Mark McCullough News

One of the most interesting chapters in William Goldman's classic book of commercial Broadway, The Season, involves the pre-opening troubles with the musical, Golden Rainbow. (Yes, I'm beginning a review of Little House on the Prairie with an anecdote about a glitzy Steve & Eydie vehicle. Just go along with me on this.) Although the musical had a huge advance sale thanks to the popularity of its husband and wife stars, everyone agreed the book was a disaster. But, according to Goldman, spirits were boosted a bit when rumors started circulating that Neil Simon - who was not only the hottest playwright on Broadway at the time but a guy known for anonymously helping to doctor other shows that were in need of laughs - would be coming in to punch up the script. In the meantime another writer was recruited and told that he didn't have to come up with anything clever; just to write a straightforward, competent book that made sense of the story. Neil Simon would come in later and provide the gags. (P.S. He never did.)

George R Carr's evocative, dreamlike short film A Body Without A Head will receive its world premiere screening as part of the NewFilmmakers Fall Fest 2009 at Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Ave. NYC) October 5, 2009.

George R Carr's evocative, dreamlike short film A Body Without A Head will receive its world premiere screening as part of the NewFilmmakers Fall Fest 2009 at Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Ave. NYC) October 5, 2009.

The producers of the upcoming national tour of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as Ma, recently announced a national partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the non-profit international organization dedicated to providing affordable housing to the poor and needy. Cast and crew members from "Little House on the Prairie: The Musical," will help build a Habitat for Humanity house as part of a national partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. Steve Blanchard, who plays Pa, as well as other cast and crew members will pitch in at the build site tomorrow, 9/30. Mayor Cory Booker has confirmed that he will also attend the event to show his support for affordable housing.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is warning their loyal subscribers to purchase any additional seats soon, before there are no seats left. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE began previews on September 10th and only a few seats remain.

Mozart's comic masterpiece, Le Nozze di Figaro, returns to the Met repertory on September 22 with some of opera's most notable young talent, many of them in company debuts or new roles. Danielle de Niese sings Susanna at the Met for the first time, paired with the Figaro of John Relyea, who received the Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers earlier this year.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions presents Sienna Miller as 'Miss Julie', Jonny Lee Miller as 'John' and Marin Ireland as 'Christine' in the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, a version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will open October 27, 2009 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center as part of the HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC series.

Melissa Gilbert, Steve Blanchard and Kara Lindsey star in Little House on the Prairie, a new musical based on the classic Laura Ingalls Wilder series of beloved American books, which opens at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall October 27, as part of the HCA/TriStar Broadway at TPAC series.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions, presents Sienna Miller as 'Miss Julie', Jonny Lee Miller as 'John' and Marin Ireland as 'Christine' in the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, a version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will launch a national tour and makes its debut at the Fox Theatre for seven performances, Tuesday, December 1 - Saturday, December 5!

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions, presents Sienna Miller as 'Miss Julie', Jonny Lee Miller as 'John' & Marin Ireland as 'Christine' in the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, a version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw.

The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, presents Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff in seven performances, October 10 to 30 at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Mozart's comic masterpiece, Le Nozze di Figaro, returns to the Met repertory on September 22 with some of opera's most notable young talent, many of them in company debuts or new roles. Danielle de Niese sings Susanna at the Met for the first time, paired with the Figaro of John Relyea, who received the Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers earlier this year.

The producers of the upcoming national tour of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE MUSICAL, with Melissa Gilbert as Ma, recently announced a national partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the non-profit international organization dedicated to providing affordable housing to the poor and needy. The announcement was made at a Habitat build-site in the South Bronx at which Melissa Gilbert and fellow cast members helped Habitat volunteers build the seven-story complex which will house 12 families.

Roundabout Theatre Company's AFTER MISS JULIE's Sienna Miller was a live in-studio guest on NBC's 'Today Show' on Monday, August 3rd. The star of the upcoming Broadway production chats about her current big screen release 'G. I. JOE' and her New York stage debut.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions, presents Sienna Miller as 'Miss Julie', Jonny Lee Miller as 'John' & Marin Ireland as 'Christine' in the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, a version of Strindberg's Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw.

The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.