Larry Gelbart News

Two decades after its London premiere, Donmar artistic director Josie Rourke revives one of the acknowledged greats of twentieth century musical theatre - and here's a sneak peek of two of its stars, Hadley Fraser and Katherine Kelly.

Today in 1989, City of Angels opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 879 performances. City of Angels is a musical comedy with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and book by Larry Gelbart. The musical weaves together two plots, the 'real' world of a writer trying to turn his book into a screenplay, and the 'reel' world of the fictional film. The musical is an homage to the film noir genre of motion pictures that rose to prominence in the 1940s. It was directed by Michael Blakemore with sets designed by Robin Wagner and costumes by Florence Klotz.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces Northlight's 40th Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Tony Award winner, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The event, which will also include a cocktail reception, raffle and auction, will be held at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, tonight, December 11, 2014 at 7:00pm.

Two decades after its London premiere, Artistic Director Josie Rourke revives one of the acknowledged greats of twentieth century musical theatre.

Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser star alongside Katherine Kelly, Tam Mutu, Peter Polycarpou and Rebecca Trehearn in CITY OF ANGELS - check out these snaps!

It features top-notched performances by some of our area's finest actors, including Glenn Gover who steals the entire show from the rest of the talented cast and gives one of the year's best performances.

Primary Stages just held their annual Gala last night, November 3, 2014 at 583 Park Avenue. The event celebrated the company's 30th anniversary and honor Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies and award-winning producer, Julian Schlossberg. The Honorary Gala Co-Chairs are Brian d'Arcy James, Laura Linney, Elaine May, and Susan Stroman. The evening featured performances and tributes by Tony nominee Nick Cordero(performing from Bullets over Broadway), Charles Busch, Judy Gold, David Ives, the creators of In Transit, Tony winner Frank Langella, Elaine May, Tony winner Billy Porter, Marlo Thomas, Rachel York, and surprise guests. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the event below!

Primary Stages has announced that their annual Gala will take place Monday, November 3, 2014 at 583 Park Avenue. The event will celebrate the company's 30th anniversary and honor Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies and award-winning producer, Julian Schlossberg.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces Northlight's 40th Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Tony Award winner, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The event, which will also include a cocktail reception, raffle and auction, will be held at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $150, and are available at 847.673.6300 or northlight.org.

?Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser, who are engaged in real life, will be playing the lead couple in CITY OF ANGELS, directed by Josie Rourke at the Donmar Warehouse this fall. Performances begin tonight, October 4, 2014.

Flat Rock Playhouse and Eblen-Kimmel Charities presents the Tony Award winning musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, from today, October 2 - October 26 at the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage. Part of its 'Season of Laughter and Love,' presented by the Cliffs Communities, the Playhouse is pleased to offer Broadway's greatest farce and one of the funniest musicals ever written, created by the legendary Stephen Sondheim and Larry Gelbart.

Flat Rock Playhouse and Eblen-Kimmel Charities presents the Tony Award winning musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, from October 2 - October 26 at the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage. Part of its 'Season of Laughter and Love,' presented by the Cliffs Communities, the Playhouse is pleased to offer Broadway's greatest farce and one of the funniest musicals ever written, created by the legendary Stephen Sondheim and Larry Gelbart.

The Off Broadway Palm Theatre presents Better Late playing now through November 1, 2014. This funny, yet touching, comedy is written by Larry Gelbart. Gelbart's other credits include the TV comedy M*A*S*H*, the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and the film Tootsie.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Tony winner James Corden will be the new host of THE LATE LATE SHOW. Corden - a multi-faceted performer, host, writer and producer with accomplishments that span television, theater, film and comedy - will take the reins of the daily late night show in 2015.While that means good news for late night television audiences, it strikes a blow to the producers of the planned Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,' in which Corden was to star.

Full casting for City of Angels at Donmar Warehouse has been announced. Joining the previously announced Samantha Barks, Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser are Katherine Kelly, Tam Mutu, Peter Polycarpou and Rebecca Trehearn.

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Katherine Kelly, Peter Polycarpou and Tam Mutu have joined cast of Donmar Warehouse's CITY OF ANGELS, helmed by Josie Rourke and beginning performances on December 5, 2014.

SecondStory Repertory has announced its MainStage Series for Season 16.

On the eve of Northlight's 40th Anniversary Season, the theatre celebrates its rich history of developing and producing new work. In the upcoming season, Northlight is producing two world premiere works (White Guy on the Bus and Shining Lives: A Musical), the second-ever productions of two plays (The Commons of Pensacola and Outside Mullingar) and a classic rarely produced in the US (The Mousetrap). In addition, Northlight has a number of new works in development through Interplay, a program that has sent 25 out of 29 scripts on to full professional productions throughout the country and developed Northlight's three best-selling plays: Better Late by Larry Gelbart and Craig Wright, The Outgoing Tide by Bruce Graham and Chapatti by Christian O'Reilly.

When I heard The Aerospace Players were going to present A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, I almost decided not to see it as I have seen it twice before and never really understood why the show was just not as funny as it ought to be. Now I know why - those other shows did not have Darrell Clark playing Pseudolus and he made all the difference! Clark's abundant physicality added so much more to the crazy humor of the show that even the silliest jokes seemed new and fresh, generating lots of laughs and when appropriate, sufficient groans.

Tonight, July 16, 2014, The Paley Center for Media will pay tribute to Sid Ceasar at 7pm.