Ann Reinking News

New York City Center will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its Tony Award-winning Encores! series on November 12 with a Gala Benefit starring Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara, and featuring performers who have starred in Encores! productions over the past two decades.

Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault and Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer today announced that Tony-nominated actress Nancy Opel (Broadway's "Memphis," "Urinetown," "Teddy & Alice," "Sunday in the Park with George," "Anything Goes," others) and Edward Gero ("King Lear" with Stacey Keach for Goodman and Shakespeare Theatre Company; Ford's "A Christmas Carol"; Goodman and Arena Stage's "Red") will star in the spring production of "Hello, Dolly!" at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). The production will be directed by Schaeffer and co-produced by Ford's Theatre and Virginia's Tony-winning Signature Theatre. The production will play from March 15 through May 18, 2013. Additional casting will be announced in early 2013.

Building on a commitment to stage bold productions of powerful contemporary plays, Signature Theatre takes a close-up look this fall at love during wartime. Dying City, Christopher Shinn's acclaimed two-person play, casts an intimate light on the role of friendship and family in the wake of personal loss.

As previously announced, this fall, Broadway's acclaimed record-breaking revival of the Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will welcome singer, songwriter, actor and multi-platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus in his Broadway stage debut as 'that silver-tongued prince of the courtroom,' slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn. Cyrus will play a limited seven-week engagement at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.) this holiday season, Monday November 5 through Sunday, December 23. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at Cyrus as Billy Flynn below!

Award winning choreographers Ann Reinking and Melissa Thodos are teaming again to co-choreograph A Light in the Dark, the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, their second full-length story ballet, this time based on the story of Helen Keller, the extraordinary woman who was deaf and blind yet went on to become a world-famous writer, political activist and inspiration to all who know her incredible story.

The sun will come out October 2nd when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the beloved musical classic ANNIE with itsBlu-ray™ debut. This charming motion picture was adapted from the smash Tony Award®-winning musical comedy based on the "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip about a young, red-haired orphan, Annie, and her dreams of a better life outside the orphanage walls. Filled with musical numbers that have become Broadway classics, such as "Tomorrow," "Easy Street," "It's the Hard-Knock Life," ANNIE features an ensemble cast: five-time Academy Award® nominated Albert Finney (Best Supporting Actor, Erin Brockovich, 2000) plays billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks; Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Carol Burnett (TV's "The Carol Burnett Show") plays Miss Hannigan, the orphanage's cruel headmistress. It also stars Aileen Quinn in her feature film debut, as well as Bernadette Peters (TV's "Smash"), Ann Reinking (All That Jazz) and Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show).

Building on a commitment to stage bold productions of powerful contemporary plays, Signature Theatre takes a close-up look this fall at love during wartime. Dying City, Christopher Shinn's acclaimed two-person play, casts an intimate light on the role of friendship and family in the wake of personal loss.

Christie Brinkley, one of the world's most successful supermodels, will make her Boston debut in the National Tour of the Tony Award-winning hit musical "Chicago." She will star as merry murderess Roxie Hart with John O'Hurley as Billy Flynn in a strictly limited 6-show engagement at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, November 1-4. Press night is set for Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 pm. Tickets go on sale on Friday, September 7 at 10 am.

Step, leap, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch…again! I recently had a chance to chat with Director Danny Herman and Choreographer Rocker Verastique of Georgetown Palace Theatre's spectacular production of A CHORUS LINE which plays its final performances this weekend. Together, Danny and Rocker filled me in on everything about being on the line, from what it was like to work with Michael Bennett and Marvin Hamlisch to why the show is still relatable some 37 years later.

According to the Daily Mail, CHICAGO closes at the West End's Garrick Theatre after a 15-year revival run today, September 1, 2012.

CHICAGO is a musical that's burdened by the weight of its expectations. From the classic score by Kander and Ebb, to Bob Fosse's legendary choreography, to the original cast of Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, and Jerry Orbach, and to the modern casting of Ann Reinking, of Joel Grey, of John O'Hurley, and of Charlotte D'Amboise, everything about it is mythic. Even the award-winning movie version is considered a poor adaptation of the actual play - what about it isn't too much to handle?

Signature Theatre will be hosting a special one-night performance and book-signing featuring Broadway star and Helen Hayes Award winner Ed Dixon (Signature's Sunset Boulevard). Tonight, August 27 at 8:00PM, Mr. Dixon will be performing original compositions as well narrate behind-the-scenes stories from his recent memoir Secrets of A Life On Stage…And Off. Copies of the book will be available to purchase, and a book-signing will take place following the performance, which will take place in Signature's intimate ARK Theatre.

Scattered across our media-soaked world, celebrity criminals have been a mainstay of modern journalism for decades. Casey Anthony meet Roxie Hart.

Yee-haw! It's time to start two-steppin' and boot-scootin' in the aisles, as Signature Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, beginning performances tonight, August 14.

Despite being completely busy preparing for the concert staging of A TOUCH OF VENUS, Paul Hope, Artistic Director and Founder of Bayou City Concert Musicals, took a break from his busy schedule to talk to me about his innovative and charitable organization. Since it's inception, Bayou City Concert Musicals has been providing Houston audiences with well-produced and lauded performances of often-neglected musicals. Continuing to grow an ever-increasing loyal audience and fan following, I asked Paul Hope to tell me more about Bayou City Concert Musicals and the shows they choose to produce.

Signature Theatre will be hosting a special one-night performance and book-signing featuring Broadway star and Helen Hayes Award winner Ed Dixon (Signature's Sunset Boulevard). On Monday, August 27 at 8:00PM, Mr. Dixon will be performing original compositions as well narrate behind-the-scenes stories from his recent memoir Secrets of A Life On Stage…And Off. Copies of the book will be available to purchase, and a book-signing will take place following the performance, which will take place in Signature's intimate ARK Theatre.

CHICAGO, winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Review, kicks off the Ordway's 2012-13 Theater Season with a one-week run beginning tonight, August 7, 2012.

Commencing this summer, Northern Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre will be the new home to the emerging No Rules Theater Company (NRTC) through 2015. The partnership between the two companies will provide NRTC with use of the Theatre's facilities, including office and rehearsal space. NRTC's 2012/13 season, the company's 4th, will be presented in Signature's 115-seat ARK Theatre. Brian Sutow and Joshua Morgan, the company's Co-Artistic Directors, have today announced their upcoming season, which includes Black Comedy from award-winning playwright Peter Shaffer, the world premiere of The Personal(s), and the anything-goes revue, The No Rules Show. Signature, in its new building in Shirlington since 2007, will assist in mentoring the young and quickly growing company as it remains in residence.

A longtime member of the 'Mamma Mia' cast on tour and Bway, Erica's now performing in her 2nd straight Rob Ashford-choreographed show.

CHICAGO, winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Review, kicks off the Ordway's 2012-13 Theater Season with a one-week run beginning Tuesday, August 7, 2012.