Ben Brantley News

Vineyard Theatre's (108 E. 15 St.) world-premiere production of Christopher Shinn's play PICKED will close on May 22.

The Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning rock musical "Next to Normal" is coming to the Ordway for a two-week run from May 10-22.

When a Christian gives an atheist the Heimlich Maneuver, love sparks and lives change in this award-winning Broadway hit about two men in love, two parents in denial, and two friends on speed dial.

With a near record number of new productions on Broadway this spring, the Tony® nominated revival of Tom Stoppard's ARCADIA, widely acclaimed as one of the greatest plays of the last century, and one of the best reviewed productions on Broadway this season, is offering affordable tickets for the last five weeks of the scheduled limited engagement through Sunday, June 19 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street).

Billy Crudup, Tony Award® Nominee for his role as 'Bernard Nightingale' in the critically acclaimed revival of Tom Stoppard's ARCADIA, directed by David Leveaux, will appear on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" tomorrow, May 17 (locally on MSNBC, channel 14 between 6AM - 9AM).

Billy Elliot the Musical is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever.

Berkshire Theatre Festival and Colonial Theatre Artistic Director/CEO is proud to announce that the 2009 Off-Broadway hit I Got Sick Then I Got Better, written and performed by Jenny Allen, will play three performances at the Unicorn Theatre this Memorial Day weekend.

Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, already extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre, opens tonight, May 9. 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. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK features Stephanie J. Block, Tony Award-nominee Daniel Breaker, Tony Award-nominee David Garrison, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Kevin Isola, Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan, and Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo. Let's see what the critics had to say!

The Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning rock musical "Next to Normal" is coming to the Ordway for a two-week run from May 10-22.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions bring the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical to ASU Gammage from April 26- May 8. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards. Tickets are on sale now.

The cast for THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE includes Michael Cristofer, Linda Emond, Michael Esper, K. Todd Freeman, Hettienne Park, Steven Pasquale, Molly Price, Matt Servitto, Danielle Skraastad, Stephen Spinella and Brenda Wehle. Cristofer, Emond, Esper and Spinella originated their roles in the Guthrie Theater's world premiere of the play. Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Philadelphia premiere of the smash hit Broadway musical and Tony and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Next to Normal opens at the Academy of Music for a limited engagement June 21 - 26 , 2011 as part of the Broadway Season.

On the heels of the opening of its critically-hailed hit production of 'Passing Strange,' Bailiwick Chicago announced today that the company has been awarded the producing rights for the Chicago premiere of the groundbreaking 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,' which, on Tuesday, May 3, was nominated for two Tony Awards (Best Book of a Musical and Set Design) and recently won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit producing entity at the historic Theatre By The Sea, is proud to announce a special 2011 bonus production of the wildly popular comic thriller, Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps.

Alissa Norby and Lampkin Music Group are proud to present acclaimed Tony Award winner and star of Broadway's Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal Alice Ripley in DAILY PRACTICE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS. The celebrated stage artist will perform an exclusive one-night-only engagement at the newly revamped Stage 773 Theatre (1225 W. Belmont in Chicago) May 2nd, 2011. The performance will mark Ripley's Midwest concert debut.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, the 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). At closing, the production will have played 433 performances and 15 previews. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will be launching a national tour this fall, starting in October in Des Moines, IA.

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY will end its Providence run on May 1, 2011. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents's Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

Vineyard Theatre will present its 4th annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to emerging playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, author of the play NEIGHBORS and an adaptation of THE OCTAROON, it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Associate Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

Vineyard Theatre will present its 4th annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to emerging playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, author of the play NEIGHBORS and an adaptation of THE OCTAROON, it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Associate Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

Roundabout Theatre Company is presenting the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, starring two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.