Fred Ebb News

On March 11, 2012-the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Japan-American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will join over 65 theaters across the country in presenting SHINSAI ("great quake" in Japanese), a benefit reading to support fellow theater artists on the other side of the world. Selections will be drawn from a menu of 10-minute plays and songs that were commissioned from major American and Japanese artists, who have donated their work for this one-night only event. Performance takes place at 7 p.m. at The Garret at the American Conservatory Theater. Tickets are $5 and can be ordered online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228. All proceeds will benefit the Japan Playwrights Association.

Michi Barral, Cindy Cheung, Joel de la Fuente, Angel Desai, Ann Harada, Jennifer Ikeda, Paul Juhn, Peter Kim, Ken Leung, Li Jun Li, Jennifer Lim, Angela Lin, Paolo Montalban, Olivia Oguma, Jon Norman Schneider, Thom Sesma, Sab Shimono, Jade Wu, Jonny Wo, James Yaegashi and Stacey Yen will be featured in Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, a two performance benefit to raise funds that will go directly to Japanese theater artists devastated by last year's great earthquake (Shinsai). Shinsai: Theaters for Japan, will be performed this Sunday, March 11 at 3pm and 8pm at the Great Hall at Cooper Union (Seventh Street at Third Avenue).

Talk Is Free Theatre (TIFT) and Show One Productions are thrilled to announce that Dora Award winner Jeff Madden will be joining the cast as Rafe in the upcoming Toronto production of Dani Girl, by Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman. A touching, humorous and inspiring tale, this dark, original musical comedy follows a young girl's battle with cancer. Dani Girl runs until March 4, 2012 at the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace.

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.

One of the greatest joys of our job is seeing our audiences transformed by a theatre performance. At some point in Roundabout's 46-year history, you've likely experienced a play or musical that has inspired you. Roundabout has been fortunate to produce award-winning productions on Broadway for 20 years now. You may even recall our first Broadway production of Anna Christie at the Criterion Center in 1992.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, will participate in a global benefit for the people of Japan, SHINSAI: Theatre for Japan, Sunday, March 11 at 3 p.m. at the Richard Christiansen Theater in Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 North Lincoln Ave. Tickets are a suggested donation of $10 with 100% of the proceeds going to SHINSAI. For tickets and more information go to www.americanbluestheater.com or call 312.725.4228.

The COLUMN AWARDS Board of Directors and the Executive Director/Producer announced today that Tony Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Chita Rivera will be the Co-host for the 13th Annual COLUMN AWARDS Gala.

Broad Brook Opera House production of CHICAGO offers deja vu dames.

SecondStory Repertory will present Chicago, featuring a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Broadway composer Andrew Lippa ("The Addams Family," "The Wild Party") is among three master teachers leading the 2012 Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University. Lippa will be joined by Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist Craig Carnelia and three-time Grammy winning singer and songwriter Lari White to conduct the weeklong program for emerging songwriters.

Allegro Stage Company will present CABARET, Book by Joe Masteroff, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb from March 29th-April 14th.

Broad Brook Opera House production of CHICAGO offers deja vu dames.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) has announced casting for the next three offerings in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series: A Doctor in Spite of Himself (February 20), Lunch at the Picadilly (February 22) and The Gig (February 24), featuring Cady Huffman, Beth Leavel, Jose Llana, Jeff McCcarthy, Brad Oscar, Fleur Phillips, Barbara Walsh, and more. All readings are free to the public and will take place at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's on 54th St, just east of Lexington Avenue. For additional information on the Series and to make reservations for any of the upcoming free presentations, visit the readings page at www.yorktheatre.org.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) has announced casting for the next three offerings in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series: A Doctor in Spite of Himself (February 20), Lunch at the Picadilly (February 22) and The Gig (February 24), featuring Cady Huffman, Beth Leavel, Jose Llana, Jeff McCcarthy, Brad Oscar, Fleur Phillips, Barbara Walsh, and more. All readings are free to the public and will take place at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's on 54th St, just east of Lexington Avenue. For additional information on the Series and to make reservations for any of the upcoming free presentations, visit the readings page at www.yorktheatre.org.

Theatre Memphis will open Broadway's longest running American musical, Chicago, on the Lohrey Stage March 9, 2012.