Jean Stapleton News

David Gersten, Vice-President of ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), died on Monday, April 6 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble will present the Los Angeles premiere of Just Another Day, a joyous and moving love story about the complex nature of aging. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Charles Strouse, 96, the celebrated and multi-award-winning American film, television, and Broadway musical composer, died at his home in New York City on May 15.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) will present their first live gala since 2019, the 2024 TRU Love Benefit: Passion...Pass It On! this month. Learn more about the benefit and how to get tickets here!

Theater Resources Unlimited has announced their 2024 TRU Love Benefit, featuring Norm Lewis and Nona Hendryx, on November 17 at Green Room 42 in NYC.

The annual Cabaret Convention concert series has begun. The shows continue tonight and tomorrow at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Last night, the convention opened with songs with music by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, etc.). It was a treat.

Imagine a very funny stage comedy hidden behind a locked door, puzzler of a 1940s mystery movie and you’ve got AN OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY MURDER now playing at New Theatre and Restaurant. It is a World Premiere production. Double Tony-winning playwright Joe DiPietro has cleverly developed a recipe for an uproarious new farce. 

Coming next month is the off-Broadway premiere of Just Another Day, a play by Dan Lauria about wonderful old friends who may not even know each other, but who relive and celebrate a life together…maybe. A limited engagement (through June 30), previews begin on Friday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. with an official opening on Sunday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m. at off-Broadway's Theater555.

Playthings Theatre of New York and executive producer Preston Ridge will present private industry readings (by invitation only) of Dorian’s Wild(e) Affair. Learn more about the show.

Funny Girl is a semi-autobiographical comedic musical about the life and times of comedian and Broadway star Fanny Brice, and her tumultuous relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein. With a musical score by Jules Styne, lyrics by Bob Merill, and featuring a book by Isobel Lennart, Funny Girl first opened on Broadway in 1964 featuring Barbara Streisand in the starring role, and was produced by Fanny’s own son-in-law Ray Stark. The first Broadway production received 8 Tony Nominations at the 18th Annual Awards Ceremony, and the OBC (Original Broadway Cast) Recording was inducted into the Grammy’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

Collaborators Lauren Gundrum and Brandon Lambert are set to premiere their debut musical, I Love My Family, But…, at Soho Playhouse from February 23–April 8, 2023.

The Muny announced has announced the directors, choreographers and music director/conductors for The Muny’s 2023 Premier Season. See details about The Muny's season, and see how to purchase tickets.

New York-based Passport to Broadway returns with another program for Indonesian performers aspiring to be the next Broadway star. Passport to Broadway has previously worked with Indonesian students by providing various training programs, workshops, and information sessions in performing arts.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for The Sound of Music, directed by Mark S. Hoebee. The production will feature Ashley Blanchet (Paper Mill’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Broadway’s Waitress) as Maria Rainer, and Graham Rowat (Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, Sunset Boulevard) as Captain Georg von Trapp.

Will Geer’s Theatricum presents the world premiere of the “all new” revival of Oscar-winning playwright Ernest Thompson’s The West Side Waltz beginning June 25, 2022. Mary Jo DuPrey directs the cast of Ellen Geer, Melora Marshall, Willow Geer, Miguel Pérez and Charles Lin. I was most fortunate to have the playwright make some time to answer my queries.

Donn B. Murphy, PhD, former president and executive director of the National Theatre in Washington, DC for 35 years, and Georgetown University Professor Emeritus, passed away peacefully at his home in Fort Lauderdale, FL on April 3, announced his spouse and life partner of 49 years, US Army Col. H. Jones 'Jon' Carrow, Ret.

Start off the new year with laughter as The Belmont Theatre brings you Arsenic and Old Lace, a comedy in the Grumbacher Studio January 7-9 & 13-16.

Tonight, NBC will air its sixth live musical production. Following in the footsteps of The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Wiz, Hairspray, and Jesus Christ Superstar, the peacock network will be presenting Annie. Based on Harold Gray's comic strip titled Little Orphan Annie, this musical tells the story of a little orphan with equal measures of pluck and positivity who charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in New York City in the year 1933.

Discover the magic of movie musicals this month as BroadwayHD delivers an unforgettable lineup of some of the most beloved and well-known productions in history. Starting October 1, West Side Story will make its way to the platform along with Academy Award-winning musical, along with Academy Award-winning film Yentl, starring Barbra Streisand. 

The bronze statue is dressed as Mrs. Cunningham from the 'Happy Days' series, which ran for 10 years from 1974-1984 and was sculptured using a screen accurate replica of a costume that Marion wore on the show and is seated on a park bench reaching out to invite any passerby to join her.