James Lapine News

The enhanced programming surrounding Westport Country Playhouse's production of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical "Into the Woods" will feature a Sunday Symposium reuniting four original cast members from the 1987 Broadway production, on Sunday, May 6, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance.

The award-winning Musical Theatre Guild, a company of professional performers who present concert-staged readings of seldom seen musicals, will continue their 16th season with William Finn and James Lapine's Off-Broadway musical A NEW BRAIN. The one night only performance will take place tonight, April 16, 2012 at 7:30 PM at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale.

Paul Gross, one of Canada's acclaimed actors, will lead the cast of Are You There, McPhee? a world premiere by John Guare at McCarter Theatre Center. Directed by Sam Buntrock, the production will run from May 4 through June 3, 2012. (Opening Night: Friday, May 11.)

Kim Crosby will play the Baker's Wife in the Springfield Little Theatre's INTO THE WOODS, which plays May 13-29 in Springfield, MO. Crosby created the role of Cinderella in the 1987 INTO THE WOODS, first at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and then on Broadway. Cinderella's Prince was played by Robert Westenberg, who Crosby later married.

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.

Queen City Theatre Company (2010 Theatre Company of the Year) is proud to announce the regional premiere of the musical PASSION. This highly anticipated production marks the closing of the company's 5th season in Charlotte, NC and will run from May 3rd until May 19th at the Duke Energy Theatre.

BroadwayWorld's Rialto Chatter was the first to break the news in January that INTO THE WOODS was to play the Delacorte Theatre as part of the 2012 Shakespeare in the Park season.

The cast has been set for the world premiere of the chamber musical LOS OTROS, with book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa. LOS OTROS will run May 23 through July 1, 2012, with the opening scheduled for June 3. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Robert Joy (Le Beau, Lord) and Oliver Platt (Touchstone) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), David Furr (Orlando), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), Lily Rabe (Rosalind), and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

A 25th anniversary production of the imaginative, fractured-fairy tale musical "Into the Woods" by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim will be staged at the theater where Sondheim was an apprentice in 1950, Westport Country Playhouse, in Westport, CT, May 1 through May 26. Directed by Mark Lamos, the Playhouse's artistic director, the musical will open the historic theater's 82nd season. It is co-produced with Baltimore's CENTERSTAGE.

Another Sondheim musical at Center Stage is a huge success

The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. David Furr (Orlando) and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), and Lily Rabe (Rosalind) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Exceptional casting, gorgeous piano accompaniment, and a powerful piece of theater come together to make the Lantern Theater's first attempt at a musical in 60 years a complete masterpiece. The first song of Falsettos, "Four Jews in a Room Bitching" (complete with flashlights), begins the evening on a quirky note but soon transitions into a story about five people (and in the second act, two more) who are trying to find their own happiness, their own rhythm, when life is confusing, unruly, and out of control.

Into the Woods began performances at The Pearlstone Theater on March 7, as a coproduction between Westport Country Playhouse and Baltimore Centerstage. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the production below!

Into the Woods began performances at The Pearlstone Theater on March 7, as a coproduction between Westport Country Playhouse and Baltimore Centerstage. Check out production shots below!

PS Classics is now taking preorders for a new two-disc cast recording of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, performed by the cast of New York City Center's Encores! 2012 production. The album is set for general release on June 19.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport presents the Neil Simon comedy, The Sunshine Boys.

Westport Country Playhouse will host its third annual open house, "Playhouse Community Day," on Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering a wide variety of family activities, backstage tours, displays and historic artifacts, insight on the upcoming 2012 season and ticket discounts throughout the day. Admission is free and open to the public. There will be complimentary snacks and beverages, including food available for purchase.

CENTERSTAGE announces the honorees for the 26th Annual Young Playwrights Festival. More than 300 students from across Maryland submitted plays, which were then evaluated by CENTERSTAGE staff and artists. The final honorees will have their plays workshopped and then either performed in the students' schools or at the Young Playwrights Festival performance at CENTERSTAGE on Monday, April 30, at 7 pm.

Comedian, talk show host, producer and star Rosie O'Donnell has made no secret of her desire to play 'Miss Hannigan' in the upcoming Broadway revival of ANNIE. Now, an insider has told the Huffington Post that she will indeed be returning to Broadway in the revival. The source told HP: 'Ro loves Broadway and is super excited about playing the part. The paperwork hasn't been signed yet but the negotiations are well under way. This is a great role that she will be able to sink her teeth into and will get her back to acting and performing live, which has always been her first love."