David Grindley News

Brooke Shields is returning to Broadway, the actress will be a member of the starry roster of talent for Roundabout's 2009 Annual Spring Gala hosted by Tony Award winner Nathan Lane.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents its annual 2009 Spring Gala hosted by Tony Award winner Nathan Lane (Waiting for Godot, The Producers). On Monday, April 6th, 2009, Roundabout will take their guests back in time to the heyday of big bands and classic songs in New York City with a unique evening called 'Take Me Back to Manhattan' at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd St, NYC).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents its annual 2009 Spring Gala hosted by Tony Award winner Nathan Lane (Waiting for Godot, The Producers). On Monday, April 6th, 2009, Roundabout will take their guests back in time to the heyday of big bands and classic songs in New York City with a unique evening called 'Take Me Back to Manhattan' at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd St, NYC).

Steven Weber, Jonathan Cake join Matthew Broderick in the Roundabout Theater Company revival of 'The Philanthropist.' Weber will play a friend of the leading character portrayed by Broderick in Christopher Hampton's 1970 take on 'The Misanthrope,' while Cake will play a writer. Anna Madeley is the female lead, reprising a role she played in the 2005 staging of the play at the Donmar Warehouse. Tate Ellington, Jennifer Mudge and Samantha Soule complete the rest of the casting. The cast met the press at at The American Airlines Theatre Penthouse in New York City. March 20, 2009 and BWW was there!

Manhattan Theatre Club's acclaimed production of Richard Greenberg's THE AMERICAN PLAN end run Sunday, March 22 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

The New York Post's gossip legend Cindy Adams talks with stage and screen favorite Matthew Broderick in today's New York Post. The two New Yorkers talk television, theatre and toothaches, the Broadway bound Broderick also discusses living in the city and his role in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of The Philanthropist.

Manhattan Theatre Club?s acclaimed production of Richard Greenberg?s The American Plan begins the final two weeks of its extended engagement tonight at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

Mercedes Ruehl is no stranger to the high-stakes of mother/daughter on-stage drama. In her 1991 Tony Award-winning performance as the intriguing 'special' daughter Bella in Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers, she stood-up to her stern mother on more than one occasion. Only now, the tables have turned! Ms. Ruehl finds herself on Broadway as the mighty matriarch in Richard Greenberg's family-feud 'The American Plan.'

Lily Rabe, who is currently appearing in MTC's critically acclaimed production of THE AMERICAN PLAN, will be featured this weekend on 'CBS2 News Sunday' at approximately 8:45 AM. Rabe spoke to CBS2 anchor Dana Tyler at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre for the segment. Tyler spoke to Rabe about her recent success with THE AMERICAN PLAN as well as her recent successes both on and Off-Broadway.

Manhattan Theatre Club is pleased to announce that due to popular demand, their acclaimed production of Richard Greenberg?s THE AMERICAN PLAN has been extended through Sunday, March 22 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions announces the dates and theatre for the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw. Making her Broadway debut, Sienna Miller will star as 'Miss Julie.'

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the full cast for the upcoming New York premiere of Distracted, by Lisa Loomer, directed by Mark Brokaw. Distracted will begin previews on Saturday, February 7th and open officially on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Artistic Director, Todd Haimes) is proud to announce plans to establish a permanent archive, generously funded by a major grant from the Leon Levy Foundation. Roundabout's archive will permanently document the company's illustrious 43-year production history as well as provide a resource for the theatre community, Roundabout's audience and the general public.

Mercedes Ruehl, who is currently appearing in MTC's critically acclaimed production of Richard Greenberg's THE AMERICAN PLAN, will be a featured guest on tomorrow's edition of 'The Joan Hamburg Show.' Ruehl will be appearing as part of the Hamburg's regular 'Live at Sardi's' series at approximately 11 AM on WOR (710 AM).

Mercedes Ruehl, who is currently appearing in MTC's critically acclaimed production of Richard Greenberg's THE AMERICAN PLAN, will be a featured guest on tomorrow's edition of 'The Joan Hamburg Show.' Ruehl will be appearing as part of the Hamburg's regular 'Live at Sardi's' series at approximately 11 AM on WOR (710 AM).

Steven Weber, Jonathan Cake have joined Matthew Broderick in the Roundabout Theater Company revival of 'The Philanthropist.' Weber will play a friend of the leading character portrayed by Broderick in Christopher Hampton's 1970 take on 'The Misanthrope,' while Cake will play a writer. Anna Madeley is the female lead, reprising a role she played in the 2005 staging of the play at the Donmar Warehouse. Tate Ellington, Jennifer Mudge and Samantha Soule complete the rest of the casting. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present Tony? Award winner Matthew Broderick as 'Philip' in a new Broadway production of The Philanthropist by Tony? and Academy Award winner Christopher Hampton, directed by David Grindley.

Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie will begin performances in the fall of 2009. After 48 years, Bye Bye Birdie returns to Broadway in a new production at Roundabout Theatre Company. The good news of 'Birdie's' return has brought up the usual discussions of casting Conrad Birdie himself, Newsday reached out to the original Broadway 'Birdie', Dick Gautier, who was a 1961 Tony nominee for his hip-swiveling to see what his thoughts on the subject were.

Stage and screen actress Lily Rabe talks about her life and her current role oppposite Mercedes Ruehl in The AMERICAN PLAN

Whether the title of Richard Greenberg's bitterly comic 1990 drama brings to mind a hotel package with all meals included or a corporate union-busting practice, it can be argued that both interpretations refer to methods of maximizing gain while minimizing responsibility. And while both definitions play supporting roles in The American Plan, a third variation on the theme - marry well, be an excellent spouse and secretly carry on with your less-than-affluent lover - takes center stage.

The New York Times is reporting that The Roundabout Theater Company has announced two more productions for its 2009-10 season. Roundabout will offer the first Broadway production of 'Bye Bye Birdie' since its original production in 1960. There have been rumors for the last sevral years that the compnay would mount a revival and the rumblings were heating up for the past few weeks, Robert Longbottom ('Flower Drum Song') is the director and choreographer for the new production. Also reported was the news that the Roundabout will revive Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter,' with Victor Garber as the put-upon matinee idol Garry Essendine. Nicholas Martin, who directed the comedy for the Huntington Theater Company in 2007, which also starred Mr. Garber, will direct the new revival.