Helen Hayes News

The New York Philharmonic's 2017 holiday season presents classical and seasonal hallmarks, four Broadway stars singing Laureate Conductor Leonard Bernstein's musical theater highlights, and the beloved annual traditions of Holiday Brass and Handel's Messiah.

The hilarious hit from comedy giant The Second City returns to The Armory for another year of holiday jeer. The Second City's A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens, written by Emmy Award-winners Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort, begins preview performances on the U.S. Bank Main Stage on December 5; opens on December 8; and runs through December 31.

The St. James and Helen Hayes Theatres might not be the only Broadway houses getting an update. According to Forbes, the Cort Theatre, currently home to M. Butterfly, might also get some renovations in the hopes that the theatre will be able to house larger productions.

Second Stage Theater has announced that Bel Powley will join the previously announced Michael Cera, Chris Evans, and Brian Tyree Henry, to complete the cast of Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero, directed by Trip Cullman.

Due to popular demand, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has twice extended its widely loved Chicago premiere production of The Rembrandt written by Jessica Dickey and directed by Hallie Gordon. Joe Dempsey joins the cast as Rembrandt/Henry in this subtle and elegant play, replacing ensemble member Francis Guinan who is currently in rehearsals for Steppenwolf's next production, The Minutes. The Rembrandt, hailed as humorous and enlightening (Broadway World) with powerful performances...both satisfying and profound (Daily Herald), continues through November 11, 2017 in the Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. The extension cast features ensemble member John Mahoney as Simon/Homer alongside acclaimed Chicago actor Joe Dempsey (Ah, Wilderness! Twist Your Dickens) as Henry/Rembrandt, Ty Olwin as Dodger/Titus, Karen Rodriguez as Madeline/Henny and Gabriel Ruiz as Jonny/Martin. Tickets ($20 - $104) are on sale now through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Adventure Theatre MTC (ATMTC), recent recipient of three 2017 Helen Hayes Awards, brings to the stage the tale of winter joy, Frosty the Snow Man, directed by Jason Schlafstein. Based on popular song written by Walter 'Jack' Rollins and Steve Nelson, this beloved tale of a snowman dancing through life is recommended for all ages and opens November 19, 2017. Tickets are $19.50 each and can be purchased online at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org or by calling 301-634-2270.

Playwrights Horizons has announced complete casting for Mankind, the world premiere of a new play written and directed by two-time Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara (Bootycandy, Bella: An American Tall Tale at Playwrights; Barbecue, In the Continuum, The Brother/Sister Plays).

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents a world premiere Kennedy Center commission, Me Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, a new musical based on Patrick McDonnell's Caldecott Honor Book.

The National Theatre announces its ticket lottery program for the 2017-2018 'Broadway at the National' season - which includes the pre-Broadway world premiere of Mean Girls, onstage October 31 thru December 3, 2017. The National Theatre is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in downtown Washington, D.C.

Theater for the New City presents Happenstance Theater's New York Premiere of BrouHaHa, an existential clownesque escapade devised by Happenstance Theater at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets), January 4-21.

Something wicked is brewing this Halloween at Rorschach Theatre as they conjure five new stories about witches forgotten and familiar. KLECKSOGRAPHY: TOIL & TROUBLE is the latest entry in Rorschach's annual extreme new play development event in which five brand-new plays by local writers are written, rehearsed and produced in just seven days.

Performances of Boston Playwrights' Theatre's (BPT) Elemeno Pea begin next week.

The NYC premiere of Occupied Territories, written by Nancy Bannon and Mollye Maxner, and directed by Mollye Maxner is now being performed at 59e59 Theaters through Sunday November 5. The show features inventive staging, riveting dialogue, and an outstanding cast.

Second Stage Theater has announced complete casting for the world premiere of GREG PIERCE's play, Cardinal, directed by KATE WHORISKEY.

Beginning November 16, acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to Ford's Theatre to play Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol a production heralded as a rich visual and vocal treat (TheaterMania) and infectiously jolly (Washington Post). Performances continue through December 31, 2017.

In one of the comedy industry's most anticipated traditions, iconic Chicago comedy institution The Second City is proud to announce the opening of its upcoming 106th Mainstage revue, Dream Freaks Fall From Space.

Producers Scott Rudin and Barry Diller just announced the cast and itinerary for the national tour of the most acclaimed American play in recent memory: The Humans. This November, The Humans kicks off its coast-to-coast national tour at Seattle Repertory Theatre before moving on to engagements in top markets across the United States.

Bulldozer Partners in association with Aaron Grant Theatrical has announced that previews of the off-Broadway engagement of BULLDOZER: THE BALLAD OF ROBERT MOSES, will begin on Saturday, November 25, 2017 and will run through Sunday, January 7, 2018 at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street).

The perfect Holiday outing for the young, and the young at heart, this wordless Family Theater production is recommended for all ages.

Timber Lake Playhouse, located in Mt. Carroll, Ill., the professional, non-profit summer theatre company established in 1961 with a mission of 'providing the best expression of theater arts to the regional community by presenting creative works that entertain and inspire while helping aspiring artists transition to the profession,' has announced today the appointment of award-winning director and choreographer Paul Stancato as Artistic Director for the 2018-19 season.