Joe Mantello News

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for all media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2010-11 season in 23 categories.

Alexander Greenfield (Asst. Director, BORN YESTERDAY) will direct a cast that includes Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon), Tobias Segal (The Miracle Worker), Arden Myrin (Chelsea Lately), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) Maggie Low (Times of War) and Elizabeth West (The Women) in a reading of Pulitzer- nominated Tom Diggs' new play LOVE IN THE TIME OF REAGAN at an industry reading in midtown Manhattan one day only on May 16, 2011 at 3 pm in an undisclosed location.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2009, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, returns to Omaha's Orpheum Theater, Wednesday, May 25 through Tickets for WICKED's return engagement went on sale February 21. They start at $39 and can be purchased online at TicketOmaha.com; by calling 402-345-0606 or at Ticket Omaha in the Holland Performing Arts Center, 13th and Douglas streets, Omaha, Neb. For group sales call 402-661-8516 or toll-free at 866-434-8587.

WICKED, the most anticipated musical production of the 2011 season will go on sale to the public on Saturday, May 14.

With a 2011 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor In A Play for his magnetic turn in the critically-hailed revival of Larry Kramer's THE NORMAL HEART on Broadway and a leading role on Showtime's THE BIG C co-starring real-life close friend Laura Linney, as well as a busy film career that boats memorable turns in THE REF, ME & MY SHADOWS: LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, the recent remake of THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 and TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN, John Benjamin Hickey is a very busy man. Nevertheless, he was kind enough to recently take some time out of his beyond busy schedule to talk all about his stage and screen career - including sharing some revealing anecdotes about starring in THE CRUCIBLE with Liam Neeson and Linney, as well as working with the esteemed playwright Arthur Miller himself, in addition to his work in Terrance McNally's LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION, Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall's revival of CABARET, and, of course, all about the George C. Wolfe/Joel Grey production of THE NORMAL HEART starring director/actor Joe Mantello that he is participating in now. Plus, we have his thoughts on his recent GOOD WIFE appearance, feelings on the place of political theatre in society today, what roles he would like to take on in the future, his affection for the work of Edward Albee - and much, much more.

Tickets to WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman ('My So Called Life,' 'Once And Again' and 'thirtysomething') based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, will go on sale Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m. WICKED returns to The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts August 24-September 11. Ticket prices begin at $33 and will be available at The Bushnell Box Office, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, online at www.bushnell.org or by calling (860) 987-5900. Discounts for groups of 20 or more are now available by calling (860) 987-5959.

Every Tony Needs a Tina! BestofOffBroadway.com announced the first annual Tina Award nominations today, honoring the top Off-Broadway productions of the 2010-2011 season.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that the premiere Broadway presentation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart will host a series of post-show talkbacks, which began Tuesday, May 3.

The Drama League has announced the rosters of stars who will appear as presenters at The 77th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 20, 2011 (noon) in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). The ceremony will be hosted by Kathleen Turner (High).

Alexander Greenfield (Asst. Director, BORN YESTERDAY) will direct a cast that includes Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon), Tobias Segal (The Miracle Worker), Arden Myrin (Chelsea Lately), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) Maggie Low (Times of War) and Elizabeth West (The Women) in a reading of Pulitzer- nominated Tom Diggs' new play LOVE IN THE TIME OF REAGAN at an industry reading in midtown Manhattan one day only on May 16, 2011 at 3 pm in an undisclosed location.

Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announced that the Alley Theatre's 65th Season beginning in September 2011 will include two world premieres, Elizabeth Egloff's epic play Ether Dome and Theresa Rebeck's black comedy What We're Up Against, (the latter in a rolling world premiere that includes theatres in San Francisco and Chicago), and the Outer Critics Circle Award-winning rock musical The Toxic Avenger by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, winners of last year's Best Musical Tony Award for Memphis.

Red Tape Theatre presents the apocalyptic comedy Tragedy: a tragedy by Will Eno, author of the Pulitzer Prize-finalist play THOM PAIN (based on nothing).

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Liz Baltes, Kate Fry, Drew Gehling, Marc Kudisch and Bobby Steggert will comprise the cast of its upcoming production of A MINISTER'S WIFE, a new musical with book by Austin Pendleton, music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen, based on Candida by George Bernard Shaw. A MINISTER'S WIFE, which was conceived and will be directed by Michael Halberstam, will open on Sunday, May 8 at 6:45pm at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

THE NORMAL HEART officially opened on Broadway April 27 at the Golden Theatre and earlier this week, received five Tony Award nominations. Elton John and David Furnish recently visited the show and sat down to discuss the relevance of the play which was written by Larry Kramer.

The 2011 Tony Award nominees were announced in New York City on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 and Broadway hasn't stopped buzzing since! On Wednesday, the proud nominees and a slew of press gathered at the Millenium Hotel in Times Square to celebrate and talk all things Tony. BroadwayWorld was on hand, of course, and as part of our special coverage, captured portrait shots of many of this year's nominees in the BroadwayWorld.com booth. Stay tuned for our special video series as well.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that the premiere Broadway presentation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart will host a series of post-show talkbacks, which began Tuesday, May 3.

The 2011 Tony Award nominees were announced live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Yesterday, the proud nominees gathered at the Millenium Hotel in Times Square to celebrate and meet the press. BroadwayWorld was on hand, of course, and brings you part 2 of the morning's photo coverage below!

The 2011 Tony Award nominees were announced live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Yesterday, the proud nominees gathered at the Millenium Hotel in Times Square to celebrate and meet the press. BroadwayWorld was on hand, of course, and brings you part 1 of the morning's photo coverage below!

Red Tape Theatre presents the apocalyptic comedy Tragedy: a tragedy by Will Eno, author of the Pulitzer Prize-finalist play THOM PAIN (based on nothing).

Red Tape Theatre presents the apocalyptic comedy Tragedy: a tragedy by Will Eno, author of the Pulitzer Prize-finalist play THOM PAIN (based on nothing).