Jayne Houdyshell News

The 58th Annual Drama Desk awards will take place on May 19th at Town Hall and this morning, the nominees were announced!

Tony Award-winning actor Brent Carver returns to Broadway this August, to play Friar Laurence in the new Broadway production of Shakespeare's timeless love story ROMEO AND JULIET, starring international film star Orlando Bloom and Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad as Shakespeare's titular star-crossed lovers. Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper also joins the cast, taking on the role of Lord Capulet, in place of the previously announced Joe Morton, who is unable to continue with the production due to scheduling conflicts with his recurring role on a television series.

Tony winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The American Plan) and MTC begin their 10th collaboration with the world-premiere production of The Assembled Parties. MTC Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (Wit, Collected Stories) directs the cast that includes Tony nominee Jessica Hecht (A View from the Bridge, Harvey), Tony and 2-time Emmy winner Judith Light (Other Desert Cities, Lombardi) and Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos (Glengarry Glen Ross, Clybourne Park).

Westport Country Playhouse's five-play 2013 season will open with A.R. Gurney's 'The Dining Room,' a witty and heartfelt story of the American family and its vanishing traditions, directed by Mark Lamos, April 30 - May 18. This year the historic Connecticut theater celebrates its 83rd season.

According to the New York Times, Shakespeare's classic romatic tradgedy Romeo and Juliet is coming back to Broadway this summer. Helmed by David Leveaux, the production will star Tony nominee Condola Rashad and Orlando Bloom- making his Broadway debut in the role. Joining them in the play, which is set to open on September 19 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, will be Jayne Houdyshell as the Nurse and Joe Morton as Lord Capulet.

Signature Theatre presents The Mound Builders written byLanford Wilson and directed by Jo Bonney. The production will now play through Sunday, April 14. The production opened last night, March 17 in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photo coverage below!

On Friday, March 22nd, 2013, please join Award winning Broadway stars David Hyde Pierce and Kristine Nielsen ('Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike'); Ellen Burstyn and Elizabeth Marvel ('Picnic') and *Jane Houdyshell ('Dead Accounts') for 'The Art of Storytelling,' this year's Drama Desk Luncheon/Panel Discussion at Sardi's (234 West 44th Street).

With less than two months before the curtain goes up on Westport Country Playhouse's 2013 season, single tickets are now on sale, beginning Tuesday, March 5, at noon. Single tickets may be purchased by phone at 203-227-4177, in person at 25 Powers Court, Westport, 24/7 online at westportplayhouse.org, or by using the new Playhouse App or mobile website.

David Hyde Pierce will join Ellen Burstyn, Jayne Houdyshell, Elizabeth Marvel and David Strathairn on the Drama Desk's annual Spring Panel Discussion at Sardi's on Friday, March 22, entitled 'The Art of Storytelling.' The discussion will be moderated by Ronald Rand, Drama Desk member and founder/publisher of 'The Soul of the American Actor' Newspaper. The Panel Discussion will run approximately from 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM following a luncheon at 11:45 AM.

Drama Desk will present its annual Spring Panel Discussion/Luncheon Friday, March 22, 2013 at Sardi's, 234 West 44th Street, NYC. Entitled "The Art of Storytelling," the panel will explore challenges actors face when bringing stories to life in front of an audience.

MCC Theater presents the New York premiere production of Paul Downs Colaizzo's Really Really, directed by David Cromer (the Obie Award and Lucille Lortel Award-winning director of hits Our Town, Adding Machine and Tribes). The production, which marks Colaizzo's New York playwriting debut, plays at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) through March 10, 2013. The opening was last night, February 19. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos from the theatre arrivals below!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the big event were he got to chat with the guest of honor herself and plenty of guests including, Judith Light, Michael Arden, LaChanze, Tyne Daly, Will Swenson and more. Plus, check out special performances from McDonald, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell and more!

The Drama League honored five-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald at The Drama League's 29th Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway last night, February 11, 2013 at the famed Pierre Hotel (2 East 61st Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration and you can check out photos below!

The Drama League will honor five-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald at The Drama League's 29th Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway, on February 11, 2013 at the famed Pierre Hotel (2 East 61st Street). Amy Eller and Ellen Fox are the 2013 Gala Chairpersons. Tickets and tables are available by calling (212) 244-9494 or visiting www.dramaleague.org/audra.

piece by piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and The Barrow Group have announced that All The Rage, written and performed by Martin Moran, and directed by Seth Barrish, began performances on Saturday, January 19, at 7pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42 Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. The opening night was yesterday, January 30, and you can check out coverage from the opening below!

The former Rockette has done everything from Berlin to Sondheim to Wildhorn on Bway, as well as 'Rock of Ages' and 'Chorus Line'.

DEAD ACCOUNTS, the new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, and starring two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Katie Holmes, concludes its Broadway run today, January 6, at the Music Box Theater. As of today, Dead Accounts has played 27 preview performances and 44 regular performances. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you through the star-studded show's Broadway journey with photos, video and more.

Even if the names Marc Kudisch and Jeffrey Denman are as foreign to you as the middle monikers of the three wise men, there's a wonderful familiarity to their on-stage personas as The Holiday Guys.  It's the kind of relaxed, off-the-cuff give and take that's been enjoyed for generations, whether packaged as Hope and Crosby, Allen and Rossi or Brooks and Reiner.

BroadwayWorld's Senior Photographer Walter McBride has picked his favorite onstage photos from the year and you can check out his full collection below! CLICK HERE to check out Part 2.

Just announced is word that DEAD ACCOUNTS, led by Norbert Leo Butz and Katie Holmes will play its final performance on Sunday, January 6. When it plays its final performance, DEAD ACCOUNTS will have played 27 preview performances and 44 regular performances.