Ben Gazzara News

Perseverance Theatre opens Pulitzer Prize winning Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tenessee Williams. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is showing on the Perseverance Theatre Mainstage today, March 7 - March 30, 2014.

Perseverance Theatre opens Pulitzer Prize winning Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tenessee Williams. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is showing on the Perseverance Theatre Mainstage March 7 - March 30, 2014.

Today we are setting our sights on one of the most iconic Broadway leading ladies alive and looking back at her astonishingly rich and varied career onstage and onscreen, having worked with many of the most important entertainment figures of the 20th and 21st century over her 60-year career and winning multiple awards and honors in the process - the one and only Elaine Stritch. Touching upon her time in many notable theatrical entities ranging from her early work at The New School under director Erwin Piscator to rubbing elbows with legends like Bertolt Brecht, William Inge, Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando to her unforgettable turns in Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY and FOLLIES IN CONCERT, Stritch also shines a light on her indelible performances in the plays of Edward Albee and looks ahead to a staged reading of THREE TALL WOMEN she is pursuing later this year. Most importantly, Stritch opens up about the multi-year process in creating the stunning and awe-inspiring new all-access documentary ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME, directed by Chiemi Karasawa, and outlines how she dealt with cameras documenting her every move for more than two years. Additionally, Stritch comments on her memorable moments in the films of Woody Allen byway of SEPTEMBER and SMALL TIME CROOKS, as well as shares insights into some of her most famous and fabulous co-stars - Ben Gazzara, Alec Baldwin, James Gandolfini, Steve Buscemi and many more included. Plus, Stritch details her recent move back to her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and shares details about her recent recuperation from hip surgery and ongoing battles with alcoholism as well as learning to see with only eye. As if all of that were not enough, Stritch also imparts her thoughts on why she appeals to the younger generation and how her Emmy-winning 30 ROCK role has raised awareness for her in the last decade and whether she would ever consider pursuing a reality series or new solo cabaret act. All of that, why she hates the word diva and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with the veritable reigning queen of Broadway herself.

One Hundred and Twenty-Five years ago this New Year's Eve, America's most celebrated actor, Edwin Booth gave the Deed of 16 Gramercy Park South to The Players. The Players tradition has been to read the deed in front of the Great Hall fire place echoing back to Edwin Booth and the Founding Members. This year, this tradition continues along with live music, dancing, and more festivities as The Players kicks off a new era, sharing a toast to its founders and celebrating 125 years at 'A Certain Club.'

The National Asian American Theater Company's solid if unexceptional production of Awake and Sing, Clifford Odets 1935 drama of a struggling immigrant Jewish family in The Bronx, is opening just a few days after the 50th anniversary of the death of Odets

Below, we bring you a photo flashback of the marquee at the Music Box Theatre for the 2003 Broadway revival, featuring Ashley Judd, Jason Patric, Ned Beatty and Margo Martindale.

In 'The Past Is Still Ahead' by Sophia Romma, one of Russia's most ill-fated and controversial cult poets of the twentieth century, Marina Tsvetaeva, revisits the tumultuously tragic and sexy events of her life--just before she succumbs to 'suicide' at the hands of the Soviet Secret Police in 1941 while exiled in Siberia. The play will be presented by Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival tonight, July 23, 27 and 28 at The Jewel Box Theater, 312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor, NYC, directed by Francois Rochaix.

Groundbreaking actor, singer, dancer, author and educator Rita Moreno has been named the 50th recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute - the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

In 'The Past Is Still Ahead' by Sophia Romma, one of Russia's most ill-fated and controversial cult poets of the twentieth century, Marina Tsvetaeva, revisits the tumultuously tragic and sexy events of her life--just before she succumbs to 'suicide' at the hands of the Soviet Secret Police in 1941 while exiled in Siberia. The play will be presented by Midtown International Theatre Festival on July 23, 27 and 28 at The Jewel Box Theater, 312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor, NYC, directed by Francois Rochaix.

On Monday evening, April 8th at the finale of Marty Richards' star-studded-sold-out Memorial to benefit his beloved New York Center For Children, which he co-founded with his wife Mary Lea Johnson Richards, Chita Rivera quieted the crowd to make an important announcement regarding the future of the American Theatre and the New York centric film and television's East Coast community. Dan Gallagher and Michael Milton, Mr. Richards' co-workers and right-hand visionaries for over fifteen years, have power-teamed with Producer/General Manager, Cheryl Dennis, to form the new Producer Circle Co. with offices in Manhattan.

2012 is coming to a close, and BroadwayWorld's senior photographer Walter McBride takes a moment to look back at some of the many influential people we've lost this year. 2012 saw the death of some of the most beloved actors, musicians, comedians, writers and true heros.

'Cabaret Emigré' by Sophia Romma, originally scheduled for November 2 to 18, now opens tonight, November 7 and will add performances November 11, 13 and 14 to make up for lost shows due to Hurricane Sandy. This new play, directed by Charles Weldon, is being presented by Negro Ensemble Company at the Lion Theater, Theater Row.

'Cabaret Emigré' by Sophia Romma, originally scheduled for November 2 to 18, will now open November 7 and will add performances November 11, 13 and 14 to make up for lost shows due to Hurricane Sandy. This new play, directed by Charles Weldon, is being presented by Negro Ensemble Company at the Lion Theater, Theater Row.

The Negro Ensemble's "Cabaret Émigre," a stageplay by Sophia Romma, will make its debut on November 2 at 8 pm at the Lion Theater in NYC's theater district. A satirical story about emigrants who have traveled to the U.S. throughout the 1900s, the play spotlights a Russian Jew, African, Latino, German and various other emigres who made this difficult travel in pursuit of the American Dream. The show makes the audience question: Did they achieve this dream? Was it worth it? And, just in time for New Yorkers to decide which president will help them to achieve their goals in the upcoming years. The show runs through Sunday, November 18.

The Negro Ensemble's "Cabaret Émigre," a stageplay by Sophia Romma, will make its debut on November 2 at 8 pm at the Lion Theater in NYC's theater district. A satirical story about emigrants who have traveled to the U.S. throughout the 1900s, the play spotlights a Russian Jew, African, Latino, German and various other emigres who made this difficult travel in pursuit of the American Dream. The show makes the audience question: Did they achieve this dream? Was it worth it? And, just in time for New Yorkers to decide which president will help them to achieve their goals in the upcoming years. The show runs through Sunday, November 18.

The human, emigrant condition is examined in 'Cabaret Emigré,' a new play by Sophia Romma, directed by Charles Weldon, to be presented by the Negro Ensemble Company from November 2 to 18 at the Lion Theater, Theater Row. The play contains ten Lewis Carroll-style testimonials that are told as cabaret acts by a collection of émigrés who are primarily Russian Jews like Romma herself, as well as émigrés from Latin America and Africa. All of them have no other motive than to entertain each other and their resulting acts are outrageous and macabre, like a journey down the rabbit hole.

According to an Equity casting notice, Rob Ashord is set to helm the upcoming Broadway revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof in the Spring 2013. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Scarlett Johansson, who won a 2010 Tony Award for her Broadway debut in A View From The Bridge, is rumored to play Maggie in the production. Those in the running to play Brick are Star Trek's Chris Pine and Johansson's The Avenger's co-star Jeremy Renner. Casting options for the remainder of the cast remain unknown.

The New York Times reports today that a Scarlett Johansson is in talks to star in a revival of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Broadway in the Spring of 2013.

In its opening moments, it would be completely understandable to assume that Assistance, Leslye Headland's viciously fun satire of the cutthroat dealings among entry-level twenty-somethings, might be mimicking David Mamet's dark comedy of film executives, Speed-the-Plow. 

Known for her many memorable roles on stages and screens large and small, many from the canon of William Shakespeare (OTHELLO, MACBETH) and Edward Albee (THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, SEASCAPE, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? & LISTENING), Maureen Anderman is making her grand return to the realm of Shakespeare onstage in New York with the new BAM production of RICHARD III directed by Sam Mendes, starring Kevin Spacey. In addition to illustrating many aspects of the rapturously received revival of the historical tragedy as she has traveled with it around the world, Anderman and I also discuss her affiliation with Shakespeare and what she derives from performing his greatest works, with RICHARD III being the central focus. Also, Anderman details her experiences working with Edward Albee on the original Broadway productions of THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE and SEASCAPE, as well as offering some candid observations on some of her favorite feature film and television appearances over the years - THE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF MOLLY DODD and LAW & ORDER included. As well as all of that, Anderman also shines a light on her recent standby duties for Vanessa Redgrave in THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING and DRIVING MISS DAISY, as well as the forthcoming Westport Country Playhouse production of MAGICAL THINKING in which she will be starring later this year.