Laurence Olivier News

The New York Philharmonic's free Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, will return to the boroughs of New York City on July 11-17, 2012. Conductors, repertoire, and specific locations will be announced next season.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! In this speacial Tony Awards edition, relive the magical evening with highlights from the big event as well as the rest of the week! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: June 12- 17!

Westport Community Theatre's ETC Staged Reading Series continues with 'Skylight' by David Hare on Friday, June 24 at 8:00 PM

Ray Meagher, best known on television for playing Alf Stewart in the long running Australian soap Home and Away, will re join the West End cast of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical as mechanic Bob from 5 October 2011, following his hugely successful run in the show last year. With booking now open at the Palace Theatre until 7 January 2012, Meagher joins Don Gallagher (Bernadette), Richard Grieve (Tick) and Oliver Thornton (Adam) in the internationally award-winning musical at the Palace Theatre.

'A shocking, irresistibly funny masterpiece,' said the London Sunday Times. 'Lewd, rude and musically sophisticated,' stated London's Guardian newspaper. 'A hilarious satire of a slice of real-life Americana,' claims DC Theatre Scene.

Last year, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company's production of Clybourne Park launched the theatre's connectivity initiative, which aims to bring uniquely designed audiences to each production to expand and deepen the conversation engendered by the play. Events around Clybourne Park included widespread online conversation around the show- initiated by neighborhood bloggers-as well as Audience Exchanges and Mammoth Forums with DC community members.

On Friday June 24 at 8:00 PM, The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St.), Times Square's landmark concert venue, presents A Blue Note Jazz Festival Event, 'To Billie With Love A Celebration of Lady Day' by famed jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater with guest artist Chrisette Michelle, who is produced in association with Jill Newman Productions. Dee Dee Bridgewater will perform a tribute to the legendary Billie Holiday that will feature selections from Bridgewater's latest recording, 'Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee,' for which Ms. Bridgewater received the 2011 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. She will sing and scat her way to a fresh interpretation of Holiday's signature melodies, accompanied by the quartet of Edsel Gomez (Piano), Kenny Davis (Bass), Jaz Sawyer (drums) and Craig Handy (reeds). Tickets are on sale now for $50 and $45 and are available through Ticketmaster (800) 982-2787 or www, ticketmaster.com or by visiting The Town Hall Box Office between noon and 6PM (except Sundays).

Front Row Productions has announced that the world-renowned film composer and trumpet player Terence Blanchard will compose the original musical soundscape for the upcoming Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Emily Mann, starring Blair Underwood and opening in the spring of 2012.

According to Whatsonstage.com, Rupert Everett will leave the West End production of PYGMALION on AUguust 15 because of previous television commitments. Stepping into the role of Henry Higgins will be Alistair McGowan, who takes over through September 3. The production opened at the Garrick Theatre on May 25.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced full details and casting for the first ever UK & Ireland tour of the hit musical comedy SISTER ACT, which will open at the Manchester Opera House on Thursday 29 September with a Gala night for Press on Tuesday 4 October.

Today, 20 June 2011, Lee Mead joins the West End cast of the Olivier award-wining Legally Blonde The Musical to play Emmett Forrest. He joins Susan McFadden as Elle Woods, Natalie Casey as Paulette, Carley Stenson as Margot, Nicola Brazil as Serena, Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne and Peter Davison as Professor Callahan.

After last year's hugely successful run, tickets go on sale today for Damian Cruden's acclaimed production of The Railway Children which is returning to The Waterloo Station Theatre from 18 June until 4 September with press night on 28 June 2011. Award-winning designs are by Joanna Scotcher with lighting by Richard G. Jones, music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear. Casting for the 2011 production will be announced shortly. Last year's production of The Railway Children - seen by over 165,000 people at Waterloo Station - has received two 2011 Laurence Olivier Award nominations, Best Entertainment and Best Sound Design.

The Hollywood Reporter has reveals today that A Streetcar Named Desire will get a Broadway revival in the spring of 2012, directed by Emily Mann and starring The Event's Blair Underwood as Stanley Kowalski. The production will be presented on Broadway by Front Row Productions. This will be the nineth revival of the famous Tennessee Williams play, the most recent being in 2005 starring the late Natasha Richardson, Amy Ryan and John C. Reilly.

The Dayton premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, June 16 at 8 PM at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, July 10, 2011.

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.

Disney's THE LION KING continues to reign across North America with a sold-out eight-week return engagement in Toronto which concluded on Sunday, June 12. The engagement, which the Toronto Star enthused, "is back and more glorious than ever," grossed over $12 million at the box office and entertained more than 123,000 patrons during 64 performances at The Princess of Wales Theatre.

Disney's THE LION KING has been confirmed for an exclusive four-week premiere engagement at the Benjamin and Marion Schuster Performing Arts Center beginning Tuesday, June 14, with performances playing through Sunday, July 10, 2011.

The American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 13, 2011 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.

From 11 July 2011 Carley Stenson will play college sweetheart Elle Woods in the Olivier award-winning Legally Blonde The Musical. Stenson, who is currently playing Margot in the West End production, steps up to play the leading role joining Lee Mead who joins the cast later this month (20 June) to play Emmett Forrest and Natalie Casey as ditzy beautician Paulette Buonofonté. Peter Davison continues in the role of Professor Callahan as well as Nicola Brazil as Serena and Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne.

Christie Brinkley, who made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in CHICAGO earlier this year, receiving great critical acclaim, will come direct from New York to play the role in London's West End from Monday 11 July for a strictly limited four-week season, ending on Saturday 6 August. She will be joined by Amra-Faye Wright, who has been playing Velma Kelly opposite Christie on Broadway. Amra-Faye will also star in the Cambridge Theatre production from 11 July to 6 August. Jonathan Wilkes will continue in the role of Billy Flynn, James Doherty as Amos Hart, Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and R. Whitehead as Mary Sunshine, all until 27 August, when CHICAGO will leave the Cambridge Theatre.