Jeffrey Carlson News

The thrilling new Broadway production of RAGTIME at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52 Street) officially opened yesterday, Sunday, November 15, 2009. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there as the cast and its supporters headed to big opening night party!

Count me among the many who consider Wilde's 1895 manners masterpiece to be the funniest play ever penned in the English language. Unfortunately, I've seen too many productions that seemed so focused on petty annoyances like character development and acting choices that they've missed the obvious fact that Earnest is a vehicle for some of Wilde's most t-shirt and coffee mug worthy witticisms:

Tall Blonde Productions and Elephant Stageworks present the West Coast Premiere of MANUSCRIPT, by Paul Grellong, coming to the Elephant Theatre beginning August 28, 2009.

Tall Blonde Productions and Elephant Stageworks present the West Coast Premiere of MANUSCRIPT, by Paul Grellong, coming to the Elephant Theatre beginning August 28, 2009.

Tall Blonde Productions and Elephant Stageworks present the West Coast Premiere of MANUSCRIPT, by Paul Grellong, coming to the Elephant Theatre beginning August 28, 2009.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Thursday, January 29, 2009.

Lynn Redgrave stars as 'Lady Bracknell' in Paper Mill's production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Oscar Wilde's masterpiece of modern comedy is directed by David Schweizer and celebrated Opening Night on Sunday, January 18th. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the starry celebration! Paper Mill's production of The Importance of Being Earnest runs through February 15, 2009. The Importance of Being Earnest is about maintaining fictitious identities to avoid unwelcome social obligations. Jack Worthing's brother, Earnest, provides Jack with the excuse to escape from his dull home in the country to frolic in town. The home of Algernon Moncreiff's friend Bunbury provides a convenient locale for taking adventures in the country. The problem? Earnest and Bunbury are imaginary, created by Jack and Algernon to add a dash of excitement to their lives. Their deceptions eventually cross paths, resulting in a series of hilarious crises that threaten to spoil their romantic pursuits.

Lynn Redgrave stars as 'Lady Bracknell' in Paper Mill's upcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Oscar Wilde's masterpiece of modern comedy will be directed by David Schweizer and is running at the Millburn theatre from January 14 through February 15, 2009. Lynn Redgrave is the Golden Globe? winner and Academy Award? nominee for Gods and Monsters (1998) and Georgy Girl (1966). Ms. Redgrave won the 2003 Drama Desk Award for Talking Heads as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. In 2006, she was nominated for a Tony Award? for Best Actress in a Play for The Constant Wife. She was also nominated for a Grammy? Award for The Witches in the category of Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Ms. Redgrave was a founding member of Britain's National Theatre, now the Royal National Theatre, under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier. She has also written the text for Journal, A Mother and Daughter's Recovery From Breast Cancer, featuring photographs by her daughter, Annabel Clark, currently in its third printing from Umbrage Editions. The Importance of Being Earnest is about maintaining fictitious identities to avoid unwelcome social obligations. Jack Worthing's brother, Earnest, provides Jack with the excuse to escape from his dull home in the country to frolic in town. The home of Algernon Moncreiff's friend Bunbury provides a convenient locale for taking adventures in the country. The problem? Earnest and Bunbury are imaginary, created by Jack and Algernon to add a dash of excitement to their lives. Their deceptions eventually cross paths, resulting in a series of hilarious crises that threaten to spoil their romantic pursuits.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for The Importance of Being Earnest. The Importance of Being Earnest will run at the Millburn theatre from January 14 through February 15, 2009. The Importance of Being Earnest is sponsored by Fidelity Investments.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) recently announced our main-stage production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for The Importance of Being Earnest. The Importance of Being Earnest will run at the Millburn theatre from January 14 through February 15, 2009. The Importance of Being Earnest is sponsored by Fidelity Investments.

Edward II, by Christopher Marlowe, directed and adapted by Sean Graney will premiere Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare Theater October 1 - November 9, 2008.

For the first time at Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), Shakespeare's contemporary rival playwright Christopher Marlowe, infiltrates Shakespeare's home as Sean Graney brings a contemporary perspective to The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer.

Tony Award winners Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik will be teaming up again on the new musical NERO. Just like with their hit Spring Awakening, Sater will be writing the book and lyrics and Sheik will be writing the music.

Tony Award winners Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik will be teaming up again on the new musical NERO. Just like with their hit Spring Awakening, Sater will be writing the book and lyrics and Sheik will be writing the music.

Patrick Page, currently starring as Shakespearean actor-manager Jefffrey Cordova in Dancing in the Dark (based on MGM's The Bandwagon) at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, will join the cast of Michael Kahn's staging of Hamlet at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC this Spring. The production will play ten free performances at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park, May 22-June 1.

Theatre for a New Audience's production of William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra featuring Laila Robins and Marton Csokas in the title roles and directed by Darko Tresnjak begins previews Saturday, March 22 at 7:30PM for an opening Thursday, April 3 at 6:30PM at The Duke on 42nd Street.

On Monday, February 4 The Vineyard Theatre - where Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Three Tall Women debuted in 1994 - celebrated Albee's 50-year career as one of the world's leading dramatists, as he turns 80 during this theatrical season. Co-hosts for the evening were Tony Award-winners Tyne Daly and Bill Irwin plus international artist Eartha Kitt.

International singing sensation Eartha Kitt - one of only a handful of performers to be nominated for a Tony (three times), a Grammy (twice) and an Emmy Award - is set to join previously announced co-hosts Tony Award-winners Tyne Daly and Bill Irwin with a special performance at The Vineyard Theatre's 80th birthday tribute to Edward Albee on Monday, February 4 beginning at 6pm at The Rainbow Room

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's celebrated the opening of their new $89 million Harman Center for the Arts in downtown Washington, DC at a Gala Celebration on Monday, October 1.