Helen Hayes News

Tony Award-winner Sarah Jones will be encoring her one-womanmulti-character show SELLBUYDATE in Los Angeles, this time at the LGBT Center's Renberg Theatre, with previews beginning September 27, 2018. Having seen Sarah's show earlier this year at the Geffen, I jumped at the chance to dive into the back stories of Sarah and her multiple personalities she shares the stage with.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25thSilver Anniversary at the theatre) in association with T&D Productions, LLC are thrilled to present Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original "Janis" starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

Back by popular demand, Bucks County Playhouse's Storytelling Series returns this fall with a new name and expanded opportunities to hear and see renowned storytellers live on stage. The opening performance of the new WORD OF MOUTH series features two special guests: Ophira Eisenberg (host of NPR's 'Ask Me Another') and Jeff Rudell (recent contestant on the new NBC hit show, 'Making It' with Amy Poelher and Nick Offerman). The fall series features monthly performances, two shows a night at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on September 28, October 19, November 16 and December 14. Tickets range in price from $25 for a single ticket to $80 for the four-show package and are available at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or (215) 862-2121.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of Familiar written by Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead, Black Panther, Broadway's Eclipsed) and directed by Danya Taymor, who helmed Steppenwolf's powerful 2017 production of Pass Over. As previously announced, this fiercely funny production features ensemble members Celeste M. Cooper (Nyasha) and Ora Jones (Marvelous Chinyaramwira), who appeared together in Steppenwolf's The Doppelganger (an international farce) last season. Rounding out the cast are Cheryl Lynn Bruce (Anne), Erik Hellman (Chris), Lanise Antoine Shelley, (Tendikayi), Luigi Sottile (Brad), Jacqueline Williams (Margaret Munyewa) and Cedric Young (Donald Chinyaramwira).

Verdict is in! The all-female ensemble for the staged reading of Twelve Angry Men (September 16, Theatre Row) received standing ovations for the stellar all-star company of Broadway women. Tony Award winner Cady Huffman directed the show which inspired and drew laughs from the standing-room-only house.

Two-time Tony Award nominee Brandon Uranowitz will join the cast of THE BAND'S VISIT as 'Itzik.' Uranowitz will begin performances in The Band's Visit on Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

Villanova Theatre presents Karen Zacarias's raucous romp, The Book Club Play, hailed as 'smart, light and pants-peeingly funny' (chicagocritic.com). Directed by Whiting and Barrymore Award winner James Ijames, this smart hit comedy about books and the people who love them runs September 18-30, 2018.

In SING TO ME NOW, playwright Iris Dauterman weaves sardonic humor, poetry, and a deeply contemporary voice to create a comedy about fighting for beauty while the world is falling apart.

An interactive retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet comes to Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater in Gravedigger's Tale, October 19-28. Performances are 7:30 pm Friday & Saturday, and 2 pm Sunday.

Achingly human, and surprisingly funny! TheFountain Theatre presents the West Coast premiere ofCost of Living, the 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Martyna Majok. John Vreeke directs for an Oct. 20 opening, with performances continuing through Dec.16.

Prize winning author and playwright, Sarah Ruhl, will be celebrating the release of her new book, LETTERS FROM MAX, in a special discussion with Tony award-winning actress, Mary-Louise Parker at The Strand's Book Room

Actress Maya Lynne Robinson will be joining the beloved cast of “The Conners” as a series regular, alongside John Goodman (“Dan”), Laurie Metcalf (“Jackie”), Sara Gilbert (“Darlene”), Lecy Goranson (“Becky”), Michael Fishman (“D.J.”), Emma Kenney (“Harris”), Ames McNamara (“Mark”) and Jayden Rey (“Mary”). “The Conners” premieres TUESDAY, OCT. 16 (8:00-8:31 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand.

Bucks County Playhouse's acclaimed production of "Million Dollar Quartet" has surpassed expectations and broken the Playhouse's box office record - becoming the theater's most attended and top grossing production. Playing off the theme of this rock n' roll musical, cast members Sky Seals (who plays Johnny Cash), Ari McKay Wilford (who plays Elvis Presley) and Ryah Nixon will perform. Cast members will join the Playhouse's Producing Director Tony Award-winning Alexander Fraser and staff to "SMASH records."

Dale Soules (Orange Is The New Black, Hands On A Hardbody) will step into a reading of Michael Raver's new political drama, Evening. Bedlam Artistic Director Eric Tucker will direct the reading on September 24th in New York. Soules replaces the previously announced Roberta Maxwell.

Constellation Theatre Company continues its 2018/19 Season: Epic Love with Elton John and Tim Rice's epic musical Aida. Aida will perform from October 11 - November 18, 2018 at Source, at 1835 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20009.

A ghostly mystery begins a season of DC-area premiere productions by the Washington Stage Guild (WSG). Summerland by Arlitia Jones tells the mysterious tale of William H. Mumler, a "spirit photographer" with a talent for capturing haunting images from the world beyond the veil. The Civil War has ended, and a grieving nation sees many turning to spiritualism to contact the dead. Mumler sees his business boom as mourners, including a very famous one, flock to his studio. A New York City police official makes it his mission to prove it's a fraud, but finds that harder than he hoped. Based on a true story, this area premiere opens Thursday, Sept. 27 and runs through Sunday, October 21.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts announced today that individual tickets for the Las Vegas premiere of DEAR EVAN HANSEN will go on sale Friday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m.

Broken Nose Theatre is pleased to announce it Seventh Season, featuring a world premiere and two Midwest premieres to presented at its resident home, The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

The Las Vegas engagement of Waitress will be 'Opening Up' with Jessie Shelton and Matt DeAngelis in the roles of Dawn and Earl when the tour opens in Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 9th at The Smith Center. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25thSilver Anniversary at the theatre) are thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (replacing the previously announced Stormy Weather), adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by Sheldon Epps. AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS will preview on Friday, October 19, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 20 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, November 11, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.