Brian F. O'Byrne News

MCC Theater announced today that breakout actor Lucas Hedges -- whose performance opposite Casey Affleck in the film festival favorite Manchester by the Sea, written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, is garnering rave reviews ahead of its November 18 theatrical release -- will lead the cast of the American premiere of YEN, Anna Jordan's Bruntwood Prize-winning play, directed by MCC alum Trip Cullman.

WOWOW, Japan's leading premium pay TV broadcaster, announced today that Matthew Morrison ("Finding Neverland" "South Pacific," "Hairspray"), Kelli O'Hara ("The King and I") and well-known Japanese actor Yoshio Inoue have signed on as headline performers for WOWOW's highly anticipated "Tony Awards Concert In Tokyo," which will take place on March 18th, 2017.

MCC Theater presents the first production of its 30th Anniversary Season, All the Ways to Say I Love You, a new play by Neil LaBute, directed by Leigh Silverman and starring Tony and Emmy Award winner Judith Light in a one-woman tour de force.

Tony Award-winning soprano Kelli O'Hara makes her first-ever solo headlining appearance at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage.

MCC Theater has announced a one-week extension-now through October 16, 2016 - for the first production of its 30th Anniversary Season, All the Ways to Say I Love You, a new play by Neil LaBute, directed by Leigh Silverman and starring Tony and Emmy Award winner Judith Light in a one-woman tour de force.

MCC Theater has added more star wattage to its benefit reading of a new Neil LaBute play, Reasons to be Pretty Happy: previously announced headliner Paul Rudd will now be joined by Emmy nominee Amber Tamblyn, two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz and NYC stage veteran Jennifer Mudge for this one-night-only world premiere developmental reading on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 7:30PM at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

MCC Theater - which this fall celebrates its 30th Anniversary Season as one of New York's leading Off-Broadway theater companies - has announced the 2016 PlayLabs reading series, which will feature new works in development by playwrights Jocelyn Bioh, MCC Youth Company alum Xavier Galva, Ted Malawer, and Eric Micha Holmes.

In an unprecedented move for broadcast television, NBC is dedicating two commercial-free hours to second-season premiere of its critically applauded drama 'Aquarius,' starring David Duchovny as an LAPD cop on THE HUNT for Charles Manson, today June 16 (9-11 p.m. ET/PT).

? The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia welcomes Kelli O'Hara, one of Broadway's greatest leading ladies, on June 14th for the finale of their season's concert series with Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky.  O'Hara won the Tony Award one year ago today for her star performance in "The King and I".  The concert series produced by Mark Cortale began at the Kimmel Center in October with pianist/host Rudetsky and six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald and continued with two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster in February and Tony-nominated star Megan Hilty in May. What differentiates this concert series from any other is the seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway's biggest stars - prompted by the encyclopedic-minded Rudetsky's probing, funny, revealing questions - and their stellar singing of musical theatre repertoire. For tickets and information please visit www.KimmelCenter.org or cal 215-893-1999.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director)—which recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its first-ever home, a two-theater complex on West 52nd Street and 10th Avenue— has just announced its30th Anniversary Season, which will bring together frequent MCC collaborators alongside artists new to the family for a three-play-and-a-musical season, running September 2016 through June 2017. Anchored by four mainstage premieres, the Theater will also continue its new works in development PlayLabs series and robust education initiatives throughout the season. This year's PlayLabs programming will be announced at a later date. All productions will be performed at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street).  For more info, visit www.mcctheater.org.  

PBS announced today that MERCY STREET is adding new actors and directors to the series' robust talent list for Season Two, which is currently in production in Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia.

In an unprecedented move for broadcast television, NBC is dedicating two commercial-free hours to the Thursday, June 16 (9-11 p.m. ET/PT) second-season premiere of its critically applauded drama 'Aquarius,' starring David Duchovny as an LAPD cop on THE HUNT for Charles Manson.

Broadway's Anna is headed to Connecticut this summer! Long Wharf Theatre will welcome Tony Award-winning THE KING AND I star Kelli O'Hara at its annual Gala on Monday, June 6, 2016.

MCC Theater announced today that it will break ground on its first permanent home on March 22, 2016. Set to open in 2018, the space will unite MCC's diverse roster of programs under one roof for the first time in the company's three-decade history. The new facility will also allow MCC to expand its programming and establish it as a cultural anchor within the Clinton neighborhood. One of New York's leading nonprofit Off-Broadway companies, the institution fosters the dynamic exchange of ideas between artists, audiences, and young people through its productions of world, American, and New York premiere plays and musicals, a robust playwright development initiative, and one of the nation's leading arts education programs.

As BWW previously reported, ABC is at work on adapting the hit 1987 film DIRTY DANCING into a three-hour musical broadcast starring Abigail Breslin as Baby and Debra Messing (SMASH) as Baby's mom, Marjorie Houseman.

As previously reported, ABC is at work on adapting the hit 1987 film DIRTY DANCING into a three-hour musical broadcast starring Abigail Breslin as Baby - today, Deadline has confirmed that the project has officially received a green light, with television star and stage alum Debra Messing coming on board.

Celebrity Series of Boston has announced that Broadway star Kelli O'Hara will be added to the 2015-2016 season in An Evening With Kelli O'Hara on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 7pm at Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall, Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge.

It's a great year to be named Kelli/Kelley. At this year's Tonys ceremony, Broadway leading lady Kelli O'Hara won her long-awaited Tony Award, and almost exaclty a month later, U.S. Soccer player Kelley O'Hara will compete in the World Cup finals today, July 5.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson,  presented Conor McPherson's Shining City which runs from June 18 to July 11. BroadwayWorld was at opening night.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, will present Conor McPherson's Shining City from June 18 to July 11 with a press opening Sunday, June 21 at 3pm.