Julie Taymor News

Emmy Award winning actress Jane Lynch will host this year's Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising support for the theater's artistic and outreach initiatives, honoring Hollywood legend Carol Burnett and Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos. Ms. Burnett will receive the Distinction in Theater Award and Mr. Gianopulos will be presented with the Distinction in Service Award by entertainment icon and longtime colleague Warren Beatty. The star-studded event will be co-chaired by Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Robert A. Iger and his wife, journalist Willow Bay. This irreverent evening of laughter, music and stories, which is sponsored by City National Bank, will be held tonight, June 4, 2012 at the Geffen Playhouse.

Disney Theatrical Productions and SHN announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Friday, June 8 at 7 am.Disney's THE LION KING returns to San Francisco for the first time since its triumphant 43 week run at the SHN Orpheum Theatre in 2004. THE LION KING will play an 11 week engagement at the SHN Orpheum Theatre beginning November 1 through January 13, 2013.

The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

The Cabaret at The Columbia Club presents Carol Woods: Singin' the Blues on Broadway on August 10th and 11th.

La MaMa's popular series MONDAY NIGHTS AT LA MAMA -- featuring La MaMa artists in discussions about their careers and their work at La MaMa -- will conclude on Monday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. with the Tony-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Julie Taymor at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.)

Last night, May 29, Katrina Lenk joined the cast of Broadway's SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark in the role of "Arachne". Christina Sajous, who had currently played the role of "Arachne", played her final performance on Sunday, May 27th. Reeve Carney, Patrick Page, and Rebecca Faulkenberry continue in their roles as "Peter Parker/Spider-Man", "Norman Osborn/Green Goblin", and "Mary Jane Watson" respectively. BroadwayWorld was on hand for Lenk's opening night curtain call and brings you photo coverage below!

On Sunday, May 27, Miami Heat basketball player Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union attended a performance of Disney's The Lion King at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. See a photo of the pair with Sydnee Winters (Nala) and Jelani Remi (Simba) below!

Several months ago, 8 year old Armando Bigo was shot in the Bronx while out shopping with his mother. When SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark learned that he is a big time Spidey fan they invited him to the show. After an amazing recovery, he attended on Saturday afternoon with his best friend. Check out photo sof Bigo with the cast below!

In honor of Fleet Week, Broadway's own super hero Spider-Man, welcomed real American heroes from the U.S. Armed Services to New York City, sailing into New York Harbor aboard the USS Wasp in the "Parade of Ships" earlier today. Spider-Man was given a tour of the ship by the Admiral, took photos with sailors, and gave a salute to everyone onboard for their service.

In its 15th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, recently becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 64 million people, grossed over $4.8 billion and, cumulatively, run a staggering 91 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the sixth longest running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years.

Music-Theatre Group has announced a special interview with Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, to be moderated by Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) on Thursday, June 7th at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music (450 W. 37th Street between 9th and 10th) at 7:30 p.m.

Yesterday, May 24, New Dramatists honored two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters with their 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 63rd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those who offered tributes were Emmy Award-winner Mary Tyler Moore, Peters' Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music co-star Elaine Stritch, and New Dramatists Artistic Director Todd London. Tony and Academy Award-winner Joel Grey and Peters' Tony-nominated Gypsy co-star John Dossett offered musical tributes. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below!

Broadway's SPIDER-MAN, which has now been open at the Foxwoods Theatre for almost a year, has likey seen its fair share of hopeful auditionees, all wanting to wear the blue and red suit. In the video below, check out some hilarious 'lost audition footage' of Batman auditionaing for the title role!

The Daily Beast reports that Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor is in the process of developing two new films, one an adaptation of Thomas Mann's 'Transposed Heads' and the other, an update of 'The Flying Dutcham' to be called 'Riders on the Storm'.

Music-Theatre Group presents interviews with Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal along with Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, to be moderated by Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group).

KEIGWIN + COMPANY (K+C) hosts the company's first summer intensive program, Let's Make a Dance, from today May 21 through May 25, 2012 at The Julliard School.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo just announced that the theatre will honor New York Theatre Workshop Board Chair Barbara Warner Howard and Disney Theatrical Group and its president Thomas Schumacher at its 2012 Spring Gala on Tuesday, May 22 at the Plaza Hotel.

According to the Associated Press, a stuntman from Broadway's SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK is considering suing the production over injuries suffered in 2010-11. Richard Kobak (Joshua Kobak according to cast lists for the show), claims not only that he suffered knee injuries while filling in for another cast member in 2010, but that 'a computer program controlling one of his jumps from a balcony sent him flying into a wall on April 5, 2011.'

On May 16, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark welcomed its 1,000,000th audience member. View photos of Yvelisse Fermin from Flushing, Queens with the cast below!

Music-Theatre Group previously announced special interviews with Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal as well as Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, to be moderated by Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group).