Joan Marcus News

Do ya hear that playin'? Do ya know what's playin'? Why it's one of the best interpretations of a classic musical I've seen. The current touring production of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes", on stage now at the 5th Avenue Theatre, has three major things going for it; a director who understands the style and point of the show, a cast working their butts off while making it all look effortless and fun, and Rachel York. And all that amounts to perma-grin for two hours, leaving the theater with the uncontrollable urge to hum the tunes and a killer evening.

The captivating new production of Terence Rattigan's classic THE WINSLOW BOY comes to Roundabout directly from The Old Vic Theatre in London. The Winslow Boy, starring Michael Cumpsty, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Alessandro Nivola and Roger Rees, directed by Lindsay Posner, opens tonight, October 17, 2013 at American Airlines Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Roger Rees leads an excellent ensemble in Lindsay Posner's crackling production of Terence Rattigan's drama of family honor.

The prolific screenwriter who wrote Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln will share his outspoken views on Thursday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m., at The Ridgefield Playhouse. It will be possible to 'sit and chat' with Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Oscar nominated screenwriter and author of Angels in America and Caroline, or Change when he shares his outspoken views on 'taboo' subjects in contemporary history. This evening of entertaining conversation and mesmerizing storytelling will take place on stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Morton Dean who will lead an audience Q&A. This event is part of the Moffly Media Entertaining Conversation Series?and Ridgefield Library @ The Ridgefield Playhouse Event series with media sponsor WSHU 91.1fm. Bernard's (22 West Lane, Ridgefield; reservations suggested) is offering a $45 prix-fixe menu or a complimentary glass of wine with dinner before this event when tickets are presented.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing confirmed today that the remainder of the Pre-Broadway World Premiere run of the highly anticipated new musical Beautiful-The Carole King Musical is officially sold out at San Francisco's SHN Curran Theatre. Beautiful, which began previews on September 24, will play its final performance in San Francisco on October 20, 2013, before heading to Broadway, where it begins performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43 Street) on November 21, 2013 and officially opens on January 12, 2014.

A new block of tickets to A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, which opened last week to rave reviews for star Mary Bridget Davies, are on sale today. Tickets for the new musical are now on sale through Sunday, March 30 by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200, online atwww.telecharge.com, or at the Lyceum Theatre box office (149 West 45th Street).

Elizabeth Olsen's Juliet makes a good argument that William Shakespeare's tragedy of teenage lust could have been submitted as a continuing arc for Lena Dunham's hit series, Girls.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced a special talkback at BAD JEWS featuring NYC faith leaders, playwright Joshua Harmon and actor Michael Zegen following the 7:30pm performance on Thursday, October 24. The talkback is complimentary for ticketholders to this performance, and a limited number of tickets are still available to purchase.

Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor will reprise their roles as Cathy and Jamie in Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS in a concert version at 54 Below, running tonight, October 16 - 19, 2013.

Tune in to the Fox News Channel tomorrow morning to go behind the scenes at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre with 'Fox & Friends' host Anna Kooiman and stars of the smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL including Tony Award nominees Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae, Charl Brown and Bryan Terrell Clark, Raymond Luke Jr. and Darius Kaleb.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, presents Shakespeare'sRomeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagic, and opening Wednesday, October 16. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

The Public Theater has announced a two-week extension for the world premiere musical FUN HOME, directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. Based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, FUN HOME began performances on Monday, September 30 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, November 3. The musical will now run an additional two weeks to Sunday, November 17, with an official opening on Tuesday, October 22.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play The Fox Theatre for a limited engagement from March 4-9, 2014 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2013/2014 season.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at Segerstrom Hall from January 14 - 19, 2014.

To celebrate Columbus Day Weekend, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS has added a performance tonight, October 13 at 7pm. To make the accommodation, there will be no evening performance on Wednesday, October 9 and the curtain time of the matinee today, October 13 is at 2pm.

Highlights include opening night curtain calls for HONEYMOON IN VEGAS and BIG FISH, as well as promotional pictures of the ONCE Tour and LES MISERABLES in Toronto, and the closing curtain call for A Trip to the Bountiful.

As Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical 'Goes West' and journeys to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, audiences are invited to boogie on down to the Orchestra Level lobby of Segerstrom Hall one hour prior to each performance and indulge in fun events:

Mary Bridget Davies provides powerful full-throated vocals and an empathetic performance in Randy Johnson's concert-style bio-musical.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, hit the road for the first North American tour, opening at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below!

SHNSF's Curran Theatre in San Francisco hosts the world premiere of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - a hit-filled bio-musical about the woman whose songs epitomized the late 60s and early 70's. Her album 'Tapestry' (with songs like 'It's Too Late,' 'I Feel the Earth Move,' and 'You've Got A Friend') soared to #1 and stayed on the charts for a record-breaking six years. King's story is the stuff of dreams, but heartache came first as it often does. How she moved from churning out hit after hit for other artists, to playing Carnegie Hall as a solo artist, is what 'Beautiful' is all about. Playing now through Oct. 20 before it heads to Broadway, 'Beautiful' is a hit show with a bullet.