Ken Billington News

Arriving on Broadway six years after La, La, Lucille, followed-up by Yes, Yes, Yvette and inspiring Betty Comden and Adolph Green to imagine a musical named If, If, Iphigenia, No, No, Nanette is the kind of delectably frothy musical comedy confection you might not naturally associate with being the stuff of legends.  And yet, quite a bit about this high-spirited romp, now getting a lovingly stylish concert reading from Encores!, has achieved legendary status.

Big wins for 'In The Heights', Patti LuPone, Paulo Szot, South Pacific, August: Osage County, and much more!

On May 22nd, 2008 the winners of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards were announced at Sardi's Restaurant (234 W 44th Street). The Outer Critics Circle Awards are chosen by theater critics outside of the New York City area.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, the company of the hit Broadway musical 'Chicago' is pleased to welcome FOX 5 'Good Day New York' co-anchor Jodi Applegate to the cast for one performance only.

Carol Woods returns to 'Chicago' on June 2nd in the role of Matron Mama Morton.

The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards were held Sunday, May 18, 2008, in the LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. August: Osage County, Les Liasons, and South Pacific brought home big wins.

On Wednesday, May 14th the Tony Nominees met the press at the Hilton Hotel.

The nominations are out for the 2008 Tony Awards. IN THE HEIGHTS led the pack with 13 nominations, followed by SOUTH PACIFIC with 11 and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, GYPSY and PASSING STRANGE with 9. Click in to see all the nominees!

The nominations are out for the 2008 Tony Awards. IN THE HEIGHTS led the pack with 13 nominations, followed by SOUTH PACIFIC with 11, SUNDAY IN THE PARK with George at 9 and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, GYPSY and PASSING STRANGE with 7. Click in to see all the nominees!

Celebrating its 58th season of bestowing awards of excellence in the field of theater, the Outer Critics Circle, is an association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and theatre publications in America and abroad. The annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 22nd (4PM) at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant.

The smash hit West End musical 'CHICAGO' is extending its booking period by five months until 30 July 2009. Suzanne Shaw, winner of the recent ITV television series 'Dancing on Ice', will return to the West End stage to star as 'Roxie Hart' in 'CHICAGO' at the Cambridge Theatre on Monday 2 June. Alongside her, Anna Jane Casey will star as 'Velma Kelly', Terence Maynard as 'Billy Flynn', Victor McGuire as 'Amos Hart' and Sue Kelvin as 'Mama Morton'. The London production of 'CHICAGO' has just celebrated its tenth anniversary with a Charity Gala Performance, which took place on Wednesday 5 December. The smash hit West End musical 'CHICAGO' transferred from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in April 2006. The Cambridge Theatre was the London home of 'CHICAGO', when the first production of the show opened there on 10 April 1979, running for 603 performances. 'CHICAGO' became the longest running production ever to play at the Adelphi Theatre on 17 October 2005, replacing the previous record holder 'Me and My Girl', which had run for 3,303 performances. 'CHICAGO' opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 18 November 1997 to rave reviews and immediately became a sell-out hit. 'CHICAGO' won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Musical Production' as well as the 1998 Critics Circle Drama Award for 'Best Musical'. Currently playing in New York, with forthcoming productions planned in Japan, Australia and South Africa, Korea, Denmark and a US National Tour, 'CHICAGO' is produced in London by the Broadway producers Barry and Fran Weissler. 'CHICAGO', which is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Scenic design is by John Lee Beatty, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Ken Billington and sound by Rick Clarke. Musical supervision is by Rob Fisher and musical direction by Ian Townsend. 'CHICAGO' is choreographed by Ann Reinking in the style of Bob Fosse and directed by Walter Bobbie. The West End production of 'CHICAGO' is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team. Tickets for 'CHICAGO', priced from £20.00 - £52.50 (£55.00 on Saturday evenings, with a £75 VIP Package option, including interval champagne in a private room and souvenir brochure), are available from the Cambridge Theatre Box Office on 0844 412 4652. Performance times at the Cambridge Theatre are Mondays to Thursdays at 8.00pm, with Friday performances at 4.30pm and 8.00pm and Saturday performances at 3.00pm and 8.00pm. 'CHICAGO' is now booking until 30 July 2009. Visit the 'CHICAGO' website on www.chicagothemusical.co.uk

The Official Drama Desk Cocktail Reception honoring this year's Drama Desk Award Nominees was held Thursday, May at Arte Cafe.

Sunday in the Park with George is playing a limited engagement through June 29th, 2008 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street).

The Official Drama Desk Cocktail Reception honoring this year's Drama Desk Award Nominees will be held Thursday, May 1, 4 to 7 PM at Arte′ Cafe, 106 W. 73rd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, where nominees will receive their Nomination Certificates.

Energetic and talented cast can't overcome tiresome book and score in this touring production currently on stage at The Opera House in Boston

Nominations for the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club. 'A Catered Affair' led the way with 12 nominations.

SHN is pleased to announce that THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, the five-time Tony Award-winning musical within a comedy, will play the Orpheum Theatre beginning Tuesday, July 22nd through Sunday, August 17th. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE is presented as a part of the 2007-2008 Citibank Best of Broadway season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets go on sale Sunday, May 18th.

Sarah Soetaert, who played the role of 'Roxie Hart' with great success last year, will return to star in the smash hit West End musical 'CHICAGO' for a five-week season from Monday 28 April to Saturday 31 May.

On Monday, April 21st the Outer Critics Circle Nominees were announced at the Algonguin Hotel in Manhattan. The Outer Circle Awards are chosen by a group a theater critics and writers covering Broadway for publications outside of the New York City area.

Tickets to [title of show] -- the original musical about the making of an original musical that kicks off the new season on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45 St.) -- will go on-sale Monday, April 21 at 10 a.m. Already-ardent fans and certain-to-become fans of [title of show] can purchase tickets by calling Telecharge at 212 239 6200 or by going online at Telecharge.com.