Kramer News

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, July 10, 2011 - Sunday, July 10, 2011.

The Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play The Normal Heart will play the final performance of its limited, 12-week engagement this Sunday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m., as scheduled. Produced by Daryl Roth and directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, The Normal Heart began performances on Tuesday, April 19 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street) and opened to rave reviews on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT has just debuted a brand new TV commercial, featuring a voice-over by the show's producer, Bette Midler. The ad focuses on three best friends on a road trip of a lifetime, one searching for fame, one for love and one for home. To view the new spot, click below.

On Wednesday July 6 Kritzerland at the Gardenia presented a salute to the lesser known music of Kander and Ebb - The Kander and Ebb Album - two of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. Think Chicago or Cabaret, and you need go no further. These two wildly popular shows still receive international mountings and provide us with some of the greatest Broadway pop tunes ever. Ahead of their time, Kander and Ebb produced shows with a substantially dark and biting edge not found in other composers' music and lyrics. Bruce Kimmel, whose Kritzerland recording company continues to enjoy enormous success worldwide, again served as narrator of the evening telling short, funny anecdotes about his encounters with John Kander and also detailing Kander and Ebb's failures as well as successes. Liza Minnelli's Broadway career soared because of K & E - it started with Flora the Red Menace in the 60s and continued through the next couple of decades with hits and flops such as The Rink and 1977's The Act, which began in LA as Shine It On. K & E certainly didn't fare too badly either with Liza's name on their bill. Think of what she did for the movie Cabaret with her Academy Award winning turn as Sally. However, such was not the case with their film New York, New York which received some pretty scathing reviews in the late 70s; the pair were none too pleased that a small musical The First Nudie Musical (Bruce Kimmel)fared far better than their multi-billion dollar disaster. It's always such fun for theatre lovers to hear about the down side of the business, and particularly via Kimmel's straight-forward, droll take on it.

Priscilla Queen Of The DeserT, presented on Broadway by 'The Divine Miss M,' producer Bette Midler, will perform on the first live premiere results show of season 6 of NBC's hit summer talent competition series 'America's Got Talent.' Tony-nominee Will Swenson will lead the cast in a diva-tastic medley of some of Priscilla's most popular songs - 'Finally,' 'Shake Your Groove Thing,' and 'MacArthur Park' - featuring the show's trademark 2011 Tony-winning costumes designed by Oscar and Tony-winning designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT's Oscar and Tony Award® winning costume designer Lizzy Gardiner gives MORE Magazine a special look backstage at the Tony-winning hit Broadway musical, sharing the inspiration behind her and partner Tim Chappel's internationally-acclaimed costume designs and offering some personal fashion advice. Click below to watch the video!

Three men labor five days to fashion a screenplay that will be the most successful and beloved films of all time.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: June 18- 24!

Lieutenant Dan Choi, the war veteran who was discharged from the Army under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' was welcomed at The Normal Heart last night by Normal Heart playwright Larry Kramer and New York State Senator Tom Duane, who was Senate sponsor of the recently passed New York Marriage Equality bill. Also on hand in the audience to show support was stage and screen favorite, Hugh Jackman. Lt. Choi, in his full military uniform, joined Larry Kramer to hand out 'Please Know' letters from the playwright to audience members immediately following the 7:00 PM performance.

Broadway's Tony Award winning hit musical PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT showed their true colors with a 'journey to the heart of fabulous' on a Priscilla bus float at this Sunday's Pride parade. Catch an inside look at the bus' trip through Manhatten by clicking below!

On Wednesday, June 29th The NewFilmmakers NY Series screens at Anthology Film Archives on the Lower East Side at 32 Second Avenue & 2nd Street.

Broadway?s biggest show SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark officially opens Tuesday, June 14th at the Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). The show features creative consultation by Philip William McKinley (The Boy From Oz), original direction by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor (The Lion King, Across The Universe, Frida), music and lyrics by 22- time Grammy Award-winners Bono and The Edge, and book co-written by Taymor, Glen Berger (Underneath The Lintel) and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Fantastic Four and Spider-Man comics, 'Big Love').

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) today announced the addition of nine new community volunteers and business leaders to its Board of Governors.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT's Oscar and Tony Award winning costume designer Lizzy Gardiner is featured with an AOL 'You've Got...' video feature, sharing the inspiration behind her and partner Tim Chappel's acclaimed costume designs for the new hit musical. Click below to check it out!

Crown Center announces their Schedule of Events for July 2011- August 2012

Broadway's hit musical comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY welcomes stage and screen star Brooke Shields in the role of Morticia beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, June 28 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as Gomez. Shields is replacing Bebe Neuwirth, who originated the role. Click below for the new ADDAMS FAMILY commercial featuring Shields!

Broadway's hit musical comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY welcomes stage and screen star Brooke Shields in the role of Morticia beginning Tuesday, June 28 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). Two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will play her final performance in the role on Sunday, June 26. Ms. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as Gomez.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director, Joey Parnes) is proud to announce that acclaimed playwright Kristoffer Diaz will be the first recipient of The Gail Merrifield Papp Fellowship. The Fellowship, announced at The Public Theater's Gala on Monday night which honored Gail Merrifield Papp for her lifelong service and dedication to The Public Theater, was created to support a playwright every season.

Dallas Theater Center is pleased to announce it is commissioning two new works from playwright Kristoffer Diaz in collaboration with The Public Theater.

Broadway's Tony Award winning hit musical PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT is showing her true colors to celebrate this year's Gay Pride festivities with a series of appearances throughout the city leading up to its 'journey to the heart of fabulous' on a Priscilla bus float at this Sunday's parade.