Lowell Ganz News

Today we are analyzing all aspects of the brand new big screen edition of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS.

'Mad Men' star Vincent Kartheiser and Broadway's Larry Pine (CASA VALENTINA) play Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, respectively, in BILLY & RAY, Mike Bencivenga's new play -- directed by the legendary director/writer/producer Garry Marshall. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of Marshall and Bencivenga, as taken on opening night, in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

'Mad Men' star Vincent Kartheiser and Broadway's Larry Pine (CASA VALENTINA) play Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, respectively, in BILLY & RAY, Mike Bencivenga's new play -- directed by the legendary director/writer/producer Garry Marshall -- being given its NY premiere this fall at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), with an official opening tonight, October 20, 2014.

'Mad Men' star Vincent Kartheiser and Broadway's Larry Pine (CASA VALENTINA) will play Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, respectively, in BILLY & RAY, Mike Bencivenga's new play -- directed by the legendary director/writer/producer Garry Marshall -- being given its NY premiere this fall at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), with previews scheduled to begin tonight, October 1 prior to an official opening on October 20, it has been announced by Vineyard's Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern.

'Mad Men' star Vincent Kartheiser and Broadway's Larry Pine (CASA VALENTINA) will play Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, respectively, in BILLY & RAY, Mike Bencivenga's new play -- directed by the legendary director/writer/producer Garry Marshall -- being given its NY premiere this fall at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), with previews scheduled to begin October 1 prior to an official opening on October 20, it has been announced by Vineyard's Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern.

Legendary director/writer/producer Garry Marshall will direct the Vineyard Theatre's New York debut of Mike Bencivenga's comedy BILLY & RAY this fall, with performances set to begin October 2 and an opening night scheduled for October 20 at The Vineyard, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director.

Veteran writer-producer-director Garry Marshall, who has been responsible for some of the most popular series in television, including Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy, is set to receive the Writers Guild of America

According to Deadline.com, Broadway veteran Stanley Tucci has signed on to star as the title character in 'Ed Lucas.' Tucci will play 'a blind sports writer known for his work with the New York Yankees.' The film will feature a screenplay by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel.

Jeffrey Ash, a prominent theatrical advertising executive who helped revolutionize Broadway advertising with the first live-action television spot for 'Pippin' and who later became a successful producer for Broadway, off-Broadway, and London's West End, died suddenly August 8, 2011 at his home in Manhattan. He was 65 and for many years had suffered from inclusion body myositis, an autoimmune disorder.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Phil Lord and Chris Miller are currently in talks to direct BOB THE MUSICAL. The pair recently co-wrote and directed the animated film, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Today, perhaps the greatest gift a Broadway baby could receive was benevolently bestowed upon me in the form of an indepth and revealing discussion with the foremost composer and lyricist of his generation, one of the greatest writers in American history in any medium - the unmatched musical and lyrical genius himself, Stephen Sondheim. In this portion of our complete discussion we discuss his new book, FINISHING THE HAT, as well as take a look back at his legendary career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. Merman to Madonna, Brecht to Barbra Streisand, COMPANY to GROUNDHOG DAY (or not) - we cover it all. See here just a glimpse of the reason why the name Stephen Sondheim means more to musical theatre than any other name in the last fifty years. Plus, his promise to - in his own immortal words from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - 'give us more to see' in the very near future. That moment cannot come soon enough, as any fan of theatre - or art in America, for that matter - can assuredly attest.

Todd Graff, Tony Award nominated actor for his performance in Baby, as well as director of the films Bandslam and Camp, is set to direct the upcoming film of the Broadway musical Damn Yankees. As previously announced, Jim Carrey is attached to play Applegate, while Jake Gyllenhaal is expected to play Joe Hardy. The film will be produced by New Line Cinema and producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the Academy Award winning film, Chicago.

Todd Graff, Tony Award nominated actor for his performance in Baby, as well as director of the films Bandslam and Camp, is set to direct the upcoming film of the Broadway musical Damn Yankees. As previously announced, Jim Carrey is attached to play Applegate, while Jake Gyllenhaal is expected to play Joe Hardy. The film will be produced by New Line Cinema and producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the Academy Award winning film, Chicago.

Variety.com is reporting that New Line Cinema and the top notch producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have selected their next musical film project, a contemporized version of the classic musical Damn Yankees.

The Falcon Theatre presents the west coast premiere comedy Everybody Say 'Cheese!', the final production in its 2008-2009 'Bringin' the FUNNY' All-Comedy subscription season. Written by comedy icon and founder of the Falcon Theatre Garry Marshall, Everybody Say 'Cheese!' is directed by Steve Zuckerman and stars Joe Regalbuto (Murphy Brown) and DeeDee Rescher (King of Queens). Rounding out the cast are: Cyrus Alexander, John Capodice, Heather Corwin, Joel Johnstone and Roberta Valderrama.

The Hollywood Reporter is stating that Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel will be writing new new lyrics for the Touchstone Pictures comedy 'Bob: The Musical.' Mark Waters is rumored to direct. Chris Bender and J.C. Spink of Benderspink and Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson of Contrafilm are producing.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, presents Happy Days: A New Musical. This tuneful musical comedy comes to the Goodspeed after a sold out run last summer at the Goodspeed's smaller musical performance space. The full scale musical celebration of 50's nostalgia begins April 11th and runs through June 29, 2008

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced its mainstage production of Happy Days: A New Musical, based on the hit Paramount Pictures television series created by Garry Marshall who also wrote the book, with music and lyrics by Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Hall of Fame songwriter Paul Williams

Tony Award-nominee Alfred Molina and Spamalot co-creator John Cleese have been cast in The Pink Panther 2, the upcoming sequel to the hit Steve Martin film.