George S. Kaufman News

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents Moss Hart's classic and timeless comedy, LIGHT UP THE SKY which will be directed by Bj?rn Johnson. LIGHT UP THE SKY will preview on Saturday, January 10 at 8pm; Sunday, January 11 at 3pm and Thursday, January 15 at 8pm and will open on Friday, January 16 at 8pm and run through Saturday, March 7 at The NEW Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. (former home of The Actor's Gang) in Hollywood.

The box office will open today, Monday, January 5, 2009 for the new Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.

The Civic Light Opera Company once again offers Toronto theatre lovers a chance to see a rarely staged hit from Broadway's 'golden era.'

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.

The producers of the upcoming Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit are pleased to welcome Tony-nominated actress Deborah Rush in the role of Mrs. Bradman, reuniting her with her Noises Off! director, two-time Tony Award winner Michael Blakemore.

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced today that Craig Bierko (Tony Award nominee for The Music Man; Scary Movie 4) will star as 'Sky Masterson' and Kate Jennings Grant (Proof) will also star as 'Sarah Brown' in the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS.

Keen Company (Artistic Director Carl Forsman; Executive Director Wayne Kelton) will present its first holiday offering, perfect for all audiences, Beasley's Christmas Party.

The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) announces the debut of its annual benefit gala: ONE NIGHT ONLY...With a Little Help From Our Friends, hosted by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, scheduled to take place at UCLA's prestigious performing arts theater, Royce Hall, on December 2nd at 7:30 pm.

Variety reports that Jayne Atkinson has joined the cast of the upcoming Broadway revival of 'Blithe Spirit,' Atkinson will play the bride of Everett's character, who is plagued by the ghost of his deceased first wife (Ebersole). Atkinson was last on Broadway in 'Enchanted April' in 2003.

The producers of Blithe Spirit are pleased to announce the show will play The Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Monday, January 26, 2009 with the first performance on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

LAUREN GRAHAM (Golden Globe Award nominee for 'Gilmore Girls') will appear as 'Miss Adelaide' opposite Oliver Platt's 'Nathan Detroit' in the new Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS.

New School Drama is partnering with the Drama League to have talented directors in its prestigious fellow program participate in its fall series of workshop productions of classic and contemporary works. It has been announced that famed director Hal Brooks is currently working with acting and directing students to prepare for a production of Stage Door (November 5-8).

Keen Company (Artistic Director Carl Forsman; Executive Director Wayne Kelton) will present its first holiday offering, perfect for all audiences, Beasley's Christmas Party.

Seattle Repertory Theatre has cancelled their production of the Broadway bound Waiting for Godot due to the loss of a financial backer. Actor Bill Irwin was set to star in production, scheduled to open on January 15th and run through February 14th. The theater has replaced the production with Athol Fugard's Road to Mecca, directed by Leigh Silverman.

A new production of GUYS AND DOLLS, directed by Tony-winner Des McAnuff will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. Opening Night is March 1.

The New School for Drama is pleased to present FIRST LOOK, a performance series featuring workshop presentations of classical and contemporary works. This year's FIRST LOOK performances will be directed by 3 Drama League Directing Fellows and include The Pillars of Society (October 15-18), written by Henrik Ibsen, Stage Door (November 5-8), written by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman and All's Well that End's Well (December 10-13) written by William Shakespeare. All are free and open to the public.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), in association with Martin Hummel, present the New York premiere of the new comedy, Love Child, written and performed by Daniel Jenkins (Mary Poppins, Big River) and Robert Stanton (The Coast of Utopia, All in the Timing), as an added event of the 2008-2009 season. Under the direction of Carl Forsman, performances are set to begin Sunday evening, October 12, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and will run in repertory with A Body of Water by Lee Blessing for a limited engagement through November 19, 2008. Opening night is October 26, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Managing Director) is proud to announce that Peter Bartlett (The New Century, The Drowsy Chaperone) will star opposite two-time Tony Award® nominee David Pittu (Is He Dead?, LoveMusik), in the world premiere production of WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING, featuring original music by Randy Redd.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Managing Director) is proud to announce that Peter Bartlett (The New Century, The Drowsy Chaperone) will star opposite two-time Tony Award® nominee David Pittu (Is He Dead?, LoveMusik), in the world premiere production of WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING, featuring original music by Randy Redd.

Today it was announced that GUYS AND DOLLS will open on Broadway for the first time in 17 years in the spring of 2009 at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, this production is the first joint Broadway project by director Des McAnuff and Sergio Trujillo since Jersey Boys.