Jean Stapleton News

The performance schedule has been changed for 'Light Up The Night,' a theatrical concert of rediscovered and restored Yiddish theater songs by Ellstein, Goldfaden, Olshanetsky, Rumshinsky, and Secunda, to be presented by National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) January 1 in Edmond J. Safra Hall at Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Manhattan.  Originally two shows were planned, at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM.  The 2:00 PM performance continues as scheduled but the 6:00 PM performance has been canceled.

Jack Garfein, one of the film and theater industry's leading acting teachers, has reopened his acting studio in NYC. Garfein played a key role at the Actors Studio and in the development of the Actors Studio, West and The Strasberg Theatre Institute. On Theater Row, he created the Harold Clurman and Samuel Beckett Theaters. Over the years Garfein produced and directed over 20 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and directed the groundbreaking films, THE STRANGE ONE and SOMETHING WILD.

An independent action feature filmed in-state with more than 40 Connecticut actors is to be premiered Dec. 28 (Wednesday night) at Bridgeport's Bijou Theatre (275 Fairfield Ave.).

 To ring in the New Year, on January 1 National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) will present 'Light Up The Night,' a concert of rediscovered and restored pre- and post-WWII music from the theatrical works of the great composers of the Golden Age of Yiddish Theater.  These include Ellstein, Goldfaden, Olshanetsky, Rumshinsky and Secunda.  All are leading songwriters from the era of 'The Golden Bride,' which was presented by Folksbiene Theatre in 2015 and 2016.  The cast will feature performers who were acclaimed in that production, backed by a 16-piece orchestra.  The production is in Yiddish with projected supertitles.  The full concert will be offered twice, at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, in Edmond J. Safra Hall at Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place.

Laguna Playhouse welcomes 'M*A*S*H' star Loretta Swit starring in Eleanor Roosevelt, HER SECRET JOURNEY.

Laguna Playhouse has announced 'M*A*S*H' star LORETTA SWIT starring in ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, HER SECRET JOURNEY.

The World Premiere of the hilarious new pop rock musical Helldrivers of Daytona takes the Chicago stage running through October 30 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago. With music by Berton Averre (The Knack), lyrics by Rob Meurer (Platinum Records with Christopher Cross), and book by Emmy Award-winner Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, The Adventures of Milo and Otis), these award-winning creative minds have put the pedal to the metal in this NASCAR-themed musical full of girls, cars, and rockin' guitars.

Millburn, New Jersey's Playhouse since 1938 receives this year's Regional Theatre Tony Award.

For the first time ever, four volumes of the legendary television series 'THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW' are available in a digital format, Time Life announced today. Click below to watch a promo, featuring interviews with Betty White, Amy Poehler and more, for the collection!

Julien's Auctions, the world record breaking auction house to the stars, has announced on offer one of the most personal collections of Marilyn Monroe from the estate of Lee Strasberg.

Playwright calls his work farcical reality

Approaching 90, Ms. Charlotte Rae just keeps going and going and going - Ms. Rae's Rea's recent appearances at Sadri's in NY and B&N in LA, gathered a Standing Room Only crowd with an eclectic list of patrons among the fans including JoAnne Worley, Anna Maria Albergetti, Ilene Graff, Patricia Morison, John Bowab, Laura Pursell, Barbara Van Orden, Daisy Egan, Jerry Stiller and Gilbert Gottfried, among others.

Actress, Charlotte Rae, is best known for her role as Mrs. Garrett on the TV series “Diff'rent Strokes” and “The Facts of Life” and her career, from “Car 54 Where are you?” and Molly the Mail Carrier on “Sesame Street” to the current role opposite Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline in “Ricki and the Flash,” has been the envy of numerous industry members.

Actress Charlotte Rae is best known for her role as Mrs. Garrett on the TV series "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life," but from "Car 54 Where Are You?" and Molly the Mail Carrier on "Sesame Street" to the current role opposite Meryl Streep in "Ricki and the Flash," her career has onstage and on screen has been the envy of industry members. However, life at home may not always have been as comedic as the characters she entertained the public with for several decades. Subjects discussed in Ms. Rae's new book entitled "The Facts Of My Life" (24.94/34.95, Nov, 2015) include:

The award winning Chromolume Theatre will partner with Michael-Anthony Nozzi and Robert Morse on bringing the Tony Award winning Tru to life for six performances only as part of the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Rodolfo, a writter, shares a small garret in Paris with Marcello, a painter, Schaunard, a musician, and Colline, a philosopher. The four Bohemians are living in poverty, and yet still find plenty of humor in the situation. On Christmas Eve, their neighbor, a seamstress named Mimi?, knocks on the door because her candle has blown out and she asks Rodolfo for assistance. When he takes her hand, Rodolfo instantly falls in love - and opera has never been the same. With its thrilling, beautiful music and its mixture of high comedy and touching drama, the opera sweeps the viewer away into a world of young love, romance, and ultimately, bittersweet longing. With La Bohe?me, Puccini wonderfully captures just what it means to be young and alive through a brilliant mixture of lightness and darkness, all set to some of the most romantic music ever written.

Late casting director Marion Dougherty - known for discovering All in the Family's Archie Bunker, will receive the 2014 Governors Award at the 66th Creative Arts Emmys.

Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT) hosts the regional premiere of the practically perfect musical Mary Poppins, opening tonight, July 23.

Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT) hosts the regional premiere of the practically perfect musical Mary Poppins, opening July 23.

It's hard to believe that it has been 50 years since Barbra Streisand portrayed Fanny Brice in the 1964 Broadway stage production of Funny Girl, and 46 years since she reprised her critically acclaimed role for the 1968 feature film, winning her an Oscar. The reason that it's so hard to believe is because she's still as relevant as ever and has to be the greatest Broadway export of all time. On April 29, Capitol/UMe will release the Gold-certified Funny Girl: Original Broadway Cast Recording in a 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition boxed set with a digitally remastered CD and vinyl LP, as well as a 48-page book featuring exclusive photos from the production and a new essay by Jay Landers, her longtime A&R executive, who has worked with her on many recordings. The remastered original cast recording will also be available for digital purchase, including 192k and 96k high definition audio on HDtracks.