David Thompson News

KIDS 'N COMEDY presents 'THE HORRIBLE HISTORY SHOW,' May 20, in which teen comics turn history upside down. The show takes place at 1 p.m. at the Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd Street.

According to an audition listing, Walter Bobbie is set to direct Vineyard Theatre's Developmental Lab Production of THE LANDING (previously titled 'Andra') -- a collection of three related one-act musicals written by the celebrated composer John Kander and his new collaborator, Greg Pierce - THE LANDING will be presented May 15-June 3 at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.).

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will close its 2011-12 season with the Bay Area premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, the critically acclaimed musical based on a tragic chapter in American history. Nominated for twelve 2011 Tony Awards, The Scottsboro Boys features music and lyrics by the legendary Broadway songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman), book by David Thompson (Steel Pier, Chicago), musical direction by Eric Ebbenga, and direction and choreography by five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman (The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Contact). Jeff Whiting will serve as associate director and choreographer. Tony and Emmy Award winner Hal Linden (Barney Miller, The Rothschilds on Broadway) joins the stellar cast as The Interlocutor. The Scottsboro Boys performs a limited run June 21-July 15, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, June 27, at 8 p.m. Tickets (starting at $20) are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

Due to critical praise and popular demand, Vineyard Theatre has announced a final extension - now through April 28 - for the new musical NOW. HERE. THIS., which opened to rave reviews and sold out houses at The Vineyard on March 28. This will be the second and final extension for the show, which must close on April 28 due to season and artist schedules.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, the critically acclaimed musical about an infamous chapter in American history.

NOW. HERE. THIS. which is currently receiving its world-premiere production at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street), will extend by one-week - now through April 22 - due to popular demand and strong ticket sales, it has been announced by Artistic Director Douglas Aibel, and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

New York teens are a breed apart. They eat bagels, ride the subway by themselves and know every bubble tea joint on St. Mark's Place. While other kids complain about the music in the mall, New York kids complain about the MTA. They even write and perform their own comedy routines. Is it hard being an urban icon before you get your learner's permit? Find out in 'The New York Show' by Kids 'N Comedy, featuring teen comics Ryan Drum, Leo Frampton, Eric Kurn, Jake Sidransky, Lee Wolfowitz and more, March 25 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street.

Linda Lavin (Broadway Bound), Sebastian Arcelus (Elf), LaChanze (The Color Purple), Emily Skinner (Side Show), Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!), Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies, The Little Mermaid) will be among the star players in the upcoming Broadway Hal Prince tribute, PRINCE OF BROADWAY, The New York Times reveals.

According to Digitalspy.com, actor Idris Elba has been cast in the role of Nelson Mandela in the upcoming biopic THE LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. The film is set to begin filming this May.

Kids 'N Comedy, New York's leading presenter of young comic talent, will present the 'When We Were Young Show' on April 22 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street. It's a theme show in which teenage comics long for a simpler time. Who said you had to wait till you were old to start complaining about change?

Stars of both stage and screen joined the celebration when the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre honored Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin at the Off-Broadway company's annual Gala on Monday, March 12 at the Hudson Theater in Manhattan. Ms. Lavin made her Vineyard Theatre debut earlier this season in the critically acclaimed production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS and will again star in THE LYONS when the play moves to Broadway next month starting April 5 at the Cort Theatre.

Stars of both stage and screen joined the celebration when the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre honored Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin at the Off-Broadway company's annual Gala on Monday, March 12 at the Hudson Theater (145 West 44th Street) in Manhattan. Ms. Lavin made her Vineyard Theatre debut earlier this season in the critically acclaimed production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS.

Stars of both stage and screen are set to join the celebration when the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre honors Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin at the Off-Broadway company's annual Gala on Monday, March 12 beginning at 6:00pm at the Hudson Theater. Ms. Lavin made her Vineyard Theatre debut earlier this season in the critically acclaimed production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS.

The Old Globe Theatre at the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, San Diego, today released its four-month calendar for the March-June season, 2012, featuring musical versions of A ROOM WITH A VIEW, NOBODY LOVES YOU and THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS.

New York teens are a breed apart. They eat bagels, ride the subway by themselves and know every bubble tea joint on St. Mark's Place. While other kids complain about the music in the mall, New York kids complain about the MTA. They even write and perform their own comedy routines. Is it hard being an urban icon before you get your learner's permit? Find out in 'The New York Show' by Kids 'N Comedy, featuring teen comics Ryan Drum, Leo Frampton, Eric Kurn, Jake Sidransky, Lee Wolfowitz and more, March 25 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) today announced the selections for the 2012 Next Link Project, NYMF's primary writer service program. The Next Link Project empowers emerging musical theatre writing teams as both artists and entrepreneurs by providing the training and relationships needed to help them move their musicals from readings to fully-realized productions and to advance their careers by maximizing the exposure they receive in the Festival. Ten of the Festival's full production slots are reserved for participants in The Next Link Project.

The Old Globe Theatre at the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, San Diego, today released its four-month calendar for the March-June season, 2012, featuring musical versions of A ROOM WITH A VIEW, NOBODY LOVES YOU and THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) introduces a celebrated Middle Eastern voice to the Bay Area with the West Coast premiere of Wajdi Mouawad's haunting playScorched. After receiving more than 100 productions (in several languages) worldwide, the Lebanese-Canadian writer's new play will be directed at A.C.T. by Artistic Director Carey Perloff in a beautiful translation from the original French by distinguished Canadian author Linda Gaboriau.

Stars of both stage and screen are set to join the celebration when the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre honors Tony Award-winner Linda Lavin at the Off-Broadway company's annual Gala on Monday, March 12 beginning at 6:00pm at the Hudson Theater. Ms. Lavin made her Vineyard Theatre debut earlier this season in the critically acclaimed production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS.

According to the Toronto Star, Toronto's Dancap Productions has just announced the line-up for 2012. Included in the upcoming season are In the Heights (February 7-19), Shrek the Musical (March 20-April 1), West Side Story (May 8-June 3), Beauty and the Beast (July 3-22), Million Dollar Quartet (July 20-29), and Prince of Broadway (August 2012)