Jonathan Schwartz News

Lisa D'Amour's play Detroit premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2010, directed by Austin Pendleton, and was scheduled to open on Broadway in the 2011/12 season.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post will continue its Winter and Spring 2012 season with the return of the long-running Off-Broadway revue "OUR SINATRA: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION."

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post will continue its Winter and Spring 2012 season with the return of the long-running Off-Broadway revue "OUR SINATRA: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION."

Casting controversies, the role of reviewers and another Broadway great turning 80 were among the stories that fired up theatre chat boards and fueled cocktail conversations at Sardi's during the past twelve months. Here are ten of the big issues theatre lovers talked about in 2011.

"All in Good Time: A Celebration for Jonathan Schwartz" will be held at River to River Festival. Presented by Battery Park City Authority.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce auditions for its 2011 Summer Professional Training Programs for talented young performers ages 10 to 18.

Grammy-nominated vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson has received rapturous, career-defining coverage from some of the top journalists in America for her understated new album ‘Round Midnight. In his lengthy Associated Press CD review, Charles Gans praised the music as 'darkly beautiful and melancholic,' and added, 'Allyson is a consummate jazz singer whose harmonic feel and storytelling skills enable her to evoke the heartache and pathos of both older and more contemporary songs.'

Grammy-nominated vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson has received rapturous, career-defining coverage from some of the top journalists in America for her understated new album ‘Round Midnight. In his lengthy Associated Press CD review, Charles Gans praised the music as 'darkly beautiful and melancholic,' and added, 'Allyson is a consummate jazz singer whose harmonic feel and storytelling skills enable her to evoke the heartache and pathos of both older and more contemporary songs.'

According to an audition notice, the musical revival of CARRIE will hold a development lab at MCC from May 25, 2011 through June 7, 2011. Stafford Arima will direct, Matt Williams will choreograph, and Mary Mitchell-Campell will musical direct.

According to an audition notice, the musical revival of CARRIE will hold a development lab at MCC from May 25, 2011 through June 7, 2011. Stafford Arima will direct, Matt Williams will choreograph, and Mary Mitchell-Campell will musical direct.

BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the original version's final curtain call and the last performance of the show's 'Geeks' along with the last viewing of director Julie Taymor's vision. After the show, the cast met the press and fans at the stage door!

Following its historic matinee performance on Sunday, April 17, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark will take a brief, three-week hiatus for technical rehearsals before unveiling the new version of the mega musical on Thursday, May 12. The official opening night of the new Spider-Man is set for Tuesday, June 14th at the Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street).

Last night, April 11, Carly Simon was honored at the 8th Annual Our Time Gala. On hand to honor the star were Paul Rudd, Kelli O'Hara, Ben Taylor and more.

We've gotten word that on Sunday cast members were given a chance to give their thoughts on the new script with work by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Glen Berger and that rehearsals begin today with all of the principles for Act 1 of the new script with the first read thrus and staging taking place with Phil and the leads, while Chase Brock will simultaneously begin working on his new choreography with the ensemble.

The cast was also informed tonight that the first reading of the new script would take place Friday afternoon at 1:30 PM. We're told that no cast members have yet seen the new script, which will not be given out till 1:15 PM tomorrow before the reading takes place. It's the scheduling of Friday's reading that made the telling of the cast tonight about the Greek chorus being cut. Also to be noted, only the leads have been called at the current time, and not the ensemble.

Update: The cast was also informed tonight that the first reading of the new script would take place tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 PM. We're told that no cast members have yet seen the new script, which will not be given out till 1:15 PM tomorrow before the reading takes place. It's tomorrow's reading that made the telling of the cast tonight about the Greek chorus being cut.

There's just as much drama going on behind the scenes ofSPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark as there is on the stage. There's been news this week that Julie Taymor's deal has not yet been completed and cast member, T.V. Carpio (Arachne) suffered a whiplash injury and additional stoppages. Also, first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com this morning, it's now been officially announced that choreographer Chase Brock has joined the SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark team. The company was introduced to Brock tonight at a pre-show company meeting. Also at that meeting, they were informed that amongst the many changes that would be coming to the show in the weeks to come, the Geek Chorus who narrate much of the show now would be cut entirely from the new version of the production. The Geek Chorus was played by Gideon Glick, Jonathan Schwartz, Mat Devine, Alice Lee.