling performances that have been given by unlikely actors in roles traditionally portrayed in a certain way. Theatre is nothing without reinvention and these are my top 10 picks for musicals I would like to see taken on with fresh eyes and a new outlook.

HELD MOMENTARILY -- the new musical featuring India Carney, the singer and actress who was a 2015 finalist on NBC-TV's 'The Voice' -- has extended its engagement at The New York Musical Theatre Festival. Scheduled to run July 20 to July 27, 2015, the production has added an additional performance on Tuesday, July 21 at 1:00 PM at PTC Performance Space (555 West 42nd Street in New York).

L.A. Theatre Works celebrates its 40th Anniversary and honors Geoffrey Cowan, President of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and University Professor at the University of Southern California and the L.A. Theatre Works Company of Artists.

L.A. Theatre Works celebrates its 40th Anniversary and honors Geoffrey Cowan, President of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and University Professor at the University of Southern California and the L.A. Theatre Works Company of Artists.

Ok, folks. This is getting dangerous. We are now exactly one week away from Christmas, and you still haven't started finished your shopping yet. And if you celebrate Hanukah, you're in a lot of trouble! So, I decided to help you out with a list of 10 items (in no particular order) that any pop culture fan with a modicum of taste would love to have this year. I've included classic movies, great TV shows, books, CDs, and a lot more; so if you don't find something for the entertainment lover on your list, I don't know what to tell you!

The new comedy FUGLY! directed by Alfredo De Villa and written by John Leguizamo will arrive at New York's AMC Empire 25 tonight, November 7th before expanding nationwide. The film will be made available on Movies On Demand and VOD November 25th.

Actor John Leguizamo stopped by ABC's THE VIEW this week to talk about his new film, 'Fugly!' Check out the appearance below!

The new comedy FUGLY! directed by Alfredo De Villa and written by John Leguizamo will arrive at New York's AMC Empire 25 on November 7th before expanding nationwide.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, continues its in-your-face freshman run on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre. The production won four 2014 Tony Awards and numerous other accolades, but the musical had much humbler beginnings before becoming the cult phenomenon it is today. Scroll down to learn about the actors who have taken on the role of 'Hedwig Robinson,' rocking audiences with tales of 'her life, her loves, and the botched operation that left her with that 'angry inch'!'

Today we are toasting the newest titular star of multi-award-winning rock musical HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, Andrew Rannells!

The Off-Broadway production of The Long Shrift, written by Robert Boswell and directed by James Franco, opened last night at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. The Long Shirt began previews on July 7th and will run through August 23rd. This play is James Franco's directing debut. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photo coverage below!

First-time playwright Robert Boswell and first-time director James Franco deal with the issue of rape and miscommunication.

The Off-Broadway production of The Long Shrift, written by Robert Boswell and directed by James Franco, opens tonight at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. The Long Shirt began previews on July 7th and will run through August 23rd. This play is James Franco's directing debut.

Starting on Friday, July 25th, ABC Family launches Summer Crush, the network's sixth-annual summer-programming event filled with all-day movies, including classics such as "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club" and new hits like the ABC Family premiere of "Bridesmaids."

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long previously announced that the World Premiere of The Long Shrift, written by Robert Boswell and directed by James Franco, would begin previews tonight, July 7th, 2014. The official opening night is set for July 13th, 2014 and closing night is August 23rd, 2014.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long have announced the World Premiere of The Long Shrift, written by Robert Boswell and directed by James Franco, will begin previews July 7th, 2014. The official opening night is set for July 13th, 2014 and closing night is August 23rd, 2014.

On May 19th in Manhattan, LaGuardia Arts High School Parents Association will celebrate 'Peace, Love & The Power of Song' with a tribute to alumnus and folk legend Peter Yarrow.