Lauren Kennedy News

What did our critic think of THEATRE RALEIGH’S THE PROM?

Broadway, television and film star Amy Spanger will perform in Theatre Raleigh's production of 'The Prom' from Aug. 2-13.

Last month, Signature Theatre announced three pretty exciting offerings for its 2023-2024 season. What slipped a little under the radar was that it was a complete season announcement—the off-Broadway company will only be producing three shows this season. The constriction is another sign of a theater world in crisis.

Theatre Raleigh has added several new dates and performers to its new concert series featuring Tony Award winners, Broadway stars and local and regional singers.

What did our critic think of Norbert Leo Butz at Theatre Raleigh?

Theatre Raleigh will kick off its new TR in Concert series with a June 23 performance by two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz.

​​​​​​​ Theatre Raleigh will offer a playful signature cocktail for each show during its 2023 Main Stage season as part of an ongoing effort to upgrade patrons' experience at the North Raleigh professional, nonprofit theater.

Single tickets are now on sale for Theatre Raleigh's production of the Tony Award-winning musical 'Jersey Boys.'

Tickets are now on sale for a one-night-only performance by Tony Award-winning performer Beth Leavel at Theatre Raleigh at 8 p.m. Feb. 10.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 19th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Set in Chinquapin, Louisiana during the late 1980s, Steel Magnolias takes place in Truvy's beauty salon where all the ladies who are 'anybody' come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to several of her friends.

From November 4th-13th, North Carolina Theatre will be launching their 2022-23 season with a production of Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theatre, which is located inside Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Actress Kathleen Garrett is taking on the role of Ouiser Boudreaux. She has most recently appeared as Laura Bush on the Showtime series, THE FIRST LADY, as well as Netflix's Emmy nominated miniseries, INVENTING ANNA. Next, she'll be seen on NCIS: LOS ANGELES. She has countless other screen credits which includes appearing on episodes of different TV shows such as HOME IMPROVEMENT, ER, MURDER, SHE WROTE, MURPHY BROWN, THE WEST WING, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, LAW & ORDER, and many more. She's also appeared in Oscar nominated films such as 2007's AMERICAN GANGSTER directed by Ridley Soctt and 2020's THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 directed by Aaron Sorkin. I had the great pleasure of interviewing her about a lot of this and more.

​​​​​​​Theatre Raleigh announces its 2023 main stage season, including such award-winning musicals as 'Jersey Boys,' and 'The Prom' and the world premiere of N.C. playwright Allan Maule's 'The Weight of Everything We Know.'

North Carolina Theatre has announce the full cast for its first production of the 2022-23 season, Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling. Directed by Lauren Kennedy, performances run from November 4-November 13 at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

Continuing their 2022 Main Stage Season, Theatre Raleigh will present The Play That Goes Wrong, directed by Theatre Raleigh favorite Tim Seib, from September 14th through 25th.

You could still smell the new paint in the newly refurbished theater during the opening night of Theatre Raleigh’s CITY OF ANGELS. It’s fitting that director and choreographer Lauren Kennedy Brady was fulfilling a dream of bringing this production to life while also debuting the company’s new theater.

Theatre Raleigh is continuing their 2022 Main Stage Season with the well-loved musical, City of Angels. Leading this production are Adam Halpin as Stine, Adam Monley (Broadway: Tootsie, Les Misérables) as Stone and Megan McGinnis (Broadway: Little Women, Side Show, Les Misérables) as Donna/Oolie. City of Angels opens August 3rd.

Broadway performer Janine DiVita (Jagged Little Pill, If/Then) joins Patrick Oliver Jones, host of the award-winning theater podcast Why I'll Never Make It, onstage for an evening of conversation and song at The Green Room 42 on June 8. It's also a bit of a reunion for DiVita and Jones as they performed together back in 2019 for Theatre Raleigh's production of Bridges of Madison County, directed by Lauren Kennedy.