James Naughton News

The star-studded roster for the 2009 World Science Festival's Opening Gala Performance on June 10 at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall has been finalized. This salute to the intersection of science and the arts - a recurring theme throughout the Festival's five days of programming - encompasses nearly all forms of the performing arts, and includes some of the top names in show business.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 2, 2009.

One of the many reasons I've been a fan of the Opening Doors Theatre Company since their debut production of Bring Back Birdie two-and-a-half years ago is the consistent ability of their directors and choreographers to have as many as a dozen actors singing and dancing on the small cabaret stage of The Duplex (already occupied by a piano) without ever looking crowded. But that's not a concern with their newest venture, the hilarious and tuneful Cy Coleman/Michael Stewart 1977 musical, I Love My Wife.

The World Science Festival (www.worldsciencefestival.com) today announced a sweeping line-up of cutting-edge and innovative science programming, designed to make science captivating and accessible to the general public.

As an annual gift to the city, Symphony Space has been presenting its signature music marathons since it opened in 1978. This year Symphony Space samples some of the greatest music from the Great White Way for Wall to Wall Broadway: A Century of Musicals, a twelve-hour celebration of the music of Broadway on May 16 from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., FREE.

As an annual gift to the city, Symphony Space has been presenting its signature music marathons since it opened in 1978. This year Symphony Space samples some of the greatest music from the Great White Way for Wall to Wall Broadway: A Century of Musicals, a twelve-hour celebration of the music of Broadway on May 16 from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., FREE.

Finian's Rainbow, which just ended a critically acclaimed five-performance run at New York City Center's Encores! series last weekend, will move to Broadway's St. James Theatre in the fall. Producers David Richenthal and Jack Viertel announced that the show, which hasn't been seen on Broadway since 1960 (it premiered in 1947), will be adapted from the Encores! concert presentation into a full production.

The Directors Company production of Irena's Vow, the new play by Dan Gordon, starring four-time Tony nominee, and three-time Drama Desk Award-winner Tovah Feldshuh, and directed by Michael Parva, opened on Broadway last night, Sunday, March 29th. BroadwayWorld.com was there for all the opening night action!

Our special series for Women's History Month continues with a profile of Irish Rep's artistic director and cofounder.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director and Bernard Gersten, Executive Director) has announced that Laura Osnes will assume the role of Ensign Nellie Forbush in its Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher, beginning Tuesday, March 10 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founder/Artistic Director, Lauren Schmiedel, Managing Director) will continues its 25th Season celebration with a look at its past premiers. Over the next eight weeks Urban Stages will revive six of the best World and New York Premieres the company has mounted over the past 25 years. The performances will take place on Mondays at 6PM at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street) at 6PM, beginning March 9 through April 20, 2009.

Kelli O'Hara, the Tony nominated star of South Pacific is has a new 'production' in the works that will demand she take leave from the Lincoln Center hit starting in March, she is expecting her first child with husband Greg Naughton. The star's web site now lists March 7, 2009 as her final performance.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director and Bernard Gersten, Executive Director) has announced that Laura Osnes will assume the role of Ensign Nellie Forbush in its Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher, beginning Tuesday, March 10 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

James Naughton will take part in Thalia Follies: America Reborn? One month into the new administration in Washington, the Follies tries to figure out how things look and just what exactly has happened. Thu, Feb 19 at 7:30 pm Fri, Feb 20 at 7:30 pm Sat, Feb 21 at 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm Leonard Nimoy Thalia Day of Show $30; Advance $25; Members $20

Kelli O'Hara, the Tony nominated star of South Pacific is has a new 'production' in the works that will demand she take leave from the Lincoln Center hit starting in March, she is expecting her first child with husband Greg Naughton. The star's web site now lists March 1, 2009 as her final performance.

Join us for an extraordinary evening as Mike Nichols shares stories, film clips, insights, and laughs from his illustrious career with Riverspace co-artistic director, Elliott Forrest.

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB will present its annual Winter Benefit: An Intimate Night, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring the fresh faces of 2009, on Monday, January 26, 2009 at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor). Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton will host, introducing three exciting young Broadway performers -- Renee Elise Goldsberry, Cheyenne Jackson, and Leslie Kritzer. Tony Award winner John Rando will direct the show.

Drama Desk-nominated Alexander Gemignani will join the previously-announced James Naughton, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Leslie Kritzer at the Manhattan Theatre Club's annual Winter Benefit: An Intimate Night, on Monday, 26, 2009 at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor). Hosted by Naughton, this cabaret-style show features the talents of three of the most talented fresh faces on Broadway. Gemignani was last seen on Broadway in the Sunday in the Park with George revival. Prior to that, he was in Les Miserables and Sweeney Todd, where he was nominated for a Drama Desk for his role as 'Beadle Bamford.' He recently played the starring role of 'Addison Mizner' in the Sondheim-Weidman musical Road Show at the Public Theatre.

Drama Desk-nominated Alexander Gemignani will join the previously-announced James Naughton, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Leslie Kritzer at the Manhattan Theatre Club's annual Winter Benefit: An Intimate Night, on Monday, 26, 2009 at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor). Hosted by Naughton, this cabaret-style show features the talents of three of the most talented fresh faces on Broadway. Gemignani was last seen on Broadway in the Sunday in the Park with George revival. Prior to that, he was in Les Miserables and Sweeney Todd, where he was nominated for a Drama Desk for his role as 'Beadle Bamford.' He recently played the starring role of 'Addison Mizner' in the Sondheim-Weidman musical Road Show at the Public Theatre.

Kelli O'Hara, the Tony nominated star of South Pacific is has a new 'production' in the works that will demand she take leave from the Lincoln Center hit starting in March, she is expecting her first child with husband Greg Naughton. No exact date has been announced for her departure, but production representatives confirmed the news of her upcoming exit. The hope is that she will return to the production at a future date after her leave of absence. She married her husband in 2007, an actor and the son of Tony winning actor James Naughton. Kelli O'Hara was nominated for a TONY for her current role as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific. She was also TONY nominated for The Pajama Game opposite Harry Connick Jr. (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC nominations) and The Light in the Piazza (Tony and OCC nominations). Other Broadway credits include Sweet Smell of Success opposite John Lithgow, Sondheim's Follies, Dracula, and Jekyll & Hyde. She recently released her first album Wonder in the World on Ghostlight Records.