Laurence Olivier News

Abbey Theatre brings ‘back by popular demand' hit show ‘The Seafarer' for Christmas run 9 December 2009 - 30 January 2010

The New York Times has named its standout newcomers to the London theatre scene in 2009. London is well-known for its excellent revivals that often make their way to Broadway. This year, however, several notable new productions made a splash on the London theatre circuit. The list includes Jez Butterworth 'Jerusalem,' Polly Stenham's 'Tusk Tusk,' Alia Bano's 'Shades,' Alan Bennett's 'The Habit of Art,' and more.

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING, has broken its own Mandalay Bay Theater box office record with a gross of $1,314,161 during the eight-performance week of December 21-27, 2009. The previous Mandalay Bay Theater record held by THE LION KING was a gross of $1,200,128 (set week ending July 26, 2009).

Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING, has set a new box office record at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre by grossing $1,714,566 during the eight-performance Christmas holiday week of December 21-27, 2009.

Michael Riedel is reporting in today's New York Post that Brian Dennehy might be headed back to Broadway in a double bill of Eugene O'Neill's Hughie and Krapp's Last Tape, which is set to run at the Goodman's Albert Theatre in Chicago from January 16 - February 21, 2010.

Kathleen Battle, one of the greatest coloratura sopranos of our time, will perform in recital at Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium, Perelman Stage) on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 8 p.m. Presented by Columbia Artists Management, Ms. Battle will be joined by Olga Kern, Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy has thrilled Chicago audiences in unforgettable productions over the past two decades—Desire Under the Elms, Long Day's Journey into Night, The Iceman Cometh and Death of a Salesman; now, his portrayal of contrasting roles in the double-bill of Hughie by Eugene O'Neill and Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett is 'sheer theatrical dynamite' (Toronto Star).

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) continues the 2009/10 Family Series with Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors, a family-friendly 75-minute abridged production of Shakespeare's madcap comedy, directed and adapted by David H. Bell. CST's Short Shakespeare! program is designed for parents, grandparents, teachers or anyone with children in their lives to introduce young people to the timeless works of Shakespeare and the magic of live theater.

On Saturday, January 9, we will throw open the doors of the American Conservatory Theater from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a FREE daylong celebration of craft, design, and performance.

Ruthie Henshall will return to 'CHICAGO' to reprise the role of ‘Roxie Hart' from Monday 14 December for nine weeks only (14 December - 28 February). Ruthie Henshall originated the role of ‘Roxie Hart' in 1997 - for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award - when 'CHICAGO' first conquered the West End. As Ruthie Henshall is contracted to other commitments for selected performances between 28 December - 2 January, Bonnie Langford will play the role of ‘Roxie' for these performances. Bonnie comes to London direct from playing the role of ‘Roxie' on Broadway.

After a successful run this past winter with the Keen Company at the Clurman Theater / Theater Row, Jonathan Hogan and Ron Holgate will reprise their roles in Heroes, by Gerald Sibleyras with a translation by Tom Stoppard and directed by Carl Forsman with the Merrimack Repertory Theatre Company. They will be joined by Ken Tigar, who will be playing the role previously performed by Broadway vet John Cullum in the Theater Row premiere. The production at the Merrick Theatre will run from November 19 through December 13.

Tickets for Disney's Tony® Award-winning musical THE LION KING went on sale in Madison, WI on Saturday, December 5 and sold over 8,000 tickets, dwarfing the previous record for single-day sales of a single event, set in 2007 when 2,962 tickets were sold.

The San Antonio return of Disney's THE LION KING opens at 8 p.m. tonight Friday, December 11 at the Majestic Theatre for a limited engagement of 4 weeks through January 3, 2010.

Kentwood Players continues its 60th Anniversary Season with 'Six Degrees of Separation' by John Guare, from January 8 to February 13, 2010 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, at the Westchester Playhouse located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester .

The German cast of HAIRSPRAY appeared on the TV Show 'Wetten, Daas...?' on December 5, 2009 to celebrate the opening of the new production. The show is currently booked through 31 March 2010 at the Musical Dome in Cologne, Germany.

Death and the Maiden Directed by Gordon McCall Starring: Wayne Burnett, Tania Kontoyanni, Neil Napier November 3 - December 6

Writers' Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, opens its 2009-10 season with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, directed by Michael Halberstam. The production runs September 29- December 6, 2009, at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe.

Writers' Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, opens its 2009-10 season with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, directed by Michael Halberstam. The production runs September 29- December 6, 2009, at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe.

On January 17, Birdland will host Stage and screen star Caroline O'Connor in concert, The Girl From Oz: An Evening With Caroline O'Connor, at 6pm.

Ruthie Henshall will return to 'CHICAGO' to reprise the role of ‘Roxie Hart' from Monday 14 December for nine weeks only (14 December - 28 February). Ruthie Henshall originated the role of ‘Roxie Hart' in 1997 - for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award - when 'CHICAGO' first conquered the West End. As Ruthie Henshall is contracted to other commitments for selected performances between 28 December - 2 January, Bonnie Langford will play the role of ‘Roxie' for these performances. Bonnie comes to London direct from playing the role of ‘Roxie' on Broadway.