Craig Schwartz News

Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, currently starring in Martin Sherman's musical BENT in Los Angeles, is at work on a new musical, and he's enlisted some major talent.

Martin Sherman's BENT, a groundbreaking drama about the rare power of love in the most inhumane conditions, will be directed by Moises Kaufman, began previews on July 15 and opens July 26 for a run through August 23, 2015, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. BroadwayWorld has a stunning first look at the actors onstage below!

Martin Sherman's BENT, a groundbreaking drama about the rare power of love in the most inhumane conditions, will be directed by Moises Kaufman, beginning previews tomorrow, July 15, and opening July 26 for a run through August 23, 2015, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Check out a first look at rehearsals below!

Rock musical 'Girlfriend' opens at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre this Sunday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. Featuring a book by Todd Almond and music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet, the rock musical about first love will continue through August 9. Previews began on July 12. Below, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the actors onstage in L.A.!

Today we are continuing the 5 SONGS BY... series by talking to a noted composer of many Off-Broadway musicals and special events including SAVED, THE BLUE DEMON, IN THE BUBBLE and more all about his latest musical offering, the Itamar Moses collaboration THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE. Based on the celebrated novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem, THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE provided Friedman with rich dramatic fodder with which to craft a spectacular musical score overflowing with melody and displaying a wide swath of influences befitting of the coming of age story and 1970s milieu, ranging from traditional musical theatre to rock, pop, R&B, rap, world music and beyond, which he describes in detail via his personally chosen selections from the show in today's show-focused discussion.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: Benefits, readings, concerts, and more, all in time for Father's Day!

The world premiere production of 'How to be a Rock Critic' opens tonight, June 17 at 8 p.m. and continues through June 28 in a limited engagement of 12 performances at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre. Based on the writing of Lester Bangs, the rock critic who reached iconic status in the 1970s with his passionate, intellectually honest writing, 'How to be a Rock Critic' will be performed in the theatre's rehearsal space, Upstairs@KDT. Presented as part of DouglasPlus, it is a co-production with South Coast Repertory. Scroll down for a look at the cast in action!

The world premiere production of 'How to be a Rock Critic' opens Wednesday, June 17 at 8 p.m. and continues through June 28 in a limited engagement of 12 performances at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre. Based on the writing of Lester Bangs, the rock critic who reached iconic status in the 1970s with his passionate, intellectually honest writing, 'How to be a Rock Critic' will be performed in the theatre's rehearsal space, Upstairs@KDT. Presented as part of DouglasPlus, it is a co-production with South Coast Repertory. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents the final weeks of its 2015 Spring repertory season with The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's groundbreaking theatrical work in Michael Feingold's translation (which has become the most popular production in the history of A Noise Within), now playing through May 27, the Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice Figaro by Charles Morey, freely adapted from Le Mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais in its West Coast premiere now through May 10, and the Ovation-Recommended Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, in its final extension through May 24.

A very limited engagement of 24th STreet Theatre's award-winning production of 'Walking the Tightrope' will be presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre with four public performances only, today and tomorrow, May 2 and 3 at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.  (Student performances will take place April 28 through May 1.) Scroll down for a look at the cast onstage!

A very limited engagement of 24th STreet Theatre's award-winning production of "Walking the Tightrope" will be presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre with four public performances only, May 2 and 3 at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.  (Student performances will take place April 28 through May 1.) Scroll down for a look at the cast onstage!

"Immediate Family," a biting new comedy written by Paul Oakley Stovall and directed by Phylicia Rashad, opens at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum on Sunday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Performances continue through June 7, 2015. (Previews began April 22.) BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In a side-splitting, historic finale, Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) is capping a spectacular career spanning 50 years of bravura showmanship in this farewell celebratory show at the National Theatre for one week only, tonight, April 21- 26. Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye - The Farewell Tour will give audiences the chance to bid farewell to the incomparable Dame Edna, arguably Australia's greatest entertainment export.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, extends both of its productions of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's groundbreaking The Threepenny Opera in Michael Feingold's translation through May 24.

Betrayal lurks around every corner when a ruler's ability to rule comes into question. Whether real or imagined, its weighty presence stands as a cautionary phantom in A Noise Within's JULIUS CAESAR. Directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliot and Geoff Elliot have turned Shakespeare's thought-provoking political drama into a powerful expose on the less noble actions of men, anchored by two terrific performances and a commanding industrial design.

Rehearsals are underway for the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum production of Paul Oakley Stovall's biting new comedy 'Immediate Family,' directed by Phylicia Rashad. Previews begin April 22, with opening set for May 3. Performances will continue through June 7, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, serves up performances of the comedy Figaro, a new production of Beaumarchais' classic play The Marriage of Figaro freely adapted by Charles Morey through May 1 -- especially over Easter weekend Saturday, April 4 at 2pm and 8pm and special after brunch curtain time on Sunday, April 5 at 4pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, continues its 2014-2015 REVOLUTIONary season with two new productions: William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar now through May 8 (press opening this weekend, March 28) and The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's groundbreaking theatrical work in Michael Feingold's translation now through May 17. While both plays spoke to the times in which they were first produced - Weimar Germany and Elizabethan England, respectively - they also speak to this season's theme of REVOLUTION, most especially from a socio-political point of view. Scroll down for a first look at JULIUS CAESAR onstage!

Legendary playwright Arthur Miller's piercing family drama 'The Price' opens tonight, February 21. 2015, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum and will continue through March 22. Previews began February 11. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, continues its 2014-2015 REVOLUTIONary season with two new productions: The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's groundbreaking theatrical work in Michael Feingold's translation, now through May 9 (press opening February 21) and William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, March 22 to May 8 (press opening March 28). While both plays spoke to the times in which they were first produced - Weimar Germany and Elizabethan England, respectively-they also speak to this season's theme of REVOLUTION, most especially from a socio-political point of view. Scroll down for a first look at THE THREEPENNY OPERA cast in action!