Laurence Olivier News

Pick Up Performance Co(s), the artistic vehicle for Obie award-winning artists David Gordon and Ain Gordon, performs Dancing Henry Five, featuring Rockford native Karen Graham, ABT and New York City Ballet principal dancer Robert La Fosse and actress Valda Setterfield, presented by The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. Performances are Thursday-Saturday, October 13-15 at 8 p.m. at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

BroadwayWorld last reported on the status of the Bridget Jones' Diary musical, helmed by BILLY ELLIOT's Stephen Daldry and composed by British pop star Lily Allen and Greg Kurstin. The musical adaptation of the Helen Fielding novel had West End aspirations for an upcoming season. Now the Independent is reporting that Sheridan Smith will be confirmed to play the title role in the production.

Seventy six years after its movie release, Top Hat will receive its world stage premiere at the Milton Keynes Theatre on 16 August 2011 where it opens for the start of an initial 17 UK week tour prior to an anticipated West End transfer in spring 2012.

Stage and television series regular Judith Chapman portrays the fragile and mercurial movie star Vivien Leigh in the Los Angeles premiere of Rick Foster's critically acclaimed one-woman play, Vivien. Produced by The Troubadours of Daytime, Vivien will open as a limited engagement at the award-winning Rogue Machine Theatre.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will open its 2011-2012 season with Yasmina Reza's GOD OF CARNAGE.

Disney's THE LION KING has been confirmed for an exclusive four-week limited premiere engagement at Place des Arts in Montreal beginning Tuesday, August 9, with performances playing through Sunday, September 4, 2011. Opening night is set for Thursday, August 11.

ENNIO: The Living Paper Cartoon, returns to New York for the first time in over a decade. For nine performances only, September 27th - October 12th, The New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the Jonathan Reinis (two-time Tony Award-winner for Dame Edna: The Royal Tour and Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam) and Glynis Henderson (international producer of Stomp) production featuring international sensation Ennio Marchetto at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street).

As we reported on Friday, it's now confirmed, that the role of Blanche DuBois in the upcoming Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire will be played by seven-time NAACP Image award nominee, Nicole Ari Parker. This production is slated to hit the boards, Spring, 2012. Theatre TBA.

According to Black Star News, Nicole Ari Parker will star opposite Blair Underwood in the upcoming Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Emily Mann. Parker will play Blanche Du Bois in the production, which is set to open in the spring of 2012.

after having performed in over 70 cities through the world, internationally acclaimed ENNIO: The Living Paper Cartoon, returns to New York for the first time in over a decade. For nine performances only, September 27th - October 12th, The New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the Jonathan Reinis (two-time Tony Award-winner for Dame Edna: The Royal Tour and Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam) and Glynis Henderson (international producer of Stomp) production featuring international sensation Ennio Marchetto at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street). ENNIO: The Living Paper Cartoon is directed and designed by Ennio Marchetto and Sosthen Hennekam.

According to published reports, actor Richard Pearson passed away yesterday in a home for retired actors. He was 93 years old.

Splash's Musical Mondays is proud to present a very special edition of 'Curtain Call' with funny girl Lesli Margherita. On August 1st, directly following the video clip extravaganza, host Emily McNamara welcomes Lesli as she makes her 'Curtain Call' debut.

Ian Rickson's critically acclaimed production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles, will end its scheduled run at the Comedy Theatre on 20 August 2011 having recouped its investment.

With performances already selling out, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is delighted to announce two additional performances of its smash-hit Clybourne Park.

Today, 27 July 2011, a further quarter of a million tickets are released for sale for the Laurence Olivier award-winning Legally Blonde The Musical, taking bookings to 27 October 2012. Since its opening at the Savoy Theatre in December 2009, almost 600,000 patrons have now seen Jerry Mitchell's multi award-winning production.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the world premiere family musical The Adventures of Pinocchio from July 13 to August 28, 2011. Based on Carlo Collodi's classic tale of a wooden puppet who yearns to be a real boy, this original CST Family commission will turn CST's Courtyard Theater stage into a larger-than-life, European-style marionette theater. Created by multiple Drama Desk Award-nominated team Neil Bartram (music/lyrics) and Brian Hill (book), The Adventures of Pinocchio is directed by Rachel Rockwell, who returns to CST after staging last summer's world premiere CST Family musical The Emperor's New Clothes. Tickets for The Adventures of Pinocchio from July 13 to August 28, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater are $18-$25 with special discuonts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

Stage and television series regular Judith Chapman portrays the fragile and mercurial movie star Vivien Leigh in the Los Angeles premiere of Rick Foster's critically acclaimed one-woman play, Vivien. Produced by The Troubadours of Daytime, Vivien will open as a limited engagement at the award-winning Rogue Machine Theatre.

Splash's Musical Mondays is proud to present a very special edition of 'Curtain Call' with funny girl Lesli Margherita. On August 1st, directly following the video clip extravaganza, host Emily McNamara welcomes Lesli as she makes her 'Curtain Call' debut.

Susan Anton is announced to join the cast of HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl as Velma Von Tussle. The production reunites the original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur; and includes Corbin Bleu, Drew Carey, Diana DeGarmo, Mo Gaffney, Nick Jonas, Darlene Love, Tara Macri, Michael McDonald and John Stamos. Anton co-starred as Velma Von Tussle in the Las Vegas production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray, opposite Harvey Fierstein. HAIRSPRAY is at the Hollywood Bowl for three performances only, August 5, 6, and 7.

Hailed as one of the foremost stand-ups of his generation, Emmy-winning comic Eddie Izzard makes Hollywood Bowl history with Stripped to the Bowl, the first-ever solo comedy presentation at the iconic venue, after selling out Madison Square Garden in January 2010.