Marsha Norman News

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce will return to the hysterically funny and affecting new play “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” this time directing the play which earned him his most recent Tony nomination. Christopher Durang's Tony-winning farce will be performed at the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum, January 29 through March 9, 2014, and will feature two Tony-nominated members of the Broadway cast.

A plethora of new content pertaining to hotly anticipated new Broadway musical THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY has been revealed, featuring two new social media images as well as a collection of video clips containing comments from the creators and stars of the show.

After premiering the LAB series with a very successful 'A Doll's House' by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Victoria Buda, the Redhouse Arts Center is excited to announce the second LAB series play, 'night Mother' by Marsha Norman and directed by Jenn DeCook.

Primary Stages held their annual Gala last night, November 11, at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event honored Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang and President of the General Counsel at Dramatists Play Service, Stephen Sultan. The evening featured performances by Rachel deBenedet (Catch Me If You Can, Addams Family), Alan Paul (Grease, Oliver!, Manhattan Transfer), Michele Ragusa (Urinetown, Ragtime, A Class Act, Adrift in Macao), and Alton F. White (The Color Purple, The Lion King, Ragtime). BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel announced today that The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, will now begin preview performances on Friday, January 17, 2014 at the Gerald B. Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Previews were originally scheduled for Monday, January 13, 2014, but were changed to accommodate a later rehearsal date of Monday, December 9, 2013. The opening night will remain as originally scheduled, Thursday, February 27, 2014.

Primary Stages has announced that their annual Gala will take place Monday, November 11, 2013 at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event will honor Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang and President of the General Counsel at Dramatists Play Service, Stephen Sultan. The Gala Chairs are Catherine Adler and HBO. The Tony nominated star of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Kristine Nielsen, will offer a tribute to Mr. Durang. Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley will offer a tribute to Mr. Sultan. The evening will feature performances by Rachel DeBenedet (Catch Me If You Can, Addams Family), Alan Paul (Grease, Oliver!, Manhattan Transfer), Michele Ragusa (Urinetown, Ragtime, A Class Act, Adrift in Macao), and Alton F. White (The Color Purple, The Lion King, Ragtime).

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his many impressive musical theatre scores since his astonishing debut in the 1990s with SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and PARADE, the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Discussing the finer points of the vastly different scores for his two new stage musicals premiering this year, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, Brown paints a vivid portrait of his composing process in creating both the serious romantic drama and bubbly musical comedy, respectively. Additionally, Brown outlines his experiences collaborating with theatre legends Harold Prince and Alfred Uhry on his first big Broadway musical, PARADE, and also reflects on the subsequent successful national tour which he himself conducted. Most importantly, Brown sheds some light on the sparkling new cast recording of his recent self-directed revival of his two-character cult mainstay THE LAST FIVE YEARS and how the last ten years have shaded his perspective on the piece, particularly as anticipation builds for the release of the highly anticipated feature film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, directed by Richard LaGravenese and set for release next year, which Brown confirms he has completed his scoring duties on this month and offers an enticing endorsement of the indie movie musical. All of that, a discussion of his solo album and specialty material penned over the years, astute observations on his sporadic collaborations with wife, songwriter and fellow InDepth InterView participant Georgia Stitt as well as much, much more in this quick catch-up chat with one of Broadway's busiest musical craftsmen.

Performance Network Theatre's Fireside New Play Festival (FNPF) returns with its latest installment of four of the hottest new plays in the country, performed for the first time on a Michigan stage on Sunday, December 15 through Wednesday, December 18 at 7pm. Audiences can sample works by UM grad and Chicago playwright Steven Simoncic, Louisville playwright Diana Grisanti, Chicago playwright Reina Hardy, and Michigan playwright Linda Ramsay-Detherage (author of the March FNPF hit "Sugarhill.") Admission is Pay-What-You-Can and reservations can be made at performancenetwork.org or over the phone at 734-663-0681. Performances are immediately followed by a facilitated talk back to share feedback on the brand new plays!

On Monday night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. Below you can check out photos of the attendees in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

Last night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the special night to chat with Bernadette Peters, Alan Menken, Jason Robert Brown, Stephen Schwartz, Kate Baldwin, Tonya Pinkins and more. Check out what they had to say, plus performances from Jeremy Jordan, Ben Vereen and Sherie Rene Scott below!

Last night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out coverage from the performances below!

Last night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out coverage from the star-studded red carpet below!

On October 21, 2013, the Dramatists Guild Fund will host their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event will honor legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater.

Multi-award-winning stage and screen star Kathy Bates discusses her desire to return to the place where she made her original mark in show business, the theatre, following her tenure on the hit FX anthology horror series AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN, which may be expanded into a second season, Bates recently confirmed as part of a new interview.

Smash creator, Theresa Rebeck opens up about her career and the release of her fourth volume of collected plays with a book signing to follow. The event is set for Monday, October 21st at 5pm at The Drama Book Shop.

On Monday, July 30, 2013, The New York Innovative Theatre Awards (IT Awards), the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, announced the 2013 award recipients at the ninth Annual IT Awards Ceremony at Mason Hall at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York. The Dramatists Guild Fund was awarded the 2013 Ellen Stewart Award, presented to an individual or organization demonstrating a significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership. Playwright Tina Howe presented the award to both Gretchen Cryer, President of the Dramatists Guild Fund, and Rachel Routh, Executive Director of the Dramatists Guild Fund.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., announces that the hit musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, is extended through Sunday, November 10 due to popular demand.

Subscription tickets for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts 2013/2014 Inaugural Season go on sale on Tuesday, October 1 and are available by visiting www.thewallis.org.

The Glass Menagerie opened last night, September 26th, on Broadway to rave reviews and a packed, enthuiastic opening night crowd. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos of the opening night arrivals below!

The Huntington Theatre Company presents a concert version of Jason Robert Brown's powerful contemporary musical The Last Five Years for three performances only November 23 and 24. Adam Kantor (Rent, Avenue Q) and Betsy Wolfe (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture) play the two twenty-something New Yorkers who dive head-first into marriage, fueled by the optimism of finding 'the one.' Winner of Drama Desk Drama Awards for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics, The Last Five Years takes a bold look at one young couple's hope that love endures the test of time.