Gary Griffin News

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, is pleased to announce that Academy Award-nominated writer and actress Nia Vardalos will reprise the role of Sugar in the Playhouse production of Tiny Beautiful Things.

The Riverside Center for the performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia is excited to present The Color Purple opening Wednesday, March 13 and running until Sunday, May 5. The Color Purple opened at The Broadway Theatre in 2005, directed by Gary Griffin, produced by Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey. The original Broadway production ran from 2005 to 2008, earning eleven Tony Award nominations in 2006. An enthusiastically acclaimed Broadway revival opened in late 2015 and ran through early 2017, winning two 2016 Tony Awards- including Best Revival of a Musical. It is this version that is being staged.

Broadway couple Josh Young and Emily Padgett have announced the birth of their new baby girl. Adele May Young was born on February 3, 2019.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed (Torch, Brave Enough, Wild, 'Dear Sugar'), adapted for the stage by Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Instant Mom). Co-conceived by Marshall Heyman ('Dietland'), Thomas Kail (Hamilton, Fox's Grease Live!), and Vardalos, and directed by Globe favorite James Vasquez (American Mariachi, Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!), Tiny Beautiful Things will run February 9 - March 10, 2019 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, opening on Thursday, February 14. Tickets are on sale now starting at $30.00 and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. 

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its production of the international megahit Mamma Mia!, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bj rn Ulvaeus, some songs with Stig Anderson, and book by Catherine Johnson. Originally conceived by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! is directed by Artistic Director William Osetek and choreographed by Jane Lanier with music direction by Roberta Duchak. Mamma Mia! runs February 7 April 14, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m.

American Blues Theater announces the addition of five new Ensemble members and one new Artistic Affiliate to the Blues family. Joining the Ensemble is director, designer and Associate Producer Elyse Dolan, who directed several works in past Ripped and Blue Ink festivals; designer Jared Gooding, lighting designer of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story; actor Philip Earl Johnson, who is slated to appear in the upcoming Chicago premiere of Steven Dietz's On Clover Road; director Chuck Smith, director of the recent American Blues production of Pearl Cleage's Flyin' West; and actress and playwright Wandachristine, who won many awards for her solo performance Beauty's Daughter. Actor Zachary Stevenson has been named an Artistic Affiliate. Stevenson recently made his Chicago debut as 'Buddy Holly' in American Blues Theater's Joseph Jefferson Award-winning musical Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story, in which he also won a Jeff Award for Performance in a Musical.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce final casting for the 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS along with The Songwriters Showcase and Midday Cabarets. The FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Festival events kick off on Monday, October 22 with Thank You, 30! a gala event to celebrate the 30th Annual Festival.

Victory Gardens Theater's Chicago premiere of Paula Vogel's Tony nominated INDECENT weaves a beautiful narrative about the transcendence of art and human resilience. Director Gary Griffin's staging feels both grandiose and intimate at the same time; the play's action spans a time period from 1906-1950 and travels across continents, but the vignettes contained in Vogel's story are rife with genuine, powerful human emotion. INDECENT was inspired by the true story of the 1923 Broadway debut of Jewish playwright Sholem Asch's God of Vengeance, which had an illicit lesbian romance as one of its main plot points. Vogel's story charts God of Vengeance's journey from the moment Asch first presents the script to his wife through to its first reading and multiple staged productions.

Victory Gardens Theater begins its 44th season with the 2017 Tony Award-nominated play Indecent, written by Paula Vogel and directed by Gary Griffin. Indecent runs September 21 - November 4, 2018, with the press performance on Friday, September 28, 2018 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced initial casting for the 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced the directors and music directors for this year's Festival, happening October 25 & 26 at New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan! 

Chicago will continue to produce some of the most exciting theater in the country throughout Fall 2018.  Offerings from the city's more than 250 producing theaters include a range of special fall programming, featuring everything from the latest musicals to highly anticipated world premieres.   

National Alliance for Musical Theatre announces the line-up of directors for their 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). The Festival events will kick off on Monday, October 22 with Thank You, 30!, a gala event to celebrate the 30th Annual Festival.

The nominations have been announced for the 2018 Equity Joseph Jefferson ('Jeff') Awards.

Roundabout Theatre Company's premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Bernhardt/Hamlet begins previews today. Get to know the cast as they begin Broadway performances!

Victory Gardens Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, announces casting for its upcoming productions of Indecent by Paula Vogel, directed by Gary Griffin, Rightlynd by Ike Holter, directed by Lisa Portes, Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce, and Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee, directed by Marti Lyons. The cast for Miriam for President by Madhuri Shekar, directed by Chay Yew, is yet to be announced.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its sultry summer drama, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Tony nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (2009 Broadway revival of Ragtime, Drury Lane's Smokey Joe's Cafe). Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs July 5 - August 26, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its sultry summer drama, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Tony nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (2009 Broadway revival of Ragtime, Drury Lane's Smokey Joe's Cafe). Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs July 5 - August 26, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Today, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its sultry summer drama, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Tony nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (2009 Broadway revival of Ragtime, Drury Lane's Smokey Joe's Cafe). Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs July 5 - August 26, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Congratulations and best wishes go out to Broadway stars Emily Padgett and Josh Young who celebrated their wedding yesterday! Padgett shared the news on instagram following the couple's engagement in January of 2017.