John Ritter News

THE WIZARD OF OZ 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition will be released September 29, 2009 in Blu-Ray and DVD formats.

With Matthew Modine playing a role he is unequivocally perfect for (a fictionalized version of himself), one can imagine the casting challenge for the rest of the characters in the Geffen Playhouse's upcoming production of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas. But - barring having identical names to the characters they play - the Geffen Playhouse's cast includes a troupe of comedians befitting their satirical roles.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

With Matthew Modine playing a role he is unequivocally perfect for (a fictionalized version of himself), one can imagine the casting challenge for the rest of the characters in the Geffen Playhouse's upcoming production of Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas. But - barring having identical names to the characters they play - the Geffen Playhouse's cast includes a troupe of comedians befitting their satirical roles.

Playhouse on the Green is proud to present SISTER ROBERT ANNE'S CABARET CLASS, a 'One-Nun-sense Musical Event' by 'Nunsense' composer Dan Goggin, for 4 regular performances and one special Gala evening from Friday, July 10 through Saturday, July 17, 2009.

THE WIZARD OF OZ 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition will be released September 29, 2009 in Blu-Ray and DVD formats.

Playhouse on the Green is proud to present SISTER ROBERT ANNE'S CABARET CLASS, a 'One-Nun-sense Musical Event' by 'Nunsense' composer Dan Goggin, for 4 regular performances and one special Gala evening from Friday, July 10 through Saturday, July 17, 2009.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with the charming and eccentric one-woman play SPIT LIKE A BIG GIRL. The play will begin previews Thursday, May 14, open on Saturday, May 16 and run through Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to Cleveland. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will open at PlayhouseSquare's PalaceTheatre and play for 16 performances, March 3-15. Spring Awakening is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards? winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

After 23 years of guiding Totem Pole Playhouse into national prominence as a premiere professional summer theatre, Carl Schurr and Wil Love are stepping down at the end of the 2008 season. As Producing Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director, respectively, this theatrical duo has produced, directed and acted in well over one hundred productions since assuming their current positions in 1985. Ray Ficca, long time friend of Schurr and Love and a resident company member at the Playhouse will become the artistic director in September of this year.

Westchester Broadway Theater is Proud To Present Dan Goggin's 'MESHUGGAH-NUNS!' The Ecumenical Nunsense. February 12 - MARCH 21, 2009 Book, Music, Lyrics & Direction by Dan Goggin With the ?Nunsense' shows, the creator, Danny Goggin, has lifted the human spirit as he has made millions laugh. Meshuggah-Nuns, is the fifth variation in the popular 'Nunsense' series. For the last 26 years, the Little Sisters of Hoboken have entertained audiences in theatres around the globe, making 'Nunsense' an international household name. Meshuggah-Nuns, has The Sisters aboard the ship Golden Delicious on a 'Faiths of All Nations' cruise. Due to rough seas, the actors of the onboard musical, Fiddler On The Roof, succumb to sea sickness. Miraculously, the nuns survive the rolling waters unscathed, after Sister Julia put Dramamine in the brownies! The ship's captain, knowing of the Sisters' show-business savvy, urges them to concoct a variety show with Howard, who plays Tevye, the only actor who still has his sea legs. The four singing nuns now become an ecumenical, co-educational quintet. The show has a variety of music, with songs ranging in style from pop to country to gospel blues. Many of the jokes are delivered in the Laugh- In comedy format. There are sing-alongs, and even a puppet named Sister Mary Annette who performs a saucy Mae West number. It promises to be a laugh-filled funfest, with a mix of musical madcap, sprinkled with saintly sight gags and ubiquitous jokes. From the rousing opening number, 'Anchors Aweigh', to the hysterical, 'Say it in Yiddish', and 'Matzo Man,' to the touching, 'A Love Like This', the show will lift your spirits. It is a sweet natured celebration of Catholic and Jewish traditions.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award?-winner in years is coming to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will play a two-week engagement from February 10-22, 2009. Curtain times for the U.S. Bank Broadway Series presentation are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. There is also a weekday matinee on Thursday, February 19 at 1 p.m.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with Edward Albee's most intoxicated and haunting play, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? The play will begin previews Thursday, January 29, open on Saturday, January 31 at 7pm and run through Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to Cleveland. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will open at PlayhouseSquare's PalaceTheatre and play for 16 performances, March 3-15. Spring Awakening is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards? winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

Westchester Broadway Theater is Proud To Present Dan Goggin's 'MESHUGGAH-NUNS!' The Ecumenical Nunsense. February 12 - MARCH 21, 2009 Book, Music, Lyrics & Direction by Dan Goggin With the ?Nunsense' shows, the creator, Danny Goggin, has lifted the human spirit as he has made millions laugh. Meshuggah-Nuns, is the fifth variation in the popular 'Nunsense' series. For the last 26 years, the Little Sisters of Hoboken have entertained audiences in theatres around the globe, making 'Nunsense' an international household name. Meshuggah-Nuns, has The Sisters aboard the ship Golden Delicious on a 'Faiths of All Nations' cruise. Due to rough seas, the actors of the onboard musical, Fiddler On The Roof, succumb to sea sickness. Miraculously, the nuns survive the rolling waters unscathed, after Sister Julia put Dramamine in the brownies! The ship's captain, knowing of the Sisters' show-business savvy, urges them to concoct a variety show with Howard, who plays Tevye, the only actor who still has his sea legs. The four singing nuns now become an ecumenical, co-educational quintet. The show has a variety of music, with songs ranging in style from pop to country to gospel blues. Many of the jokes are delivered in the Laugh- In comedy format. There are sing-alongs, and even a puppet named Sister Mary Annette who performs a saucy Mae West number. It promises to be a laugh-filled funfest, with a mix of musical madcap, sprinkled with saintly sight gags and ubiquitous jokes. From the rousing opening number, 'Anchors Aweigh', to the hysterical, 'Say it in Yiddish', and 'Matzo Man,' to the touching, 'A Love Like This', the show will lift your spirits. It is a sweet natured celebration of Catholic and Jewish traditions.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award?-winner in years is coming to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will play a two-week engagement from February 10-22, 2009. Curtain times for the U.S. Bank Broadway Series presentation are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. There is also a weekday matinee on Thursday, February 19 at 1 p.m.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with Edward Albee's most intoxicated and haunting play, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? The play will begin previews Thursday, January 29, open on Saturday, January 31 at 7pm and run through Sunday, February 22, 2009 at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Soon there'll be another 'Jersey Boy' in town! The Toxic Avenger, a new musical by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) & David Bryan (Bon Jovi), with direction by John Rand0 (Urinetown), will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), it was announced today by the show's producers Jean Cheever and Tom Polum. Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th.

The Canadian Stage Company opens its 2008/09 Bluma Appel Theatre season with Frost/Nixon, the 2007 Tony Award®-nominated play by Peter Morgan, award-winning author of The Last King of Scotland and The Queen. Tony Award®-winning stage and screen veteran Len Cariou (star of the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd) plays the role of President Richard Nixon and is joined by David Storch (Canadian Stage's Lonesome West) as TV talk-show host David Frost. Three-time Dora Award-winner Ted Dykstra (Canadian Stage's Fire) directs. A co-production with Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, Frost/Nixon had its Canadian premiere September 18, 2008 in Vancouver. The production transfers to the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto October 13 to November 8, 2008.

JOHNNY BOY PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce the world premiere production of JOHNNY LAW, Courtroom Crusader, the newest solo show from Tim Ryan Meinelschmidt whose last solo show ALL THE HELP YOU NEED, The Adventures of a Hollywood Handyman was honored with the Overall Excellence Award in the 2004 NY Fringe Festival. JOHNNY LAW, directed by Christopher Fessenden, will play a limited engagement as part of the 11th annual New York International Fringe Festival-FringeNYC at The Schaeberle Studio Theatre (Venue #2, 41 Park Row at William Street). Performances begin August 9th and continue through August 22nd.