Debra Messing News

Academy Award-winning actress Anjelica Huston has been reported to join the cast of the NBC pilot 'Smash'. She'll be joining the already announced Broadway regulars Christian Borle and Megan Hilty, as well as Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Raza Jeffrey, and American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee.

Academy Award-winning actress Anjelica Huston has been reported to join the cast of the NBC pilot 'Smash'. She'll be joining the already announced Broadway regulars Christian Borle and Megan Hilty, as well as Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Raza Jeffrey, and American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee.

Now, Deadline.com is reporting that 'American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee 'will play a beautiful struggling actress who goes to all lengths (including sexual favors for the producer) to book the role of Marilyn Monroe in the musical. Also recently cast in the pilot, written by Theresa Rebeck and to be directed by Michael Mayer, are Jack Davenport and Megan Hilty. McPhee, repped by Gersh and the Schiff Co., made her TV pilot debut last season with NBC's half-hour The Pink House. She will next be seen in the romantic comedy You May Not Kiss the Bride.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Working,' the Grammy Awards, 'Les Miserables,' 'Smash,' Karen Mason, 'Ruthless!,' Betty Garrett, more....

Now, Deadline.com is reporting that 'American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee 'will play a beautiful struggling actress who goes to all lengths (including sexual favors for the producer) to book the role of Marilyn Monroe in the musical. Also recently cast in the pilot, written by Theresa Rebeck and to be directed by Michael Mayer, are Jack Davenport and Megan Hilty. McPhee, repped by Gersh and the Schiff Co., made her TV pilot debut last season with NBC's half-hour The Pink House. She will next be seen in the romantic comedy You May Not Kiss the Bride.'

Megan Hilty has nabbed the coveted lead role in Steven Spielberg's new NBC pilot Smash, an ambitious drama about the mounting of a Broadway musical alongside Debra Messing. The pilot, produced by DreamWorks TV and UMS, follows a cross section of characters who come together to put on a Marilyn Monroe musical on Broadway. TV writer/playwright Theresa Rebeck wrote the script for Smash and is executive producing with Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey of DreamWorks TV, Hairspray producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and Grammy and Tony-winning songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman who will pen original songs for the show. Michael Mayer (American Idiot) is directing. This has been a passion project for new NBC chief Bob Greenblatt who first developed it at Showtime.

TVLine is reporting that Will & Grace star Debra Messing has just been cast to co-star in the upcoming NBC pilot SMASH, in which she'll 'play Julia, the musical's good-natured cowriter who is slow to embrace the commercially-iffy subject matter.'

The Blank Theatre Company's Young Playwrights Festival is now seeking submissions nationwide from playwrights 19 years of age and younger. Submission deadline is March 15, 2011. Winning plays will be presented by professional actors and directors from June 2-26, 2011 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, CA.

Debra Messing is set to guest on an upcoming episode of Law And Order SVU.

A distinguished list of entertainers will join in honoring Tony Award® and Emmy Award® winning actor Billy Crystal, Class of 1970, at the Tisch School of Arts' annual gala, The Face of Tisch. Those scheduled to participate include Christina Bianco '03, The Bob Cantwell New Orleans Jazz Band, Seán Curran '84, James Franco '11, Whoopi Goldberg, Marcia Gay Harden '88, Isaiah Johnson '10, Jesse L. Martin '91, Krysta Rodriguez '06, Paul Shaffer, Noah Weisberg '98, and Robin Williams. The event will be held on Monday, December 6th at the renowned Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moves on to the finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG !

The Tisch School of the Arts announced today that a distinguished list of entertainers will join in honoring Tony Award® and Emmy Award® winning actor Billy Crystal, Class of 1970, at its annual gala, The Face of Tisch.

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moves on to the finale of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG !

The Tisch School of the Arts announced today that Golden Globe® Award Winner, James Franco, will join its annual gala, honoring Billy Crystal, Class of 1970.

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moves on to Week Five of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG !

The Tisch School of the Arts announced today that Golden Globe® Award Winner, James Franco, will join its annual gala, honoring Billy Crystal, Class of 1970.

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moved on to Week Four of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG ! This sassy elimination competition on Wednesday nights features themed performances, ruthlessly scrutinized by a rotating panel of celebrity judges, at the Time Out New York Lounge at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street (between Eighth & Ninth Avenues). This week's judges were fabulous Charles Busch and the extraordinary cast of The Divine Sister, now playing Off-Broadway at the Soho Playhouse.

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moved on to Week Four of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG ! This sassy elimination competition on Wednesday nights features themed performances, ruthlessly scrutinized by a rotating panel of celebrity judges, at the Time Out New York Lounge at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street (between Eighth & Ninth Avenues). This week's judges were fabulous Charles Busch and the extraordinary cast of The Divine Sister, now playing Off-Broadway at the Soho Playhouse.

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moves on to Week Four of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG !

The Time Out New York Lounge, in association with New World Stages and 21st Century Life, moves on to Week Four of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAG !