Lauren Helpern News

Lost in Yonkers Finds Standing Ovation at Hartford Stage Opening Night Hartford Stage presents Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Lost in Yonkers, featuring four-time Academy Award-nominated, two-time Golden Globe Award winner, Emmy Award-nominated actor and director Marsha Mason (co-director and performing as Grandma Kurnitz), running April 7 - May 1, 2022.

MAY WE ALL save the date for Summer 2022, as Brian Kelley and his production company CuzBro Productions, in partnership with Lively McCabe Entertainment (Executive Producer Michael Barra), welcome the highly-anticipated Country musical to Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in Nashville.

Today (November 27) in live streaming: pets takeover at Stars in the House, Lea Salonga in concert, and so much more!

Playhouse on the Square, in partnership with super sponsor Dr. Thomas Ratliff has collaborated with producers Lively McCabe Entertainment, music giants BMG, as well as Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and his CuzBro Productions, to produce a new musical celebrating the genre of country music and capturing the American spirit.

Playhouse on the Square, in partnership with super sponsor Dr. Thomas Ratliff has collaborated with producers Lively McCabe Entertainment, music giants BMG, as well as Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and his CuzBro Productions, to produce a new musical celebrating the genre of country music and capturing the American spirit.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand, which recently extended its limited run through April 5th due to enormous response from critics and audience alike welcomed some stars for a backstage visit! Check out photos below!

Harry Townsend's Last Stand a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss and What I Wore; Handle With Care), has extended its limited run through April 5th due to enormous response from critics and audience alike, it was announced today by producerDennis Grimaldi (A Gentlemen's Guide...; Love Letters, Angels in America, Other People's Money). This is the final extension and the play must close on that date.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand (www.HarryTownsendsLastStand.com) a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss and What I Wore; Handle With Care), just opened at New York City Center Stage II (131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) and is produced by Dennis Grimaldi (A Gentlemen's Guide...; Love Letters, Angels in America, Other People's Money). Starring Three time Tony® Award Nominee and Tony® Award winner, Len Cariou (title role in Sweeney Todd; A Little Night Music with Glynis Johns and Hermione Gingold; Applause starring Lauren Bacall; 'Blue Bloods') and Craig Bierko (Tony® Award and Drama Desk Award nominee, Music Man; 'The Long Kiss Goodnight, 'UnREAL,' 'Blue Bloods').

Harry Townsend's Last Stand (www.HarryTownsendsLastStand.com) a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss and What I Wore; Handle With Care), is currently playing at New York City Center Stage II (131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) and is produced  by Dennis Grimaldi (A Gentlemen's Guide...; Love Letters, Angels in America, Other People's Money). Starring Three time Tony® Award Nominee and Tony® Award winner, Len Cariou  (title role in Sweeney Todd; A Little Night Music with Glynis Johns and Hermione Gingold; Applause starring Lauren Bacall; 'Blue Bloods') and Craig Bierko (Tony® Award  and Drama Desk Award nominee, Music Man; 'The Long Kiss Goodnight, 'UnREAL,' 'Blue Bloods'), Harry Townsend's Last Stand opens Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 4.

'We're going to bond, Alan, and that means you have to pay attention to everything I say,' the title character of George Eastman's HARRY TOWNSEND'S LAST STAND informs his son a minute or so into the proceedings.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand (www.HarryTownsendsLastStand.com) a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss and What I Wore; Handle With Care), is currently playing at New York City Center Stage II (131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) and is produced  by Dennis Grimaldi (A Gentlemen's Guide...; Love Letters, Angels in America, Other People's Money). Starring Three time Tony® Award Nominee and Tony® Award winner, Len Cariou  (title role in Sweeney Todd; A Little Night Music with Glynis Johns and Hermione Gingold; Applause starring Lauren Bacall; 'Blue Bloods') and Craig Bierko (Tony® Award  and Drama Desk Award nominee, Music Man; 'The Long Kiss Goodnight, 'UnREAL,' 'Blue Bloods'), Harry Townsend's Last Stand opens on Wednesday, December 4.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand (www.HarryTownsendsLastStand.com) a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss and What I Wore; Handle With Care), will premiere at New York City Center Stage II (131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) it was announced today by Dennis Grimaldi (A Gentlemen's Guide…; Love Letters, Angels in America, Other People's Money). Starring Three time Tony® Award Nominee and Tony® Award winner, Len Cariou  (title role in Sweeney Todd; A Little Night Music with Glynis Johns and Hermione Gingold ; Applause starring Lauren Bacall; “Blue Bloods”) and Craig Bierko (Tony® Award  and Drama Desk Award nominee, Music Man; “The Long Kiss Goodnight, “UnREAL,” “Blue Bloods”), Harry Townsend's Last Stand begins a strictly limited engagement on November 18th  with opening night set for December 4th.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter will premiere at New York City Center Stage II.

For playwright Adam Bock's endearing new gay romantic comedy THE CANADIANS---now having its infectiously giddy World Premiere production at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through October 20, 2019---the typical blueprint for the usual girl-meets-boy trope gets a fresh, heady spin and an inspired recast that elevates it higher that your average rom com. Sweet and endearing without having to be too sanitized for a mainstream audience, the play, overall, is simply a winning play that both straight and queer audiences can equally cheer for. Don't be surprised if even you shed a tear or two for its touching, absolutely satisfying climax.

It won't be the novelty of these plays that will continue to draw us to Wilson's compelling portraits of the Hill District in Pittsburgh; it will be his indelibly drawn characters given new life by artists putting their own personal stamp on his work. August Wilson is meant to be savored live; he can't be contained in a damned DVD box. And with local heroes like Craig Wallace and Erika Rose as the headliners, it's not to be missed.

I had the following to say about playwright Joshua Harmon' s play Bad Jews: 'Excessively harsh reality is at the core of most contemporary dramedies. A character cannot be rude or abrasive enough to arouse a viewer's attention or glean laughs. It's particularly characteristic of the irritating females who talk too fast, too loud and scream their shrewish lungs out. It makes me happy that I live alone; and yes, I do care and respect others and their feelings; but, being pleasant nowadays is considered boring and in drama, it will never win awards, so on with the show. ' Harmon's current play Skintight is receiving its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse and star Idina Menzel's character Jodi is another shrewish female, selfish and most definitely in need of a lesson or two about how to treat others. The play has already been extended through October 12. It boasts a dynamic six person cast and is worth your time.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter will premiere at New York City Center Stage II.

Today, South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei announced the 13 creative dream teams for the 2019-20 season, the first programmed by Ivers. The roughly 100 individuals are among the theatre industry's finest, most creative and versatile talents.

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.