Joan Marcus News

The Public Theater's production of the new musical LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, the second show of The Public's 2013 free Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte, recently began previews on July 23. Directed by Alex Timbers, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST features songs by Michael Friedman with book adaptation by Timbers and will run through Sunday, August 18, with an official opening on Monday, August 12. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records will release the 2013 Off-Broadway cast recording of the hit Second Stage Theatre production of The Last Five Years, created and directed by Jason Robert Brown, both in stores and via online outlets on September 24. Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) extended this production starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe three times. To pre-order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/thelastfiveyears-new.html.

Jason Rabinowitz, Christina Sajous, Jennifer Sanchez, Frederick Weller and Renee Elise Goldsberry have been getting great reviews and audience reactions in I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road, the final Encores! Off-Center presentation of the 2013 season. Today, Michael Riedel reports that the successful response might earn the show a transfer.

Writers Theatre opens its 2013-14 season with the Midwest Premiere of The Old Man and The Old Moon, a new play with music by PigPen Theatre Co., directed by Associate Artistic Director Stuart Carden and PigPen Theatre Co, and presented by Writers Theatre and TOMATOM LLC. The show runs September 3 - November 10, 2013, at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The Press Opening is September 12, 2013 at 7:30pm.

The producers of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS are pleased to announce that Dominic Scaglione Jr. and Joseph Leo Bwarie will assume the role of Frankie Valli in the Broadway cast today, July 30, 2013.

As BroadwayWorld previously announced, Dominic Scaglione Jr. will assume the role of Frankie Valli in the Broadway cast beginning tomorrow Tuesday, July 30, 2013. A veteran of the Broadway company, Mr. Scaglione previously played this role to great acclaim in the Chicago and Las Vegas productions. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at Scaglione in action below!

The Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history, produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, will welcome Marni Raab back to the cast as Christine tonight, July 29. The musical phenomenon this year celebrated an unprecedented 25 Years in New York, where it plays at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

Lilla Crawford will take her final bow as Broadway's Annie today, July 28 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Taylor Richardson and Sadie Sink will share the title role, beginning performances on Tuesday, July 30.

The second wave of feminism not only brought issues of reproductive rights and social inequality into the forefront of American conversation, it also produced the first hit Off-Broadway musical completely written by women.

The Public Theater presents the critically acclaimed world premiere musical Here Lies Love, with concept and lyrics by David Byrne, music by David Byrneand Fatboy Slim, additional music by Tom Gandey and J Pardo, and choreography by Annie-B Parson. Directed by Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love officially opened on Tuesday, April 23 and was extended a fourth and final time to today, July 28.

Joining the production in her PHANTOM debut is Mary Michael Patterson, who will play her first performance on Monday, July 29. Ms. Patterson made her Broadway debut in the recent revival of Anything Goes, including being seen as Hope Harcourt. Her other credits include Liesl in The Sound of Music at Carnegie Hall and leading roles in Regional productions of Sense and Sensibility - The Musical (Marianne Dashwood), White Christmas (Judy Haynes) and Singin' in the Rain(Kathy Selden), as well as seasons at Pittsburgh CLO and The St. Louis MUNY. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at Patterson in action below!

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince returns to Broadway as evil orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in the new Broadway production of Annie at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). She officially began performances on July 19. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Prince in action below!

The Marsh presents a tale of murder, privilege, and sausage with the World Premiere of THE SCION, performed by award-winning performer Brian Copeland (Not a Genuine Black Man, The Waiting Period), written by Brian Copeland in collaboration with David Ford, and directed by David Ford.

The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit MATILDA THE MUSICAL recently celebrated its 100th performance at the Shubert Theatre, and according to the Sydney Telegraph's Jo Litson, the show will continue to thrive, opening in Australia in 2015.

Jason Rabinowitz, Christina Sajous, Jennifer Sanchez, Frederick Weller and Renee Elise Goldsberry star in I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road, the final Encores! Off-Center presentation of the 2013 season, playing for five performances beginning tonight through July 27. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

Manhattan Theatre Club's critically acclaimed production of THE EXPLORERS CLUB, the world premiere comedy by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin, directed by Marc Bruni, begins its final two weeks of performances tonight at 7 PM at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). The extended engagement will play its final performance on Sunday, August 4. On that date, the production will have played 26 preview performances and 54 regular performances.

Manhattan Theatre Club has extended Tarell Alvin McCraney's CHOIR BOY through August 11, it was announced today by Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield. The critically acclaimed play with gospel music, directed by Trip Cullman, is currently playing at The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). This is the final extension for the production as production prepares to move to Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, the musical phenomenon this year celebrated an unprecedented 25 Years in New York, where it plays at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

Manhattan Theatre Club's acclaimed production of Richard Greenberg's THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES begins its final performances at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Directed by Lynne Meadow, the limited engagement will play its final performance Sunday, July 28. On that date, the show will have played 28 previews and 119 regular performances.

Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory team up for another look at the disdain for intellectualism.