Ben Brantley News

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), the professional producing arm of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, continues its Nutmeg Summer Series with the David Ives' comedy, All in the Timing, playing June 10 through 20, 2010 in the Nafe Katter Theatre.

Center Theatre Group's production of 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore,' Martin McDonagh's strikingly original black comedy follows Padraic (played by Chris Pine), a terrorist deemed too angry for the IRA, and the swath of destruction he cuts on his return to Inishmore to care for a beloved pet. 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore' begins previews at the Mark Taper Forum on June 30, opens July 11 and continues through August 8, 2010.

Today, I am sharing with you Part I of my exclusive InDepth InterView with legendary Broadway star Donna McKechnie who is perhaps best known as the genius director- choreographer Michael Bennett's muse and primary interpreter as well as the originator and inspiration for the character of Cassie in A CHORUS LINE - for which she won Best Actress In A Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards - in addition to her many roles on Broadway and the West End, as well as all over the country on tours of every kind over the years. In Part I of this comprehensive chat we discuss her earliest featured roles on Broadway, working on the groundbreaking COMPANY and her thoughts on collaborators Bennett, Sondheim and Hal Prince; as well as her thoughts on the current state of Broadway, the out-of-town experience in the Golden Age and creating Cassie in A CHORUS LINE. Plus, of course, we discuss her fantastic new show and much, much more!

Second Story Theatre presents ST. NICHOLAS, written by Tony Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson (The Seafarer, The Weir), directed by Scott Paulin (Getting Frankie Married, The Roads to Home) and performed by Michael McGee. ST. NICHOLAS will open on Friday, June 18 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, July 25th (there will be no performances the Fourth of July weekend) at the SFS Theatre, 5636 Melrose Ave.

GLADD Media, Lucille Lortel and OBIE Award winner Colman Domingo - who last season was seen on The Vineyard stage twice, first in his Lucille Lortel Award-winning autobiographical play A BOY AND HIS SOUL and most recently in the Kander and Ebb musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, and who will play Billy Flynn in CHICAGO on Broadway this summer - will host Vineyard Theatre's 2010 Spring Luncheon and the presentation of the 3rd Annual Paula Vogel Playwrighting Award to emerging playwright Kara Lee Corthron on Thursday, June 17 from 12pm to 2pm at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan.

IN THE HEIGHTS, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards® and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, is coming to the Civic Theatre in San Diego from July 27 - August 1, 2010; as a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that David Bologna will return to the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ‘Michael,' Billy's best friend. Bologna received a 2009 Tony nomination for his performance as ‘Michael.' He is scheduled to begin performances on Wednesday, June 16th and will play his final performance on Sunday, August 8th.

Performance Space 122 and Pan Pan have teamed up Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, one of NYC's most incendiary new playwrights, with Gavin Quinn, one of Ireland's most provocative directors, for what is sure to be a Molotov cocktail of contemporary theatre performance.

As BroadwayWorld reporter Tim Shawver first reported on June, 8, Lin-Manuel Miranda will be joing the IN THE HEIGHTS tour early, playing Tempe's Gammage Auditorium in Arizona June 15 - 20. Miranda was originally scheduled to join the tour in Los Angeles following the Arizona run.

Second Story Theatre presents ST. NICHOLAS, written by Tony Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson (The Seafarer, The Weir), directed by Scott Paulin (Getting Frankie Married, The Roads to Home) and performed by Michael McGee. ST. NICHOLAS will open on Friday, June 18 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, July 25th (there will be no performances the Fourth of July weekend) at the SFS Theatre, 5636 Melrose Ave.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), Magic Theatre, and Marin Theatre Company (MTC) have announced the full details of their first-time partnership: Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays.

Broadway In Chicago, in partnership with the City of Chicago, is pleased to present the annual BROADWAY IN CHICAGO CONCERT AT TASTE OF CHICAGO, a fantastic, FREE event on Monday, June 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park (235 S. Columbus Drive).

GLADD Media, Lucille Lortel and OBIE Award winner Colman Domingo - who last season was seen on The Vineyard stage twice, first in his Lucille Lortel Award-winning autobiographical play A BOY AND HIS SOUL and most recently in the Kander and Ebb musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, and who will play Billy Flynn in CHICAGO on Broadway this summer - will host Vineyard Theatre's 2010 Spring Luncheon and the presentation of the 3rd Annual Paula Vogel Playwrighting Award to emerging playwright Kara Lee Corthron on Thursday, June 17 from 12pm to 2pm at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan.

The University of Miami's Department of Theatre Arts presents its 2010-2011 Season which kicks off on September 29, 2010 with Urinetown, a Tony award winning musical comedy. Other season highlights include Big Love and Carousel for a total of five plays that highlight the talent of UM's performing students.

As BroadwayWorld reporter Tim Shawver first reported on June, 8, Lin-Manuel Miranda will be joing the IN THE HEIGHTS tour early, playing Tempe's Gammage Auditorium in Arizona June 15 - 20. Miranda was originally scheduled to join the tour in Los Angeles following the Arizona run.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), the professional producing arm of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, continues its Nutmeg Summer Series with the David Ives' comedy, All in the Timing, playing June 10 through 20, 2010 in the Nafe Katter Theatre. The preview performance takes place on June 10 at 7:30 p.m. , and Opening Night is June 11 at 8 p.m.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that David Bologna will return to the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ‘Michael,' Billy's best friend. Bologna received a 2009 Tony nomination for his performance as ‘Michael.' He is scheduled to begin performances on Wednesday, June 16th and will play his final performance on Sunday, August 8th.

The young stars of BILLY ELLIOT were cheering on the Blackhawks last night! The ‘Hawks won just in time for Tommy Batchelor to come out for his final bow with his Blackhawks Hat on, too!

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), the professional producing arm of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, continues its Nutmeg Summer Series with the David Ives' comedy, All in the Timing, playing June 10 through 20, 2010 in the Nafe Katter Theatre.

Gorilla Repertory Theater Company, Inc presents William Shakespeare's classic comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, for a free limited run from June 10 through the 20 in Central Park. The show begins at 8 p.m. at Summit Rock in Central Park (near 83rd St and Central Park West) and as is the Gorilla Rep tradition since its inception in 1992, this performance will be mobile and interactive. Audiences are advised to wear sneakers and/or comfortable shoes.