Jerry Zaks News

Today we are continuing our expansive ongoing discussion with Tony Award-winning scenic design visionary Beowulf Boritt. Continuing the exhaustive discussion of this week's spectacular one night only concert event PARADE, Boritt outlines the visual high-points of the evening as well as offers an explanation of the impetus for many of the ideas behind the inventive design for the unique event. Additionally, Boritt opens up about his other work at Lincoln Center over the years, including Manhattan Concert Productions presentation of RAGTIME and his Tony Award-winning work on the Moss Hart drama ACT ONE, which will be shown on PBS as part of LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER later this year. Furthermore, Boritt shines a light on his multiple other current musicals running or opening soon - the revival of ON THE TOWN on Broadway, plus HAND TO GOD opening soon and Off-Broadway's CLINTON: THE MUSICAL. Plus, Boritt details his work on a dizzying array of current tours and recent mainstage mountings of musicals ranging from the national tours of ANNIE and JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT to his work on LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, LITTLE DANCER, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS in the West End and far beyond. As if all that were not enough, Boritt also looks ahead to the 2016 Tokyo production of the Harold Prince revue PRINCE OF BROADWAY and comments on rumors of an impending New York return of THE TOXIC AVENGER while sharing first news on his involvement with a number of new productions including the Keira Knightley-led revival of THERESE RAQUIN and the forthcoming revival of A BRONX TALE. All of that and much, much more in this concluding portion of our extended chat with one of Broadway's best visual artists.

Classic Stage Company with terraNOVA Collective in association with The Public Theater, will present two-time Obie Award-winning actress Kathryn Grody in Falling Apart….Together for four evenings in April at CSC (136 East 13th Street). In this one-woman show, Grody strives to be the predictable anchor among rambunctious sons, big personalities, and clashes between who you thought you would grow up to be and who you have become. This brilliant and explosively emotional new one-woman show is as brutally funny as it is brutally honest about what it means to be alive and present in the chaos of today's domestic possibilities. Written by Grody and directed by Timothy Near, Falling Apart…Together will be performed April 19, 20, 26 and 27 only.

Patti LuPone and Michael Urie back on Broadway, together!

Direct from Broadway, SISTER ACT, the hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical smash, is coming to Miami. Called 'In a word, DIVINE!' by the Associated Press, SISTER ACT opens at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on April 14 for a limited engagement!

irect from Broadway, SISTER ACT, the hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical smash, is coming to a Columbus. Called "In a word, DIVINE!" by the Associated Press, SISTER ACT opens at the Palace Theatre on Tuesday, April 28, for a limited engagement.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced the first two productions of its 2015-2016 season: DADA WOOF PAPA HOT, a new play by Peter Parnell, to be directed by Scott Ellis, beginning performances Thursday, October 15 and opening Monday, November 9 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater; and the LCT3 world premiere production of KILL FLOOR, a new play by Abe Koogler, to be directed by Lila Neugebauer, which will begin performances Saturday, October 3, open on Monday, October 19, and run through Sunday, November 15 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, announces the extension of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL. The freakishly funny new musical comedy will now be laid to rest on April 12th. The production has been praised for its significant revisions following its Chicago debut in 2010. The production has been Jeff Recommended and is led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Brenda Didier (Choreography).

Lincoln Center Theater welcomes Mamoudou Athie, Diane Lane, Gayle Rankin, and Tony Shalhoub in its production of The Mystery of Love and Sex, a new play by Bathsheba Doran. The production, which is directed by Sam Gold, began previews on February 5 and opens tonight, March 2, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

The Muny announced today that one of Broadway's premier sound designers, Tony Meola, will serve as Sound Designer for The Muny's 2015 summer season. With credits on more than twenty-six Broadway shows, as well as countless national tours and international productions, Tony is excited to make his Muny debut.

Following the company's annual picture game, inspiring audiences to guess the upcoming season, Paper Mill has followed it up with a second image, this time explaining the first!

The New York Times writes that the new musical version of A Bronx Tale, helmed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks, will debut at Paper Mill Playhouse as part of its 2015-16 season. The production will run February 4 - March 6, 2016.

The Ogunquit Playhouse has announced that it has received a total of thirteen Independent Reviewers of New England Award (IRNE) nominations for its 2014 productions of Billy Elliot the Musical, Mary Poppins and The Witches of Eastwick.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Patti LuPone, Dale Soules, and Michael Urie will be featured in the cast of its upcoming production of SHOWS FOR DAYS, a new play by Douglas Carter Beane, to be directed by Jerry Zaks. The production will begin performances Saturday evening, June 6 and open on Monday, June 29 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Artistic director Charles Busch -- in his Lyrics & Lyricists debut -- serves up a cavalcade of stories and songs about the legendary women of Hollywood's movie musical Golden Age in 'Here's to the Girls!' this weekend, February 7, 8 and 9, 2015 at 92Y.

Patti Lupone eyes two potential Broadway showcases!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, presents the spooky kooky production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL. The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life on January 28th and will be laid to rest on April 5th, 2014. Press opening is Wednesday, February 4th at 7:30pm. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, and Drama Desk Award winnerAndrew Lippa. The production will be led by Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Direction), and Brenda Didier (Choreography).

Lincoln Center Theater welcomes Mamoudou Athie, Diane Lane, Gayle Rankin, and Tony Shalhoub in its production of THE MYSTERY OF LOVE AND SEX, a new play by Bathsheba Doran. The production, which is directed by Sam Gold, begins previews tonight, February 5 and open on Monday, March 2 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Direct from Broadway, Sister Act, the hilarious, five-time Tony-nominated musical smash, is coming to Mayo Performing Arts Center for three shows, today, January 31 at 3 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday, February 1 at 1 pm

Rejoice! The Ogunquit Playhouse, America's Foremost Summer Theatre, is thrilled to be one of the first regional theatres in the U.S. to produce the glorious Broadway musical comedy Sister Act. The hilarious show kicks off the Ogunquit Playhouse season May 20 to June 20.

In honor of this week's announcement heralding GREASE: LIVE! arriving in January 2016 on FOX, today we look back at the various versions of the ever-popular hit musical.