Billy Crystal News

BroadwayWorld.com has learned from her longtime friend and record producer Bruce Kimmel that Michelle Nicastro has passed away at the age of 50 from cancer.

Today, perhaps the greatest gift a Broadway baby could receive was benevolently bestowed upon me in the form of an indepth and revealing discussion with the foremost composer and lyricist of his generation, one of the greatest writers in American history in any medium - the unmatched musical and lyrical genius himself, Stephen Sondheim. In this portion of our complete discussion we discuss his new book, FINISHING THE HAT, as well as take a look back at his legendary career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. Merman to Madonna, Brecht to Barbra Streisand, COMPANY to GROUNDHOG DAY (or not) - we cover it all. See here just a glimpse of the reason why the name Stephen Sondheim means more to musical theatre than any other name in the last fifty years. Plus, his promise to - in his own immortal words from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - 'give us more to see' in the very near future. That moment cannot come soon enough, as any fan of theatre - or art in America, for that matter - can assuredly attest.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the Yale Repertory Theatre production of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, adapted by Robert Woodruff and Bill Camp, based on a translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, directed by Robert Woodruff, running in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre September 17 - October 17 (media night: Friday, Sept 24 at 8:00 pm).

La Jolla Playhouse presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined, by Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel, Crumbs from the Table of Joy), directed by South Africa native Liesl Tommy, in the Mandell Weiss Theatre November 16 - December 19 (media night: Sunday, November 21 at 7:00 pm).

Bay Street Theatre is pleased to bring back MY SON THE WAITER: A JEWISH TRAGEDY to the Mainstage in Sag Harbor on Saturday, October 9 at 8 pm. The hysterical comedy sold out four shows this summer as part of the BAY STREET @ THE PARRISH series in Southampton. The show is written and performed by Brad Zimmerman and will performed for one night only. Tickets are $35. Call the box office at 631-725-9500 or log on to www.baystreet.org.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to announce that San Diego City Council will issue a proclamation designating Tuesday, September 28, 2010 to be La Jolla Playhouse 2010 Tony Award Day, in celebration of the 2010 Tony Award win for the hit Broadway musical Memphis, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Memphis highlighted the Playhouse's 2008/9 season before transferring to New York. The proclamation will be presented to Ashley by District 1 City Councilmember Sherri S. Lightner on September 28 at 10:00 am at City Council chambers (202 C Street, 12th Floor, San Diego).

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to announce that San Diego City Council will issue a proclamation designating Tuesday, September 28, 2010 to be La Jolla Playhouse 2010 Tony Award Day, in celebration of the 2010 Tony Award win for the hit Broadway musical Memphis, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Memphis highlighted the Playhouse's 2008/9 season before transferring to New York. The proclamation will be presented to Ashley by District 1 City Councilmember Sherri S. Lightner on September 28 at 10:00 am at City Council chambers (202 C Street, 12th Floor, San Diego).

Lead producers Margo Lion and Hal Luftig announced today that the new musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will open on Broadway Sunday, April 10, 2011 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. This new musical, created by a team of Tony winners, features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, choreography by Jerry Mitchell and is directed by Jack O'Brien. Previews begin March 7, 2011. Casting and additional design team will be announced shortly.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the Yale Repertory Theatre production of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, adapted by Robert Woodruff and Bill Camp, based on a translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, directed by Robert Woodruff, running in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre September 17 - October 17 (media night: Friday, Sept 24 at 8:00 pm).

Bay Street Theatre is pleased to bring back MY SON THE WAITER: A JEWISH TRAGEDY to the Mainstage in Sag Harbor on Saturday, October 9 at 8 pm. The hysterical comedy sold out four shows this summer as part of the BAY STREET @ THE PARRISH series in Southampton. The show is written and performed by Brad Zimmerman and will performed for one night only. Tickets are $35. Call the box office at 631-725-9500 or log on to www.baystreet.org.

The Tisch School of the Arts announced today that it will be honoring Tony Award® and Emmy Award® winning actor Billy Crystal, Class of 1970, at its annual gala, The Face of Tisch on Monday, December 6th at the renowned Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley and Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg are pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Ann Trimble as the Playhouse's new Director of Development. Ms. Trimble will begin full time duties on September 7, 2010.

ThroughLine Artists with J.J. Kandel and John McCormack will present SUMMER SHORTS 4, their fourth annual festival of new American short plays, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances begin Friday July 30th, and continue through Thursday September 2nd.

BAY STREET @ THE PARRISH is back with two hilarious shows coming to the intimate space at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton. This year Bay Street @ The Parrish opens its summer season with MY SON THE WAITER, A JEWISH TRAGEDY, running for 2 weekends only-Fridays and Saturdays July 23- 24 and July 30-31.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) announces its 2010/2011 season of dance, theatre, and family programming.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the Yale Repertory Theatre production of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, adapted by Robert Woodruff and Bill Camp, based on a translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, directed by Robert Woodruff, running in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre September 17 - October 17 (media night: Friday, Sept 24 at 8:00 pm).

La Jolla Playhouse announces a new family-friendly Page To Stage Workshop Production: Cankerblossom, conceived and created by Pig Iron Theatre Company, directed by Dan Rothenberg, with cartoonist/puppeteer Beth Nixon, music by Rosie Langabeer, set and animation by Mimi Lien, lighting by James Clotfelter, video projection by Josh Higgason, and performed by Hinako Arao, Beth Nixon, David Sweeney and Alex Torra. Cankerblossom will run August 12 - 15, 2010 in the Mandell Weiss Forum, with performances Thursday, August 12 at 7:00 pm; Friday, August 13 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, August 14 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm and Sunday, August 15 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for subscribers and $15 for children 12 and under.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a new family-friendly Page To Stage Workshop Production: Cankerblossom, conceived and created by Pig Iron Theatre Company, directed by Dan Rothenberg, with cartoonist/puppeteer Beth Nixon, music by Rosie Langabeer, set and animation by Mimi Lien, lighting by James Clotfelter, video projection by Josh Higgason, and performed by Hinako Arao, Beth Nixon, David Sweeney and Alex Torra. Cankerblossom will run August 12 - 15, 2010 in the Mandell Weiss Forum, with performances Thursday, August 12 at 7:00 pm; Friday, August 13 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, August 14 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm and Sunday, August 15 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for subscribers and $15 for children 12 and under.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast of its world-premiere musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin, music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis, book by Christopher Curtis and Thomas Meehan and directed by Michael Unger, running September 7 - October 17, 2010 (media night: Sunday, September 19 at 7:00 pm) in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

North Coast Repertory Theatre is proud to present The San Diego Premiere of a two-time Tony Award winning musical. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, directed by Rick Simas