Blythe Danner News

Casting is complete for The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit reading of the American classic Our Town on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7:30 p .m. at The Gerald R. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street). Tony Winners Blythe Danner, BD Wong and two-time Tony Award nominee S. Epatha Merkerson will share the role of the Stage Manager for this one night benefit.

Two-time Tony Award nominee S. Epatha Merkerson will join previously announced Tony winners Blythe Danner and B.D. Wong as they share the role of the Stage Manager in The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit reading of the American classic Our Town on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7:30 p .m. at The Gerald R. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street).

The producers of the Tony-winning hit musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT have announced that two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick has extended his run in the production and will now perform through June 15th. His co-star four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara will play her final performance on March 31st. Tony Award nominee Jessie Mueller will join the show in the role of 'Billie Bendix' on April 2nd.

Today we are talking to a notable presence on Broadway and in Hollywood who has appeared in countless celebrated entities - ranging from her Tony Award-winning work in BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE and in the original cast of Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL on Broadway along with dozens of other credits; to starring in feature films like THE PRINCE OF TIDES with Barbra Streisand, and, perhaps most famously the MEET THE FOCKERS franchise; to her newest star turn to date, that of featured player in the hit original Gershwin revue NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - the elegant and accomplished Blythe Danner. Discussing various roles in a number of wide-ranging projects that she has taken on over the course of her idiosyncratic career thus far - such as memorable turns in four Woody Allen films (HUSBANDS & WIVES, ALICE, CRIMES & MISDEMEANORS and ANOTHER WOMAN) and the classic movie musical adaptation of 1776 all the way to her most recent work with Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller and the Fockers clan in the FOCKERS films as well as THE LUCKY ONE with Zac Efron, DETACHMENT with Adrien Brody, TV pilots and much more. Additionally, Danner shares memories of appearing in the 2001 revival of Stephen Sondheim & James Goldman's FOLLIES, as well as appearing on WILL & GRACE with recent InDepth InterView participant Eric McCormack. Most importantly, she offers her thoughts on NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT as an entertainment experience, Gershwin music in general, her co-stars Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, choreographer and director Kathleen Marshall as well as what drew her to the hit revue in the first place. All of that, working on one of 2012's most memorable films, DETACHMENT, collaborating with Ryan Murphy and Jonathan Groff on the daring (if ultimately unsuccessful) pilot for PRETTY/HANDSOME, thoughts on her daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow's Emmy-winning work on Glee and much, much more awaits in this career-spanning conversation!

As enticing as a Valentine's Day bouquet, as delectable as a box of chocolates and as heartwarming as a kiss from your betrothed, today we are honoring one of Broadway's most romantic musicals - absolutely perfect to take in on a big date-night like tonight, no doubt - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, as well as the sumptuous, sonorous songs of George & Ira Gershwin - those featured within it and far beyond. "S'Wonderful" to "Someone To Watch Over Me" to "An American In Paris", "Rhapsody In Blue" and more, this clip collection is the ideal way to fall under the spell of Cupid's arrow and enjoy Broadway songwriting at its very best.

Tony Award winners Blythe Danner and B.D. Wong will share the role of the Stage Manager in The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit reading of the American classic Our Town on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7:30 p .m. at The Gerald R. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street). New additions to the cast also include Martin Moran (All the Rage, Spamalot) will read the role of Simon Stimson, Julia Murney (Falling, Wicked) as Mrs. Soames and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Smash, Leap of Faith) as George Gibbs. They join the previously announced Tony Award nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger (Peter and the Starcatcher) as Emily Webb, three-time Tony nominee Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins, The Music Man) as Mrs. Webb and Tony Award winner Adriane Lenox (Doubt, Chicago) as Mrs. Gibbs.

According to the Daily Mail, Bond star Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz are in talks to star on Broadway in Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL for a limited run this fall.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the lineup for the upcoming 13th edition of FILM COMMENT SELECTS (February 18-28), Film Comment magazine's essential and eclectic film festival.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents its annual 2013 Spring Gala "A Celebration of Your Favorites" emceed by Alan Cumming (Cabaret) on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street, NYC). The evening will be a celebration of the company's artistic achievements under Artistic Director Todd Haimes' 30 years of leadership and the future ahead.

Welcome to middle age... proceed with caution! Diane Cary, Jane Kaczmarek and Sharon Sharth star as three successful women who challenge themselves to find love and personal fulfillment in the middle years of life. Steven Robman directs the ensemble cast, which also includes Gregory Harrison, James Lancaster and Joel Polis, in the world premiere of The Snake Can by Kathryn Graf (Hermetically Sealed). Performances run tonight, January 19 through February 24, presented by Indie Chi Productions at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles.

Dallas Theater Center will conclude its four-year Shakespeare cycle with one of the playwright's greatest tragedies King Lear, a co-production with Trinity Repertory Company and directed by DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty. King Lear opens for previews tonight, January 18 and runs through Sunday, February 18.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce the launch of First Page New Play Workshop, a four-week event developed by the Rep to foster new works by local and national theatre artists. First Page will follow a playwright's concept as it evolves from the first spark of an idea into a successful new script or theatrical production. All events will take place at Copaken Stage, 13th and Walnut in Kansas City, MO.

William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Picnic returns to Broadway in a striking new production helmed by acclaimed director Sam Gold (Roundabout's Look Back in Anger, Seminar). Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn stars alongside theatre veterans Reed Birney (The Dream of the Burning Boy) and Elizabeth Marvel (Other Desert Cities), rising stars Maggie Grace ('Lost') and Sebastian Stan ('Gossip Girl'), Emmy Award winner Mare Winningham (recently seen in Tribes), Madeleine Martin (August: Osage County) and Ben Rappaport (Hope Springs). BroadwayWorld was there last night for all of the opening night festivities and you can check out full coverage from the star-studded arrivals below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: CINDERELLA preps for Broadway, Blythe Danner joins NICE WORK, FLASHDANCE launches its national tour, and so much more!

Emmy and Tony Award winner Blythe Danner has joined the cast of Nice Work If You Can Get It for 12 weeks only, continuing through March 10th. Ms. Danner assumes the role of Millicent Winter, the mother of Matthew Broderick's character Jimmy Winter. The role was originated on Broadway by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons, who played her final performance on Sunday, December 16. Check out photos of Danner in action below!

The producers of the Tony-winning hit musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT have announced that Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar will perform the role of ‘Cookie McGee' beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, January 8th during Michael McGrath's two month leave of absence. This reunites Mr. Oscar with Matthew Broderick for the first time since they starred together in the original cast of The Producers.

BroadwayWorld's Senior Photographer Walter McBride has picked his favorite onstage photos from the year and you can check out the rest of his collection below! CLICK HERE to check out Part 1.

Happy New Year, all! To kick off this brand new year, BroadwayWorld looks ahead at all the upcoming productions slated to take the Broadway stage in 2013!

Dallas Theater Center will conclude its four-year Shakespeare cycle with one of the playwright's greatest tragedies King Lear, a co-production with Trinity Repertory Company and directed by DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty. King Lear opens for previews on Friday, January 18 and runs through Sunday, February 18.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: THE BOOK OF MORMON opens in Chicago, Blythe Danner returns to Broadway, CHICAGO celebrates a milestone, and so much more!