Helen Hayes News

The course of true love never did run smooth, Lysander tells his distraught lover Hermia at the beginning of A Midsummer Night?s Dream. Mischief, mayhem, moonbeams, and magic potions abound as four young Athenian lovers encounter more than they imagined possible in one of Shakespeare?s best known romantic comedies.

Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS, Broadway's longest running comedy, continues its 'Hitchcock Meets Hilarious' Talkback Tuesday series tonight with Alan Zweibel (Original writer, 'Saturday Night Live,' writer, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays, author, Clothing Optional) joining cast members of the Tony Award-winning comedy for a post-show discussion.

THIRD AVENUE PRODUCTIONS and MANY HATS PRODUCTIONS are pleased to present REQUIEM FOR A MARRIAGE, written by J.B. EDWARDS and directed by LINDA SELMAN, as part of the 10TH MIDTOWN INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL at WORKSHOP THEATER MAINSTAGE at 312 West 36th Street, 4th floor.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Will Chase has joined the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ?Tony,' Billy's older brother. Chase will begin performances on Tuesday, July 7th.

Signature Theatre, the recipient of the 2009 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre, presents its Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret series July 7 through 24 - three weeks of live music and performances ranging from cabaret and show tunes to jazz, blues, and R&B.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with Long Wharf Theatre presents Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie, directed by Gordon Edelstein with Patch Darragh (Tom Wingfield), two-time Tony® Award winner Judith Ivey (Amanda Wingfield), Keira Keeley (Laura Wingfield).

Company member Alexander Strain is among the prestigious DC actors cast in Forum Theatre's revival of the Tony Award-winning Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. In addition to Strain, who plays Louis, the ensemble features Helen Hayes Award-winners Jennifer Mendenhall as Hannah and Nanna Ingvarsson as The Angel, along with Helen Hayes nominees Karl Miller as Prior and Jim Jorgensen as Roy Cohn. Casie Platt as Harper, Daniel Eichner as Joe, and Ro Boddie as Belize round out the cast.

The newly launched Summer Solos Series (Scott Morfee and Darren Lee Cole, producers), a celebration of the best in solo performance and shows by acclaimed playwrights and performers, presents a one-night only return performance of the critically acclaimed Off Broadway hit, Nilaja Sun's No Child..., on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam Street). Immediately following the performance there will be a brief reception with the artist in the Huron Club, located inside the Soho Playhouse.

The following is news from the Baltimore Theatre Alliance.

Nederlander Alliances, LLC and Pittsburgh CLO, co-producers and founding partners of The National High School Musical Theater Awards, presented the first annual Jimmy Awards in a ceremony held last night at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University. The Jimmy Award is named in honor of legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. The award features an illustration of James M. Nederlander drawn by world renowned artist Al Hirschfeld.

Rehearsals start today, Thursday, July 2, for Slipping, written by Daniel Talbott and directed by Kirsten Kelly. Presented by Piece by Piece Productions and Rising Phoenix Repertory in association with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Slipping begins performances for its New York premiere Tuesday, July 28 at 8pm at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place. The opening night is set for Tuesday, August 4 at 7pm.

The 2009-2010 season at the Douglas was announced today by CTG's Artistic Director Michael Ritchie and it will include a world premiere, an American premiere and a West Coast premiere plus expanded DouglasPlus programming that includes an eclectic mix of theatre choices ranging from fully-staged productions to bare-bones workshops and readings. Limited-run, special events will also be a part of DouglasPlus.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

The following is news from the Baltimore Theatre Alliance.

Alley Theatre will produce the Sherlock Holmes Mystery The Crucifer of Blood during its popular ExxonMobil Summer Chills series. The perfect summer outing for Houstonians seeking a cool respite from the summer heat, ExxonMobil Summer Chills is a great way to introduce live theatre to first-timers, giving them an opportunity to thrill in suspenseful moments and unexpected revelations.

Producer Jeffrey Finn announced today that OLEANNA, the provocative drama by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet, will have its first-ever Broadway production as part of the 2009-2010 Broadway Season. Starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles and directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes, the play is a gripping account of a power struggle between a male university professor and one of his female students.

Alfred Hitchcock's THE 39 STEPS, Broadway's longest running comedy, continues its 'Hitchcock Meets Hilarious' Talkback Tuesday series tonight with Michele Balan ('Last Comic Standing 4,' Stand-UP 360) joining cast members of the Tony Award-winning comedy for a post-show discussion.

Nederlander Alliances, LLC and Pittsburgh CLO, co-producers and founding partners of The National High School Musical Theater Awards, presented the first annual Jimmy Awards in a ceremony held last night at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University. The Jimmy Award is named in honor of legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. The award features an illustration of James M. Nederlander drawn by world renowned artist Al Hirschfeld.

Ellen Richard will leave her position as Executive Director of Second Stage Theatre on June 30. During Ms. Richard's three year tenure, the acclaimed off-Broadway company acquired the right to purchase Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre and saw significant growth in subscription income, single ticket sales, and individual giving.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.