Julie Taymor News

Today, we continue our series of interviews with the recipients of this year's Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre with popular and critically-praised playwright and director Alan Ayckbourn, recently on Broadway with THE NORMAN CONQUESTS as well as many others over the last forty years.

The New York Times is repoting that Jennifer Damiano who just announced her July 18th departure from NEXT TO NORMAL has already found her next role - love interest Mary Jane Watson, in the upcoming SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark which is said to be on track for a late 2010 opening.

Broadway's landmark musical event THE LION KING is pleased to welcome to the company beginning Tuesday, June 15: GARETH SAXE as the evil and power-hungry lion Scar; ALTON FITZGERALD WHITE as Mufasa, the great lion warrior and ruler of the Pridelands; CAMERON POW as the prim and proper hornbilled bird Zazu; BEN JEFFREY as the carefree warthog Pumbaa; FRED BERMAN as the wisecracking meerkat Timon; and CHAUNTEÉ SCHULER as the loyal lioness Nala.

YoungArts, the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, is pleased to announce that famed dancer/choreographer Desmond Richardson has joined its Board of Trustees. Richardson will be one of two YoungArts Alumni representatives on the Board.

After almost a decade of traveling the country (to go along with countless international productions as well as a recently planted sit-down production in Las Vegas), the National Touring company of DISNEY'S THE LION KING returns to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a strictly-limited three-week run through June 13, to dazzle a new generation of wide-eyed audiences, offering the chance for many to relive one of the most celebrated, most creatively-staged musicals to ever grace the Broadway stage. There is no denying the awe-inspiring wonder this show elicits out of its rapt audience; even after years of seeing the show's last visit to the O.C. (as well as the three-year sit-down production that christened the newly-refurbished Pantages Theatre in Hollywood back in 2000), the show surprisingly holds up well with age, especially when you consider what other shows have followed in its wake.

Today, we are talking to three members of the NYPD - Officer Bekim Kalicovic, Sergeant Andrew Lopez and Detective Martin Speechley - who work in the theatre district and whose precinct will be receiving a Special Tony Award this season for their stupendous work protecting and serving the theatre community.

L.A.-based rock band Carney set out on tour this summer in support of their eagerly awaited debut album Mr. Green Vol. 1 out May 11th on DAS Label/Interscope. Carney also headlined a special album release show on May 15th at LA's El Rey Theatre before embarking on a cross-country tour supporting UK songsmiths, Athlete, kicking off May 31st at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ.

The Orange County return of DISNEY'S THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, June 13.

Actor Tyler Murree seems to have a knack for landing roles in costume-heavy shows. Whether Shakespearean or Tolkien-esque, the Toronto-trained thespian likes disappearing into each and every role he takes on. His past shows have included the world premiere production of The Lord of the Rings: The Musical, the North American premiere of Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, and even the all-pantomime production of Aladdin: the Magical Family Musical. In 2005 he originated the role of charming villain Franco DiFortunato in Disney's Twice Charmed: An Original Twist On The Cinderella Story. Currently he stars as the hilarious Timon the Meerkat in the North American touring company of Disney's Tony® Award-winning stage musical THE LION KING, performing for a three-week engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center from May 26 through June 13. While on break from the tour in Calgary, Murree spoke with Broadway World's Michael Lawrence Quintos about playing the world's most famous meerkat.

Disney's THE LION KING set new box office records in Madison during each week of its four-week premiere engagement which concluded on Sunday, May 23. THE LION KING is the highest grossing theatrical production to ever play Overture Center for the Arts where it grossed over $4.8 million and entertained more than 68,000 people.

Parsons Dance, praised around the world for its virtuosity, exceptional theatricality, athleticism, energy and accessibility, seeks a male dancer and a female dancer. Auditions will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2010 from 1-6pm at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street, NYC. Appointments are required for the audition and dancers must bring headshots and resumes.

Sonnet Repertory Theatre and Matchbook Productions will end its run of Richard II at The Tank on May 24, bringing an uncommon aspect to this classic: flight. Re-imagined as a tale told by Nineteenth Century artists railing against Imperialism, eight actors, four low-flying trapezes and live music combine to raise the language of Shakespeare to new heights.

In the center of the New York City Theater District, acclaimed Broadway set designer Christine Jones publicly debuts 'Theatre for One', a four foot by nine foot portable theater with one performer playing to one audience member. The uniquely intimate theatrical experience will be available to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis which will end its showing May 23, 2010 in Times Square.

Disney Theatrical Productions is delighted to announce the return of DISNEY'S THE LION KING to Toronto. The multi-award-winning, record-breaking musical comes back to the city where it had its Canadian premiere in April 2000 and played 1,560 performances (closing in January 2004).

The upcoming SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark musical was scheduled to begin previews on February 25, 2010. Financial troubles and a makeover of the producing team has delayed the opening to an undetermined date next season. Auditions for the role of Mary Jane Watson (formerly held by Evan Rachel Wood) and for the ensemble were held in April. The production's home will remain at the Hilton Theatre.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and one of the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, honored two-time Tony Award winner Julie Taymor with their 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 61st Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Tuesday, May 18th at the New York Marriott Marquis. Ms. Taymor's award was presented to her by Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren, who stars in Taymor's soon-to-be-released film adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatricals served as the Luncheon Chair. Disney Theatricals and Robert Boyett were the benefactors for New Dramatists 61st Annual Spring Luncheon.

L.A.-based rock band Carney set out on tour this summer in support of their eagerly awaited debut album Mr. Green Vol. 1 out May 11th on DAS Label/Interscope. Carney also headlined a special album release show on May 15th at LA's El Rey Theatre before embarking on a cross-country tour supporting UK songsmiths, Athlete, kicking off May 31st at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ.

RIALTO_CHATTER_Patrick_Page_to_Take_Over_Green_Goblin_in_SPIDERMAN_20010101 Today, Julie Taymor was honored by New Dramatists for a Lifetime of Acheivement at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in Times Square. A topic the director couldn't avoid, according to the New York Times: the status of the upcoming SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark musical, which has experienced significant delays and cast changes due to a large finaincial fall out last fall.

NEW DRAMATISTS, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, proudly announces that two-time Tony Award winner Julie Taymor will be honored with their 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 61st Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Tuesday, May 18th at the New York Marriott Marquis.

In the center of the New York City Theater District, acclaimed Broadway set designer Christine Jones publicly debuts 'Theatre for One', a four foot by nine foot portable theater with one performer playing to one audience member. The uniquely intimate theatrical experience will be available to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis between May 14 and 23, 2010 in Times Square.