Marsha Norman News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: Bradley Cooper brings THE ELEPHANT MAN to life on Broadway, ELF kicks off two tours today, stars gather this Sunday at BEST IN SHOWS to benefit the Humane Society and more!

KING KONG, which ran in Australia last year has long been rumored for a trip overseas to Broadway. As previously reported, following a successful run in Melbourne, the producers of KING KONG were planning to bring the mega-musical to Broadway in December 2014. Due to the 'huge scale of the production' and to allow the creative team necessary time to implement changes, the producers decided 'to not rush in before the end of the year.' Now according to the New York Times, the show is eyeing John Rando to direct the Broadway version. Additionally, Marsha Norman was recently brought on board as the musical's new book writer. A development timeline has not yet been announced.

Everyone in the audience, including the men, ended up sobbing by the end of this, in real time, eavesdropping of a mother and daughter's last conversation, otherwise better known as Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize winning 'night, Mother.

The issue of suicide has always been complicated and controversial. Whitmore Eclectic celebrates its 6th anniversary with a revival, presented in association with Ellen Gerstein Productions, of Marsha Norman's eloquent, darkly humorous, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'night, Mother. Aliah Whitmore directs Sylva Kelegian and Lisa Richards for a November 1 opening at The Lost Studio on La Brea Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the duo onstage below!

Birdland Jazz Club is pleased to announce their amazing line-up of talent for November 10 - November 16, including Karrin Allyson, Barbara Carroll, Jane Monheit's Jazz Party, Peter Mazza, and more. Details below!

Birdland Jazz Club is thrilled to announce their great line-up of amazing talent for the month of November 2014. Featuring: Django Reinhardt NY Festival's 15th Anniversary, Karrin Allyson, Cyrill Aimee, Barbara Carroll, Anita Gillette, Music of Joe Henderson, Native Soul, Peter Mazza, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

The issue of suicide has always been complicated and controversial. Celebrating the 6th Anniversary of Whitmore Eclectic, Aliah Whitmore directs Sylva Kelegian and Lisa Richards in a revival of Marsha Norman's eloquent, darkly humorous, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'night, Mother. The opening is set for tonight, Nov. 1 at The Lost Studio on La Brea Ave.

If anyone ever told me that, on a Saturday night, I would be watching a play about an elderly woman suffering from the horrors of Alzheimer's Disease, I would question that person's sanity. However, having 'sung the praises' of actor/playwright Jerre Dye on more than one occasion, and having read a couple of rapturous local reviews, I decided to forgo a nearby musical concert by Luna Nova ( a musical venue I have ardently supported) and see Mr. Dye's DISTANCE at Voices of the South. I was not disappointed. Legendary actress Bette Davis famously proclaimed, 'Old age ain't no place for sissies' (and she knew well the truth of that, having suffered strokes, a mastectomy, and, worse, the betrayal of a daughter); compound 'old age' with Alzheimer's or dementia, and you can magnify the truth of that tenfold.

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Directors Company with ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR, written by Robert Callely and directed by Michael Parva. ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR begins performances on Friday, November 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. Press Opening is Thursday, November 20 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note, there is no performance on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving). Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Ghostlight Records has announced the launch of the new series 'Ghostlight Shines On...' presenting exclusive audio commentary on some of its major recordings from Broadway and beyond. The series currently features commentary for two hit albums the label released in 2014: the Broadway smash Beautiful - The Carole King Musical and the beloved score for The Bridges of Madison County, which won 2014 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations.

Three one-acts from the writer The New York Times critic Ben Brantley described as "…one of our funniest playwrights," master of parody Christopher Durang, will be presented beginning November 9 at L'Etage Cabaret in Philadelphia. A Streetcar Named Durang: Two Burlesques and a Western will be presented by The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, the Philadelphia-based theater company whose mission is to present classic absurdist theater to audiences in the Philadelphia region.

Sonnet Repertory Theatre presents their Twelfth Annual Benefit and Cabaret on Sunday, November 23, at Joe's Pub to honor award-winning actress, CELIA WESTON.

Thelma and Jessie have a messy relationship, and there are a lot of questions both women have for each other. Some get answered and some don't.

CoHo's production 'NIGHT, MOTHER is filled with treasures, opening tomorrow, Oct. 17. The wonderful actor Gavin Hoffman is making his professional directorial debut. Jacklyn Maddux, one of Portland's finest actors, and Dana Millican, a ferocious talent, are playing two dream roles. And of course the play by Marsha Norman. 'NIGHT, MOTHER utilizes the unities of time and space, provoking deep thought and a visceral emotional experience. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Marsha Norman's 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning play, 'NIGHT, MOTHER was the first Broadway show written by a woman with a cast of only woman. She has won numerous awards, including a Tony for the book of The Secret Garden and a Peabody award for her writing on the HBO series In Treatment..

Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere co-production of The Country House, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan, opened on October 2 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full cast and watch interviews with the company below!

Birdland Jazz Club is thrilled to announce their great line-up of amazing talent for the month of November 2014. Featuring: Django Reinhardt NY Festival's 15th Anniversary, Karrin Allyson, Cyrill Aimee, Barbara Carroll, Anita Gillette, Music of Joe Henderson, Native Soul, Peter Mazza, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Additional Performers have been added to The Lilly Awards Broadway Cabaret including Adrienne Warren (Bring It On), Sydney Lucas (Fun Home), David Beach, Adam Guettel, Brooks Ashmanskas and original Broadway cast members Keala Settle, Alison Case, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Kathleen Monteleone, Jim Newman and Dale Soules joining Amanda Green singing a song from her show Hands on a Hard Body.