John McDermott News

'Sometimes life just is preposterous, you know,' screams a frustrated character trying to get another to believe his corner of the jigsaw puzzle of interlocking plots in Craig Lucas' eclectically styled comedy/drama, The Singing Forest; a play that takes us from 21st Century New York to 1930s Vienna to 1940s London via urban romantic comedy, Holocaust drama, dysfunctional family angst, mistaken identity farce and a dash of that Lucas theatrical fantasy. Far funnier and more happily enjoyable than you'd expect, especially considering the horrifying imagine the play's title represents, The Singing Forest manages to examine issues of self-deceit and the limits of both forgiveness and accepting blame for one's actions.

Original revues can be terrific collections of a composer's work?for prime examples, see Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World, William Finn's Elegies or Infinite Joy, or just about anything by Joe Iconis. Well-written songs can create a mood strong enough to sustain an audience's interest for several hours.

AN EVENING AT THE CARLYLE, A New Musical Revue presented by Algonquin Theater Productions, will extend its previously announced four-week engagement to an open-ended run at The Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street) where it plays in repertory with the musical Sessions, now in its 2nd year. In the tradition of Off-Broadway revues like The Shoestring Revue, Starting Here Starting Now and Upstairs at O'Neil's, AN EVENING AT THE CARLYLE is a musical entertainment featuring a talented young cast and a bright, original score commenting on current events, celebrities and life and love in the Big Apple.

Robert Newman, star of 'Guiding Light' and a two-time Daytime Emmy nominee for his longtime work on 'Guiding Light,' joined the cast of SESSIONS beginning Friday, May 29th. SESSIONS, directed by Thomas Coté, is now playing off-Broadway at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Albert M. Tapper (From Where I Stand, Broadway: The Golden Age) pens this candid and witty new musical about the everyday life of a New York therapist and his patients. Tony Sportiello/Algonquin Theatre Productions and Jason Hewitt are the producers.

Rachelle Rak, star of Fosse, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Look of Love on Broadway as well as the film 'Every Little Step', will join two-time Emmy nominee Robert Newman and the cast of SESSIONS beginning Wednesday, June 10th. SESSIONS, directed by Thomas Coté, is now playing off-Broadway at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street).

AN EVENING AT THE CARLYLE will begin performances off-Broadway Monday, June 8 at 7PM at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Performances will continue for four weeks, running Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights at 7PM until June 30.

An Evening at the Carlyle, Albert M. Tapper's new musical revue set in ? but not performed at ? the famous New York City hotel, will open June 8 at The Algonquin Theater.

Robert Newman, star of 'Guiding Light' and a two-time Daytime Emmy nominee for his longtime work on 'Guiding Light,' will join the cast of SESSIONS beginning Friday, May 29th. SESSIONS, directed by Thomas Coté, is now playing off-Broadway at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Albert M. Tapper (From Where I Stand, Broadway: The Golden Age) pens this candid and witty new musical about the everyday life of a New York therapist and his patients. Tony Sportiello/Algonquin Theatre Productions and Jason Hewitt are the producers.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) presents Craig Lucas' THE SINGING FOREST. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE SINGING FOREST will end a limited run Sunday, May 17th. The show celebrated Opening Night on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 PM.

AN EVENING AT THE CARLYLE will begin performances off-Broadway Monday, June 8 at 7PM at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Performances will continue for four weeks, running Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights at 7PM until June 30.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) presents Craig Lucas' THE SINGING FOREST. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE SINGING FOREST will run through Sunday, May 17th. The show celebrated Opening Night on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 PM at BroadwayWorld.com was there!

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

The New York Times spoke to the talented young Groff on a variety of subjects, including his recent capacity for getting naked on stage.

Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale wrapped the first season of ABC's Cupid and almost immediately jumped into the play The Gingerbread House, the two very busy stars spoke to New York Magazine about their wild and creative ride from the ABC studios to the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.

the stageFARM's production of The Gingerbread House by Mark Schultz officially opened at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place) on Saturday evening, April 18th at 8 p.m.

the stageFARM has announced that Evan Cabnet has replaced Alex Kilgore as director of The Gingerbread House by Mark Schultz, in its world premiere. A visiting production at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place), The Gingerbread House opens officially on Saturday evening, April 18th at 8 p.m.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that the first preview of Craig Lucas' THE SINGING FOREST has been moved to Friday, April 10 due to the need for additional technical rehearsals. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE SINGING FOREST was scheduled to begin previews on Tuesday, April 7 and open on Monday, April 27. The show will now open on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 PM.

SESSIONS, a musical in therapy, continues its off-Broadway run at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Directed by Thomas Coté, SESSIONS is a candid and witty new musical by Albert M. Tapper (From Where I Stand, Broadway: The Golden Age) about the trials and tribulations of everyday life as seen through the eyes of a New York therapist and his patients. Tony Sportiello/Algonquin Theater Productions and Jason Hewitt are the producers.

the stageFARM has announced that Evan Cabnet has replaced Alex Kilgore as director of The Gingerbread House by Mark Schultz, in its world premiere. A visiting production at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place), The Gingerbread House opens officially on Saturday evening, April 18th at 8 p.m.

stageFARM (Carrie Shaltz, Founder/Executive Director and Alex Kilgore, Artistic Director) announced the complete cast for the upcoming World Premiere The Gingerbread House by Mark Schultz, directed by Alex Kilgore. Performances were set to begin Friday, April 11th, but the first few previews were delayed and the production starts this evening Monday April 13th as a visiting production at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place). Opening Night is set for Saturday evening, April 18th at 8 p.m.