John Lee News

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO reached yet another major milestone when it becomes the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history, surpassing Beauty and the Beast with a total of 5,462 performances!

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present VENUS IN FUR, a new play by David Ives, directed by Walter Bobbie, beginning performances January 13 at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street).

BroadwayWorld brings you a view of A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE's marquee in anticipation of the show's opening night this Sunday, January 24. A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, starring Tony® Award-winner Liev Schreiber and Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson, is directed by Gregory Mosher. The production is playing a strict 14-week engagement on Broadway at the Cort Theatre.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will reach yet another major milestone when it becomes the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history, surpassing Beauty and the Beast with a total of 5,462 performances!

CHICAGO is BACK IN TOWN and its PURE ENTERTAINMENT! Now celebrating 13 glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is now the seventh longest-running production in Broadway history ... and shows no sign of ever slowing down!

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Austin will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for eight performances, January 12-17.

The producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Grand Rapids will host the national touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for 8 performances, March 30-April 4, 2010.

Stage and screen star Obba Babatunde will return to the CHICAGO stage next week as Billy Flynn while Brent Barrett (who re-assumed the role last fall) is on vacation. His run will last from January 10 - January 17. Brent Barrett will return on January 18.

Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, starring Tony® Award-winner Liev Schreiber and Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson is now in previews. Directed by directed by Gregory Mosher, the production will open on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street) Sunday, January 24, 2010. A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE will play a strict 14 week engagement.

Just in is word that A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE's Santino Fontana (pictured), who suffered a minor concussion during a performance this past weekend has been temporarily replaced in the show by his understudy Morgan Spector. Fontana is out of the show on doctor's orders and is expected back as soon as possible. Spector, a graduate of Reed College and the American Conservatory Theatre MFA program is making his Broadway debut in the show. His previous theatre credits include Enemies: A Love Story at the Wilma Theater, Disney's The Lion King (national tour) and A Christmas Carol at ACT. His film and television credits include The Last Airbender, 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' and HBO's 'How to Make It in America.'

Stage and screen star Obba Babatunde will return to the CHICAGO stage next week as Billy Flynn while Brent Barrett (who re-assumed the role last fall) is on vacation. His run will last from January 10 - January 17. Brent Barrett will return on January 18.

Tony Award-winner Liev Schreiber, who is currently starring in Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, will participate in the New York Times' Arts & Leisure Weekend panel discussion moderated by the Times' Lynn Hirschberg on Saturday, January 9 at 10AM at The Times Center (242 West 41st Street).

Entertainment Weekly's Pop Watch Blog now features the first exclusive photo from the new Broadway production of Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. Entertainment Weekly, on stands tomorrow, Friday, January 8, will feature a second exclusive image from the play.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the internationally acclaimed revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will reach yet another major milestone when it becomes the sixth-longest running production in Broadway history, surpassing Beauty and the Beast with a total of 5,462 performances!

The 41st NAACP Image Awards nominees were announced today during a press conference at The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. Taye Diggs ('Private Practice' - ABC), Michael Strahan ('Brothers' - FOX) and 'FOX NFL Sunday'), Wanda Sykes ('The Wanda Sykes Show' - FOX), Kyle Massey ('That's SRaven,' 'Cory in the House' - Disney Channel), Chris Massey ('Zoey 101' - Nickelodeon) and Tatyana Ali (Young and the Restless - CBS) joined NAACP Image Awards Committee Chair, Clayola Brown, and Vicangelo Bulluck, Executive Producer of the telecast, to announce the categories and nominees. The 41st NAACP Image Awards will air live on Friday, February 26 (8:00 - 10:00 PM ET/PT Tape-Delayed) on FOX.

It has been confirmed that former Destiny's Child songbird Michelle Williams is Chicago-bound. Williams will portray the wannabe star-turned-murderess Roxie Hart for a limited run from February 8 to March 28. Williams will be taking over the role from Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, who debuted in the revival on December 1.

Justin Bartha, known from his big screen roles in The Hangover and National Treasure, will officially be joining the upcoming revival of LEND ME A TENOR in the role that was originally set to be played by T.R. Knight.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce Terrence McNally's comedy Lips Together, Teeth Apart will star Megan Mullally (Chloe Haddock), Patton Oswalt (Sam Truman) and Lili Taylor (Sally Truman).

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present VENUS IN FUR, a new play by David Ives, directed by Walter Bobbie, beginning performances January 13 at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street).

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Winter Benefit 'An Intimate Night,' an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show on Monday, January 25, 2010 at The Plaza (Fifth Avenue and Central Park South).