Christine Baranski News

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2008-09 season with John Guare's Rich & Famous, directed by John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical and Wedding Singer on Broadway) in its first major revival since its 1976 New York debut. From the ingenious mind of John Guare, who brought Six Degrees of Separation and The House of Blue Leaves to the American stage, this delicious dark comedy springs to life with twisted humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and outrageous plot twists. The revival script includes significant rewrites to the original text, as well as hilarious songs freshly scribed by Guare himself. In Rich and Famous, playwright Bing Ringling yearns to savor the sweet taste of celebrity, and he's hoping play number 844 will be his lucky break. But on opening night, he slips into a nightmarish phantasmagoria that shows him just how wrong things can go.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre. Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander. 'I Love My Wife' will be directed by Larry Moss with choreography by Lee Martino and music direction by Michael Skloff.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

The 22nd Annual City Meals-on-Wheels Power Lunch for Women was held at New York City's Rainbow Room on November 21, 2008.

MAMMA MIA has broken records and become the top selling DVD in the UK. The DVD sold 1.7 million units on Monday alone, and this was only the first day of release. This record shatters the old one, previously held by Titanic which sold 1.1 million copies on it's first day of sales.

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Two-time Oscar? winner Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada) and Pierce Brosnan (Die Another Day) lead an all-star cast in the most infectiously fun movie of the year, Mamma Mia! The Movie, coming to DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def on December 16, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For a limited time only, the worldwide movie phenomenon is available in 2-disc Special Edition widescreen DVD and 2-Disc Blu-ray Hi-Def with digital copy.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

It has been announced that MTC's production of TO BE OR NOT TO BE will play its final performance on November 16th, 2008. November 16th, 2008 is the end of Manhattan Theater Club's subscription run. They had previously been offering tickets through November 23rd, 2008, but will now be canceling that week of performances. Patrons who have purchased tickets for performances through November 23rd, 2008 should return to their point of purchase for a refund.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will present the Handel Medallion to Neil Simon at a reception at the Apollo Theatre Monday evening, November 10. The Handel Medallion is the highest official honor given by the City of New York and is presented for outstanding achievement in the arts.

The New York Public Library honored playwright Edward Albee, children's author and illustrator Ashley Bryan, screenwriter and essayist Nora Ephron, and novelist Salman Rushdie at its annual Library Lions black-tie benefit on Monday, November 3, 2008, at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.

Variety is reporting that 'Mamma Mia! The Movie' has become the largest grossing picture of all time in the United Kingdom.

Steven Pasquale has joined the cast of Roundabout's once-in-a-lifetime concert of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's enchanting, Tony Award®-winning masterpiece, A Little Night Music. The gala concert reading will take place on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 7:30PM at the Nokia Theatre Times Square (1515 Broadway at 44th St).

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

It has been announced that MTC's production of TO BE OR NOT TO BE will play its final performance on November 16th, 2008. November 16th, 2008 is the end of Manhattan Theater Club's subscription run. They had previously been offering tickets through November 23rd, 2008, but will now be canceling that week of performances. Patrons who have purchased tickets for performances through November 23rd, 2008 should return to their point of purchase for a refund.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a once-in-a-lifetime cast performing Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's enchanting, Tony Award®-winning masterpiece, A Little Night Music. The gala concert reading will take place on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 7:30PM at the Nokia Theatre Times Square (1515 Broadway at 44th St).

The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer)world premiere production of Nick Whitby's 'To Be or Not To Be' opens on Broadway tonight, Tuesday October 14th.

Producer Sonia Friedman announced today that the 2008 Tony Award-Winning Best Play Revival, Boeing-Boeing, has recouped its entire $2.65 million investment as of September 21. A 2009 Tour is also being planned.