James Naughton News

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Café (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY.

Jake Robards (son of theatre legend Jason Robards) and Prentiss Benjamin (daughter of stage & screen stars Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss) are soon to be starring in the Bickford Theatre's NJ Premiere production of Maureen Hunter's 'Transit Of Venus,' running September 25 to October 19. Main Stage Series performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28 for Morris Museum and Bickford Theatre Guild members, $35 for general public, $30 for senior citizens, $15 for students 18 and under or those with a valid school ID, and $27 for groups of 10 or more. An additional Saturday Matinee has been added on October 4 at 2 p.m. Lunch packages at Cinque Figlie are available.

James Naughton, Tony Award winning actor, will headline the cast of The Irish Repertory Theatre's THE MASTER BUILDER which begins preview performances on Friday, October 10, 2008 at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander.

The Bickford Theatre opens its 14th Season with a starry line-up featuring the talented offspring of two show business greats as it announces complete casting for Maureen Hunter's Transit Of Venus, running Thursday, September 25, through Sunday, October 19.

The fourth year of the acclaimed series, 'Monday Nights, New Voices,' will continue on August 18th with special guest host Donna Lynn Champlin, who recently stared in John Doyle's Broadway revival of Sweeny Todd.

The fourth year of the acclaimed series, 'Monday Nights, New Voices,' will continue on August 18th with special guest host Donna Lynn Champlin, who recently stared in John Doyle's Broadway revival of Sweeny Todd.

Two time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole is featured on this week's Associated Press 'On Broadway' podcast.

The Williamstown Theater Festival has announced the 'Nicholas Martin' sandwich, which is to be served at the popular local restaurant, Pappa Charlie's Deli.

De-Lovely words and music of one of America's greatest composers are celebrated in an entertaining if somewhat meandering musical revue at the Westport Country Playhouse

The Williamstown Theater Festival has announced the 'Nicholas Martin' sandwich, which is to be served at the popular local restaurant, Pappa Charlie's Deli

HOT 'N COLE at Westport County Playhouse directed by James Naughton playing through June 28th

Westport Country Playhouse announces its summer roster of shows, featuring Tony Award winner James Naughton directing a Cole Porter musical revue; 'Saturday Night Live's' Rachel Dratch appearing in David Wiltse's 'tour de farce' office comedy; and Playhouse favorite Mark Shanahan ('Sedition,' 'David Copperfield,' 'Journey's End') performing in a thriller.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) will stage a masterful blend of comedy and drama, 'The Pavilion,' by Craig Wright, award-winning playwright and Emmy-nominated writer/producer of television's 'Lost,' 'Six Feet Under' and 'Dirty Sexy Money.' Directed by Chad Rabinovitz, Playhouse artistic associate, the production will run from May 13 through May 31.

The cast and crew of South Pacific celebrated their opening night in style. The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic opened its first ever revival on April 3.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) announces that two-time Tony Award-winner, film star and Weston resident James Naughton will direct the lively song and dance revue, Hot 'n Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration!, playing June 10 - 28.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) will present two of Broadway's most versatile performers, Sandy Duncan and Karen Ziemba, in a reading of the new comedy, The Real Tabasco, written by Deborah Grace Winer, formerly of Westport, on Monday, April 14, 7 p.m. The reading is part of the Playhouse's 'Funny Mondays' series, showcasing both new and classic comedies, followed by audience feedback, often with the playwright in attendance.

Journalist and playwright Deborah Grace Winer was recently named Series Artistic Director of the 92nd Street Y's legendary American Songbook series Lyrics & Lyricists (beginning with the 2009 season). This month, she comes to the 92nd Street Y as host and artistic director of L&L's I've Got Your Number: Romance, the Rat Pack and Carolyn Leigh, which runs March 29-31. Winer's Carolyn Leigh tribute features vocalists Debby Boone, Loston Harris, James Naughton, and Karen Ziemba. John Oddo is music director, and Mark Waldrop is stage director.

On June 7, 2008, Charles Strouse, the award winning composer of Annie, Bye Bye Birdie and some of the most popular music from the last 50 years of Broadway, film and television, turns 80. To mark the occasion, a year-long celebration of events including concerts, international tributes, revivals of popular favorites and premieres of new works will take place across the United States and around the world.

The Metropolitan Room's April schedule includes new shows from the headliners Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye and Julie Wilson. Plus Jamie deRoy, Lennie Watts and Kim Nalley will be back for encores; Larry Gatlin will be joined by his brothers; and, the veteran performers Marcus Simeone, Sharon McNight, and Julie Reyburn will be stirring things up at The Metropolitan Room in their first engagements.