Helen Hayes News

Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, continues its 2017/18 season with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner by Todd Kreidler (based on the screenplay by William Rose), directed by Marti Lyons with Associate Director Wardell Julius Clark. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner runs March 15 - April 15, 2018 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 8:00pm.

The Drama League's 2018 Spring Charity Auction has launched at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring forty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages. The impressive offerings include celebrity experiences with Alan Cumming (Legal Immigrant at Joe's Pub), Jessie Mueller (Carousel), Lea Salonga (Once On This Island); Andrew Rannells (The Boys in The Band), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Log Cabin), Condola Rashad (Saint Joan), Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots), Matthew Broderick (The Seafarer); House Seats to the hottest shows on and off Broadway, like The Iceman Cometh, Escape to Margaritaville, Sweeney Todd, In & Of Itself and more!

MCC Theater is thrilled to announce four new productions for its 32nd Season in the Theater's new, permanent home. The season includes an exciting mix of world and New York premieres from artists both familiar and new to MCC audiences-each fulfilling MCC's longtime commitment to bold, risk-taking works from the most vital voices working in theater today.

On March 19, 2018, Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre honored legendary Broadway composer John Kander with the company's ninth Stephen Sondheim Award. The Stephen Sondheim Award was presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy and will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community programs.

Last month, Broadway's new Evan Hansen, Taylor Trensch, officially began his performances in the hit musical Dear Evan Hansen! Trensch took over for Noah Galvin, who most recently played Evan following original star Ben Platt's departure from the show. Check out a video of the star in action below with co-star Laura Dreyfuss!

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), brings its 25th season to a close with Sam Shepard's "True West." Founded in 1993, Rep Stage's opening production featured director Vincent Lancisi, who has returned to helm "True West." This production also features Rep Stage's founding director Valerie Lash in the role of Mom.

Me and My Girl, the final production of the Encores! at 25 season at New York City Center will star Christian Borle, Suzzanne Douglas, Mark Evans, Harriet Harris, Edward Hibbert, John Horton, Simon Jones, Laura Michelle Kelly, Lisa O'Hare, Ken Page, and Don Stephenson.

Shakespeare Theatre Company today announces the cast of Lerner and Loewe's multiple Tony Award-winning musical Camelot. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul (Kiss Me, Kate; Man of La Mancha), the classic musical will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from May 22 through July 1, concluding STC's 2017-2018 mainstage season.

The multi-Tony Award-winning, international sensation that took Broadway and the world by storm, makes its Northeast regional premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse September 5 to October 28. Jersey Boys takes audiences on an exhilarating journey behind the music of mega-stars Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Follow the incredible story of four guys bound by one dream, who worked their way from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom. Audiences around the world have gone wild over the electrifying performances of the golden greats that took these hometown boys all the way to the top of the charts: "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Dawn," "My Eyes Adored You," and many more. You're sure to leave exclaiming, "Oh, What a Night!"

According to the New York Times, Dear Evan Hansen will soon be turned into a young adult novel. Author Val Emmich has teamed with the hit musical's creators to create a page-turning work of fiction from the hit musical. 

The Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, is proud to announce Broadway's 'Come From Away' star Jenn Colella along with 'The Band's Visit' sensation Katrina Lenk will announce the nominees for the 2017-18 season on Tuesday, April 24th

WAITRESS, the Tony Award-nominated musical making its Washington, D.C. premiere at the National Theatre from May 15 thru June 3, 2018, is looking for two young girls to perform the role of Lulu during the national tour's D.C. engagement.

Synetic Theater's Founding Artistic Director Paata Tsikurishvili will present the 13th installation of his Wordless Shakespeare series, Titus Andronicus.

CBS Melbourne has confirmed its status as a home for outstanding theatre, with producers Rodney Rigby and Junkyard Dog Productions today confirming that the city will host the exclusive Australian premiere of acclaimed Broadway musical COME FROM AWAY.

Playwright Amy Freed has always been a Shakespeare fan. Her breakout hit, The Beard of Avon (SCR-commissioned and premiered, 2001), was a smart, funny look at the controversy surrounding the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. Now comes SHREW! (March 24-April 21, Segerstrom Stage), in which Freed has re-imagined The Bard's play, The Taming of the Shrew, as a wickedly funny love story of two people who find their way to true, deep and mutual love. Art Manke directs SHREW!, which is an anchor production of the 2018 Pacific Playwrights Festival. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Fifteen years after its world premiere at McCarter Theatre Center, Crowns is returning. When Yolanda's brother is killed on the streets of Chicago, the shaken teenager is sent to live with her grandmother in South Carolina, where she embarks on a journey toward discovering her place in the world, and in her family. Produced in association with Long Wharf Theatre, Crowns runs March 13 - April 1 in McCarter's Matthews Theatre.

The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce the guest performers for the 21st annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County gala. Featured this year are: Celeste Jones and accompanist Douglas Lawler. You can catch them, along with the ten finalists in the Arts Council's Rising Star Competition, at the Celebration gala on March 24, 2018 at 8 p.m. Emcee for the event is Myron “Mo” Dutterer, a pillar of the Howard County theatre community and recipient of the 2003 Howie Award for Outstanding Arts Educator.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to present the sixth show in its 97th season, the world premiere of NATHAN GUNN FLYING SOLO, written and directed by Hershey Felder, with musical direction by Michael Bagby.

The Actors Fund announced today that Come From Away has added a Special Benefit Performance for The Actors Fund. This benefit performance will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street).

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is ready to il-lumos-nate your mind, tug at your dragon heart strings, and most importantly, welcome you back home to Hogwarts as it begins previews tonight. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!