Joan Marcus News

Following celebrated runs at the Toronto Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, and on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR takes its final Broadway bow tonight, July 1. Upon closing, the show will have played 116 regular performances and 24 preview performances. One of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most famous shows, the Stratford production undeniably had a great run and introduced some exciting new stars to the Great White Way, including Tony nominee Josh Young, Jesus himself Paul Nolan, and Chilina Kennedy. Below, BroadwayWorld revisits the journey of SUPERSTAR!

Kristen Beth got to play Reno on Bway and is now understudying three principal roles in the Gershwin Tony winner.

Backwoods 1800s America proves an unlikely, but ideal setting for Shakespeare's As You Like It in director Daniel Sullivan's enormously entertaining Delacorte production that mixes dexterous wordplay with rowdy comedy.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), closes today, Sunday, June 24 following 901 performances on Broadway and at New World Stages.

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is, to quote its famous song lyrics, a "tale as old as time," but don't let those words fool you - the spectacular new NETworks national touring production currently at Washington's National Theatre has given new life to an already magnificent story.

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, the Encores! cast of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES went into the recording studio last month to put a cast record together. As per Megan Hilty's official website, the recording is set to be released September 4, and is now available to preorder on Amazon.com.

Based on a series of popular YouTube videos of the same name, the "Old Jews" stage version serves up 90 minutes of stories and quips stacked like an overstuffed funny-on-rye.

WICKED, the show that broke box office records when it was last in San Diego, is back. Each show presents on opportunity to win some tickets at an amazing price. Running from June 20- July 15 every show offers the opportunity to win $25 orchestra seats in an audience lottery.

The Public Theater will present an additional free performance of AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan, tonight (Tuesday, June 19) at 8 p.m. AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte, will officially open on Thursday, June 21 and continue through Saturday, June 30.

See the four-time Tony Award winner and you won't miss a beat.

As previously reported, the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history, welcomes Kara Klein to the show from today, June 18, in the role of Meg. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, the musical phenomenon is in its unprecedented 25th year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

This is a Music Man not to be missed. It's filled with great music, superb acting, lovely voices, and superb dancing.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: ONCE scores big at the Tonys, ROCK OF AGES hits the big screen, HARVEY returns to Broadway, and so much more!

A prolific veteran of film, TV and theater, Carol Kane can be found these days in the Broadway revival of "Harvey" at the Roundabout Theatre.

First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb in the Eisenhower Theater opened at the Kennedy Center last night, June 13, where it plays in the Eisenhower Theater through July 1, 2012. The show stars Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Alan H. Green, Leslie Kritzer, Patina Miller, and Matthew Scott. BroadwayWorld brings you a complete first look at the show below!

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, is presenting the new Broadway production of Mary Chase's Harvey, starring Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons), Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Larry Bryggman (Judge Omar Gaffney), Carol Kane (Betty Chumley), Peter Benson (E.J. Lofgren), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Holley Fain (Ruth Kelly, R.N.), Angela Paton (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson), and Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.). The production is directed by Scott Ellis. The production officially opens tonight, June 14, 2012 for a limited engagement through August 5th, 2012. Previews began May 18. Excited? Revisit the sneak peek photo and video coverage below!

The musical revue First You Dream opened at the Kennedy Center, and we have a first look at the photos from the event. Check them out below!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) began previews on Tuesday, June 5, for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park--home of free Shakespeare in the Park. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 21. Check out photos of Paul Taylor, Andre Braugher, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Lily Rabe, David Furr, Donna Lynne Champlin, Oliver Platt, Jordan Tice, Stephen Spinella, Susannah Flood and Will Rogers in the production below!