Ken Billington News

The company met the press earlier today and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big event. Check out a photo preview from the festivities below, and be sure to check back later for complete coverage!

This week, two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will play her final eight performances as Matron 'Mama' Morton in Broadway's record-breaking smash-hit musical Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.) Neuwirth, who won a 1997 Tony Award for her acclaimed portrayal of jazz-age killer Velma Kelly and returned ten years later as merry murderess Roxie Hart, concludes her history-making eight-week engagement as Matron 'Mama' Morton -- her third starring role in the production's 18-year run -- on Sunday, March 9. Beginning Monday, March 10, one of the Chicago family's most celebrated performers, stage and screen veteran Roz Ryan, returns to the role of Matron 'Mama' Morton.

In today's New York Times In Performance video, the talented star performs the number "Nowadays," which she describes as "archetypical Kander and Ebb."

Marc Agger and William Brown present Bikeman: A 9/11 Play by Thomas F. Flynn based on his acclaimed book. Directed by Michael Bush, Bikeman plays at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street and features Robert Cuccioli, Irungu Mutu, Angela Pierce, Elizabeth Ramos, and Richard Topol. For information, go to www.Bikeman911.com. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Due to popular demand, the critically acclaimed, longest running American musical in Broadway history, Chicago has added a 2pm matinee to their March 5, 2014 date at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Both the Tuesday and Wednesday evening performances have nearly sold out, therefore adding the Wednesday afternoon matinee will allow another full house to enjoy the glitz and glam of the decadent 1920's and the tale of the murderous nightclub dancer, Roxie Hart. Winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording, Chicago continues to leave audiences singing 'All That Jazz!'

Kris Jenner, star of Keeping Up With the Kardashians on E!, admitted on Sunday to friend Jonathan Cheban and her daughter Kim Kardashian that she loves the song 'All That Jazz' and has been taking singing and dancing lessons in hopes of starring on Broadway in Chicago. Check out the clip below!

On Monday, January 20, the company of Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical smash Chicago is pleased to welcome back Olivier Award nominee Brent Barrett in a new return engagement to the starring role of 'that silver-tongued Prince of the Courtroom,' Billy Flynn.

Broadway In Chicago and producers Barry and Fran Weissler have announced that John O'Hurley, award-winning actor and star of stage, TV & film, will reprise the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. CHICAGO will play the Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe) February 25 through March 2, 2014.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Bill Army, Will Brill, Laurel Casillo, Chuck Cooper, Steven Kaplan, Will LeBow, Mimi Lieber, Charlotte Maier, Andrea Martin, Deborah Offner, Matthew Saldivar, Matthew Schechter, Bob Stillman and Amy Warren will join Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub in the cast of its upcoming production of ACT ONE, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Tony-nominated composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Andy Jones (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid), Ashley Brown (the original Mary Poppins), Merle Dandridge (Tarzan, Aida), Josh Strickland (the original Tarzan), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies), and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King), will join 4,500 students and teachers representing 93 groups from 26 states and the District of Columbia at the 2014 Junior Theater Festival, it was announced today by Timothy Allen McDonald, founding Chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group. The Junior Theater Festival is being held January 17, 18 and 19 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.

CHICAGO returns to PlayhouseSquare for ONE WEEK ONLY, tonight, January 7-12, 2014 as part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series. Producers Barry and Fran Weissler announce that the suave, debonair, award-winning actor and star of stage, TV & film, John O'Hurley will return to the road to reprise the role of Billy Flynn at PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Producers Barry and Fran Weissler have announced additional casting for CHICAGO, returning to Segerstrom Hall from January 28 - February 2, 2014. Award-winning actor and star of stage, TV and film John O'Hurley will reprise the role of Billy Flynn, sharing the stage with Paige Davis as Roxie Hart, Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly, Carol Woods as Matron "Mama" Morton and Ron Orbach as Amos Hart.

The original cast recording of the George Street Playhouse's world-premiere production of the new Broadway-bound musical GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER is now available for digital download on iTunes.

Currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary Season, Second Stage Theatre closes its production of James Lapineand William Finn's new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE today, Sunday, December 15. The musical has broken box office records for Second Stage Theatre, earning the highest pre-opening advance in the company's 35-year history.

Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce that individual tickets for the Tony Award winning smash-hit CHICAGO go on-sale to the public starting today, Dec. 15, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. The show returns to its title city for a limited one-week engagement at Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe) from Feb. 25 - March 2, 2014.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, in association with Staci Levine, will present Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin and acclaimed actor/performance artist Taylor Mac in THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH, AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE, a workshop presentation with direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, and music direction by Paul Ford, for a strictly limited engagement from today, December 14 thru Tuesday, December 31. Performances of THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH, AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE will be presented at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street, NYC).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, in association with Staci Levine, will present Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin and acclaimed actor/performance artist Taylor Mac in THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH, AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE, a workshop presentation with direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, and music direction by Paul Ford, for a strictly limited engagement from Saturday, December 14 thru Tuesday, December 31. Performances of THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH, AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE will be presented at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street, NYC).

Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce that individual tickets for the Tony Award winning smash-hit CHICAGO go on-sale to the public starting this Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. The show returns to its title city for a limited one-week engagement at Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe) from Feb. 25 - March 2, 2014.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Andre Bishop) has announced that actors Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub will both be featured as the legendary writer/director Moss Hart at different stages of his life in its upcoming production of ACT ONE, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production, which will also feature a third actor who will play Mr. Hart as a young boy, is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open onThursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theater Through December 8, 2013