Jack Viertel News

Jujamcyn Theaters (Jordan Roth, President) and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced the judges for the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis will collaborate on A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Story, a new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, announced Arlene Shuler, President & CEO of New York City Center. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, and conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Viertel and John Doyle, will run for seven performances, November 13 - 17 at City Center. City Center's annual Gala Benefit will take place on Thursday, November 14 and will include a post-performance dinner at the Plaza Hotel.

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenkowill star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, On Your Toes will have guest music direction by Encores! founding music director Rob Fisher and will play seven performances, from May 8 - 12 at New York City Center, W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). The "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" ballet, originally choreographed by George Balanchine, will be staged by Susan Pilarre, who served as a Ballet Mistress of the show's 1983 Broadway Revival.

According to the New York Times, Jack Viertel will soon write a book on 'why some shows succeed and others falter.' The book which will be released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in winter 2016, is tentatively titled 'The Secret Life of the Broadway Musical: How Broadway Shows are Built.'

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran Executive Director) announced their 2013-2014 season today. The season will include a revival of the longest-running Broadway musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe featuring the musical masterpieces of the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton, by Vanessa Claire Stewart and starring French Stewart ("3rd Rock From the Sun") which enjoyed a successful run at Sacred Fools Theatre Company this past summer; Above the Fold a new drama by Bernard Weinraub, about the world of journalism in the digital age, which received a HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse staged reading in 2012; Noel Coward's rarely produced A Song at Twilight, directed by Art Manke, who recently directed The Playhouse's hit revival of Coward's Fallen Angels; and a theatrical surprise production that will be selected and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, to be announced at a later date. Panto at The Playhouse returns with Lythgoe Family Productions' special musical twist on the classic Aladdin tale, which will be offered as a holiday season add-on. The 2013-2014 Season begins September 2013.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran Executive Director) announced their 2013-2014 season today. The season will include a revival of the longest-running Broadway musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe featuring the musical masterpieces of the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton, by Vanessa Claire Stewart and starring French Stewart ('3rd Rock From the Sun') which enjoyed a successful run at Sacred Fools Theatre Company this past summer; Above the Fold a new drama by Bernard Weinraub, about the world of journalism in the digital age, which received a HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse staged reading in 2012; Noel Coward's rarely produced A Song at Twilight, directed by Art Manke, who recently directed The Playhouse's hit revival of Coward's Fallen Angels; and a theatrical surprise production that will be selected and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, to be announced at a later date. Panto at The Playhouse returns with Lythgoe Family Productions' special musical twist on the classic Aladdin tale, which will be offered as a holiday season add-on. The 2013-2014 Season begins September 2013.

Superman finds his Lois Lane! Joining Edward Watts (Superman) in the New York City Center Encores! production of It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman will be Jenny Powers as Lois Lane and David Pittu as the evil Dr. Sedgwick, along with Erich Bergen, Alli Mauzey, James Saito and Will Swenson. Superman will play at City Center for seven performances, tonight, March 20 - 24, and will be directed by John Rando with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and music direction by Rob Berman.

Superman finds his Lois Lane! Joining Edward Watts (Superman) in the New York City Center Encores! production of It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman will be Jenny Powers as Lois Lane and David Pittu as the evil Dr. Sedgwick, along with Erich Bergen, Alli Mauzey, James Saito and Will Swenson. Superman will play at City Center for seven performances, March 20 - 24, and will be directed by John Rando with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and music direction by Rob Berman.

Edward Watts will star as Superman in the New York City Center Encores! production of It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman, runningMarch 20- 24 at City Center. Stay tuned for the identities of the actors portraying Lois Lane, the evil Dr. Sedgwick and other inhabitants of the city of Metropolis.

The Encores! 20th Anniversary season opens on January 30, and Encores! alums have been sending in their best wishes. Below, check out a video of Stephen Wallem, Victoria Clark, Mylinda Hull, Chuck Cooper, Elizabeth Stanley, Judy Kaye, Mayor Bloomberg and more riffing on their Encores! experiences!

Producers Alan D. Marks, Barbara Marks, Wade Turnbull, Steve Hendel, Ruth Hendel, and Tom Kirdahy have just announced that COTTON CLUB PARADE, the Encores! Special event that played two acclaimed runs at New York City Center, will arrive on Broadway this fall.

Jack Viertel, Artistic Director of New York City Center's Encores! series, today announced the directors and choreographers of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season, opening on January 30, 2013. The Tony Award-winning series welcomes back directors Gary Griffin, John Rando and Warren Carlyle, choreographers Alex Sanchez and Joshua Bergasse, and Guest Music Director Rob Fisher.

Amber Riley (GLEE), Joshua Henry, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox star in New York City Center's acclaimed production of Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, returning to City Center through tonight, November 18th, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the show's curtain call below!

Amber Riley (GLEE), Joshua Henry, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox star in New York City Center's acclaimed production of Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, returning to City Center now through November 18th, 2012. Riley's GLEE co-star Chris Colfer visited backstage at the show last night. Check out photos of the pair below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Broadway welcomes three new shows, MATILDA picks its leading leadies, Rob McClure gets a place on the wall at Sardi's, and so much more!

Amber Riley ("Glee"), Joshua Henry, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox star in New York City Center's acclaimed production of Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, returning to City Center for seven performances tonight, November 14th through the 18th, 2012. Conceived by Jack Viertel and presented under the auspices of City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series, Cotton Club Parade is once again be directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, with music direction by Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis. The show features the Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars under the direction of Daryl Waters. Below, check out photos of Riley, Henry, Lenox and more onstage!