Joan Marcus News

Manhattan Theatre Club's extended engagement of GOLDEN AGE, the third play in Terrence McNally's opera trilogy, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie, begins the final week of its run tomorrow at 7 PM at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). When it ends its engagement on Sunday, January 13, the production will have played 20 preview performances and 48 regular performances.

Performances of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, began on December 18. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens January 17 and will play a limited engagement for 15 weeks only, through March 30, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the Johansson and Walker onstage in the photo below!

As expected (thankfully) 2012 provided Southern California audiences--specifically here in Orange County and nearby Los Angeles and San Diego--a season full of outstanding, remarkable theater offerings from touring companies, impressive regional productions, and even some tiny black box theaters. And, of course, as is the common practice during the ushering of a new year, the enjoyable past-time of putting together a year-end 'best of' list is something contributor Michael Lawrence Quintos truly looks forward to doing, especially when there's a plethora of great work to choose from--many of which he had the pleasure of reviewing exclusively for BroadwayWorld.

THE OTHER PLACE, the new play starring Laurie Metcalf, is now in previews at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). THE OTHER PLACE will open Thursday, January 10. THE OTHER PLACE stars Laurie Metcalf ('Roseanne,' November), Daniel Stern ('The Wonder Years,' Diner), Zoe Perry (Broadway debut), and John Schiappa (Assassins, Take Me Out). Get a first look at the stars onstage in the photos below!

Even if the names Marc Kudisch and Jeffrey Denman are as foreign to you as the middle monikers of the three wise men, there's a wonderful familiarity to their on-stage personas as The Holiday Guys.  It's the kind of relaxed, off-the-cuff give and take that's been enjoyed for generations, whether packaged as Hope and Crosby, Allen and Rossi or Brooks and Reiner.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents a family treat for the holidays, the Tony Award-winning musical BIG RIVER. Helmed by TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, BIG RIVER plays November 28-December 30, 2012 (press opening December 1) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

A writer, traveler & political activist, Gavin was also in the last show at the Palace prior to 'Annie', 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'.

The subjectivity of the truth appears to be a running theme in the intriguing work of young playwright, Amy Herzog, who follows the recent success of After The Revolution and 4,000 Miles with a moving drama, The Great God Pan.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: THE BOOK OF MORMON opens in Chicago, Blythe Danner returns to Broadway, CHICAGO celebrates a milestone, and so much more!

American Airlines has been announced as the official airline of the new critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Annie. Cast members from the production will perform a selection of songs from the show at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of American Airlines' JFK concert series on Friday, December 21 at 2:15 PM and 2:45 p.m.

William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Picnic returns to Broadway in a striking new production helmed by acclaimed director Sam Gold (Roundabout's Look Back in Anger, Seminar). Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn stars alongside theatre veterans Reed Birney (The Dream of the Burning Boy) and Elizabeth Marvel (Other Desert Cities), rising stars Maggie Grace ('Lost') and Sebastian Stan ('Gossip Girl'), Emmy Award winner Mare Winningham (recently seen in Tribes), Madeleine Martin (August: Osage County) and Ben Rappaport (Hope Springs). Get a first look at the production photos below!

THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, just launched its Second National Tour in Chicago at the Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe), featuring Nic Rouleau as Elder Price, Syesha Mercado as Nabulungi & Ben Platt as Elder Cunningham. Check out just-released production shots below!

DEAD ACCOUNTS star Katie Holmes will appear on tomorrow's episode of "The Late Show with David Letterman." "The Late Show" airs locally on CBS2 at 11:35 PM or visit http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/ to watch online.

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, is pleased to announce the return of John Lloyd Young who won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Frankie Valli in the original Broadway cast. Young will again perform the role of Frankie Valli on Broadway beginning Friday, January 11 for a limited engagement.

Lilla Crawford, star of the new Broadway production of Annie will perform live on ABC's 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' between 9:00AM-10:00AM EST this Tuesday. In the New York area, 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Lilla Crawford perform 'Tomorrow.'

The Public Theater's new production The Twenty-Seventh Man closes today, December 16. Written by Nathan Englander and directed by Barry Edelstein, The Twenty-Seventh Man officially opened on Sunday, November 18 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 9.

The Public Theater's acclaimed epic musical Giant closes today, December 16, after playing an additional two weeks. With book by Sybille Pearson, music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, and directed by Michael Greif, Giant officially opened on Thursday, November 15 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 2.

Manhattan Theatre Club's Murder Ballad, the new musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman, that opened to glowing reviews, closes today, Sunday, December 16 at MTC's The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street).

Below, meet the orphans of ANNIE, all making their Broadway debuts, and find out why they believe you're never fully dressed without a smile!