Helen Hayes News

The revival of The Glass Menagerie opens tonight, March 9, at the Belasco Theatre, with a cast of some Broadway vets as well as a fresh face. Get to know the company before they take their opening night bows.

Broadway In Chicago has announced Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Euan Morton will play the role of Hedwig, and Hannah Corneau will play Yitzhak in the National Tour of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the 2014 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival. Hedwig and the Angry Inch will play Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) March 7-19, 2017.

Houses on the Moon Theater Company will present two world premiere productions in repertory developed through company workshops: The Assignment, a new original play by Camilo Almonacid, directed by Emily Joy Weiner, is a co-production with Rhymes Over Beats (Patrick Blake, Artistic Director; Cate Cammarata, Associate Artistic Director), and will be performed in repertory with gUN COUNTRY, curated by Jeffery Solomon and Emily Joy Weiner, written, developed and performed by Houses On The Moon company members and directed by Jenna Worsham.

The Drama League has launched its 2017 Spring Charity Auction, featuring more than 20 once-in-a-lifetime prize packages.

The question of gender parity in the theatre is a matter that has long been explored within our community. While recent Broadway seasons have taken encouraging steps toward better female representation, both on and offstage, the question of gender equality within the theatre continues to be a hotly debated issue across the theatrical sphere.

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham is thrilled to announce the fourth show in the Laguna Playhouse 2016-2017 season, Hershey Felder as OUR GREAT TCHAIKOVSKY, written  by Hershey Felder, music by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and directed by Trevor Hay. "This might be the most powerful piece of work that Hershey and Trevor have ever brought to the Playhouse. Tchaikovsky's story is as relevant and important today as it was in the 1800s," says Wareham.  OUR GREAT TCHAIKOVSKY will begin previews on Wednesday, March 1; will open on Sunday, March 5 at 5:30pm and will run through Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

SRO Theatre Company is proud to announce its plans to produce a documentary film on John Schmidt, a 95-year-old former member of the company whose life experiences include performing on Broadway, pole vaulting at OSU, WWII, frequent appearances on WOSU radio and television, being inducted into the OSU Sports Hall of Fame, and managing his Schmidt family tree farm in Bainbridge, Ohio. SRO is using the crowd-funding platform GoFundMe to finance My Name is Johnnie Schmidt, the working title of the project, which will include a wealth of information on John's life based on interviews with the still-vibrant senior and Upper Arlington native, as well as rarely-seen footage and photos of his notable life and career. Our goal is to premiere the finished work in the fall.

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre will give Bay Area audiences their first look at the 2014 revised version of the acclaimed Broadway musical Side Show. This dazzling work, featuring music by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), and book/lyrics by Bill Russell (Pageant, Lucky Duck), was nominated for four 1998 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress. The 2014 revival, which incorporates a revised script and several new songs, received additional critical acclaim, was nominated for five Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Revival, and was awarded the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical. Side Show is based on the true story of Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins who rose from a sideshow attraction to become sensational vaudeville stars in the 1930s. Side Show will be directed by Milissa Carey, with musical direction by Dolores Duran-Cefalu, and choreography by Brett and CJ Blankenship and will playMarch 2 - 19, 2017 (press opening: March 3, 2017) with performances 7:30pm Thursdays, 8:00pm Fridays & Saturdays, and 2pm Sundays at the Lohman Theatre, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets ($12 - $32) and information can be found at www.foothill.edu/theatre or by phone at(650) 949-7360.

Bay Area Cabaret presents two-time Tony Award-nominee Christine Andreas in Venetian Room debut performing her dazzling one-woman show, be-Mused. In a show that left the New York Times 'thunderstruck,' Christine takes songs that are already incendiary and makes them shine that much brighter. She celebrates some of the greatest collaborations spanning the last century: Arlen & Garland, Jobim & Gilberto, Van Heusen & Sinatra, the Bergmans & Streisand, Bacharach/David & Dionne Warwick, Monnot & Piaf and more.

Asolo Rep's Annual Gala: La Fete de Monte Carlo, will be held today, March 4, 2017 at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

Following critically acclaimed, sold-out runs at Don't Tell Mama and the 2016 New York Musical Festival (NYMF), Midnight at The Never Get, conceived by and starring Sam Bolen and Mark Sonnenblick, with book, music and lyrics by Mr. Sonnenblick, directed by Max Friedman (Ruby Manger Live!, Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band), and produced by Michael Chase Gosselin (POPE! An Epic Musical, The Most Miserable Christmas Tree), will return home to Don't Tell Mama (342 West 46th Street) on Tuesday, March 14 at 8pm for a special one-night-only concert to celebrate receiving a 2017 Bistro Award for 'Book Musical,' and a 2017 MAC Award nomination for 'Show Of The Year.'

The searing new play Sweat begins previews on Broadway tomorrow Saturday, March 4 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Following a sold out, critically acclaimed engagement at New York's Public Theater, Sweat, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, directed by Kate Whoriskey will officially open on Broadway on March 26, 2017.

New York born, New Jersey raised actress Christiane Noll starred on Broadway in the Kennedy Center Revival of RAGTIME, receiving TONY and Drama Desk Award nominations and winning a Helen Hayes Award for her portrayal of Mother. She made her Broadway debut creating the role of Emma in JEKYLL & HYDE, receiving a FANY award for Best actress in a musical.

TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and acclaimed for presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues, announces its 2017-18 season. 

Point Park University's Conservatory Theatre Company presents Sweet Charity, a classic American musical based on the Federico Fellini film, The Nights of Cabiria, about finding genuine love in a world of deceit. With big, brassy numbers and Fosse-esque choreography, Sweet Charity is a pivotal show that has defined jazz musicals. 

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team of Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti.

Bartlett Theater announces complete casting today for CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Karen Dacons-Brock, CRUMBS begins performances today, March 3rd.

The UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance presents The Taming of the Shrew(d), an adaptation of Shakespeare's original text by Kristen Tregar and Kyle Donnelly, directed by Kyle Donnelly.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the world premiere production of Roe written by Lisa Loomer and directed by Bill Rauch. Roe is a co-production with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Arena Stage.

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2017 season at The Goodspeed with the Broadway hit Thoroughly Modern Millie. You'll get a kick out of this dance-filled musical comedy running April 21 - July 2 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn.