City Center News

Pippin star Rachel Bay Jones (Women on the Verge...; Hair) and Jennifer Hope Wills (Wonderful Town; The Phantom of the Opera) have joined the cast of the highly anticipated industry reading of Ghostlight, with book, music and lyrics by Matthew Martin and Tim Realbuto. Jones and Wills join previously announced Tony nominee Robert Cuccioli, Trevor McQueen, and Kimberly Faye Greenberg. The industry reading will take place on December 2nd at the famed New 42nd Street Studios.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced plans today for the company's 2013-2014 season, including eight promotions and additions of several new dancers. Houston Ballet's roster now stands at 53 dancers.

Producers Scott Sanders and Wynton Marsalis have announced the wildly eclectic opening night cast for the new Broadway Musical, After Midnight. The company includes a wide array of 25 cutting-edge performers from varied backgrounds who will come together to create an explosive, modern interpretation of Duke Ellington's years at the Cotton Club. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle and featuring the big-band sounds of nine-time Grammy Award-winner Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars, After Midnight will begin previews on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 46th St) with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. Tickets are now on sale.

Miro Magloire's New Chamber Ballet opened its 2013-14 season on September 6 & 7 with performances at City Center Studios in New York. It's a simple setting with no lighting, which adds to direct connection it has with the audience.

9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick will be rockin' every night beginning September 24 with music and laughter. George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced casting for the opening production for the venerable theatre's fortieth season. Gettin' The Band Back Together (formerly titled Garage Band) is a rockin' valentine to the Garden State, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando - who also helmed The Toxic Avenger in New Brunswick (and New York) a few seasons back. Gettin' The Band Back Together will rock the house beginning Tuesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, October 27. Opening night is set for Friday, October 4. Gettin' The Band Back Together is performed by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. and Roy Putrino.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced touring plans for both the professional company and Houston Ballet II, the second company, for the 2013-2014 season today. During Mr. Welch's tenth anniversary as artistic director, touring engagements will take Houston Ballet to New York City, Paris, Montreal, and Chicago.

Today, Camp Broadway has announced its roster of guest artists visiting its three-day musical theater dance intensive geared towards dancers ages 14-18, occurring over the Columbus Day weekend, October 12-14, 2013.

Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle and featuring the big-band sounds of nine-time Grammy Award-winner Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars, After Midnight, featuring Fantasia Barrino, will begin preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (246 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. Emmy Award-nominated actor Dule Hill will join Barrino onstage as 'The Host' of the evening. Check out photos of the marquee at the Brooks Atkinson below!

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” returns to South America after 15 years with a robust schedule of 20 performances and a variety of educational activities for area students. The first visit to South America led by Artistic Director Robert Battle includes engagements in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at Cidade das Artes from September 11-15, São Paulo, Brazil at Credicard Hall from September 19-22, and Buenos Aires, Argentina at Teatro Coliseo fromSeptember 26-29. Bloomberg is the lead sponsor of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's international tour to Brazil.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World,"returns to South America after 15 years with a robust schedule of 20 performances and a variety of educational activities for area students. The first visit to South America led by Artistic Director Robert Battle includes engagements in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at Cidade das Artes from September 11-15, São Paulo, Brazil at Credicard Hall from September 19-22, and Buenos Aires, Argentina at Teatro Coliseo from September 26-29. Bloomberg is the lead sponsor of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's international tour to Brazil.

Long Wharf Theatre, in association with Hartford Stage, presents The Underpants by Steve Martin, adapted from the play by Carl Sternheim, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein.

New York City Center has announced full casting for the New York premiere of Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY, which runs October 23 - November 3, 2013 at City Center (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer), have announced that Manhattan Theatre Club, by special arrangement with Colin Callender, Robert Cole, Frederick Zollo and the Shubert Organization, will produce the world premiere of CASA VALENTINA, the play by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

For 70 years, The People's Opera – New York City Opera – has focused on producing unique works, showcasing emerging young artists, and educating the next generation of performing arts lovers.

Friends Always Creating Theatre lives-up to its name as they open their 5th season. They are one of the most prolific companies in New York City and will start this season by presenting a One-Night Only Staged Reading of 'The Lost Boy' by the late Ron Paolillo (aka Ron Pallilo) starring Broadway's Blake Hammond and Guiseppe Bausilio.

The Coterie, a downtown New York-based music theater company, goes uptown to the Church of the Advent Hope (111 East 87th Street) tonight, September 9th at 8:00pm to present their latest concert of seven world premieres and past favorites celebrating the company's commitment to musical storytelling, from operatic arias and art song to indy rock jams and musical theater numbers.

Today we are talking to a supremely talented triple-threat who has carved out an astonishingly impressive career thus far onstage with her string of stupendous performances ranging from her blazing debut in the late-90s revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and WONDERFUL TOWN through to SWING!, INTO THE WOODS, NINE, THE WEDDING SINGER and her Tony Award-winning work in the recent revival of GYPSY - the alluring and simply phenomenal Laura Benanti. Touching upon many of her past stage and screen roles and expressing candid insights into many of her most celebrated characters to date, Benanti opens up about the productions and properties which have made her one of the most exciting and in-demand Broadway crossover performers of the 21st century. In addition to all about her many Broadway bows - including her most recent runs in IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) and WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN - Benanti also shares thoughts on her multiple TV and film projects, new and old, shedding light on THE PLAYBOY CLUB, GO ON, STARVED, THE BIG C, her current arc on USA's ROYAL PAINS, prior and upcoming film roles and even more. Most importantly, Benanti provides us with all the details on her new live solo album, IN CONSTANT SEARCH OF THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTENTION: LIVE AT 54 BELOW, as well as gives a preview of her series of upcoming concerts at 54 Below in promotion of the sterling new release. Plus, Benanti looks ahead to taking on Shakespeare via the new Public Theater production of THE TEMPEST as well as tackling a particularly operatic part in 2014 (byway of the just-announced THE MOST HAPPY FELLA). All of that, Benanti's recollections of performing a hilarious specialty song at this year's spectacular Tony Awards, as well as roles she would love to play in the future and much, much more!

The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) has announced an exciting Fall season of theatre, comedy and music. All performances are at the White Plains theatre, located on the third level of City Center off Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains.

The Flea Theater will present the limited Off-Broadway engagement of FAMILY FURNITURE by A.R. Gurney. It is directed by Tony Award nominee Thomas Kail (In The Heights) starring Carolyn McCormick (Law & Order), Peter Scolari (Girls, Newhart, Bosom Buddies), and Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies) with newcomers Ismenia Mendes and Molly Nordin. Previews begin November 12 at The Flea with opening slated for Sunday, November 24.

Laura Benanti's engagement at New York's 54 BELOW will be recorded and released by Broadway Records. 'In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally today, September 6th and on CD on September 10, 2013.