Dallas Theatre Center News

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and legendary Broadway star Betty Buckley, currently co-starring in the Dallas Theatre Center's production of Arsenic and Old Lace, present three benefit concerts featuring her recent Song Interpretation Workshop participants. The concerts are set for March 28, 30 and 31 at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth at 7:30pm.

McCarter Theatre presents Beth Henley's modern American classic Crimes of the Heart. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the cast features Mary Bacon (Lenny MaGrath), Molly Camp (Babe Botrelle), Georgia Cohen (Meg MaGrath), Dustin Ingram (Barnette Lloyd), Lucas Van Engen (Doc Porter) and Brenda Withers (Chick Boyle). The production is sponsored by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. Crimes of the Heart will close Sunday, March 27.

Casting has been announced for The Laguna Playhouse's production of Noël Coward's celebrated comedy, Private Lives that runs March 15 - April 10, 2011. Directed by Andrew Barnicle, the cast for Private Lives features Julie Granata as Amanda, Joseph Fuqua as Elyot, Winslow Corbett as Sybil, and Matthew Floyd Miller as Victor.

Making its Midwest premiere in the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. and Dr. Bob is an inspirational, gripping and timely story about the men and their wives whose relationships pioneered the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous and the creation of Al-Anon.

Casting has been announced for The Laguna Playhouse's production of Noël Coward's celebrated comedy, Private Lives that runs March 15 - April 10, 2011. Directed by Andrew Barnicle, the cast for Private Lives features Julie Granata as Amanda, Joseph Fuqua as Elyot, Winslow Corbett as Sybil, and Matthew Floyd Miller as Victor.

Born in Texas, but a Nashvillian through-and-through, Jake Speck might look like your stereotypical matinee idol - tall and good-looking - but there's a certain affable goofiness about him that completely blows the stereotype out of the water. You can't help but like the guy! Add to that immense likability factor a whole bunch of talent and you have a very formidable force of nature in the person of Jake Speck.

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and legendary Broadway star Betty Buckley, currently co-starring in the Dallas Theatre Center's production of Arsenic and Old Lace, present three benefit concerts featuring her recent Song Interpretation Workshop participants. The concerts are set for March 28, 30 and 31 at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth at 7:30pm.

According to the New York Times, yet another Spider-Man show will be making its New York debut this March. The Tank (W. 45th Street) will welcome Seattle import SPIDERMANN on March 13 for three performances. News of this third Spidey show comes just days after THE SPIDEY PROJECT: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBLITY was announced for a run at People's Improv Theatre on March 14.

The hits just keep on coming for SPIDER-MAN, but some help is on the way to the show. The New York Times is reporting and we've confirmed that the show has officially brought on Paul Bogaev, a multi-award winning music director-producer, arranger and composer to work on improving the show's many sound issues, including to 'help improve the performance, vocal and orchestration arrangements, and sound quality of the songs and numbers'. Word has also been coming from multiple sources that it's expected that the production will officially announce another delay later in the week (it's sixth) that might push the official opening as far forward as AFTER this year's Tony Awards. The Times is also reporting that 'Bono and Edge are writing new music for 'Spider-Man' now, but Mr. Miramontez said that Mr. Bogaev's role was far greater than adding that music once it is ready. No significant additions have been made to the score so far.'

It's Roger Friedman at Showbiz411 vs. Michael Riedel at the New York Post today. Friedman writes that 'I spoke to Julie Taymor this morning. She was working on some changes with her own co-writer, Glenn Berger. She told me she's had lots of input about changes from friends and colleagues. 'No one has been hired or is being hired,' Taymor said. 'The director they mentioned is a friend of Michael Cohl's. I'm sure he asked his opinion. When a show's in previews, everyone gives their opinion. Try this, that. And the other guy, I've never even heard of him.'

Lahr writes 'Taymor has a dynamic, painterly sense of space; she can marshal all the sensual elements of movement, light, and perspective into amazing stage pictures. (Two minutes after the show had ended, I couldn't recall a line of dialogue, a song lyric, or a melody, but I do remember any number of the show's images.) Before our eyes, for instance, the New York sky line is tipped ninety degrees, so that what begins at street level ends up a bird's-eye view, with buglike yellow cabs skittering below; in another scene, the spider chorines dance before us, with their eight syncopated limbs. In these moments-and there are plenty of them-the audience finds itself exactly where Taymor wants it to be: in a waking dream. The technicians of wonder are the real stars of 'Spider-Man': George Tsypin and his ravishing angular cityscape, with its monumental Cubist and Constructivist touches; Kyle Cooper and his ingenious projection design; Eiko Ishioka and her witty, beautifully made costumes (I loved Swarm, a one-man killer-bee hive, and the Green Goblin's scaly carapace). The stagecraft is about as good as it gets: all 'Spider-Man' needs now is a new book and new songs. Call me, Mister Mercury, this show will never be frozen.'

Michael Riedel reported this morning in the New York Post that SPIDER-MAN producers had reached out to Philip Wm. McKinley to potentially join the production as co-director along with Julie Taymor. In response, a production spokesperson for SPIDER-MAN has issued a statement that 'There is no truth to the rumor of a co-director. The production has not brought anyone on and the original creative team remains firmly in place, with Julie Taymor at the helm.'

Some have compared the situation of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK to that of a circus, so perhaps it's fitting today that Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that the production has reached out to Phil McKinley, who has a background directing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He is also known however, for directing THE BOY FROM OZ on Broadway along with THE DESERT SONG at the New York City Opera, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA and more.

McCarter Theatre has announced the complete casting for its new production of Beth Henley's modern American classic Crimes of the Heart.

According to a report by Deadline.com, producers of SPIDER-MAN : TURN OFF THE DARK have asked Roberto-Aguirre-Sacasa to rewrite the book to the show. The original book was a collaboration between Julie Taymor and Glen Berger. THis time around, the show will be reworked by a Spidey expert, as Aguirra-Sacasa has written Spider-Man comics for Marvel in the past. Additionally, he penned the book for Dallas Theatre Center's IT'S A PLANE, IT'S SUPERMAN!

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

A Noise Within (ANW) will end its hilarious and critically acclaimed production of the joyfully out-of control British farce NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

A Noise Within (ANW) reprises its hilarious and critically acclaimed production of the joyfully out-of control British farce NOISES OFF by MICHAEL FRAYN for ten performances from Friday, January 21 to Sunday, January 30, 2011.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

The legendary Broadway star, actress/singer Betty Buckley, who is currently co-starring in the Dallas Theatre Center's production of Arsenic and Old Lace, continues her successful Song Interpretation Workshop with a new round of six classes open to new participants in January and February, 2011.