Laurence Olivier News

BWW had the chance to meet with Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams, critically acclaimed actor and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh and the film's director, Simon Curtis about this behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of iconic movie star Marilyn Monroe.

Theatre on Fire opens its seventh season at the Charlestown Working Theater with the rock n' roll rhythm of MOJO.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out a sneak peek of Karimloo's performance of 'The Music of the Night' as featured in the special DVD!

Producers Lee Dean, Laurence Myers and Joey Parnes announced today that the complete cast of the Broadway premiere of End of the Rainbow, a new play with music, is in place. Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell will join two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland. Directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson, End of the Rainbow will begin performances on Monday, March 19, 2012 at the Belasco Theatre, with an opening night now set for Monday, April 2.

Noted thespian and master theatre and film director Kenneth Branagh has found himself at a career peak in 2011, excelling in both entertainment arenas with his striking, visionary blockbuster THOR being one of the year's biggest hits as well as his simply incredible portrayal of Laurence Olivier in the new film MY WEEK WITH MARILYN generating considerable Oscar buzz. Sharing his cordial and candid insights on a number of topics ranging from his beginnings in Shakespeare to his directing and acting in a string of Shakespearean stage plays and films - his iconic films of HENRY V and HAMLET among them - Branagh also illustrates his impressions of fellow acting titans such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir John Gielgud, Ralph Fiennes, Dame Judi Dench, Simon Callow and many more. Plus, he shares his deep affection for the most famous musical theatre Shakespeare adaptation of all time - the classic WEST SIDE STORY; based on ROMEO & JULIET - as well as his love of the work of Stephen Sondheim as a composer/lyricist in his own right. Plus, news on his desire to do Broadway in the future, as well as all about Branagh's new lead role in the Belfast-to-West End transfer of THE PAINKILLER - and much, much more!

After a record-breaking season opening, Lantern Theater Company continues its 18th season with the screwball romantic comedy, Private Lives from British playwright Noël Coward, directed by the Lantern's Associate Artistic Director, Kathryn MacMillan. Known for bringing a fresh perspective to classic productions, Private Lives marks the company's first Coward play, bringing the elegance and sophistication of the golden age of Hollywood to the Lantern's stage during the holiday season.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary wit ha concert featuring: Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', Barry James as ‘Monsieur Firmin', Gareth Snook as ‘Monsieur André', Liz Robertson as ‘Madame Giry' and Wynne Evans as ‘Piangi', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click below to check out Boggess and Karimloo's performance of the title song!

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING celebrated 14 years on Broadway last night, November 13th at the Minskoff Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photo coverage below!

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING celebrates 14 years on Broadway on Sunday, November 13th at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street, NYC).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's extension of its celebrated 25th Anniversary Season opening production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's Follies, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin will close today, November 13, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater. The production features a company of more than 40 actors and musicians that includes Olivier Award nominees Brent Barrett as Benjamin Stone and Caroline O'Connor as Phyllis Rogers Stone, with Robert Petkoff as Buddy Plummer, Susan Moniz as Sally Durant Plummer and Chicago musical theater favorite Hollis Resnik as Carlotta Campion.

Following acclaimed performances internationally, Theatre for a New Audience, in association with Baryshnikov Arts Center, will present the New York premiere of C.I.C.T. / Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord's Fragments from the texts by Samuel Beckett for only 29 performances at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, 450 West 37th Street.

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING celebrates 14 years on Broadway on Sunday, November 13th at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street, NYC).

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced the full cast and creative team for ART at The Pasadena Playhouse. ART, by Yasmina Reza stars Bradley Whitford, Michael O'Keefe and Roger Bart and will be directed by nine-time Emmy Award-winner David Lee. The production will perform January 24 - February 19 , with the official press opening on January 29, 2012.

Joining Robert Lindsay (Henry II) and Joanna Lumley (Eleanor of Aquitane) in Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter are Tom Bateman (Richard), Sonya Cassidy (Alais), Joseph Drake (John), Rory Fleck-Byrne (Philip) and James Norton (Geoffrey). The Lion in Winter, produced by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, runs from 5 November 2011 - 28 January 2012, with press night on 15 November 2011. Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with music by Steven Edis, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Ian William Galloway.

Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, known across the world as Ugly Betty from the hit TV series of the same name, swaps her trademark braces for fishnets for eight weeks only, when she makes her British stage debut as the alluring publicity-seeker Roxie Hart in the smash hit musical CHICAGO. Ferrera began he run last night, November 7, and you can check out photos of the star in action below!

The Actors Fund is proud to continue their 'Musical Monday' benefits - a special series of intimate concerts with some of theatre's finest performers including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Peter Gallagher, Valarie Pettiford, Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner, Sam Harris, Stephen Schwartz and Carol Channing. The Actors Fund presents a very special Musical Monday -in the historic lobby of the Pantages Theatre with TONY Award Winner Betty Buckley in 'AH MEN! The Boys of Broadway.' The concert will be held on Monday, December 5th - 8:30pm.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) is thrilled to present a world premiere by multi-Tony Award®-nominated playwright and winner of the Olivier and Helen Hayes Awards, Ken Ludwig.

Bijan Sheibani will direct Federico García Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January - 10 March 2012, with press night on 26 January at 7pm.

Darius Campbell (formerly Danesh) will return to the smash hit musical CHICAGO when it re-opens at the Garrick Theatre on Monday 7 November to reprise his role as Billy Flynn opposite Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, who will be making her British stage debut as Roxie Hart.

The OBIE Award-winning NAATCO, The National Asian American Theater Company, is kicking off their 22nd season with Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter.