Ian McKellen News

Evan Jonigkeit will play a young, slightly different-looking version of 'Toad' in the upcoming X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The National Theatre opened its doors in 1963 with Laurence Olivier as its first director. Eight hundred productions later, the venerable institution celebrates its 50th anniversary with a starry cast of theatrical legends to applaud the remarkable people and plays that have made the NT one of the most cherished and creative wellspring's of international theater: from premieres of plays by Tom Stoppard, Peter Shaffer, Harold Pinter, Alan Bennett and David Hare, to outstanding revivals of classic plays and musicals.

For the past month, theatre critics from the world's biggest publications have been wrapping up 2013 with lists of their favorite theatrical events of the last 12 months. Below, we bring you a roundup of all of them. Be sure to check out which ones ended up with the most mentions at the end!

Fortunately for Colbert and Hobbit fans, a new YouTube has arisen featuring a still frame of the Comedy Central host in character.

'THE HOBBIT' managed to gross $29.8 million by Sunday morning, while FROZEN chilled the remaining competition with $28.8 million.

'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' continues its climb up the worldwide box office, crossing $500 million globally. The film, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), has thus far grossed an estimated $160.5 million domestically and $343.5 million internationally, for a worldwide estimated total of $504 million and growing.

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Machinal, starring Rebecca Hall, written by Sophie Treadwell and directed by Lyndsey Turner, began previews on December 20, 2013 ahead of an official opening on January 16, 2014 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Machinal is a limited engagement through March 2. Scroll down to learn more about the cast!

Today, check out BWW's production highlights from 2013, and catch up on anything that you might have missed within the last 12 months!

Today, check out BWW's production shots from shows that opened in 2013, and catch up on anything that you might have missed within the last 12 months!

Today, check out part two of this year's curtain call highlights 2013, and catch up on anything that you might have missed within the last 12 months!

Today, check out some of BWW's most read news stories from 2013, featuring favorites from our readers and editors, and catch up on anything that you might have missed within the last 12 months!

Prospect Theater Company will present the New York premiere of JASPER IN DEADLAND, a new musical with music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver and a book by Hunter Foster and Ryan Scott Oliver. Performances begin March 16 at the West End Theatre in the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.) has secured the network television premiere window for the #1 movie in the country, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

On the heels of its #1 openings around the globe, 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' has surpassed $300 million at the worldwide box office after seven days in release. The film, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), has taken in an estimated $104.6 million domestically and $213.6 million internationally, for a worldwide estimated total to date of $318.2 million, including $23 million from IMAX theatres worldwide.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST director Bryan Singer revealed that the editing team has nixed a rescue scene featuring Ian McKellen as Magneto, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Shawn Ashmore as Iceman and Anna Paquin as Rogue. Because this was Paquin's only scene in the film, she will no longer be part of the project.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is proud to present a timeless retelling of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar from March 19 - April 20, 2014. The classic drama comes to life on the intimate Goldman Theater stage under the direction of Tina Packer, founder and former Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company, "a troupe that has kept the Berkshires ringing with the sound of blank verse for

A formidable British trio visits THEATER TALK for an intelligent and humorous look at the challenges of bringing the production of two existential plays, Harold Pinter's No Man's Land and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, to an alternating, repertory-style engagement on Broadway (at the Cort Theatre).

A formidable British trio visits THEATER TALK for an intelligent and humorous look at the challenges of bringing the production of two existential plays, Harold Pinter's No Man's Land and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, to an alternating, repertory-style engagement on Broadway (at the Cort Theatre).

On Twitter Watch, Patrick Stewart wrote ' Father Christmas! #gogodididonyc @TwoPlaysInRep

Dual roles in classic plays with an acclaimed cast are keeping Shuler Hensley fully engaged on Broadway.