Collin Donnell News

ALMOST FAMOUS may be about people chasing music, and the bright lights of fame, but with a fantastic cast, great music, and creative choreography, this new musical doesn't need to chase anything, it's ready to bring some rock and roll to Broadway.

On Monday, November 30, the Theater People podcast welcomes Broadway favorite Elizabeth Stanley. She is currently headlining the first national tour of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY in the role of Francesca. Stanley made her Broadway debut as April in the 2006 John Doyle helmed production of COMPANY. She went on to originate the role of Allison in CRY BABY, and then Dyanne in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. She was most recently seen on Broadway as Claire in last year's Tony-nominated ON THE TOWN.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and an all-star line-up of performers, including Angela Lansbury, James Naughton, Kelli O'Hara, Elaine Paige, Colin Donnell, Marilu Henner, Gala Co-Chairmen Theodore S. Chapin & Marva A. Smalls and more honored Sir Howard Stringer with the American Theatre Wing last night, September 26. Celebrity guests included Samuel L. Jackson & LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Judith Light, Lucie Arnaz, Nora Ephron & Nick Pileggi, Jane & Morley Safer, Jim Dale, William Ivey Long, Susan Fales-Hill, Mario Buatta, Ted Hartley & Dina Merrill, Melissa & Chappy Morris and Susan Patricoff. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below!

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) held its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit last night (Monday, May 2) at the St. Regis New York hotel, raising more than $320,000 for new American theatre. This year, NCTF Chairman James S Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, honored Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey (on Broadway this season in Anything Goes and director of Broadway's The Normal Heart), recipient of the Theater Artist Award, presented to Mr. Grey by Anything Goes director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall; Charles Dillingham (Managing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles), recipient of the Theater Professional Award, presented by Benjamin Moore (Managing Director of Seattle Repertory Theatre) and Richard Thomas (Race on Broadway and The Public's Timon of Athens); and BNY Mellon, recipient of the Corporate Leadership Award, presented by Tony Award-winning stage and film actress Anika Noni Rose. All net proceeds of the event will be distributed as the NCTF/BNY MELLON FUND FOR NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

To celebrate the glory and wonder of Broadway, and to mark the end of a 19-day work-stoppage, the Great White Way's biggest and brightest packed the stage of the Marriott Marquis in a very special free public concert 'Broadway's Back!' on Friday, November 30 at 12PM.

Ripper, a new musical about Jack the Ripper, will be presented as a free reading at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.) on March 19th at 7:30 PM.