John Lee Beatty News

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Two-time Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald rejoins the Broadway cast of CHICAGO as Billy Flynn -- his second starring role in the acclaimed production-- beginning Tuesday, August 5.

Producers Barry and Fran Weissler announced that the suave, debonair, award-winning actor and star of stage, TV & film - John O'Hurley - will return to the road to reprise the role of Billy Flynn in select cities.

After two extensions, the Lincoln Center Theater's critically-acclaimed production of The City of Conversation ends its Off-Broadway run today. The City of Conversation was written by Anthony Giardina and directed by Doug Hughes. It originally opened on May 5.

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) just announced complete Broadway casting for the world premiere co-production of THE COUNTRY HOUSE, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

Trip needs to get himself and his family 'up north of the Boulevard' to a more civilized neighborhood. Then an unexpected circumstance dumps an opportunity in Trip's lap. The only problem is that, to take it, Trip would need to leave his integrity behind and possibly risk going to jail. Is getting north of the Boulevard worth it for Trip and his buddies? Does Trip even have a meaningful choice?

This week's New York Times In Performance video features Tony Award-nominated actress Jan Maxwell in a scene from Anthony Giardina's play "The City of Conversation,"

CHICAGO, which opened to rave reviews on November 14, 1996, has the distinction of being the longest-running American musical in Broadway history and shows no sign of ever slowing down. CHICAGO will play Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall for a limited, one-week engagement from October 21-26.

On Monday, June 30, 2014, Broadway's celebrated revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will welcome Lindsay Roginski in her Broadway stage debut as merry murderess Roxie Hart.

Back at the Delacorte for his fifth Shakespeare in the Park, the TV star talks about playing the fool, getting typecast and living in L.A. and Italy.

Today it is BroadwayWorld's extreme honor to bring you an exclusive and extensive discussion with one of the finest American actors in history all about his legendary career onstage and on screens large and small - the commanding and versatile two-time Tony Award-winning and Academy Award-winning James Earl Jones. Touching upon much of his internationally regarded iconography as well as looking ahead to current and future endeavors, Jones eloquently expresses his observations on acting, art, humanity and life itself. Focusing on the ScreenVision presentation of Alfred Uhry's DRIVING MISS DAISY starring opposite fellow icon and InDepth InterView participant Dame Angela Lansbury, Jones astutely outlines the themes of the touching Southern drama depicting the unlikely friendship between an uptight society woman and her dedicated chauffer as well as opens up about his own experiences with culture clashes and race in his life. Additionally, Jones juxtaposes his observations of working alongside Vanessa Redgrave on the Broadway and West End iterations of the play versus the Australian tour with Lansbury which has now been preserved on film and is being shown in movie theaters across the country throughout this month. Plus, Jones reveals some of his own favorite moments in the powerful play and dissects the dynamics of his dense and complex characterization of Hoke in the piece and how he sees Hoke's relationship to that of Daisy (Lansbury) and her son, Boolie (played by Boyd Gaines). Besides all about DRIVING MISS DAISY, Jones also previews his upcoming Broadway return in the recently announced revival of the classic Kaufmann & Hart chestnut YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU and expresses his thoughts on the multi-racial casting planned for the hotly anticipated production. Furthermore, Jones looks back at some of his most fondly remembered roles to date - ranging from the voice of Darth Vader in STAR WARS and Mufasa in THE LION KING, to his seminal work in films such as DR. STRANGELOVE, CLAUDINE, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY, FIELD OF DREAMS and more. All of that, his thoughts on the upcoming STAR WARS sequels currently in production, observations on his role in the new feature film comedy THE ANGRIEST MAN IN BROOKLYN, memories of his Shakespeare In The Park KING LEAR (available on DVD), his Tony Award-winning work in August Wilson's FENCES as well as much, much more!

The Tony-nominated new Broadway play Mothers and Sons has announced that the production has partnered with the 30/30 Project and Construction for Change. Julie Lewis, 30-year HIV Survivor and mother to Grammy-winner Ryan Lewis, founded the 30/30 Project, which seeks to bring healthcare facilities to communities impacted by HIV/AIDS, as well as offering comprehensive healthcare.

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, releases 'Duke Ellington: The Original Recordings That Inspired The Broadway Hit After Midnight' today, May 27th on iTunes (iTunes.com/DukeEllington) that other digital retailers. The CD version hits stores June 17th.

The new Broadway play Mothers and Sons from 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally has announced today that it will continue to offer a series of post-show talkbacks in conjunction with the Huffington Post Gay Voices on two consecutive Wednesday evenings (5/21 & 5/28) at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for KING LEAR, the second show of The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte. Featuring the previously announced John Lithgow as Lear, this enduring tragedy will begin performances on Tuesday, July 22 and run through Sunday, August 17, with an official press opening on Tuesday, August 5.

The Tony-nominated new Broadway play Mothers and Sons is proud to announce that the production has partnered with the 29th Annual AIDS Walk New York, the east coast's first and the world's largest AIDS fundraising event, on Sunday, May 18th. Four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally will be a speaker during the opening ceremony, and Tony Award nominee Bobby Steggert will sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from Rogers and Hammerstein's Carousel. There will also be a special appearance by Tony and 6-time Emmy Award-winner Tyne Daly.

The new Broadway play Mothers and Sons from 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, now playing at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), welcomes co-founder of The Tyler Clementi Foundation, Jane Clementi, who will be joined by Tony Award winning producer Paul Boskind (The Normal Heart) for a special post-show "Talk Out" discussion following tonight's, Wednesday, May 14th, evening performance. Jane Clementi is the mother of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University student whose suicide opened up an international dialogue about the bullying of LGBT youth. Since Tyler's death, the Clementi family has worked tirelessly to promote new stories of inclusion, dignity and acceptance for vulnerable youth and their families as way to honor the memory of their son, brother and friend. The discussion will begin shortly after Wednesday evening's 7pm performance, and all audience members are welcome to participate. Tickets for this and all performances are now on sale at www.MothersAndSonsBroadway.com.

Nathan Lane's Tony-winning performance in last season's THE NANCE will air on PBS next year as part of the Live From Lincoln Center series 40th season.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Producing Artistic Director, Andre Bishop) has announced that it will extend the run of its critically-acclaimed production of THE CITY OF CONVERSATION, a new play by Anthony Giardina, directed by Doug Hughes, through Sunday, July 6 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.

Jan Maxwell is elegant, clever and politically savvy in Anthony Giardina's drama of family politics.