David Rabe News

The Fabulous Palms Springs Follies will bring the curtain down on a starried 23 year history in Palm Springs with the final edition of the much ballyhooed song and dance production- this final season, appropriately entitled "The Last Hurrah!! - opening on November 1, 2013 with final performances in May, 2014. "The Last Hurrah" opens with sensational guest star Susan who presents her very special tribute to the holiday season with songs both traditional and contemporary. From "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" to such classics as "Count Your Blessings" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," Anton makes her third Follies appearance a last hurrah to remember!

Roundabout Theatre Company's fall production of Bad Jews began previews on September 19 at theLaura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street), and opened last night, October 4. BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage from the celebration below!

Syfy announces additional casting for Season 2 of its highly-rated and groundbreaking drama series, Defiance. William Atherton signs on to portray high-ranking Earth Republic official Viceroy Mercado andAnna Hopkins has inked the role of Earth Republic soldier and documentarian Jessica 'Berlin' Rai. Slated for a June 2014 launch, production is currently underway in Toronto, ON for the 13-episode second season of the ambitious series, which delivered an average of 1.5 million viewers 18-49 and 3.2 million total viewers in its first season, based on Live +7 data. Defiance is produced by Universal Cable Productions.

A User's Guide to Hell, featuring Bernard Madoff is produced by the award-winning Project Y Theatre Company at Atlantic Stage II, 330 West 16th Street, previewing Today, September 5, at 8:00pm for an opening Saturday evening, September 7, at 8:00pm and a run through September 28.

Playlab NYC presents Blizzard '67 as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. Jon Steinhagen's Blizzard '67 will be opening today, August 13th at 2:00 p.m. at The Robert Moss Theater; 440 Lafayette Street.

Gloucester Stage continues the 2013 season with Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth from August 8 through August 25 in the air-conditioned comfort of Gloucester Stage Company at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today additional casting for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Academy Award winner William Hurt will play the role of Friar Laurence; Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight has been cast as Mercutio and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as the Nurse. CSC also announced that Finn Wittrock, previously announced to co-star as Romeo, has withdrawn from the production due to a film offer. A new Romeo and complete casting will be announced shortly. CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed by Tea Alagi? (Jackie). The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, September 5 at 12pm.

Playlab NYC will present Blizzard '67 as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. Jon Steinhagen's Blizzard '67 will be opening on Tuesday, August 13th at 2:00 p.m. at The Robert Moss Theater; 440 Lafayette Street.

A User's Guide to Hell, featuring Bernard Madoff is produced by the award-winning Project Y Theatre Company at Atlantic Stage II, 330 West 16th Street, previewing Thursday, September 5, at 8:00pm for an opening Saturday evening, September 7, at 8:00pm and a run through September 28.

Playlab NYC is proud to present Blizzard '67 as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. Jon Steinhagen's Blizzard '67 will be opening on Tuesday, August 13th at 2:00 p.m. at The Robert Moss Theater; 440 Lafayette Street.

Hollywood's hottest new dramedy play 'Double Bind' (www.doublebindtheplay.com) which premiered at the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival this month, picked up two awards last night 'Best of Fringe Extensions' and 'Best Writer' from its run at the Theatre Asylum in Hollywood.

Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for 'Outstanding Cabaret Artist' and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award, Suzanne Petri brings ' A Little Touch of Coward in the Night' to Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago tonight and Thursday June 26th and 27th at 8pm.

The New Group launches its 2013-2014 Off-Broadway season with the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley's The Jacksonian, arriving in Fall 2013. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this production features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan and Bill Pullman. The Jacksonian was first produced at the Geffen Playhouse in 2012. In Winter 2014, as the second production in the company's season, The New Group delivers the world premiere of Thomas Bradshaw's Intimacy, directed by Scott Elliott. The third production of The New Group's upcoming season is to be announced.

Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for "Outstanding Cabaret Artist" and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award,Suzanne Petri brings " A Little Touch of Coward in the Night" to Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday June 26th and 27th at 8pm. There is a $20 cover charge with a two-drink minimum. Due to the high demand for this limited remount, reservations are recommended by calling 773-278-1830 or online www.DavenportsPianoBar.com.

Today we are talking to an inordinately talented triple-threat performer who made his name on Broadway in some landmark productions, such as the original multi-Tony Award-winning HAIRSPRAY and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, in addition to his peerless work in Lincoln Center's lauded SOUTH PACIFIC revival, who now is best known to audiences around the world for his headlining role on FOX's mega-hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the charismatic Matthew Morrison. Sharing stories from his Broadway days as well as looking ahead to the new season of GLEE airing in September, Morrison paints a vivid picture of his musical theatre career thus far and touches upon his experiences in the aforementioned musicals on the Great White Way as well as THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY and more, detailing his ascent from chorus boy to superstar. More importantly, Morrison offers us the complete 411 on his new solo album, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, discussing its conception, recording, production, and, now, its release - as well as elaborating on working with legendary producer Phil Ramone on it and the song selection process itself. Furthermore, Morrison reveals the most influential artists and performers to him and how that inspiration formed the basis for WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, both the album itself as well as his current concert tour in promotion of it - arriving in NYC at 54 Below this weekend, as a matter of fact - and his PBS special, airing this month. Additionally, Morrison candidly comments on some characters he would enjoy essaying in the future (hint: a demon barber of Fleet Street), reflects on his favorite GLEE moments to date, recounts wild ROCKY HORROR antics involving rock star Sebastian Bach - and much, much more!

On Sunday, May 19, Jules Feiffer's Little Murders arrives at The New Group @ Theatre Row in a one-night-only benefit reading. Directed by Cynthia Nixon, this benefit reading features Eric Bogosian, Kevin Cahoon, John Doman, America Ferrera, Charles Grodin, Rory O'Malley, Caroline Rhea and Michael Stuhlbarg.

The New Group announced today that Ayub Khan Din has stepped into the title role in the new musical Bunty Berman Presents..., replacing actor Erick Avari who withdrew from the production last week on doctor's orders following an injury. The world premiere of this musical comedy, with book & lyrics by Ayub Khan Din and music by Ayub Khan Din and Paul Bogaev, is directed by Scott Elliott. Previews began April 12. Performances resume Wednesday, April 24 in advance of Official Opening Night on Thursday, May 9 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through June 1 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

The Flea has announced that Thirteen WNET will be filming the critically acclaimed production of THE VANDAL on March 29. A broadcast date has not been slated. Written by actor Hamish Linklater (School for Lies, Twelfth Night, Recent Tragic Events & The Busy World is Hushed, and TV's The New Adventures of Old Christine), The Vandal runs through March 31. It is directed by Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson starring Zach Grenier, Deidre O'Connell, and Noah Robbins.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced Finn Wittrock as The Actor, Sarah Wayne Callies as The Actress, and Shuler Hensley as The Critic in the Kennedy Center production of The Guardsman in the Eisenhower Theater May 25 to June 23, 2013. Based on the 1910 comedy by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar, The Guardsman features a new literal translation by Richard Nelson and is directed by Gregory Mosher. The press opening will take place on Thursday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Due to popular demand, The Flea Theater has announced that Hamish Linklater's playwriting debut THE VANDAL will return for a limited 2 weekend run beginning March 22. The play stars Deirdre O'Connell, Zach Grenier and Noah Robbins, with direction by Jim Simpson, The Flea's founder and Artistic Director.