Ben Walker News

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere production of THE COLUMNIST by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan currently opened last night, April 25, at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The production, which recently announced an extension, is scheduled to run though June 24, 2012. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage from the opening night pre-show and post-show red carpets below!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is scheduled to hit theaters on June 22nd from 20th Century Fox. The horror, thriller film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, stars Broadway veteran Benjamin Walker alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Dominic Cooper, Rufus Sewell, Alan Tudyk, Anthony Mackie, Jimmi Simpson, Jaqueline Fleming and Robin McLeavy.

A group of 140 Stagedoor Manor students from all over the world will sing and dance the opening number for this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®. The number - an all-new original song written specifically for the event - will be a special celebration of the famed Parade's landmark 85th Anniversary. Following the opening, the students will then make their way to the top of the Parade route and march the entire length of the Parade, eventually escorting Santa Claus into Herald Square for the NBC national telecast's finale. This year's appearance will mark Stagedoor Manor's third consecutive Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade performance.

A group of 140 Stagedoor Manor students from all over the world will sing and dance the opening number for this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®. The number - an all-new original song written specifically for the event - will be a special celebration of the famed Parade's landmark 85th Anniversary. Following the opening, the students will then make their way to the top of the Parade route and march the entire length of the Parade, eventually escorting Santa Claus into Herald Square for the NBC national telecast's finale. This year's appearance will mark Stagedoor Manor's third consecutive Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade performance.

Broadway stars including cast members from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Ben Walker, Kate Roberts, and Erin Felgar), American Idiot (John Gallagher Jr., Theo Stockman, Rebecca Jones and Libby Winters) and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Celia Keenan-Bolger and Sarah Saltzberg) gathered and sang Monday night at Colt Coeur's 2nd Annual Karaoke Classic Benefit in Brooklyn. Rightor Doyle, Mamie Gummer and Celia Keenan-Bolger chaired the event which raised funds for Play Hotel (Colt Coeur's ongoing reading series, and their principal arena for developing new work) as well as their next production.

The Casting Society of America has announced winners of the 27th Annual Artios Awards®. The bi-coastal award ceremonies were held on Monday, September 26 in Los Angeles at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, and at the District 36 in New York. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below!

The Casting Society of America will fête their own tonight at the 27th Annual Artios Awards®. The bi-coastal award ceremonies will be held simultaneously at the The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles (reception will commence at 5:45 p.m. PDT) and at District 36 in New York (reception will commence at 5:30 p.m. EDT). For ticket information, please call (212) 868-1260 , or (323) 463-1925 , or visit artios@castingsociety.com.

For awhile now, we have been receiving press materials and hearing about The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF), but never witnessed the group first-hand. Well, that all changed this past Saturday night, in Philadelphia, when we decided to go to the Kimmel Center and see the 2011 Summer-Intensive weekend showcase, this year titled TRUE COLORS. I can honestly say that our jaws dropped. Directed and hosted by the newest addition to their impressive faculty line-up, Richard Jay-Alexander, the evening was like watching a skillfull PLAYLIST of Broadway 'gold' and 'showstoppers.' Two ACTS worth!

Today, we are talking to GLEE fan favorite - as Jesse St. James - and theatre superstar - from SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway to DEATHTRAP in the West End - the charismatic and magnetic Jonathan Groff. In this world exclusive interview, Jonathan and I discuss all things GLEE and all about working on the second season of the hit show - and, most importantly, everything about the season finale - with GLEE stars Lea Michele, Cheyenne Jackson, and Charice, in addition to working with Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and GLEE creator/show-runner Ryan Murphy. Additionally, in this complete conversation, we take a look back at Groff's many stage roles ranging from HAIR and THE BACCHAE in Central Park for the Public Theater, to SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, DEATHTRAP in the West End, as well as his debut in IN MY LIFE - a show whose composer/lyricist/writer, Joe Brooks, was just in the news following his apparent suicide this weekend. Jonathan and I also touch on his blazing feature film debut in Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK co-starring Liev Schreiber, as well as his work on the pilot for Ryan Murphy's PRETTY/HANDSOME, co-starring Joseph Fiennes and Blythe Danner, and his participation in the new independent film TWELVE THIRTY. We also take a look ahead to the future and deduce what is next for one of the brightest talents on Broadway - all of that and much, much more!

The cast of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson performs live in the Imus studio.

Today, Rachel Ray gave members of her audience each a pair of tickets to Broadway's BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON. As BroadwayWorld announced earlier this week, the production will conclude its run on Sunday, January 2nd, 2011. It will have played 120 performances.

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, the most critically acclaimed new musical on Broadway this season, will conclude its run on Sunday, January 2nd, 2011. It will have played 120 performances.

In BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, rising star BENJAMIN WALKER reprises his role as America's first political maverick. A.J. kicked British butt, shafted the Indians and smacked down the Spaniards all in the name of these United States-who cares if he didn't have permission? An exhilarating and white-knuckled look at one of our nation's founding rock stars, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON recreates and reinvents the life of 'Old Hickory,' from his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as our seventh Commander-in-Chief. It also asks the question, is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he's really, really hot?

This month, as part of our 'Debut of the Month' series, Broadway World is shining the spotlight on Maria Elena Ramirez, who is making her Broadway debut as Rachel Jackson in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which begins previews on September 20th and opens on October 13th.

According to a report by TVGuide.com, Mamie Gummer will be returning to 'The Good Wife' as Nancy in the upcoming season. Gummer, who will soon be starring in Shonda Rhimes' latest creation on ABC, 'Off the Map', is currenty engaged to BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON star Ben Walker. her past Broadway credits include: the 2008 revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses and The 24 Hour Plays.

Futhering speculation reported on by BroadwayWorld.com on July 2nd is further word from Showbiz411.com's Roger Friedman that Benjamin Walker has turned down a role in the upcoming 'X-Men: First Class' film to instead help bring BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON to Broadway.

'I'm Gonna Tell Ya Somethin' : No Games. No Gimmicks. Just Stories' Wednesday, January 20, 2010; 7:30pm - $10

People.com has revealed that Actress Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep's daughter has gotten engaged.

The pop culture phenomenon, Disney's 'High School Musical,' is about to take center stage at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Featuring some of the region's most talented young people, Cheng/Ferrara Productions presents this big, bubbly musical Thursday and Fridays, May 1, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, May 2 and 9 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, May 3 and 10 at 2 p.m.