Elizabeth Ashley News

Tennessee Williams' 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winner manages to set the roof on fire, but needs a little more heat.

Silver Spring Stage presents Enchanted April by Matthew Barber, from the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, directed by Laurie Freed and produced by Pauline Griller-Mitchell and Gerry Schuchman. A breezy and witty comedy of two frustrated London housewives renting a villa in Italy for a holiday away from their marriages. Enchanted April will perform weekends April 13 to April 29.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey and William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) will tonight present the company's highly anticipated annual gala. Complimenting the glittering, previously announced Miscast will be Josh Gad ("Modern Family," The Book of Mormon), Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Jan Maxwell (Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol," Rock of Ages), and Nicole Parker ("Mad TV," a Miscast favorite returning for her 4th time). The event will be held Monday, March 26, 2012 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street).

The cast of the American premiere of the Royal Court Theatre's Olivier Award-winning new production, COCK will star Jason Butler Harner as M, Amanda Quaid as W, Cory Michael Smith as John and Cotter Smith as F. Written by Mike Bartlett and directed by James Macdonald, COCK will open Off-Broadway at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42nd STREET project, 229 West 42nd Street, on Thursday, May 17 and previews will begin Thursday, May 1.

MCC THEATER has announced fabulous additions to their all-star line-up for the company's highly anticipated annual gala. Complimenting the glittering, previously announced Miscast will be Josh Gad ("Modern Family," The Book of Mormon), Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Jan Maxwell (Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon) and Nicole Parker ("Mad TV," a Miscast favorite returning for her 4th time). The event will be held Monday, March 26, 2012 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street).

Variety reports today that the upcoming revival of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE will open April 22, with previews beginning April 3. The show, which has been hunting for a theatre since this past summer, will take Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (which had been booked by the delayed revival of REBECCA).

Today we are talking to a star of many notable films and television shows who initially surprised many viewers with his commanding presence as the voice of the Beast in Disney's classic animated film BEAUTY & THE BEAST, now back in theaters for its twentieth anniversary (in 3D) - the one and only Robby Benson. In addition to telling us all about his impressions of and experiences working on BEAUTY & THE BEAST and what he thinks of the new 3D movie experience, he also shares his affection for co-stars Angela Lansbury and Paige O'Hara - both having been previous InDepth InterView participants, as well - and what the storied legacy of the film means to him. Also, Benson discusses his talented family, including his rock star wife, Karla DeVito, and their daughter, a star-on-the-rise in her own right, Lyric (her Benson-produced debut album, LYRIC'S LOVE LIGHT REVOLUTION, is available here) and details the many hats he wears as an actor, director, producer, author, singer and recording artist. Plus, recollections on ICE CASTLES and its haunting Marvin Hamlisch theme, directing FRIENDS and EVENING SHADE, his vivid memories of performing in OLIVER!, THE ROTHSCHILDS, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE on Broadway and a discussion of his own semi-auto-biographical musical, OPEN HEART, and, of course, what it was like being suggested by Francis Ford Coppola to George Lucas for a role in STAR WARS - and much, much more!

MCC THEATER has just announced another all-star line-up for the company's highly anticipated annual gala, to be held Monday, March 26, 2012 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street). Miscast 2012 will honor the creators of Carrie, Academy Award-winning composer Michael Gore (Fame, Terms of Endearment), Academy Award-winning lyricist Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose) and Writer Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film, Carrie) for their bold, daring, risk-taking spirit. Funds raised from Miscast help MCC Theater produce some of the most talked-about new work Off Broadway and support their Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students, as well as their literary development work with emerging playwrights.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post today that the upcoming revival of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, which has been hunting for a theatre since this past summer, will take Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (which had been booked by REBECCA up until yesterday) for a Spring 2012 opening.

The Old Globe is presenting DIVIDING THE ESTATE by Horton Foote and directed by Michael Wilson through Feb. 12, 2012 at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

DIVIDING THE ESTATE by Horton Foote and directed by Michael Wilson will run Jan. 14 - Feb. 12, 2012 at The Old Globe.

In MCC Theater's annual Miscast gala, Broadway's hottest stars perform songs from roles in which they would never be cast. Check out a photo of Broadway favorite Jonathan Groff rehearsing for the event, as featured on the MCC blog!

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast Premiere of Dividing the Estate, the final play by Pulitzer Prize winner Horton Foote. Directed by Michael Wilson, Dividing the Estate will run Jan. 14 - Feb. 12, 2012 in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Alley Theatre Artistic presents Horton Foote's Dividing the Estate. Horton Foote, the award-winning writer of The Trip to Bountiful and The Day Emily Married, returns to the town of Harrison, Texas, with this sharp satire about a Southern dynasty in crisis.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Horton Foote's Dividing the Estate. Horton Foote, the award-winning writer of The Trip to Bountiful and The Day Emily Married, returns to the town of Harrison, Texas, with this sharp satire about a Southern dynasty in crisis.

Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones have announced that the role of 'Stella' will be played by two-time Tony Nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega and the role of 'Mitch' will be played by Wood Harris, in the upcoming Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Emily Mann. They will join Blair Underwood as 'Stanley' and Nicole Ari Parker as 'Blanche'. This production is slated to hit the boards, Spring, 2012. Theatre is TBA.

As we reported on Friday, it's now confirmed, that the role of Blanche DuBois in the upcoming Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire will be played by seven-time NAACP Image award nominee, Nicole Ari Parker. This production is slated to hit the boards, Spring, 2012. Theatre TBA.

Susan Anton is announced to join the cast of HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl as Velma Von Tussle. The production reunites the original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur; and includes Corbin Bleu, Drew Carey, Diana DeGarmo, Mo Gaffney, Nick Jonas, Darlene Love, Tara Macri, Michael McDonald and John Stamos. Anton co-starred as Velma Von Tussle in the Las Vegas production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray, opposite Harvey Fierstein. HAIRSPRAY is at the Hollywood Bowl for three performances only, August 5, 6, and 7.

Hartford Stage Artistic Director Michael Wilson feted in star-studded farewell performance June 20th.

Hartford Stage's departing Artistic Director Michael Wilson will be honored on Monday, June 20 for his 13 years of artistic leadership of the Tony Award-winning theatre. The Michael Wilson Tribute Celebration will be held at Hartford Stage's 50 Church Street theatre and will include performances by an array of artists who have worked at the theatre under Wilson's direction.