John Guare News

Today, BroadwayWorld is extremely proud to present an extensive conversation with the modern master of the musical theatre himself, Stephen Sondheim, all about the incredibly revealing and thoroughly riveting second volume of his complete collected (and annotated) lyrics (covering 1981-2011) - following last year's superlative FINISHING THE HAT - titled LOOK, I MADE A HAT. With ample insights pertaining to the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, INTO THE WOODS, ROAD SHOW, THE FROGS and many more, Sondheim and I also discuss some of his Hollywood endeavors - the proposed film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS, as well as the never-produced SINGING OUT LOUD and his Oscar-winning work for Warren Beatty's DICK TRACY - and his affection for - and process of adapting (in the case of WEST SIDE STORY, the CYMBELINE setting in THE FROGS and his recent scoring of the Public Theatre's production of KING LEAR starring Kevin Kline) - the works of William Shakespeare. Additionally, we discuss the upcoming Encores! revival of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, the currently-running revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters (as well as its brand new cast album), the West End transfer of the Michael Ball/Imelda Staunton-led SWEENEY TODD in the UK and much, much more!

Modern-day master of musical theatre Stephen Sondheim is about to release the second book of his complete collected lyrics - covering mostly everything written in the last three decades and in this one so far - titled after a line from what may very well be his ultimate masterpiece, the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - LOOK, I MADE A HAT; Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany. So, today, we are going to be taking a look at a litany of the finest moments from Sondheim's post-SWEENEY TODD musicals that are highlighted in LOOK, I MADE A HAT and perhaps discover a few of the many reasons why Sondheim's musicals - whether late-period or early on- are the best of the best Broadway has to offer - now or ever. And, what an absolutely mind-blowing list it is - and what a masterpiece of a book!

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 12th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES EDIE & ALEXANDER a new play BY MEGAN MOSTYN-BROWN directed by MIA ROVEGNO

The Juilliard School will offer its first Master of Fine Arts in Drama with classes beginning in the Fall of 2012, a watershed moment in the Drama Division's forty-four year history.

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 12th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES EDIE & ALEXANDER a new play BY MEGAN MOSTYN-BROWN directed by MIA ROVEGNO

Set in Sunnyside, Queens, on that day in 1965 when Pope Paul VI visited New York, John Guare's early, breakthrough play features mockingly observed nuns, a lethal (but farcical) political bombing, a G.I. earmarked for Vietnam and, as a protagonist, a zookeeper who dreams in vain of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter. As if that weren't enough countercultural loopiness, the zoo keeper, Artie Shaughnessy, has a wife named Bananas who really is bananas and destined for the institution that provides the play's title.

The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare will open Thursday, November 10th at Hawaii Pacific University's Paul and Vi Loo Theatre.

Set in Sunnyside, Queens, on that day in 1965 when Pope Paul VI visited New York, John Guare's early, breakthrough play features mockingly observed nuns, a lethal (but farcical) political bombing, a G.I. earmarked for Vietnam and, as a protagonist, a zookeeper who dreams in vain of making it big in Hollywood as a songwriter.

December 1, 2011 is the upcoming deadline for submitting a play to the 5th STAGE International Script Competition.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

On December 4, 2011, The New Inquiry, BOMB Magazine, and ForYourArt will host a marathon reading of Frederic Tuten's visionary first novel, The Adventures of Mao on the Long March, published in 1971.

Today we are completing BroadwayWorld's seven part analysis of Shakespeare's works, all with an eye towards the new movie ANONYMOUS - which questions the authorship of William Shakespeare - with a look at the greatest moments of deception in theatre taken from the last few decades. While deception and betrayal are both tried and true tactics of creating some tense, terse, taught drama by playwrights and filmmakers the world round - both onstage and onscreen - and it is certainly as much a hackneyed trope used today as it was used five hundred years ago in Shakespeare's time - the acts themselves that we will be focusing on today are the most surprising, effective and entertaining examples of them all. Analyzing moments from entities as diverse as SWEENEY TODD, CARRIE, WICKED, GYPSY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, THE MUSIC MAN, SISTER ACT, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, HAMLET, ENRON and more - split into three categories: musical tragedies, musical comedies and straight plays - it becomes quite clear over the course of analyzing these double-crosses that Shakespeare was not the only dramatist who could make the drama's biggest twist also be the moment that stays with us long after the curtain has come down or the screen has gone black. Note: given the nature of today's topic, be forewarned that spoilers copiously abound from here on out!

The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare will open Thursday, November 10th at Hawaii Pacific University's Paul and Vi Loo Theatre.

As previously reported, Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that Stephanie J. Block will join the Tony Award winning company of Anything Goes performing the role of 'Reno Sweeney' while Sutton Foster is filming the television pilot, Bunheads, for 3 weeks in November. Specific dates have been announced today and Block will officially be stepping into the role November 4 through November 22.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell proudly announced the casting and creative teams for the three plays featured next season on The Shaw's Festival Theatre stage. In making the announcement, Ms. Maxwell noted: 'I am so inspired by the range of talent we've assembled to make up our 2012 Ensemble. This extraordinary group of artists will bring to life the vivid contemporary ideas of each and every playwright whose work we are proudly presenting.'

As previously reported, Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that Stephanie J. Block will join the Tony Award winning company of Anything Goes performing the role of 'Reno Sweeney' while Sutton Foster is filming the television pilot, Bunheads, for 3 weeks in November. Specific dates have been announced today and Block will officially be stepping into the role November 4 through November 22.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, and Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre announced today an evening of song, video and performance on October 30th, 2011 at 7:00pm to benefit the Freedom Theatre. Tickets are $100 and the event is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner and featuring Academy Award-winner David Byrne, Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks, Grammy-winners Aimee Mann and Angelique Kidjo, Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald, Palestinian hip-hop group DAM, as well as a special performance by the acting company of The Freedom Theatre. The entire evening is directed by Jo Bonney.

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming national tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is scheduled to open the Adrienne Arsht Center's Broadway in Miami 2011-2012 season, with performances from October 25-30, 2011. Tickets start at $27 and may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

92nd Street Y feautred Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, in his popular multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, 'Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth' with Golden Globe Award-winning stage and screen star Angela Bassett. Roth and Bassett discussed her upcoming role opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, as well as her remarkable career on the silver screen, at 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street) yesterday. Check out photos from the event below!

92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, will continue his popular multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, 'Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth' with Golden Globe Award-winning stage and screen star Angela Bassett. Roth and Bassett will discuss her upcoming role opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, as well as her remarkable career on the silver screen, at 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street) on Sunday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29 and are available at www.92Y.org/BroadwayTalks or by calling 212.415.5500.