David Lindsay-Abaire News

The Kleban Foundation today announced that the 22nd Annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has gone to Marcy Heisler. For the Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist, the judges declared a tie between Andrew Gerle and Matt Schatz. The 2012 prizes will be presented on June 18, 2012, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) at ASCAP.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's ongoing interview series with the stars and creative team of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH with a Broadway/Hollywood leading man who first made his mark on the stage creating a role in the Tony Award-winning TITANIC after having appeared in BLOOD BROTHERS and CAROUSEL and who has since starred in productions as diverse as SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, NEXT TO NORMAL, SHREK and many more - the jovial and multi-talented Brian d'Arcy James. Discussing all aspects of his role on SMASH as well as cluing us in on what we can expect from Monday's highly awaited season finale, d'Arcy James and I also take a look back at his career onstage thus far and he shares fond recollections of working on TITANIC, SWEET SMELL, SHREK, NEXT TO NORMAL, TIME STANDS STILL and THE WILD PARTY Off-Broadway as well as offers his observations of his collaborators and co-stars in each endeavor. Plus, Brian also reveals his other current TV project: his character arc on Showtime's dramedy THE BIG C, starring his TIME STANDS STILL co-star Laura Linney and previous John Benjamin Hickey, that begins this Sunday and continues through the rest of this month. Additionally, we also discuss his upcoming 54 Below concerts June 26-30 - as well as his thoughtful and candid opinions on some of his favorite songwriters and his own songs. Plus, comments on his film roles in HBO's GAME CHANGE, FRIENDS WITH KIDS, an upcoming short film - and much, much more!

Deadline.com reports that NBC has officially picked up INFAMOUS, previously titled NOTORIOUS from Universal TV and BermanBraun. The project is penned by Liz Heldens. Broadway veterans Victor Garber and Tate Donovan will star.

"Our 34th season will be another ambitious one for the Coterie. The Coterie's Lab for New Family Musicals will host an awesome holiday production and work with the composing/writing team behind Shrek the Musical to create the premiere Theatre for Young Audiences version," said Jeff Church, producing artistic director. "There will be several wonderful productions based on books: Christopher Paul Curtis' Bud Not Buddy, Lois Lowry's Number the Stars and a piece based on Scholastic's Dear America Series.

Paul Gross, one of Canada's acclaimed actors, leads the cast of Are You There, McPhee? a world premiere by John Guare at McCarter Theatre Center. Directed by Sam Buntrock, the production runs now through June 3, 2012.

Three playwrights stand poised to find out which of them will win the prestigious STAGE International Script Competition for the best new play about science and technology.

Award winning SHREK THE MUSICAL® celebrates its first year in the West End today, May 6, 2012.

South Coast Repertory has announced its summer shows May 2012 - August 2012, including August Wilson's Jitney, Snow Angel by David Lindsay-Abaire and more. See details below.

Paul Gross, one of Canada's acclaimed actors, leads the cast of Are You There, McPhee? a world premiere by John Guare at McCarter Theatre Center. Directed by Sam Buntrock, the production runs tonight, May 4 through June 3, 2012. (Opening Night: Friday, May 11.)

The Old Globe's 2012-13 Season will feature the World Premieres of two new musicals: Allegiance - A New American Musical by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. The season also includes George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion in celebration of the classic play's 100th anniversary and the World Premiere of a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey and Kirsten Brandt. Two recent Broadway hits will make their San Diego debuts at the Globe: David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People and Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities. Rounding out the season are the West Coast Premiere of Bekah Brunstetter's Be a Good Little Widow and the Southern California Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size.

Two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises, Noises Off, TV's "I Hate My Teenage Daughter") will offer an acting and musical theatre performance master class today, April 27th from 6:30pm to 10:30pm at The Davenport Studios in Midtown Manhattan.

Award winning SHREK THE MUSICAL® will celebrate its first year in the West End on May 6, 2012. To mark the first anniversary, SHREK THE MUSICAL® will open its doors to the public for a FREE, ogre-sized, family fete at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 6, 2012. There will be party games, competitions, sweet treats, storytelling, theatre tours and opportunities to meet the cast from 11am to 2pm.

Profiles Theatre announces an additional four weeks of performances of the Midwest premiere of Bachelorette by Leslye Headland, directed by Profiles Co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The full cast, Eric Burgher (A Behanding in Spokane, Kid Sister), Hillary Marren, Linda Augusta Orr, Rakisha Pollard, Amanda Powell and Adam Soule will continue with the production through the extension. The production will run through May 27, 2012, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).

As in Wonder of the World and Rabbit Hole, previous works of David Lindsay-Abaire, the playwright is not afraid to go to extremes to make a point. World is exceedingly comedic, Hole far more serious, but both have characters who find their way via a path less tread. Such is also the case with his dramedy Good People. Southie Margie (Jane Kaczmarek) makes a choice to pay an unusual visit to her 'lace curtain' former boyfriend, Mike (Jon Tenney), now a successful doctor in the suburbs. She finds that as polite as he is, he wants little to do with her, yet insists on practically inviting herself to his posh home for a party, and when he calls to cancel, she shows up anyway. Talk about guts! Southies - from South Boston - have them in spades, as we can see from her two gossipy chums landlady Dottie (Marylouise Burke) and Jean (Sara Botsford), who trash just about anyone and everyone as they hang out playing bingo. Now onstage at the Geffen, Good People gets a deservedly stunning production with great direction from Matt Shakman and a sterling ensemble.

Opening Theatre In The Park's season in September is the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next to Normal. With what's being described as 'a thrilling contemporary score by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. Making its Triangle debut, this emotionally charged contemporary classic is not to be missed.'

Paul Gross, one of Canada's acclaimed actors, will lead the cast of Are You There, McPhee? a world premiere by John Guare at McCarter Theatre Center. Directed by Sam Buntrock, the production will run from May 4 through June 3, 2012. (Opening Night: Friday, May 11.)

The Huntington Theatre Company announces its 2012-2013 Season. Continuing its 30-year tradition, the Huntington will present world-class productions of new works and classics made current that are created by the best local and national talent.

Will Pomerantz, director of The Blue Flower at Prospect Theater Company and Second Stage and Dai at the Culture Project, will direct Prospect Theater Company's upcoming production of Cole Porter's 1933 musical Nymph Errant. Performances will begin July 7 at the Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will close its 21st season May31-June 23, 2012, with HIGH FIDELITY, the funny, rowdy, emotional rock musical that garnered positive reviews in New Line's 2008 production, the first production of the show after its Broadway run.