James Earl Jones News

A Streetcar Named Desire starring Blair Underwood as Stanley, Nicole Ari Parker as Blanche, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella and Wood Harris as Mitch, began previews for its limited Broadway run at the Broadhurst Theatre on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, and celebrates its opening tonight, Sunday April 22, 2012. The production will run through July 22, 2012.

Musical Momentum, a very unique benefit concert series, will kick-off with its first event True Colors: A Benefit/Fundraiser for the Trevor Project at the Laurie Beechman Theater in New York on Sunday 29th April at 9:30pm.

Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN began previews on Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, prior to an April 1 opening night at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Candice Bergen chatted about the show this morning during her visit to LIVE! With Kelly. View a photo below!

Bay Street Theatre is celebrating its 21st season and has announced the 2012 Mainstage productions.

Pine Box Theater Company kicks off its 2012 Season with THE JAMMER by Rolin Jones, directed by Artistic Director Vincent Teninty, playing May 19 - July 1, 2012 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.

The Drama League has gathered together a team of Broadway's best to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs for the 78th Annual Drama League Awards set for Friday, May 18, 2012 at 12:00 p.m., at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway). The team of Broadway luminaries includes Nina Arianda, Christian Borle, Norbert Leo Butz, Kathleen Chalfant, Raul Esparza, Rosemary Harris, Jeremy Jordan, Christine Lahti, Linda Lavin, Norm Lewis, Judith Light, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Denis O'Hare and Blair Underwood. The Honorary Co-Chairs serve as ambassadors for The Drama League Awards and the excellence of the New York theatre season, and welcome the attendees of the Awards Luncheon at a cocktail reception before the event.

The stars of Gore Vidal's The Best Man James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Eric McCormack, Michael McKean and Jefferson Mays will be joining the play's director Michael Wilson at 92nd Street Y on Monday April 30 at 8pm for a talk event about this fascinating, prescient work, which Vidal wrote in an era when the impact of television and public discussion of politicians' sex lives had yet to be felt. Caryn James, the film and culture critic and author, moderates the discussion.

On April 13th, SILENCE! The Musical received the 2012 Telly Award for Use of Humor in a Television Commercial. The hit Off-Broadway show's new commercial won the prestigious honor at the 33rd Annual Telly Awards over nearly 11,000 entries from around the world. 'The Telly Awards has a mission to honor the very best in film and video,' said Linda Day, Executive Director of the Telly Awards. SILENCE! The Musical's TV commercial illustrates their creativity, skill, and dedication to their craft and serves as a testament to great film and video production.' See the award-winning commercial below!

In honor and celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will hold a special one-night-only gala event on Monday, June 18, featuring Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a star-studded staged reading of ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Daniel Sullivan. For information on tickets for The Public Theater's Anniversary Gala, please call (212) 539-8547 or visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's star-studded 12th Annual Monte Cristo Awards honored tonight, April 16, the distinguished accomplishments and contributions of long-time Trustee Michael Douglas to the American Theater. The award was presented to Mr. Douglas by his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. See photos of the honoree Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury and more below!

The Drama League has announced Drama League nominee Megan Hilty (9 To 5, "Smash") and Justin Long (Seminar) will co-host the announcement of the The 2012 Drama League Nominees for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Sardi's. As in years past, the nominations ceremony will be broadcast worldwide via live stream right here on BroadwayWorld!

The winners of the most prestigious event in the UK theatrical calendar, the 36th Olivier Awards with MasterCard, were announced tonight (15 April 2012) at the Royal Opera House as part of a glamorous and star-studded night of entertainment from the West End's finest talent.

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 12th Annual Monte Cristo Award honoring Michael Douglas will be presented during a gala dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City tonight, Monday, April 16th at 6:30pm.

Cherry Lane Theatre's award-winning MENTOR PROJECT will continue its 13th season with a production of EVOLUTION, written and performed by Patricia Buckley, directed Michele Chivu and mentored Jean-Claude van Itallie with performances scheduled March 13 through March 24 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street in Manhattan), where the 2012 MENTOR PROJECT is in residence through April 14.

Carol Irvin, Michael Ruff and Daniel W. Black star in Cumberland County Playhouse's 48th season-opening production of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning Driving Miss Daisy, which opens this Saturday, January 21.

On April 30, critic Caryn James will lead a conversation regarding why Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN is more relevant than ever in this election year at 92Y. Set to appear are several of the show's stars: James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Michael McKean, Jefferson Mays and director Michael Wilson.

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com last week, the Public Theater confirmed today that Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy has been cast as The Witch in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Murphy last performed at the Delacorte in the Shakepeare in the Park production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1985. INTO THE WOODS will begin previews on Monday, July 23 and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25 with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: EVITA is back on Broadway, Mayor Bloomberg gets musical, Bleu channels Jesus, and so much more!

America's most prolific playwright, Neil Simon, attended SILENCE! The Musical at P.S. 122 this past Wednesday, April 4th accompanied by his wife, Elaine Joyce. View photos below!