Jeffrey Richards News

The producers of August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, present the First National Tour. The tour officially kicks off in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on July 28, 2009.

Variety's Gordon Cox has a very interesting and informative article today about the West End transfer potential of several Broadway hits including audience favorites HAIR and ROCK OF AGES.

The Philippine premiere of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's Tony award-winning rock musical SPRING AWAKENING will feature new actors Miguel Mendoza and Kelly Frances Lati when the production opens on September 25, 2009 at the Carlos P.Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

The producers of August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, are pleased to announce that full casting for the First National Tour has been completed. The tour will kick off in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on July 24, 2009.

August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, starring Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet, will launch its national tour, in Denver, CO on July 24th, 2009. Following two weeks at Denver's Ellie Caukins Opera House (7/24-8/8), the show will play San Francisco's Curran Theatre from August 11 - September 6, 2009. Subsequent engagements will be announced shortly. Ms. Parsons is currently appearing in the show on Broadway where The New York Times recently raved, 'Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance...sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career.' Ms. Parsons joined the company in June, 2008. Estelle Parsons first foray into the business began when she was hired by 'The Today Show,' first as a production assistant, then staff writer, which eventually led her to become the first female television network political news reporter. Estelle began acting and appeared in her first stage performance on Broadway in Happy Hunting. Since then, Estelle has gone on to either star in or direct over 25 productions. Most notably, she has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in The Seven Descents of Myrtle, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Miss Margarida's Way and Mornings at Seven.

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit completed its limited Broadway run at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street) on Sunday, July 19th, 2009.

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit completes its limited Broadway run at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street) today July 19th, 2009.

The full cast from the original Chicago production of Steppenwolf's new American play 'Superior Donuts' will reprise their roles when the play makes its Broadway debut this fall.

In an unprecedented move, the producers of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical have announced they are canceling the show's Sunday, October 11th performance so that the entire cast can join the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. The announcement was made this evening by the cast of HAIR at a spirited rally in Los Angeles (the entire company of HAIR has traveled from New York to California to appear on tonight's broadcast of 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien').

Theatre, film, television and music star Michael McKean will reprise his role as donut shop owner Arthur Przybyszewski in the Broadway premiere of Steppenwolf Theatre Company?s new American play Superior Donuts, by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau. Mr. McKean originated the role during Superior Donuts? sold-out, world premiere at Steppenwolf last summer. Full casting will be announced shortly.

The 8-time Tony Award® winning Broadway musical, SPRING AWAKENING will make its Chicago premiere at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for a limited engagement August 4 to 16, 2009.

The 8-time Tony Award® winning Broadway musical, SPRING AWAKENING, will make its Chicago premiere at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for a limited engagement August 4 to 16, 2009.

TRACY LETTS' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, winner of five 2008 Tony Awards, as well as the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, and currently starring Tony and Emmy award winner PHYLICIA RASHAD, will play its final performance on SUNDAY, JUNE 28th, 2009. It will have played 648 performances and 18 previews, surpassing The Heidi Chronicles, Master Class, The Real Thing, and Doubt, among many others, to become one of the longest running plays in Broadway history.

Superior Donuts, Steppenwolf's new American play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts will follow Letts' Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County into The Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), beginning performances on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, with an officially opening on Thursday, October 1, 2009.

The new Broadway Cast Recording of the hit musical HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, featuring never-before-released tracks from the show's iconic score, is available on iTUNES, beginning TODAY (May 26th).

The new Broadway Cast Recording of the hit musical HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, featuring never-before-released tracks from the show's iconic score, will be available in stores beginning on Tuesday, June 23rd.

'HAIR Week' On Broadway's exclusive look into the revival of HAIR, in celebration of the release of Ghostlight Records' New Broadway Cast Recording (in stores June 23), will also include special guest DJ sessions with members of the 'tribe.' Beginning Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26 at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm ET, the 'tribe' members will play music from the new cast album and share stories about what goes on behind the scenes at the Hirschfeld Theatre.

TRACY LETTS' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, winner of five 2008 Tony Awards, as well as the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, and currently starring Tony and Emmy award winner PHYLICIA RASHAD, will play its final performance on SUNDAY, JUNE 28th, 2009. It will have played 648 performances and 18 previews, surpassing The Heidi Chronicles, Master Class, The Real Thing, and Doubt, among many others, to become one of the longest running plays in Broadway history.

The New York Times is reporting that screen and stage star Kerry Washington will join the Broadway production of RACE, the new play written and directed by David Mamet. Washington will co-star with previously announced James Spader and Richard Thomas in this world premiere production on Broadway.

The producers of HAIR announced today that the new Broadway production, which opened March 31st to critical (and audience) acclaim, has once again set a house record at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). For the week of June 8 - 14, the week after winning the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, HAIR's box office gross was $963,233, the highest for any eight-show week at the 1,400 seat theater, which opened in 1924 (and besting its own house record of 5/22 -- $934,229).