Jennifer Westfeldt News

Vassar & New York Stage and Film have announced a few of the projects tapped for the upcoming 32nd Powerhouse Season, the annual summer season which stages full productions of new plays, workshop presentations of new plays and musicals, and readings of other works in progress, among other developmental programming.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: FUN HOME and FINDING NEVERLAND celebrate one year on Broadway, and the Outer Critics Circle announces its 2016 nominees!

Great news tonight! Geffen Playhouse has just announced a starry cast for its world premiere production of BIG SKY, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros.

The 15th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced its jurors - a diverse group of industry leaders, including award-winning actors, acclaimed filmmakers, writers, entrepreneurs, artists and cultural leaders.

New York Stage and Film has announced that its annual Winter Gala will honor star of stage and screen Bill Pullman, whose decades-long career includes starring roles in the blockbuster film Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping and Broadway's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?;  as well as 2-time Tony Award-winner and 11-time nominee Donald Holder, lighting designer of Broadway's The Lion King, The King & I, and the upcoming Fiddler on the Roof revival, among countless others.  The Winter Gala will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at The Plaza Hotel (770 Fifth Avenue, New York City).  For more information on New York Stage and Film, please visit http://www.newyorkstageandfilm.org/.

New York Stage and Film has announced its inaugural Filmmakers' Workshop, which launches July 7th on Vassar's campus as part of New York Stage and Film & Vassar's 31st Powerhouse Season. Designed to support early-career screenwriters with creative development and mentorship, the Filmmakers' Workshop features a tailored, process-oriented approach akin to Powerhouse's celebrated development of plays and musicals.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company's productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences.

Just last night, New York Stage and Film 2014 Gala honored Tony Award winner Michael Mayer and veteran theatrical press agent Rick Miramontez at The Plaza Hotel. They were joined by celebrities and theater VIPs including Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka, Jon Hamm & Jennifer Westfeldt, John Slattery & Talia Balsam, Josh Radnor, Bill Pullman, Harvey Fierstein, Joel Grey, Ken Olin & Patricia Wettig, Carol Kane, Mark Linn-Baker, John Benjamin Hickey, Hunter Parrish, Billy Porter, Jessie Mueller, Sherie Rene Scott, Tommy Tune, Lena Hall, Stephen Trask, Matt Doyle, Bryce Pinkham, Steven Lutvak, Matt Doyle, Isabel & Ruben Toledo, Jon Tenney, Sakina Jaffrey and many more! BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special evening below!

Deemed 'the Greatest Male Star of All Time' by the American Film Institute, Academy Award winner Humphrey Bogart is highlighted on THIRTEEN's Reel 13 in November with three of his most iconic films.

New York Stage and Film has announced that its Annual Winter Gala, to be held this year on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at The Plaza Hotel (770 Fifth Avenue, New York City), will honor Tony Award winner Michael Mayer and veteran theatrical press agent Rick Miramontez.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its shows running from October 1 to 12, 2014. Scroll down for details, and visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows.

Leah Ryan's FEWW is hosting an evening of celebratory cocktails and performances on Monday, October 6 at Joe's Pub in New York. The benefit will commemorate the fifth year of Leah Ryan's Fund for Emerging Women Writers and the announcement of The Vladimir, a new emergency fund for writers facing medical emergencies. Hosted by Lisa Kron and directed by Leigh Silverman, the party will feature performances by, among others, Julie White, Christopher Durang, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Jennifer Westfeldt. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased through the website: http://leahryansfeww.com. For information call Tessa LaNeve at 917-841-4879. Joe's Pub is located at 425 Lafayette St, New York, NY.

Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner James Franco, BAFTA and Tony Award nominee Chris O'Dowd, Leighton Meester and Tony and Olivier Award winner Jim Norton star in John Steinbeck's masterpiece about chasing the American dream, OF MICE AND MEN on Broadway. Directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro, the critically acclaimed production opened on Wednesday, April 16, and will play through Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48 Street). Scroll down for a recent photo of celebs Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt and Edward Norton visiting backstage with the cast!

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing officially opened tlast night, Monday, June 16. The production will run through Sunday, July 6. Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater and Tony Award nominee Lily Rabe return to the Park as the wise-cracking, would-be lovers Beatrice and Benedick in the beloved romantic comedy. Central Park becomes sun-drenched Sicily at the turn of the last century, where the heat of summer ignites the fevered passions of lovesick ladies in corsets and pining gentlemen spying from the verandah. Three-time Tony winner Jack O'Brien directs this delightful skirmish of wit between two self-declared bachelors tricked by their mischief-making friends into falling in love against their will and in spite of their own hearts. Check out photos from opening night below!

TOO MUCH SUN - the newest play by Nicky Silver - plays through June 22 at the Vineyard Theatre(108 E. 15 St.). Mark Brokaw directs the cast starring the Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin(BROADWAY BOUND, 'Alice'), joined by Ken Barnett (WONDERFUL TOWN, AND BABY MAKES SEVEN), Richard Bekins (TARTUFFE, LOVE! VALOR! COMPASSION!), Matt Dellapina (OUTSIDE PEOPLE, DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY), Matt Dickson (WAR HORSE, COAST OF UTOPIA) andJennifer Westfeldt (THE LIBRARY, Kissing Jessica Stein). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Let's see what the critics had to say...

PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST - an evening with the Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin and her husband Steve Bakunas, a painter, actor and jazz drummer - will be presented by the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) one-night-only on Monday, June 16 at 7 pm to benefit the company's productions, artistic development initiatives and arts education programs, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, The Vineyard's artistic director, and Sarah Stern, co-artistic director.

TOO MUCH SUN - the newest play by Nicky Silver - has been extended two weeks until June 22 at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director. With previews starting May 1, Too Much Sun opens May 18.

Scott Z. Burns' tense and effective drama shows public opinion formed by a competitive media.

Written by Scott Z. Burns and directed by Steven Soderbergh, this world premiere of THE LIBRARY began previews at The Public on March 25 and runs through April 27 in The Public's Newman Theater with an official press opening tonight, April 15.