Jason Alexander News

Warm days with light until 8 PM ... pleasantly cool evenings ... crowds of people at the beaches ... shops, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms aplenty standing at the ready ... a lineup of live theatre entertainment to satisfy most every taste and budget - must be mid-August on the California Central Coast!

The Festival of New American Musicals, headed by its Executive Producers Marcia Seligson, Bob Klein, and Linda Shusett is announcing two events. The first is a closing party on Saturday, August 22 from 3 to 6 pm, honoring Stephen Schwartz, open to the public with donation. There will be performances of songs from Schwartz' musicals performed by Peter Gallagher, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Graham Phillips, David Burnham, Susan Egan, Georgia Stitt and others.

Brian Shnipper and Attic Theatre will present STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, a benefit reading for the Human Rights Campaign on September 12.

David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Crooning Crabcakes, LLC are thrilled to present a brand new show from the writer/director of the smash-hit musical sensation, The Marvelous Wonderettes, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean with choreography by Lee Martino (Reprise On Your Toes, On The Town) and musical direction by Michael Paternostro (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me).

Coyote REP proudly announces their next project, currently in development; a play about a young breast cancer survivor and the particular challenges she faces in light of her age, raising her young child, and the severity of this disease. This event will raise funds for Coyote REP to develop this piece and to raise awareness for the Young Survivors Coalition.

The show broke countless box office records and won every theatre award imaginable, including 12 Tonys in 2001, more than any production in history. It began as a movie, made its way to Broadway, and then found itself back on the silver screen. Now, the smash-hit musical comedy The Producers comes to the Frederick stage for the very first time!

With films and filmmakers arriving from across the globe, the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) kicks off its 13th annual event August 4th-9th, 2009. This year 235 feature length, documentary and short films - from 57 countries - will be screened over a six-day period In locations throughout the state, all vying for top awards. Out of over 7,000 film festivals worldwide, RIIFF is one of only 63 Academy Award qualifying Festivals. This year's films have been selected from a record entry base of over 3,000 submissions.

Casa Mañana is excited to announce that Tony and Emmy Award-winning comedian Martin Short will be the entertainment at this year's Laugh with a Legend Gala on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at Casa Mañana Theatre in Fort Worth.

Ericka moved up when Savannah did: from offstage voice to full ensemble player in her first show since returning from L.A.

With films and filmmakers arriving from across the globe, the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) kicks off its 13th annual event August 4th-9th, 2009. This year 235 feature length, documentary and short films - from 57 countries - will be screened over a six-day period In locations throughout the state, all vying for top awards. Out of over 7,000 film festivals worldwide, RIIFF is one of only 63 Academy Award qualifying Festivals. This year's films have been selected from a record entry base of over 3,000 submissions.

Broadway leading lady Rachel York, most recently seen in the world premiere musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, has added several new engagements to her symphony concert schedule. Now through July, the versatile stage, screen, and recording artist will be a guest soloist performing the works of Bernstein, Sondheim, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more with major orchestras across the country.

Reprise Theatre Company will present a month-long Richard Rodgers Celebration October 2-November 2 in a variety of venues across Los Angeles. The series of concerts, symposiums, staged readings, screenings and cabarets will explore the diversity and scope of the work of one of the most important figures in the American Musical.

Jason Alexander stars as Donny Clay, America's Fourth Leading Motivational Speaker, Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 8 pm at The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts in Morristown, New Jersey and at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey on Thursday, July 30 at 8pm.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Broadway Under The Stars for one night only, on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 pm at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, starring six favorite Reprise performers -- Jason Graae, Lucas Grabeel, Dorian Harewood, Jean Louisa Kelly, Vicki Lewis, and Valarie Pettiford. The production is directed by Lee Martino, with music direction by Mary Ekler.

David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Crooning Crabcakes, LLC are thrilled to present a brand new show from the writer/director of the smash-hit musical sensation, The Marvelous Wonderettes, LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean with choreography by Lee Martino (Reprise On Your Toes, On The Town) and musical direction by Michael Paternostro (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me).

While the world's eyes were focused on the TONY Awards in New York on Sunday June 7th, a crowd of almost 500 theatre patrons gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate by watching the ceremony live via satellite and to honor seven time nominee and two time TONY Award-winner Chita Rivera at the 13th Annual TONY Awards® Benefit presented by The Actors Fund.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Broadway Under The Stars for one night only, on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 pm at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, starring six favorite Reprise performers -- Jason Graae, Lucas Grabeel, Dorian Harewood, Jean Louisa Kelly, Vicki Lewis, and Valarie Pettiford. The production is directed by Lee Martino, with music direction by Mary Ekler.

Join Jason Alexander, Dana Delany, Marg Helgenberger, Valarie Pettiford, Carol Lawrence, Dick Gautier, Mitzi Gaynor, Susan Watson and host Dick Van Dyke (along with his musical group The Vantastix) as the THE ACTORS FUND honors Chita Rivera at their 13th Annual Tony Awards Party with the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement. The gala features the only live feed in Los Angeles of the Tony Awards as they happen in New York. Marc Cherry, creator/producer of 'Desperate Housewives' and David Rambo, producer/writer is 'CSI' will produce and write this event.

Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser, a concert to benefit The Actors Fund will take place at a Broadway theatre to be announced on Monday, October 26, 2009. The event will be co-chaired by Jo Sullivan Loesser and Sir Paul McCartney.

Broadway veteran Robin Lewis will join recently announced faculty hires Kailtin Hopkins and Jim Price in the Musical Theatre Program at Texas State University.