Douglas Carter Beane News

A benefit bringing together musical theatre's biggest stars, Calendar Girls and Chicago cast extend and new productions open across the country. Laura Holmes reports.

THE BIG TIME, a World Premiere musical with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen will be given a private reading on August 4th in New York City. THE BIG TIME will be directed by Christopher Ashley.

West Coast Ensemble presents the third show of their 2009 season, the West Coast Premiere of ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins). ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS will preview on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm and will open on Friday, August 21 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 4 at West Coast Ensemble - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

The Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre, 2252 South Kinnickinnic, opens its 24th season with the Milwaukee premiere of New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane's skewering comedy of success As Bees in Honey Drown (July 29-August 29, 2009).

West Coast Ensemble is thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed, smash-hit production of BIG, The Musical, with book by John Weidman, music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., based on the motion picture 'BIG' written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins, Assassins) is EXTENDING THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 26 at West Coast Ensemble's new home - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

The Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre, 2252 South Kinnickinnic, opens its 24th season with the Milwaukee premiere of New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane's skewering comedy of success As Bees in Honey Drown (July 29-August 29, 2009).

Cleverly written, witty, engaging, and not in any way connected to reality, The Little Dog Laughed is about as deep as the nursery rhyme from which the play gets its title. However, if you can suspend your disbelief, it's an entertaining bit of whimsy.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) concludes its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES features Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) will present the world premiere of POP!, a new musical with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs, directed by Mark Brokaw, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 27-December 19, 2009. Opening Night is December 3.

Their story unfolds this month at the Mobtown Theater with The Little Dog Laughed, a hilarious commentary on ambition, deceit and the price of dreams. The Little Dog Laughed is the first production for the newly formed Teatro101.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions presents Sienna Miller as 'Miss Julie', Jonny Lee Miller as 'John' and Marin Ireland as 'Christine' in the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, a version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw.

THE BIG TIME, a World Premiere musical with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen will be given a private reading on August 4th in New York City. THE BIG TIME will be directed by Christopher Ashley.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.

Actor T. Scott Cunningham, a founding member of Drama Dept. and The Vineyard Community of Artists, died at NYU Medical Center in New York City on Saturday, June 20 from complications due to pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, according to Sam Rudy, a spokesperson for The Vineyard Theatre. Mr. Cunningham was 47 years old.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions presents Sienna Miller as 'Miss Julie' and Jonny Lee Miller as 'John', both of whom will be making their Broadway debuts, in the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, a version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw.

Good Theater, the professional theater in residence at the St. Lawrence Arts Center will hold auditions on June 10 & 11 for its upcoming season. Auditions will be by appointment only and auditionees should call the Good Theater office at 207-885-5883 to make an appointment.

West Coast Ensemble is thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed, smash-hit production of BIG, The Musical, with book by John Weidman, music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., based on the motion picture 'BIG' written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg and directed by Richard Israel (Floyd Collins, Assassins) is EXTENDING THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 26 at West Coast Ensemble's new home - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA (James Bundy, Dean) and YALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC (Robert Blocker, Dean) announce the YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE.