John Ritter News

From November 21st-24th, Judson Theatre Company will be presenting a production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution at the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center. I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing actor Alan Campbell, who will be starring in the role of Sir Wilford Robarts.

BroadwayHD is heading into November with a stellar lineup, lead by knock-out performances of theater classics. The all-female production of Donmar Warehouse's Julius Caesar makes its way to the platform on November 7, giving subscribers a stunning twist on a classic play. Dan Goggin's internationally acclaimed musical anthology series, Nunsense and its 6 sequels will be making its exclusive digital streaming premiere on BroadwayHD beginning November 14. Just in time for the 20th Anniversary of its debut on Broadway, Putting It Together starring Tony and Emmy Award winners Carol Burnett and George Hearn as well as Emmy Award nominee Bronson Pinchot brings a heavy dose of humor to the library on November 21. In addition to all of this, the holidays arrive early when beautiful productions of A Christmas Carol, MeshugaNutcracker! and The Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker debut on BroadwayHD on November 26.

At age 18, Dorothy Stratten left her job at a Dairy Queen and moved to Hollywood, soon becoming famous as the 1980 Playboy ”Playmate of the Year.” In Los Angeles, Dorothy captivated the attention of legendary Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, who had big plans for her in the Playboy empire, and powerful movie director Peter Bogdanovich, who cast her in a breakthrough role in his film “They All Laughed,” alongside iconic actors Audrey Hepburn, John Ritter and Ben Gazzara. But Paul Snider, who discovered Dorothy at the Dairy Queen and married her after they moved to Hollywood, grappled with jealousy and anger when she filed for divorce, viewing her as his ticket to success. Dorothy's modeling and acting career came to a tragic end when Paul shot and killed her before he died by suicide. Now, almost 40 years after Dorothy's death, a two-hour “20/20” takes a look at her life and career through the eyes of those who knew her best and explores what drove Paul to murder. “20/20” airs Friday, Oct. 18 (9:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC.

With college theatre program auditions just around the corner, we're highlighting some of the most prestigious theatre programs from all across the country. Today we're chatting with faculty from the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts about how their program is adaptable to changing trends and how it pairs professional training with a traditional college experience. Check out info on the school and answers about their program!

Judson Theatre Company has announced that Tony Award nominee Alan Campbell will headline their November production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution. Performances begin Thursday, November 21 and run through Sunday, November 24, 2019 at Owens Auditorium at the newly renovated Bradshaw Performing Arts Center (3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374).

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 21st 'Coming of Age' season with the World Premiere of WOMEN BEYOND BORDERS, a play inspired by and loosely based on the remarkable journey of Lorraine Serena and a dynamic group of California-based artists who founded the non-profit Women Beyond Borders (WBB).

Asolo Rep continues its celebration of 60 years on stage with Tony Award-winner Michael Frayn's rip-roaringly hilarious play NOISES OFF, one of the most celebrated farces of all time. Directed by comedic Broadway veteran Don Stephenson, NOISES OFF previews March 20 and 21, opens March 22 and runs through April 20 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has brought together an extraordinary group of artists to helm the five exciting productions planned this season: an All-American classic, a heart-warming musical tale, an electric dance-filled tuner, an extraordinary true story, and an inspirational journey that's sure to inspire. Single tickets for all five shows set for Goodspeed's 2019 season go on public sale this Sunday, February 17 at 10:00 a.m..

Ever since WAITRESS first premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2015 and soon after on Broadway in 2016, audiences have fled to see this wonderful show. The original movie opened in 2007 and was written by the late Adrienne Shelly. It became widely successful and soon after a creative team was assembled in 2013. Sara Bareilles was a star in her own right by this time and she is responsible for the wonderful music and lyrics of this well-done musical. With Jesse Nelson writing the book, she wrote the story using unfinished scripts by Adrienne Shelly to bring Ms. Shelly's voice into the project.

Rubicon Theatre Producing Artistic Director KARYL LYNN BURNS today announced programming for the company's JANET AND MARK L. GOLDENSON 2018-2019 Broadway Concert Series. According to Burns, the series offers an opportunity for audiences to enjoy the talents and personal stories and insights of some of the best and brightest concert and cabaret stars of the West End, Broadway and the West Coast.

North Dakota native, Joe Schmidt, has released an inspirational single titled “Audience Of One.” The tune reflects a moving inspirational vibe combined with meaningful lyrics, which references who we are all really performing for in this life, God. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the AO1 Foundation, which was founded in 2017 by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Carson Wentz, with a mission to uplift those in need. The song is available onAmazon, iTunes, Google Play and Spotify. The accompanying lyric video has surpassed 100k video views can be viewed here.

BroadwayWorld is sad to report that legendary playwright Neil Simon has died at 91. 

Reelz Announces Fall 2018 Slate with New Series, New Specials and New Episodes of Returning Series

'You're never going to see yourself onstage unless you write for yourself.' That's what Becca Blackwell was told by their friend, Michelle Matlock, who had written THE MAMMY PROJECT as a solo show for herself. That idea, coupled with encouragement from Blackwell's partner and 'prolific' fellow artist, Erin Markey, led Blackwell to write THEY, THEMSELF AND SCHMERM.

Dennis Grimaldi will present Tony®Award-winner Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd) in two staged readings ofHarry Townsend's Last Stand, a new play by George Eastman.  Directed by two-time Emmy®Award-winner Peter Scolari (Wicked) and featuring Warren Bub ('Gotham'), the readings will be held on Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22 at 3pm at Nola Studios (250 West 54th Street - 10th Floor/Studio 1).

Casting has been announced for the World Premiere of THE BABY DANCE: MIXED, a new adaptation by Emmy Award-winner JANE ANDERSON ("Olive Kitteridge") of her acclaimed 2004 play The Baby Dance. A drama delicately laced with comic overtones, THE BABY DANCE: MIXED is a compelling and urgent play about race, class, and wanting the perfect child. In the story, Regina and Richard, an affluent mixed-race couple in Los Angeles, have everything except a baby. Wanda and Al, an African-American couple living in an overcrowded trailer in modern-day Louisiana, are too poor to keep their soon-to-be-born child. Through an adoption attorney, the two couples broker a deal. However, circumstances arise that affect their decision and the situation spins out of control. The Wall Street Journal described The Baby Dance as "filled with emotional power and nimble humor." The L.A. Times called it "a stunner…funny as well as perceptive."

SHARE Inc. announced today that their annual Boomtown Gala will be headlined by The Righteous Brothers with additional performances by Martha and the Vandellas, Louis Van Amstel of "Dancing with the Stars" and the SHARE ladies. This year's honoree is Loreen Arbus, President of The Loreen Arbus Foundation and disability rights activist, philanthropist, producer, writer and author. The event's MC, a SHARE legacy, will be Natalie Lander (ABC's The Middle) - the daughter of famed actors David Lander and Kathy Fields and granddaughter of Hollywood agent Freddie Fields and actress Polly Bergen. The event will be held on May 20th 2018 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.  

Casting has been announced for the World Premiere of THE BABY DANCE: MIXED, a new adaptation by Emmy Award-winner JANE ANDERSON ('Olive Kitteridge') of her acclaimed 2004 play The Baby Dance. A drama delicately laced with comic overtones, THE BABY DANCE: MIXED is a compelling and urgent play about race, class, and wanting the perfect child.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 209th season with Michael Frayn's classic backstage comedy, NOISES OFF. Directed by Frank Anzalone, this production begins previews on March 13th, opens on March 21st, and runs through April 29th on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Singer/songwriter duo Sylvie Davidson and Trevor Wheetman first met each other while performing in Lonesome Traveler at Rubicon Theatre. Seven years later they return to the stage, married, and with a brand new album to celebrate. Join them for an evening of love and laughter as they share the stories and songs of their lives together.