Laurence Olivier News

Preview performances begin tomorrow, Saturday August 24, for the new Broadway production of Shakespeare's timeless love story ROMEO AND JULIET starring international film star Orlando Bloom, making his Broadway debut opposite two-time Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad. The play's Opening Night is set for Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Deadline reports that Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman will team with Dane Judi Dench in an upcoming 90-minute adaptation of Roald Dahl's ESIO TROT for the BBC.

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present The Mountaintop written by Katori Hall, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The Mountaintop will run September 5 - October 6, 2013 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 8:00PM.

The Actors Fund, a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, is pleased to announce that the producer, cast, and management of Disney's THE LION KING have added a special performance to benefit The Fund today, August 22 at 1:00pm at The Belk Theater in Charlotte, NC. The Acting Company will donate their time and talent for this performance that will directly benefit The Actors Fund.

Today in 1983, La Cage Aux Folles opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 1761 performances. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, it is based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret. The original 1983 Broadway production received nine nominations for Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The success of the musical spawned a West End production and several international runs. The 2004 Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival, the 2008 London revival garnered the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. The 2010 Broadway revival was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. La Cage aux Folles is the only musical which has won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical twice and the only show that has won a Best Production Tony Award (Best Musical or Best Revival of a Musical) for each of its Broadway productions.

Round House Theatre launches its 2013/2014 Bethesda season with the hauntingly humorous tragicomedy The Beauty Queen of Leenane by esteemed playwright Martin McDonagh, which runs tonight, August 21 thru September 15. Director Jeremy Skidmore returns to Round House with this Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning black comedy. Opening night is Monday, August 26, 2013.

Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Christopher Plummer will star in a Center Theatre Group special event, 'A Word or Two,' written and arranged by Plummer and directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre.

The full cast for To Sir With Love, joining the previously announced Olivier Award winning actor Matthew Kelly (Florian), is Mykola Allen (Denham), Harriet Ballard (Monica), Peta Cornish (Gillian), Kerron Darby (Seales), Ansu Kabia (Ricky), Paul Kemp (Weston), Heather Nicol (Pamela) and Nicola Reynolds (Clinty) and we've got the first photos of the cast in rehearsal!

Main Street Theater opens its 39th MainStage season with Tom Stoppard's brilliant exploration of love and language, The Real Thing. With previews August 31, September 1 and 4, The Real Thing opens September 5 and runs through September 29 at Main Street Theater - Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd.

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present The Mountaintop written by Katori Hall, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The Mountaintop will run September 5 - October 6, 2013 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 8:00PM. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the stars below!

According to the Chicago Tribune, Broadway veteran Louise Pitre will lead GYPSY when it plays Chicago Shakespeare Theatre next year. Directed by Gary Griffin, the production will run at Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater, February 6- March 23.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for Cyrano de Bergerac, launching the Theater's 2013-2014 Season. CST's new production of Edmond Rostand's timeless classic, adapted and translated by Anthony Burgess, marks the return to CST of director Penny Metropulos and film and stage actor Harry Groener, the duo behind the Theater's award-winning 2011 production of The Madness of George III. Featuring some of the most romantic and witty verse written for the stage, Cyrano de Bergerac is a poignant and entertaining homage to poetry, love and panache which will run in CST's Courtyard Theater September 24 through November 10, 2013.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has today announced that The Sound of Music will extend its run by one week to Saturday 14 September 2013.

Central City Opera is bringing a spectacular production of SHOWBOAT to the Buell Theater. This week, host of 'In Focus' Eden Lane sits down with local actor Emily Pulley who plays Miss Julie. This marks her ninth season with Central City Opera. Click below to watch the interview!

The New York Times reports that NBC is in talks with FOX Television Studios to produce its upcoming four-hour miniseries on the life and times of Hillary Clinton, starring Academy Award nominee Diane Lane as the former New York senator.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) kicks off the 2013-2014 theatre season with the Tony Award-winning comedy 'ART,' by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, opening tonight and running through August 25, 2013. The cast of three features Milwaukee favorites Tom Klubertanz, Brian Mani and C. Michael Wright. 'ART' performs in the Broadway Theatre Center's Cabot Theatre in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. Check out a first look below!

Central City Opera is bringing a spectacular production of SHOWBOAT to the Buell Theater. This week, host of 'In Focus' Eden Lane sits down with local actor Ellen Kaye, who is making her debut on the Buell stage in this production. Click below to watch the interview!

Aux Dog Theatre Nob Hill presents The Regional Premiere of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, a new version by Brian Friel. Directed by Jessica Osbourne. Opens today, August 9th - September 1st, 2013. Today & Saturday's at 8pm, Sunday's at 6pm. Advanced Purchase Tickets $18/ $16 online ($22 at door). Call (505) 254-7716. Buy your tickets today at www.auxdog.com

This classic, big Broadway musical did not disappoint with its big cast, big sets, and bigger voices!