Frank Rizzo News

Hartford Stage's production of 'Motherhood Out Loud' is a collection of 15 pieces by 16 writers on the subject of motherhood. The show is directed by Lisa Peterson and features Amy Irving, Amy Irving, James Lecesne, and April Yvette Thompson. In an interview with Frank Rizzo of the Hartford Courant, Amy Irving discusses her own experiences with motherhood and reflects on her family growing up as daughter of theatrical director and producer Jules Irving and actress Priscilla Pointer.

Frank Rizzo of the The Hartford Courant recently sat down with Mandy Patinkin for a dinner-interview while the actor was between rehearsals for the world premiere of Rinne Groff's 'Compulsion' at Yale Repertory Theatre. During the interview, published in the Arts Section of Sunday's Hartford Courant and in Rizzo's blog, Patinkin discusses what drew him to tackle the role of Sid Silver, a writer who dedicates himself to bringing the writings of Anne Frank to the stage - a dedication which turns to an obsession.

The Bushnell Theatre in Connecticut will collect funds to be donated to the American Red Cross to help the disaster in Haiti. The Bushnell, in association with The Reach Foundation, will collect money during intermission of THE LION KING through February 14th. All proceeds donated will go directly to the Red Cross.

The New York Times has confirmed that THE ORPHAN'S HOME CYCLE will aim for a fall 2010 Broadway opening, as opposed to rushing the show in this spring, as we previously speculated. While the show had the opportunity to transfer from its current home Off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre into the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway for a spring opening, the producers and director Michael Wilson have opted to take the extra time to better prepare the show for the move.

The Drama Book Shop will host a talkback in conjunction with The American Theatre Wing's just released and highly praised new book, The American Theatre Wing presents The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them

The Wilma Theater opens its 2009-2010 Season with Coming Home, the latest work by internationally acclaimed playwright Athol Fugard ? the second most frequently produced playwright at the Wilma, following Tom Stoppard. The Wilma?s production of Coming Home, directed by the Wilma?s co-Artistic Director Blanka Zizka, is only the play?s third production, after its premiere at New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre earlier this year.

The Wilma Theater opens its 2009-2010 Season with Coming Home, the latest work by internationally acclaimed playwright Athol Fugard ? the second most frequently produced playwright at the Wilma, following Tom Stoppard. The Wilma?s production of Coming Home, directed by the Wilma?s co-Artistic Director Blanka Zizka, is only the play?s third production, after its premiere at New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre earlier this year.

The Wilma Theater opens its 2009-2010 Season with Coming Home, the latest work by internationally acclaimed playwright Athol Fugard ? the second most frequently produced playwright at the Wilma, following Tom Stoppard. The Wilma?s production of Coming Home, directed by the Wilma?s co-Artistic Director Blanka Zizka, is only the play?s third production, after its premiere at New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre earlier this year.

Hartford Stage and Signature Theatre Company's co-production of Horton Foote's three part theatrical epic, THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE, begins performances this Thursday, September 3 in Hartford under the direction of Michael Wilson.

Two classic American plays by iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights, two audacious plays by contemporary mavericks, a world premiere musical by one of America's greatest living singer/songwriters and the bonus option of a delicious spoof of a 1935 movie are set for Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum's 2010 season at the Los Angeles Music Center, it was announced today by Michael Ritchie, CTG's Artistic Director.

The New York Timesi s reporting that Theatre for a New Audience and director, Arin Arbus' critically acclaimed production of Othello will return to the Duke on 42nd Street Theatre, April 15th through 24th. The show will again feature John Douglas Thompson as Othello, Ned Eisenberg as Iago, and Juliet Rylance as Desdemona.

Details and guidelines for the $50 million arts stimulus package is expected to be announced early this week by the National Endowment for the Arts reports Frank Rizzo on his 'Behind the Curtain' blog spot. the arts stimulus is part of President Obama's overall package passed by Congress.

Van Hill Entertainment is proud to announce that the Off-Broadway premiere of ROOMS a rock romance, starring Leslie Kritzer and Doug Kreeger, will begin performances on Friday February 27th at New World Stages/Stage 2 (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday March 16th (7 PM). ROOMS a rock romance has music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman (Bright Lights Big City) and book by Goodman and Miriam Gordon, and will be directed by Scott Schwartz (Golda's Balcony, Bat Boy: The Musical, tick, tick... BOOM!, Jane Eyre).

Theatre for a New Audience and director, Arin Arbus, is set to present Othello. The show will feature John Douglas Thompson as Othello, Ned Eisenberg as Iago, and Juliet Rylance as Desdemona. Previews begin February 14 at 7 pm. The show opens February 22.

Van Hill Entertainment is proud to announce that the Off-Broadway premiere of ROOMS a rock romance, starring Leslie Kritzer and Doug Kreeger, will begin performances on Friday February 27th at New World Stages/Stage 2 (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday March 16th (7 PM). ROOMS a rock romance has music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman (Bright Lights Big City) and book by Goodman and Miriam Gordon, and will be directed by Scott Schwartz (Golda's Balcony, Bat Boy: The Musical, tick, tick... BOOM!, Jane Eyre).

Michael Winther and Kimberly Grigsby, piano present 'New Love Songs' on Wednesday, June 18th, 7:30pm, Monday, June 23rd, 9:30pm (with special guest, SALLY WILFERT), Wednesday, June 25th, 7:30pm, and Monday, June 30th, 9:30pm (with special guest, SALLY WILFERT) at The Metropolitan Room.

Michael Winther and Kimberly Grigsby, piano present 'New Love Songs' on Wednesday, June 18th, 7:30pm, Monday, June 23rd, 9:30pm (with special guest, SALLY WILFERT), Wednesday, June 25th, 7:30pm, and Monday, June 30th, 9:30pm (with special guest, SALLY WILFERT) at The Metropolitan Room.

The Actors' Shakespeare Project -- a new and exciting Shakespeare company in Boston, renowned for its productions of the Bard straight up, no gimmicks -- will bring its acclaimed KING LEAR, starring the legendary actor/director Alvin Epstein, to New York for 15 performances only