Mark Waldrop News

Ted Seifman Productions will present the industry reading of Damage Control, a new comedy by Douglas Braverman (author of Dalliance in Vienna and Snowman) and starring Jackie Hoffman, Nancy Opel, Stephen Buntrock, and Jeffrey Schecter, on Monday, October 15th, 1:30pm, at The Theatre at Sofia's, 221 West 46th Street, New York City. The production will be directed by Mark Waldrop.

Gingold Theatrical Group's Project Shaw presents George Bernard Shaw's final full-length play, BUOYANT BILLIONS, on Monday, October 22nd at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.

Today we are talking to a busy and very recognizable actress who has appeared in over 100 TV and film properties since her debut in the 1970s and just this year played arcs on both the freshly-minted 2012 Emmy-winning Best Drama HOMELAND, as well as HBO's hit nighttime vampire series TRUE BLOOD - the accomplished and arresting Linda Purl. Discussing her roles on the hit HBO and Showtime series she has appeared on this year as well as her recent multi-episode stint on NBC's THE OFFICE, Purl sheds some light on her long and rich career and also shares stories from the sets of some of her most famous forays - HAPPY DAYS, VISITING HOURS and more included. Additionally, we shed some light on her upcoming two-night-stand at Feinstein's At Loews Regency, MIDNIGHT CARAVAN… TRAVELS THROUGH THE GREAT NEW YORK NIGHTCLUBS, with special guest Desi Arnaz, Jr., and she sets the stage for what we can expect from the noir-inspired cabaret piece featuring songs of the 1940s and 50s. Furthermore, Purl opens up about her theatrical roots - starring in plays and musicals like OLIVER, THE KING & I and THE MIRACLE WORKER growing up overseas, as well as observing no less than Tennessee Williams, a friend of her parents, as he oversaw a Tokyo production of IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL and resided with the clan; and, later starring on Broadway in THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER,GETTING AND SPENDING and in regional revivals, such as six seasons at Williamstown and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at LA's Rubicon. Additionally, she gives insight into many notable friends and collaborators - Edith Head, Angela Lansbury, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Laurence Olivier, Kim Hunter, Robby Benson and others. Plus, first news on the forthcoming studio album of MIDNIGHT CARAVAN - and much, much more!

Today we are talking to a busy and very recognizable actress who has appeared in over 100 TV and film properties since her debut in the 1970s and just this year played arcs on both the freshly-minted 2012 Emmy-winning Best Drama HOMELAND, as well as HBO's hit nighttime vampire series TRUE BLOOD - the accomplished and arresting Linda Purl. Discussing her roles on the hit HBO and Showtime series she has appeared on this year as well as her recent multi-episode stint on NBC's THE OFFICE, Purl sheds some light on her long and rich career and also shares stories from the sets of some of her most famous forays - HAPPY DAYS, VISITING HOURS and more included. Additionally, we shed some light on her upcoming two-night-stand at Feinstein's At Loews Regency, MIDNIGHT CARAVAN… TRAVELS THROUGH THE GREAT NEW YORK NIGHTCLUBS, with special guest Desi Arnaz, Jr., and she sets the stage for what we can expect from the noir-inspired cabaret piece featuring songs of the 1940s and 50s. Furthermore, Purl opens up about her theatrical roots - starring in plays and musicals like OLIVER, THE KING & I and THE MIRACLE WORKER growing up overseas, as well as observing no less than Tennessee Williams, a friend of her parents, as he oversaw a Tokyo production of IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL and resided with the clan; and, later starring on Broadway in THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER,GETTING AND SPENDING and in regional revivals, such as six seasons at Williamstown and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at LA's Rubicon. Additionally, she gives insight into many notable friends and collaborators - Edith Head, Angela Lansbury, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Laurence Olivier, Kim Hunter, Robby Benson and others. Plus, first news on the forthcoming studio album of MIDNIGHT CARAVAN - and much, much more!

Broadway's Leslie Kritzer joins the cast of Rick Crom's Off-Broadway musical revue NEWSical the Musical beginning Sept. 8. Internet gossip columnist Perez Hilton was announced last week as joining the cast of the long-running show.

Composer/lyricist Neil Bartram and book writer Brian Hill, Drama Desk Nominated authors of Broadway's The Story of My Life, will workshop their newest musical Something Wicked This Way Comes, adapted from the novel by Ray Bradbury, with the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma in October 2012.

On Monday, August 27, cabaret star Jeff Harnar took to the Broadway at Birdland stage with a new show, "Does This Song Make Me Look Fat?" The packed house included theater and cabaret stars like Elaine Stritch, Lilliane Montevecchi, Julie Wilson, Holt McCallany, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Klea Blackhurst, Billy Stritch, Clint Holmes, Natalie Douglas, Colleen McHugh, Faith Prince, Mark Waldrop, fashion icon Carmen Dell'Orefice, writer Gay Talese and Best Little Whorehouse songwriter Carol Hall.

Gossip columnist Perez Hilton joins the cast of the off-Broadway musical revue, NEWSical the Musical, for four weeks only beginning Saturday, September 8th.

If the summer makes you yearn for a delightful musical, take the journey to the Olney Theatre Center and enjoy.

Olney Theatre Center continues its 2012 season with the hit musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS tonight, August 1 to August 26, 2012.

This season, Off-Broadway's DR2 Kids Theatre (Daryl Roth, Producer) has partnered with Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director; Ken Arthur, Producing Director) to present 'Rabbit Season' at the DR2 Kids Theatre.

Olney Theatre Center continues its 2012 season with the hit musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS August 1 to August 26, 2012.

Olney Theatre Center has announced the opening of the musical, Little Shop of Horrors. Little Shop of Horrors will run on the Olney Theatre Center's Mainstage from August 1 to August 26, 2012.

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference this morning by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards took place tonight, Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference on April 27 by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. After weeks of anticipation, the ceremony is tonight, June 3, at The Town Hall and BroadwayWorld will be bringing you the full spectrum of coverage, of course!

The Drama Desk Awards previously announced the lineup of presenters for this year's awards ceremony, hosted by Brooke Shields and Drama Desk winner Brian d'Arcy James. The presenters represent many different aspects of the New York theater community including Broadway royalty: Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones, Bernadette Peters; award winning dramatists: Doug Wright and Rick Elice; legendary composers: Maury Yeston, William Finn; heralded directors: Roger Rees, Alex Timbers; celebrated designers: Peggy Eisenhauer; revered orchestrators: Jonathan Tunick; valued members of the New York theater scene: Oskar Eustis, Jenny Gersten; and, of course, popular performers: Martha Plimpton, John Larroquette, Julie Halston. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards take place today, Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8PM at The Town Hall. BroadwayWorld will be updating with the winners live!

The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be streamed live from the red carpet (7:15-7:45PM) as well as inside the Town Hall (beginning at 8PM) at DramaDeskAwards.com. Plus, don't forget to check in here at BroadwayWorld.com for live updates on winners and more!

The Drama Desk Awards have announced the lineup of presenters for this year's awards ceremony, hosted by Brooke Shields and Drama Desk winner Brian d'Arcy James. The presenters represent many different aspects of the New York theater community including Broadway royalty: Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones, Bernadette Peters; award winning dramatists: Doug Wright and Rick Elice; legendary composers: Maury Yeston, William Finn; heralded directors: Roger Rees, Alex Timbers; celebrated designers: Peggy Eisenhauer; revered orchestrators: Jonathan Tunick; valued members of the New York theater scene: Oskar Eustis, Jenny Gersten; and, of course, popular performers: Martha Plimpton, John Larroquette, Julie Halston. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8PM at The Town Hall.

The Drama Desk Awards have just announced that award winning actress, model and author Brooke Shields will co-host the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards with TV Star, Broadway's favorite leading man and past Drama Desk Award winner, Brian d'Arcy James. The Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan. This year's award show is being written by cast album producer, playwright, and two-time Drama Desk Award winner Bill Rosenfield and directed by multi-award winning director Mark Waldrop (Divine Miss Millennium Tour, When Pigs Fly, Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends).

Christine Pedi, Michael West, Christina Bianco and Tommy Walker - the four principal cast members in NEWSical the Musical: End of the World Edition - have extended their contracts in the show through December 21, 2012 at which point the world will definitely end. A new block of tickets is now on sale at Telecharge.com.