John Wilkes Booth News

At a black-tie Gala Benefit on Monday night at the Embassy of Italy, Signature Theatre feted Stephen Sondheim, the greatest living composer/lyricist of American musical theatre, with both music and a new award established in the composer's name. The theatre company, nationally known for its Sondheim productions, inaugurated the ?Sondheim Award' which will be presented annually to individuals for their career contributions in interpreting, supporting, and collaborating on Mr. Sondheim's musical works.

'LOVE SONGS' will continue to seduce New Yorkers every Saturday in March with an additional Sunday matinee concert on March 15. On Saturday, March 14th, Barbour will be joined by special guest Ryan Silverman.

'LOVE SONGS' will continue to seduce New Yorkers every Saturday in March with an additional Sunday matinee concert on March 15. On Saturday, March 14th, Barbour will be joined by special guest Ryan Silverman.

Press notes announced 'Look out America, Gilligan's Island The Musical is docking at a desert island near you and the hilarity found in America's most cherished sitcom is in full effect in this larger than life stage musical. Bringing back all those well known and beloved characters from one of the most popular television shows of all time, this lovable musical comedy is sure to please the generations of audiences that the television show first inspired'. The first stop for the tour is the Lycian Centre for the Performing Arts in Sugar Loaf, NY on February 21st and 22nd.

This year Walnut Street Theater celebrates its 200th birthday, and on February 3rd they will hold a big birthday bash. Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world. This season includes three magnificent and beloved musicals: get ready for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, OLIVER! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The Walnut also offers two spellbinding plays: A world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY and Noel Coward's classic comedy, FALLEN ANGELS. The New Year brings new theatre to the Walnut stage with the world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY (January 19 - March 7). It's the 1960's, and in order to become the big man on campus, you've got to play the game. In this fraternal society, new recruits need testing and traditions need to be upheld. This new American play celebrates the spirit of youth and the mischief that follows.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company continues its 2008-09 Season with Hell Meets Henry Halfway, conceived and created by the Pig Iron Theatre Company, with text by Adriano Shaplin, after Possessed by Polish novelist Witold Gombrowicz. The Pig Iron production, directed by Dan Rothenberg, performs February 2 to March 1, 2009, beginning with two Pay-What-You-Can performances on February 2 and 3 at 8pm. Woolly Mammoth is located at 641 D Street, NW (7th & D).

Olympia Dukakis will appear at PlayFest on January 30 & 31 as Prospera in two readings of Another Side of the Island, her new adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest.What is PlayFest? PlayFest - The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays is a ten-day theater event packed with dynamic new plays and new play programming for anyone who loves great theater!

The works of Henrik Ibsen provide unique challenges for modern theater companies. This may be because of the complexities of his characters or the difficulties of getting an appealing translation of the playwright's original Norwegian prose. Happily the Roundabout Theater has faced both of these challenges and is currently presenting a compelling production of HEDDA GABLER at their elegant American Airlines Theater. Audiences realize they are about to witness something special when they see Hildegard Bechtler's atmospheric set bathed in the subtle and effective lighting of Natasha Katz. However, it is when Michael Cerveris makes his initial entrance that the audience realizes what an exceptional evening this HEDDA GABLER will be. Playing the intellectual writer Jorgen Tesman, Cerveris eschews a dour portrayal of an academic in favor of a character who is robust and certainly in love with his new bride, Hedda, who is stunningly portrayed in this version by Mary-Louise Parker. Cerveris' personal energy is immediately sensed by the audience and throughout the performance they could be detected sitting up or leaning forward whenever he was on stage. It is a masterful performance in every way and is met point-for-point by Ms. Parker. When these two actors are together on stage, the electricity is almost palpable.

This year Walnut Street Theater celebrates its 200th birthday, and on February 3rd they will hold a big birthday bash. Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world. This season includes three magnificent and beloved musicals: get ready for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, OLIVER! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The Walnut also offers two spellbinding plays: A world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY and Noel Coward's classic comedy, FALLEN ANGELS. The New Year brings new theatre to the Walnut stage with the world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY (January 19 - March 7). It's the 1960's, and in order to become the big man on campus, you've got to play the game. In this fraternal society, new recruits need testing and traditions need to be upheld. This new American play celebrates the spirit of youth and the mischief that follows.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company continues its 2008-09 Season with Hell Meets Henry Halfway, conceived and created by the Pig Iron Theatre Company, with text by Adriano Shaplin, after Possessed by Polish novelist Witold Gombrowicz. The Pig Iron production, directed by Dan Rothenberg, performs February 2 to March 1, 2009, beginning with two Pay-What-You-Can performances on February 2 and 3 at 8pm. Woolly Mammoth is located at 641 D Street, NW (7th & D).

Olympia Dukakis will appear at PlayFest on January 30 & 31 as Prospera in two readings of Another Side of the Island, her new adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest.What is PlayFest? PlayFest - The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays is a ten-day theater event packed with dynamic new plays and new play programming for anyone who loves great theater!

Michael Cerveris' character on the FOX series 'Fringe' will be moving into the spotlight on this Tuesday's episode and be given a character name.

Wilmington Drama League Stages Sondheim's Thrilling Assassins As Season Opener

The following nominees were announced at the Annual Barrymore Awards Press Conference on August 6. Award recipients will be announced at the 2008 Barrymore Awards Ceremony on Monday, October 6.

The classic television sitcom 'The Brady Bunch' will get a musical treatment with the world premiere of A Very Brady Musical in Hollywood beginning in June at Theatre West. With the TV show's creator Sherwood Schwartz onboard as executive proudcer, son Lloyd J. Schwartz has written the new musical and is also set to direct, while sister Hope Juber has co-written the book and penned the lyrics and music with her husband Laurence Juber...

New Line Theatre has produced many musicals by composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim over its 17 years (Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion, and two revues of his songs), but they've never been performing one of his shows on his birthday -- till now! On Saturday, March 22, during the current run of Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins, New Line will throw Sondheim a 78th birthday party, complete with birthday cake for the audience.

New Line Theatre continues its seventeenth season of provocative, alternative musical theatre, with the return of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's political masterwork Assassins, running March 6-29, 2008, at the brand new Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan at Ivory, in South St. Louis City.

Terrence J. Nolan takes a bold and impressive leap with material that is both brilliant and brutal with Sondheim's 'Assassins.'

WHO: Spotlighters Theatre WHAT: Stephen Sondheim's Assassins WHEN: Through March 18; Fri, Sat at 8PM, Sun at 2PM, Thurs March 15 at 8PM HOW MUCH: $15.00, $10.00 with BWW Discount! See end of review!