Joan Marcus News

Ana Gasteyer is a true renaissance woman. Having been a cast member on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE for six seasons, she subverted some expectations after leaving the sketch show by going on to play Elphaba in WICKED, originating the role in Chicago's sit-down production before eventually taking her Green Girl to Broadway. Gasteyer has also had extensive success in the concert capacity, and she is now preparing for a major milestone in any solo performer's career: her debut at the Cafe Carlyle. BroadwayWorld spoke with Gasteyer ahead of her Carlyle shows, the first of which is on October 25, about the differences between SNL and eight shows a week (both are grueling, but disparately so), why she yearns for the emotional connection of performing live, and whether or not Donald Trump makes her miss being in the trenches of live comedy.

The critically acclaimed Roundabout Theatre Company production of SHE LOVES ME will be the first title offered in cinemas nationwide on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. local time.

BWW Interview: Kristen Hahn, Phoebe in A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Hartford's Bushnell Theatre, October 25 - 30. Ever wonder if you might have an unknown rich relative out there sitting on a fortune that could one day be yours? That is exactly what Monty Navarro, the main character in A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER discovers, and the lengths he goes to ensure his inheritance and title is secure, is surprising, shocking, even, yet absolutely hilarious. And along this journey filled with truly dastardly deeds, Monty meets Phoebe D'Ysquith, who finds herself and true love in the most unlikely of ways. Playing Phoebe when A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER stops in Hartford October 25 - 30 will be Kristen Hahn, a Connecticut native who sat down with me to talk about this unconventional, yet entertaining show and share what it is like to return to her home state with this production.

Those who have lived through it may agree that war is hell, but for the central character of David Hare's 1978 drama, Plenty, the excitement of confusing, distracting and demoralizing the Germans in occupied France was a slice of heaven compared with living as a woman in post-war England.

The National Theatre production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME is the Tony Award-winning new play by Simon Stephens, adapted from Mark Haddon's best-selling novel. Directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott, the critically acclaimed production will come to The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach as part of a North American Tour November 15 - 20.

After several months of speculation, EW reports that actress Viola Davis will campaign in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in the upcoming big screen adaptation of FENCES.

For two weeks only, the biggest musical of 2015 takes up residence in the Windy City. Fun Home, based on Alison Bechdel's acclaimed graphic novel, brings a woman's memories to life as she looks back on her relationship with her father. Joining Broadway World for an exclusive interview is stage and screen actor, Robert Petkoff, who tackles the dynamic role of Bruce Bechdel.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts announced today that individual tickets for the Fort Lauderdale engagement of Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET will go on sale Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Tight harmonies and an even tighter cast make the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER delicious fun. Now at Boston's Citi Center Shubert Theatre through October 23, this totally original musical comedy by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak crackles with snappy wit and endlessly clever songs.

A year and a half ago, it was in no way certain that the quirky musical comedy CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND was going to make it to television. After hitting a developmental snag as a 30-minute pilot for Showtime, creators Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna repackaged the series as a 44-minute show for Showtime's sister network, The CW.

The major problem I have seen with jukebox musicals is they may have the music to entertain with a nostalgic value but not the book. Then there's the pitfall of the music itself being so focused on one artist that, unless you're a die-hard fan, you can get bored ('Jersey Boys' falls into both traps for me). But sometimes there are shows like 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' currently performing at the Paramount Theatre that manage to hurtle both obstacles with seeming ease. Yes, the songs are all there but as we're looking at the career of a songwriter as well as performer we get a very diverse sound. Plus the book goes well beyond 'and then I did this song, and then I did that song' with a thoroughly engaging story making this one of those rare jukebox musicals that works on every level.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents Mike Bartlett's new play, Love, Love Love, directed by Michael Mayer, featuring Richard Armitage, Alex Hurt, Zoe Kazan, Ben Rosenfield and Amy Ryan. Love, Love, Love opened officially last night, October 19, 2016, Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Though solo performer Sarah Jones is rightfully celebrated for her exacting skills that quickly morph herself into a seemingly limitless collection of female and male characters of diverse ages, ethnicities, nationalities and personalities, she doesn't seem to get proper credit as a playwright.

Roundabout Theatre Company's first new play of Roundabout Underground's newly expanded 2016-2017 season, Kingdom Come, is currently in previews and will open officially on Wednesday, November 2, 2016at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, December 18, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Performances of HAMILTON are currently underway at The PrivateBank Theatre in Chicago (18 W. Monroe). Check out photos of the cast in action below!

A friendly reminder! Roundabout Theatre Company presents the new play Love, Love Love, directed by Michael Mayer, opening officially tomorrow, on October 19, 2016 at the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. This is a limited engagement Off-Broadway through December 18, 2016.

The Public Theater has announced a final extension today for the first major New York revival of PLENTY, written by David Hare. Directed by five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux, the show began performances on Tuesday, November 4 and was originally extended through Sunday, November 20. It will now run through Thursday, December 1, with an official press opening Sunday, October 23.

The Tony, Grammy & Olivier Award-Winning Best Musical Jersey Boys welcomes 'Dancing with the Stars' superstar Mark Ballas in his Broadway debut tonight in the iconic role of 'Frankie Valli.' He is joined by fellow new cast members Nicolas Dromard and Drew Seeley in the roles of Tommy DeVito and Bob Gaudio (respectively), as well as Matt Bogart as Nick Massi. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the new stars in action below!