John Rando News

The Drama League (Executive Director Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director Roger T. Danforth) has announced full casting for the 30th Annual DirectorFest, a festival of one-act plays staged by the Fall Directing Fellows, Elizabeth Carlson, Alexandru Mihail, Danny Sharron and Nicole A. Watson, for a limited 5-performance engagement, December 12 - 15, 2013 at The TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of Holiday by Philip Barry at 7 pm on Monday, December 16 at the Mainstage Theater (at Playwrights Horizons), 416 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues). The performance-starring Acting Company Founding Member David Schramm (Finian's Rainbow, TV's Wings), Carson Elrod (Peter and the Starcatcher, Noises Off), Andrew Hovelson (Lucky Guy, Enemy of the People), Liv Rooth (Venus in Fur, Born Yesterday, Is He Dead?), Danielle Skraastad (All My Sons), Brendan Titley (Macbeth), Finn Wittrock (Death of a Salesman), Acting Company Alum Georgia Cohen, David Quay and Victoria Mack-will be followed by a reception with the cast and director,Janet Zarish, Head of Acting, Graduate Acting Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and an Acting Company Alumna. Tickets @ $35 and $60 (Patron) are available from 212-258-3111.

The Drama League has announced full casting for the 30th Annual DirectorFest, a festival of one-act plays staged by the Fall Directing Fellows, Elizabeth Carlson, Alexandru Mihail, Danny Sharron and Nicole A. Watson, for a limited 5-performance engagement, December 12 - 15, 2013 at TBG Theater (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

Due to a scheduling conflict, Hartford Stage will postpone next spring's Love and Other Fables and instead present the winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, according to Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

You loved him as the father on TV's "The Wonder Years." Now meet him in a new role: The Godfather.

Singing and dancing extravaganza based on the beloved stories of Jean Shepherd gets the eccentric tone just right in this funny and affectionate remembrance of the simple joys of Christmases past.

Red Bull Theater presents the first-ever Off Broadway revival of Loot by Joe Orton. Red Bull Artistic Director Jesse Berger directs a company that includes Rebecca Brooksher (Fay), Eric Martin Brown (Meadows), Jarlath Conroy (McLeavy), Ryan Garbayo (Dennis), Rocco Sisto (Truscott), and Nick Westrate (Hal). Loot will have scenic design by Narelle Sissons, costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti, lighting design by Scott Zielinski, and sound design by Brad Berridge.

A CHRISTMAS STORY sticks to what works...a flagpole.

The Drama League (Executive Director Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director Roger T. Danforth) presents the 30th Annual DirectorFest, a festival of one-act plays staged by the Fall Directing Fellows, Elizabeth Carlson, Alexandru Mihail, Danny Sharron and Nicole A. Watson, for a limited 5-performance engagement, December 12 - 15, 2013 at The Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

You loved him as the father on TV's 'The Wonder Years.' Now meet him in a new role: The Godfather.

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to present a special overview of the many exciting theatre-related events and entertainment available to be enjoyed over the coming weeks and months onstage and onscreen as we enter into the most wonderful time of the year and anticipate the release of Disney's newest animated movie musical FROZEN, featuring a plethora of Broadway performers and songs by the composer behind two of Broadway's biggest recent hits, AVENUE Q and THE BOOK OF MORMON, Robert Lopez.

A Christmas Story, The Musical will arrive at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on December 11, where it is set to run through December 29, 2013. The cast and creative team just met the press and you can check out photos from the special event below!

You loved him as the father on TV's "The Wonder Years." Now meet him in a new role: The Godfather.

The Drama League announced today that they will honor Golden Globe Nominee and Emmy Award winner Neil Patrick Harris at the 30th Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway, to be held on Monday evening, February 3, 2014 at the famed Pierre Hotel (2 East 61st Street). The black-tie gala, which features dozens of stars from Hollywood and Broadway in a one-night-only evening of musical selections drawn from Mr. Harris' career in theater, film and television, supports The Drama League's educational initiatives for promising young artists. Tickets are available by calling (212) 244-9494.

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical have announced the full cast for the production when it arrives at The Theater at Madison Square Garden for its December 11 - 29, 2013 engagement. Reprising their roles will be Dan Lauria (Lombardi, 'The Wonder Years,' 'Sullivan and Son') as Jean Shepherd, John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Gossip Girl') as the Old Man, Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother and Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields. Eli Tokash (Mary Poppins) will play Ralphie at certain perforances, Noah Baird as little brother Randy, and Jake Lucas (Newsies, Far From Heaven), donning the famous spectacles will take on the lead role of Ralphie.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that acclaimed avant-garde performance artist Justin Vivian Bond will star in the company's upcoming new production of Bertolt Brecht's A MAN'S A MAN as Leokadia Begbick, canteen proprietress (a role originated by Brecht's wife Helene Weigel), beginning performances Friday, January 10 at CSC (136 East 13thStreet). A MAN'S A MAN will be directed by Brian Kulick and feature a new score and new songs by Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik. Kulick and Shiek collaborated on last season's production of Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle at CSC. Tickets for A MAN'S A MAN will go on sale December 12.

Nathan Lane, Harold Prince, Angela Lansbury, Laura Osnes,Harriet Harris, Kate Burton, Kristine Nielsen, Alfred Uhry saluted actress Dana Ivey and arts patron Barbara Fleischmanat The Acting Company's Gala on last night, October 21 at Capitale. Ms. Ivey received the John Houseman Award recognizing her profound commitment to the development of American actors and a national audience for the theater. Ms. Fleischman was presented the Warburg Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic endeavor and support of the arts. BroadwyWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

According to an Equity casting notice, On the Town might be heading back to Broadway. Casting will soon take place for a developmental lab on December 8-19, with an anticipated Broadway revival in early 2014. The project will feature direction by John Rando, who also helmed a 2008 Encores production, and choreography by Josh Bergasse.

Just last week, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Meet the cast below!