Jessica Lewis News

The Wilton Playshop opens its 73rd season with Stephen Schwartz' award winning musical PIPPIN with book by Roger O.Hirson, on Friday, November 6th and running through Saturday, November 21.

New York-based contemporary dance company KDNY presents their 2009 NYC Season, TREADING PUDDLES, an evening of World Premieres set to original live music by Cristina Spinei at The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, The Joan Weill Center for Dance from December 3-6, 2009.

One of the most popular events at The Way off Broadway Dinner Theatre and Children's Theatre is its annual Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus). Each year, children and their families get to spend a festive morning with Mrs. Claus and the elves waiting for Santa's arrival. This year, the theatre has three scheduled breakfasts: Saturday, December 19th; Sunday, December 20th; and Thursday, December 23rd.

According to a report in Variety, William H. Macy will team up with Sally Hawkins in Dirty Girl, a coming of age comedy about friendship and the search for identity set in the 1980s. The film is directed by Broadway performer and choreographer Abe Sylvia, who will be making his feature film directorial debut. The film is currently being shopped at the American Film Market.

Tony Award nominees Robert Cuccioli and Alison Fraser will team up from December 18 - December 20 for George Street Playhouse's second Holiday Cabaret. The concert will be musical directed by Christopher Howatt, who will additionally sing and play piano.

Multiple reports have confirmed new progress on the Shrek spin-off, Puss in Boots, slated for release in November of 2011. Zach Galifianakis is allegedly in talks to voice Humpty Dumpty, joining Antonio Banderas as the title character, and Salma Hayek as Kitty. The film will follow Puss in Boots adventures before Shrek 2. The film is written by Tom Wheeler and directed by Chris Miller who co-wrote and co-directed Shrek the Third.

As previously reported, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) confirmed on Tuesday that it had completed the purchase of Live Nation's UK Theatres (excluding their one third share of The Dominion Theatre). The acquisition is the most significant development in ATG's 17 year history.

Golden Girl Rue McClanahan has been taken to the hospital to be treated for an acute cardiac illness. While not in critical condition, she will remain in the hospital.

In the Heights mastermind and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and longtime girlfriend Vanessa Nadal who grew up with Lin-Manuel in the Heights, got engaged on October 30 at the Plaza de la Paja while vacationing in Madrid. The pair have been dating since 2005.

Eric Schaeffer, artistic director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced tha stage, screen, and television actress Angela Lansbury will receive the company's Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented to Ms. Lansbury on Monday, April 26, 2010, at a black-tie gala dinner in Washington, DC. The Sondheim Award Gala will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community outreach programs.

Famed performance space Joe's Pub has announced a revised upcoming line up of event in November and early December. Performers include Lauren Abrose, Coleman Domingo, Capathia Jenkins and Louis Rosen, Hair's Caissie Levy, and more. Kelly Joe Phelps who was previously scheduled to perform on 11/14, has pulled out and has been replaced PT Walkley.

As part of the Wilton Music Hall's 150 Anniversary celebration, internationally celebrated actress Fiona Shaw will reprise her acclaimed performance in TS Eliot's The Waste Land in a limited engagement performance at the venue from December 30, 2009 to January 10, 2010 at the venue.

On November 9, The League of Professional Theatre Women will be present a New Play Festival on at the Cherry Lane Theatre in downtown Manhattan. The festival entitled 'Turning Points: Women Have Their Say' is designed to provide a forum for women in the arts to showcase their work.

The Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning smash musical JERSEY BOYS, celebrates four stars (*The London Times), Four Seasons and four years on Broadway Friday, November 6.

Legendary actor and comedian Carl Ballantine died at his home in Los Angeles yesterday of natural causes at the age of 92. Billing himself as 'Ballantine the Great' or 'The Amazing Ballantine,' his vaudeville-style comedy routine involved transparent or incompetent stage magic tricks, which tend to flop to the wisecracking Ballantine's mock chagrin.

Theater Talk, a weekly expose of world theater that airs on PBS Friday nights (PBS/Thirteen) and 5 times weekly on CUNY TV will feature Broadway's best, including the creative team of Fela, Finian's Rainbow master magician, Neil Simon, George S. Kaufman and The Royal Family and more it's upcoming broadcasts this month.

Variety is reporting that The Stephen Daldry-helmed revival of his 1992 production of An Inspector Calls, currently running in a limited engagement at the Novello Theatre in the West End, will transfer to Wyndhams Theatre in early December for a 16-week run. This move will fill the gap for the theatre created by the early closing of The Shawshank Redemption, as previously announced.

Bending Threads will present Seasons of Change: A Cabaret Show on Friday, November 20th at the Duple. It will be the company's third new production. The doors open at 6:30pm, with a 7:00pm performance.

Tony nominee Justin Bond will play his cabaret special, Christmas Spells, at Abrons Arts Center in Manhattan, from December 9-12 at 8pm.

On November 9, Primary Stages will host 'Leading Ladies,' the organization's 25th Anniversary Benefit Gala, honoring influential women who have contributed to the theater's work over the past 25 years. The event will take place at the Grand Hyatt New York and begins at 6:30pm.