Bob Green News

In celebrating the New Year 5776, The Actors' Temple, founded in 1917 and located in a landmark building in the heart of the theater district since 1923, introduces a new initiative ARTS @ AT, to reinforce their historic commitment to serving Jewish theater artists and maintaining a relationship with the surrounding NYC arts community. Sophie Tucker, Red Buttons, Jack Benny and the Three Stooges are among the scores of well-known entertainers who frequented its striking halls. The Actors' Temple is located at 339 West 47th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue.

The concert presentation of BOMBSHELL, the musical from the NBC TV series 'Smash', hit Broadway in a one-night-only event benefitting The Actors Fund earlier this week at The Minskoff Theatre. Just after the event, the Los Angeles Times caught up with composer/lyricist team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who talked about the possibility of expanding BOMBSHELL into a full-fledged Broadway musical. For now, though, their sights are set on an encore in Hollywood.

One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with The Actors Fund president himself, Joe Benincasa, all about the hotly anticipated evening on June 8. As part of our conversation, Benincasa offers up the 411 on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as shares first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more than $230,000 in donations in only a few short days, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced last week. Additionally, Benincasa looks back at some previous Actors Fund special events such as FUNNY GIRL and DREAMGIRLS and how the exultant reaction to this recent announcement compares to the hubbub surrounding those starry affairs - and what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future, near and far. All of that and much, much more!

Robert Greenblatt (Chairman, NBC Entertainment) and Jennifer Salke (President, NBC Entertainment) took a moment to pose with the network's stars during NBC's 2015 TCA Winter Press Tour at The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena, CA. Scroll down for photos with the casts of ALLEGIANCE, ODYSSEY, ONE BIG HAPPY, A.D. and more!

NBC has signed a development deal with Dolly Parton, one of the most honored female country musicians of all time and an American icon.

'No Name... & A Bag O' Chips' comedy / variety show producer, Eric Vetter closes out 2014 with two December shows at Otto's in Manhattan with the first - a Winter Reading Show Early Bird Special - on Friday, December 12th @ 6:30pm - to feature the talents of alt-folk singer-songwriter Jessica Delfino ('Good Morning America') author / blogger / storyteller Thomas R. Pryor ('I Hate The Dallas Cowboys: Tales of A Scrappy New York Boyhood') and a few surprises.

?At East Lynne Theater Company's annual fundraising event on November 10 at Aleathea's Restaurant at The Inn of Cape May, Evan Smilyk was named the eighth recipient of the Historic Jackson Street Neighborhood Association Scholarship Fund (HJSNA) in the Name of Bob and Toni Green.

NBC is going big in their upcoming production of Peter Pan Live!, which is scheduled to air on Dec 4. As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, Christopher Walken has just accepted the role of Captain Hook. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are also set to appear in the production. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Kristin Bell was also supposed to star in the production; however, she had to decline due to prior obligations with House of Lies.

Merlin Productions presents THE DIORAMA a new play by Jennifer Brown Stone and David S. Stone, directed by David S. Stone with preview performances beginning May 28th prior to an official press opening of May 30th at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Bob Greenblatt, president of NBC and instrumental in bringing SMASH and THE SOUND OF MUSIC to the small screen, has set his sights, once again, on the stage.

Merlin Productions presents THE DIORAMA a new play by Jennifer Brown Stone and David S. Stone, directed by David S. Stone, opening tonight, May 30th at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Merlin Productions presents THE DIORAMA a new play by Jennifer Brown Stone and David S. Stone, directed by David S. Stone with an official press opening of today, May 30th at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Merlin Productions presents THE DIORAMA a new play by Jennifer Brown Stone and David S. Stone, directed by David S. Stone with preview performances beginning today, May 28th prior to an official press opening of May 30th at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

NBC will air a 40th Anniversary SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SPECIAL on February 15, 2015.

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt has announced at this morning's upfront presentation that the network has inked a deal for a live television production of the classic 1957 musical THE MUSIC MAN.

Merlin Productions presents THE DIORAMA a new play by Jennifer Brown Stone and David S. Stone, directed by David S. Stone with preview performances beginning May 28th prior to an official press opening of May 30th at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Director Edward Fernandez and company do full justice to the complex and powerful Sondheim musical about the complex and powerful Georges Seurat painting

MCC Theater's annual Miscast gala, one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town, was held last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom. At the event, Broadway's hottest stars performed songs from roles in which they would never be cast. This year's event was hosted by award-winning actress Allison Janney. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

The Friars Club was full of laughter last night as Friar Mickey Freeman was remembered by a group of comics who dubbed themselves Mickey's Kids. Comics Mike Fine and Bob Greenberg produced the event and along with Dave Konig assembled these “kids” to recreate the humor and pay respect to one of the legends in the world of comedy. Mickey Freeman also gained fame as a character actor who appeared as a regular on The Phil Silvers TV Show (Sgt. Bilko). He also appeared on episodes of Naked City, the Lloyd Bridges Show and The Equalizer, in addition to his travels as a stand- up comic. Performers at the event were, Larry Stevens, Mike Fine, Jerry Coe, Dave Konig, Jake Ehrenreich, Bob Greenberg, Marc Eliot, Joe Franklin, Paul and Goldie Dver, and 99 year old Prof. Irwin Corey.