Joan Marcus News

Nearly 40 years ago, producer Norman Lear brought a television program about a black family's life in a Chicago housing project into millions of American homes.  And while the show never ignored the dangers and hardships of living in an underserved, crime-ridden community, Good Times focused on the safe haven provided by family and friends that nurtured artistry and activism while providing the expected abundance of sitcom laughter.

Superman finds his Lois Lane! Joining Edward Watts (Superman) in the New York City Center Encores! production of It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman will be Jenny Powers as Lois Lane and David Pittu as the evil Dr. Sedgwick, along with Erich Bergen, Alli Mauzey, James Saito and Will Swenson. Superman will play at City Center for seven performances, tonight, March 20 - 24, and will be directed by John Rando with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and music direction by Rob Berman.

Second Stage Theatre's production of Jason Robert Brown's musical, The Last Five Years, plays through Sunday, May 12 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). The highly anticipated revival will officially open on April 2. Starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, the beloved two-character musical, which has received more than 500 regional productions and 3,000 performances around the world, is returning to New York City after eleven years in an all-new staging directed by Mr. Brown. The Last Five Years will be performed. Tickets are available at www.2ST.com or by calling the box office at 212-246-4422. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below!

Starring Mark Evans as Elder Kevin Price and Christopher John O'Neill as Elder Arnold Cunningham, the comedy duo bring convulsive comedy to the stage rivaling veteran actors Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Each elder attempts to spread the good news in his own way; Arnold seems to pull scripture out of his a$$ to fit whatever point he is trying to promote. Kevin tries the traditional method but winds up having to pull the actual book out of his a$$ after it was unceremoniously placed there by a terrorist. It's never fun being the butt of a joke.

On paper, Annie Baker's The Flick is 122 pages long.  For a typical play this would mean a running time somewhere between two hours and fifteen minutes and two and a half hours at the most.  On stage at Playwrights Horizons, the performance I attended of director Sam Gold's production of The Flick ran a bit over three hours and fifteen minutes.

Shea's Performing Arts Center was abuzz as President Anthony Conte and Producer Albert Nocciolino announced the 2013-14 season Thursday night in front of a crowd of season ticket holders in the historic downtown theatre. Find out a bit more about what this season has to offer!

Superman finds his Lois Lane! Joining Edward Watts (Superman) in the New York City Center Encores! production of It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman will be Jenny Powers as Lois Lane and David Pittu as the evil Dr. Sedgwick, along with , Alli Mauzey, Adam Monley, James Saito and Will Swenson. Superman will play at City Center for seven performances, March 20 - 24, and will be directed by John Rando with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and music direction by Rob Berman.

Today we are talking to a Grammy Award-winning performer who has carved out a unique career in the entertainment industry between his many platinum albums, notable contributions to film soundtracks and numerous live performances in solo shows and various musicals over the course of his twenty-five-year career in show business - the charming and talented Jon Secada. Discussing various aspects of many of his most memorable recordings to date and his process in capturing them in the studio, as well as reflecting upon the ever-chaning recording industry itself, Secada opens up about his work with some of the biggest names in music - Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz and more included - as well as all about his new single, music video and his most recent sold-out appearances around the globe. Plus, Jon recounts his experiences performing on Broadway in the hit 1990s revivals of GREASE and CABARET, as well as his most recent stage work in JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT on the road. Plus, Secada shares his thoughts on iTunes, favorite artists and much, much more!

Due to popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of its critically-acclaimed, sold out World Premiere production of The Flick, a new play by the heralded Obie Award-winning playwright Annie Baker (Circle Mirror Transformation at PH, The Aliens, her recent adaptation of Uncle Vanya). Originally set to play a limited engagement through Sunday, March 31, the production has extended to Sunday, April 7 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Touring the nation in a show is nothing new for Colby Foytik, currently playing Tommy DeVito in the 2nd National Tour of the smash hit musical JERSEY BOYS. In fact, audiences around the nation may remember seeing him star as Perchik in Topol's 2009 Farewell Tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. However, like most of us use the weekends to get caught up on life, many actors use Mondays for similar purposes. Enjoying some downtime in Norfolk, VA and putting the glamour of being on stage aside so he could get some laundry done, Colby Foytik talked with me about his career, playing Tommy DeVito, and the JERSEY BOYS 2nd National Tour.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Holland Taylor takes a bow, Broadway gets Miscast, PHANTOM gets a new Chrsitine, and so much more!

As a public service for playgoers who do not understand French, nothing of any importance takes place in the final scene of Amy Herzog's Belleville.

Actor Cliffton Hall, who currently plays the role of Fiyero in the long-running First National Tour production of the blockbuster hit WICKED continues to have a very healthy, enviable career on the stage. Before Hall once again departs the role after WICKED's 4-Week Engagement in Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts comes to an end on March 17, the talented triple-threat chatted with BroadwayWorld about his life in the world of musical theater.

Samantha Hill takes over the role of Christine Daae in Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera, replacing Sierra Boggess. Hill joins Hugh Panaro in the title role with Kyle Barisich as Raoul, Jim Weitzer (Monsieur Andre), Tim Jerome (Monsieur Firmin), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Ellen Harvey (Madame Giry), Christian Šebek (Piangi) and Kara Klein (Meg Giry). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look of Hill in action below!

Out of necessity, people tend to fall in love rather quickly in musical theatre.  Trying to jam a relationship into a two and a half hour entertainment often means a good thirty-two bars of lush music and romantic lyrics is all it takes to establish a lasting emotional bond.

The Public Theater began previews for the world premiere of DETROIT '67, a Public Lab production by Dominique Morisseau, on Tuesday, February 26. Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, DETROIT '67 will run through Sunday, March 17 in The Public's Shiva Theater, with an official press opening on Tuesday, March 12. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of Old Hats, created and performed by Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner, with music by and featuring Nellie McKay, and directed by Tina Landau. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Ryan Silverman as Giorgio, joins acclaimed, award-winning actresses Judy Kuhn (as Fosca) and Melissa Errico (as Clara), in Classic Stage Company's new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). Passion will open at CSC (136 East 13th Street) tonight, February 28.

Sony Pictures announced today that it will be 'getting a new deal for Christmas' when it releases the highly-anticipated remake of ANNIE on December 25, 2014.

There are few who have seen Kevin Gray on stage and have not been touched by his performance. There are none who have worked with or known Kevin Gray whose lives have not been enhanced by this incredible person.