Laurence Olivier News

Disney Theatrical Productions and Broadway In Chicago announced today that the Chicago return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING has been extended for three additional weeks. Chicago's most eagerly awaited return engagement will once again leap onto the Cadillac Palace Theatre stage on Wednesday, September 29 for a limited engagement of nine weeks through Saturday, November 27, 2010.

Main Street Theater closes its 34th season with Tom Stoppard's magnum opus Arcadia. With previews May 8, 9 and 12, Arcadia opens May 13 and runs through June 6 at Main Street Theater - Rice Village, 2540 Times Blvd.

Everyman Theatre's Baltimore will close the 09/10 season with the premiere of Blackbird, Examines the Boundaries of Love, May 12 through June 13. Blackbird, a haunting, powerful drama that has left London and New York audiences breathless. The Baltimore premiere directed by Derek Goldman will star Everyman Resident Company member Megan Anderson and David Parkes in his Everyman debut. For tickets call the Everyman Theatre Box Office at 410.752.2208 or online at www.everymantheatre.org.

In only the second week of a four-week premiere engagement in Madison, WI, the North American tour of Disney's THE LION KING has already set a new box office record as being the highest grossing theatrical production to ever play the Overture Center for the Arts.

Lyric Hammersmith Artistic Director Sean Holmes directs an A THOUSAND STARS EXPLODE IN THE SKY a new play by three of the UK's finest playwrights David Eldridge, Robert Holman and Simon Stephens.

New England audiences were treated to the uncensored, uncut and as unpredictable as ever, comedian Billy Connolly in June 2007 at the American Repertory Theatre. Now he returns to Boston with his hilarious, oxygen-depriving new show BILLY CONNOLLY LIVE! for two performances only on May 6 & 7, 2010 (8pm) at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street in Boston's Theater District.

CenterStage North Theatre presents for its May 2010 Coffee and Comedy show 'Glorious!' by Peter Quilter. Set at tables of 8 with Dessert and Coffee served at intermission. Shows are Friday May 7th at 8pm, Saturday May 8th at 8pm, Sunday May 9th at 2pm, Thursday May 13th at 8pm, Friday May 14th at 8pm, Saturday May 15th at 2pm and Saturday May 15th at 8pm

New England audiences were treated to the uncensored, uncut and as unpredictable as ever, comedian Billy Connolly in June 2007 at the American Repertory Theatre. Now he returns to Boston with his hilarious, oxygen-depriving new show BILLY CONNOLLY LIVE! for two performances only on May 6 & 7, 2010 (8pm) at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street in Boston's Theater District.

Artistic Director Robert Falls announced today that the Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-winning God of Carnage, Yasmina Reza's 'savvy and deliciously caustic new comedy of urban ill-manners' (Chicago Tribune) and Broadway sensation, will take place at Goodman Theatre starting March 5, 2011.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2009-10 season with famed British theater maker Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious rumination on love and marriage, Round and Round the Garden, directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical, The Wedding Singer on Broadway; Urinetown, Rich and Famous at A.C.T.).

Emily Bronte's gothic novel, 'Wuthering Heights,' adapted to a romantic musical by Paul Dick, will be presented June 11 to 27, 2010 by Passajj Productions at The Mint Theatre, 311 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, directed by Matt Gutschick. The show, titled 'Wuthering Heights, a Romantic Musical,' is a signature piece, of sorts, for author/composer Paul Dick, who has penned over 15 Off-off Broadway tuners between the 60's and now.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is mourning the loss of their dear friend and artist Ms. Lynn Redgrave. Ms. Redgrave appeared on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage in The Importance of Being Earnest in early 2009 and has remained close with the Millburn theater until her passing. Ms. Redgrave is to be honored at Paper Mill Playhouse's Gala Event on Wednesday, May 12th at The Hilton Short Hills.

Ariel Dorfman, Kerry Kennedy, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting for the one-night-only benefit reading of Ariel Dorfman's play SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER: Voices From Beyond The Dark, adapted from Kerry Kennedy's book of the same name, on Monday, May 3 at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the reading will benefit the relief efforts of Habitat for Humanity in Chile.

PlayhouseSquare and Baldwin-Wallace College will end the American premiere of Chess - The London Stage Version at PlayhouseSquare's 14th Street Theatre May 2.

This May a treat awaits for children, their families and friends - a fascinating dance show from France presented by La BaZooKa - MonStreS. This unique show was co-programmed by The Ark and Dublin Dance Festival and will be presented at The Ark for 3 days only (public and schools performances) from May 13th - 15th.

So far this season, Susan Graham has triumphed in Berlioz's Damnation de Faust at Lyric Opera of Chicago, in Strauss's Rosenkavalier at New York's Metropolitan Opera, in Mahler's Rückert-Lieder with the San Francisco Symphony, and in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas on a West Coast tour.

PlayhouseSquare and Baldwin-Wallace College will partner to present the American premiere of Chess - The London Stage Version at PlayhouseSquare's 14th Street Theatre April 30 - May 2.

The cast of UNCHAIN MY HEART, The Ray Charles Musical, will be lead by Brandon Victor Dixon (2010 Lortel, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle nominee for The Scottsboro Boys, 2006 Tony nominee for The Color Purple) starring as 'Ray Charles' and Nikki Renée Daniels (Promises, Promises, Nine) as 'Della'.

Nine of the most respected actors in America, representing nine of the nation's premier regional theatres, have just been selected for the prestigious Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, a widely acclaimed national program to serve regional theatre actors and the future of American theatre.

Olivier-winner Leanne Jones will be starring in a new production of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick...BOOM! at the Union Theatre in Southwark starting May 19. Jones, who originated the role of Tracy Turnblad in the West End premiere of Hairspray, will play Susan.