Helen Hayes News

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: the Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Prom is available digitally today, and more!

James is in Reykjavik for the Northern Lights, but they're not here. Instead he ventures into the 24-hour dark of the Icelandic winter and finds himself entangled with dangerous strangers, suspicious lovers, malevolent birds and the mysterious Huldufolk.

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company gathered with 300 leaders from Chicago's business and civic communities for the 10thAnniversary Steppenwolf Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon to honor OBIE, Helen Hayes and NAACP Award-winning actor and playwright Danai Gurira on December 10, 2018 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus Dr. Ms. Gurira was also recently appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on gender equality and women's rights. Author of the hit play, Familiar, which is currently running through January 13, 2019 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, Ms. Gurira was joined by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Steppenwolf Education Manager Jared Bellot for a warm and candid conversation about her impressive acting career on-screen and on-stage, her award-winning plays and her impact as an activist and philanthropist.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 210th season with the uproarious Ken Ludwig's A COMEDY OF TENORS. Directed by and starring Frank Ferrante, this over-top-top comedy from Tony Winner Ken Ludwig begins previews on January 15th, opens on January 23rd, and runs through March 3rd on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Yale Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of Good Faith: Four Chats about Race and the New Haven Fire Department by Karen Hartman, directed by Kenny Leon, February 1-23, 2019 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, February 7.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler announced the cast of the second production of its 2018-19 Season: Birdy, adapted by Naomi Wallace from the novel by William Wharton, and directed by Steven Maler. The production runs February 27 through March 10 at the Carling-Sorenson Theater at Babson College in Wellesley.

Alice Ripley is sharing her wisdom with the world in a new TED Talk called 'Magic Take Time.'

Producers Stacey Mindich and David Mirvish are delighted to announce that Canada's own Robert Markus will play the title role in the Canadian premiere production of the multi Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen, when it begins performances on March 5, 2019 at Toronto's historic Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the full cast and creative team for Metamorphoses. This co-production with the Guthrie Theater is led by nationally and internationally renowned writer and director Mary Zimmerman.

History was made at the Music Box Theatre today! Roman Banks made his debut as the title character in Dear Evan Hansen as the show's first Evan of color. Banks is currently the understudy for Evan, Jared and Connor. See video of his first bow below!

City Center alumni Jake Gyllenhaal, Norm Lewis, Victoria Clark, Vanessa Williams and more are helping the historic institution to celebrate 75 years at the center of the arts. Check out a history of City Center below!

1st Stage, Tysons Corner's award-winning professional theatre, announces the extension of their critically-acclaimed production of A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration until December 30.

History is being made at the Music Box Theatre today! Roman Banks will make his debut as the title character in Dear Evan Hansen as the show's first Evan of color. Banks is currently the understudy for Evan, Jared and Connor. 

After his hit production of King Charles III, David Muse returns to Shakespeare Theatre Company to direct Shakespeare's Richard the Third, a mesmerizing chronicle of the megalomaniac's rampage to the throne. The production will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from February 5-March 10, 2019.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the world premiere of Kenneth Lin's timely cautionary tale of capitalism run amok, Kleptocracy. Inspired by the power struggle between the richest of the Oligarchs and an ambitious Vladimir Putin after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lin (House of Cards) explores U.S. - Russia relations then and now. Directed by Jackson Gay, and by special arrangement with Robert Ahrens, Mickey Liddell and Michael Mills, Kleptocracy runs January 18 - February 24, 2019 in the Kreeger Theater.

Bay Area Cabaret kicks off the new year welcoming back Tony-nominated Broadway star Carmen Cusack on Sunday, January 20 at 5:00 p.m. Ms. Cusack returns to the Venetian Room with an evening celebrating her favorite songs and the artists behind them including singer/songwriters past and present like Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Kate Bush and Kimbra, plus she'll offer a sampling of original tunes and Broadway selections.

Lantern Theater Company is thrilled to announce the world premiere of an original adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, commissioned and developed through the Lantern's New Play Program and co-created by Philadelphia-based artists Anthony Lawton, Christopher Colucci, and Thom Weaver. In this wonderfully clear and direct telling of Dickens' beloved novella, Lawton will bring the story boldly to life as only live theater can. Just in time for the holiday season, audiences of all ages are invited to come rediscover this story of a miser's miraculous redemption from a life of bitterness, greed, and isolation. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol runs Thursday, December 13, 2018, through Sunday, January 6, 2019, in the Black Box Theater at Drexel University's URBN Center Annex; a full schedule of performances is included in the fact sheet below. 

THE GREEN ROOM 42 - Broadway's newest intimate concert venue - will present Lesli Margherita in "Yule Your Kingdom" for two shows on Friday, December 14 and Saturday, December 15, both at 11:30 PM. In this tinsel sparkly edition of Rule Your Kingdom, Olivier Award winner 'Queen' Lesli Margherita (Zorro, Matilda, Dames at Sea) inspires, uplifts, and slaps you across the face with a Yule Log. From memorable favorites with a holiday twist to brand new stories bound to become the classics you recite as you down spiked Egg Nog, Margherita's 70 minute show-stopping set will leave you screaming, "YASSSSS HOLIDAYS!!!" Written by Margherita, "Yule Your Kingdom" is directed and produced by Lauren Bass, featuring musical direction and arrangements by Brett Ryback. 

The ultimate gift for any Broadway and theater fan!

The Deck Restaurant and Bar at Bucks County Playhouse made its debut on Sunday, December 9, 2018 when it opened for an extended preview period prior to an official Grand Opening on Sunday, February 10, 2019.