Joe Mantello News

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a once-in-a-lifetime gala concert reading of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's enchanting, Tony Award-winning masterpiece A Little Night Music tonight Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 7:30PM at Studio 54 (254 West 54th St.)

Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the Los Angeles production of WICKED, returned to the production on Friday, October 31, to play through the end of the engagement on Sunday, January 11th at the Pantages Theatre.

9 To 5: The Musical, based on the 20th Century Fox motion picture, will begin previews on Broadway April 7th, 2009, and will open April 30th, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). The musical just launched a new website perfect for the 'working girl' in everybody! The new features loaded website can be found by visiting, www.9to5themusical.com.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is continuing to enhance the experience of Roundabout's subscribers with the launch of MYROUNDABOUT.org on January 7, 2009.

Beginning performances on Friday, January 16, NICOLE PARKER (from 'MADtv' and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me) will assume the role of Elphaba in the musical blockbuster WICKED. Nicole joins a cast which includes Alli Mauzey as Glinda, Jayne Houdyshell as Madame Morrible, P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard, Kevin Kern as Fiyero, Alex Brightman as Boq, Brynn O'Malley as Nessarose, and Timothy Britten Parker as Dr. Dillamond. Aaron Tveit will return to the role of Fiyero on Friday, January 23. The role of Elphaba is currently being played by Marcie Dodd.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), is pleased to announce a two-week extension of PAL JOEY starring Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps), now through March 1st, 2009.

Audiences have just six weeks to catch the magic that has entranced the Windy City for three and a half years. The Chicago company of WICKED will take its final bow after the 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, January 25, 2009, following a record-breaking open run at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre. To honor WICKED aficionados, those who have seen the show six or more times will have a special chance to meet Elphaba and Glinda after the 7:30 p.m. performance on Wednesday, January 7 or January 14, 2009.

Jill Paice will replace the previously announced Laura Benanti in the role of Anne Egerman in the Roundabout Theatre Company's gala benefit concert reading of A Little Night Music. Laura Benanti, has withdrawn under a doctor's orders because of a serious throat infection. Benanti is currently starring as Louise/Gypsy in the revival of Gypsy. She is expected to continue to perform in her Tony winning role in Gypsy which closes on Sunday January 11th, but the added rehearsals and peformance of 'Night Music' was considered too much in regards to her throat ailment.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) has announced that Tony® award winner Mary-Louise Parker (Hedda Gabler), Tony® award winner Michael Cerveris (Jorgen Tesman), Paul Sparks (Ejlert Lovborg) and Peter Stormare (Judge Brack) in a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. The production features a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn and will be directed by Ian Rickson.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce Tony® award winner Michael Cerveris (Jorgen Tesman) & Paul Sparks (Ejlert Lovborg) will join previously announced Tony® award winner Mary-Louise Parker (Hedda Gabler) in a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. The production features a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn and will be directed by Ian Rickson. Hedda Gabler will begin previews on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 and open officially on Sunday, January 25th, 2009 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). This will be a limited engagement.

For the week ending January 4, the Chicago company of WICKED flew into 2009 with a record breaking gross of $1,764,428. This weekly gross breaks all previous records in Chicago theater history. With only 24 performances remaining, the Chicago company of WICKED continues to break all records, changing Chicago for good. WICKED will leave its mark on Chicago as the largest and most consistently top grossing show that the city has seen in decades.

Signature Theatre presents the Washington premiere of the Tony-nominated comedy The Little Dog Laughed, an outrageous satire of Hollywood ambition, truth, and illusion in America's celebrity-obsessed culture. Three-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Holly Twyford portrays the brash, fast-talking agent Diane, whose client Mitchell (Matthew Montelongo) has a chance to make it big if he only stays in the closet. When Mitchell starts to fall for a charmingly sweet male escort (Ivan Quintanilla) with a needy girlfriend (Casie Platt), Diane's plans may unravel. But nothing derails this ?ber-agent in her pursuit of power and money as she skillfully and hilariously manipulates all within her reach. Written by Douglas Carter Beane, it's Hollywood at its juiciest. The Little Dog Laughed runs in Signature's intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre from January 13 to March 8, 2009.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, December 19, 2008.

Stars Stockard Channing, Matthew Risch, Richard Greenberg (New Book) and Paul Gemignani (Musical Direction) discuss the classic music of Rodgers & Hart and share a sneak peak into the musical world of Pal Joey: Click here to listen

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Marc Platt, presents Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps) in a new Broadway production of Pal Joey which opened at The Roundabo Theatre on December 18th. BroadwayWorld and Broadway Beat were at Opening Night to capture all the excitement!

Casting has been announced for the much anticipated San Francisco return of the smash hit musical WICKED, which begins Tuesday, January 27, 2009 for an open-ended engagement at the Orpheum Theatre. This production is a significant homecoming for WICKED, which premiered in San Francisco before casting its spell on Broadway, winning 20 major awards, including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards.

Downstage @ New Rep is reviving its holiday celebration of anti-cheer with David Sedaris' hilarious autobiographical solo show, The Santaland Diaries. The one-man comedy that satirizes everything we love to hate about the holidays opens for the press on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. and plays through January 4, 2009 in the Black Box Theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the full cast for the upcoming New York premiere of Distracted, by Lisa Loomer, directed by Mark Brokaw. Distracted will begin previews on Saturday, February 7th and open officially on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce John Goodman (Pozzo) and David Strathairn (Lucky) will join Bill Irwin (Vladimir) and Nathan Lane (Estragon) in a new Broadway production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and directed by Tony? award winner Anthony Page.

Ritchie Mastascusa was the Gypsy Robe recipient for Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Marquis Theatre. He passed on the robe to Pal Joey's Eric Sciotto in a fun and emotion filled ceremony. The colorful Gypsy Robe, embellished with mementos from Broadway musicals, is presented to the cast member who has the most Broadway chorus credits.