Martin Beck News

Today in 1997, Annie opened at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre), where it ran for 239 performances. Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre). It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' are among its most popular musical numbers.

The company of the current Man Of La Mancha National Tour, which opens in Elmira NY tomorrow, Tuesday, March 18, mourns the loss of its beloved composer and spiritual leader, Mitch Leigh, who passed away over the weekend.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., will celebrate Stephen Sondheim's birthday at The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS with a weeklong celebration beginning on Sunday, March 16 with a panel discussion following the 3 p.m. performance with Andra Velis Simon from Columbia College Chicago and Director Geoff Button, and a second panel discussion on Saturday, March 22 following the 2 p.m. performance with Kris Vire, Associate Editor at Time Out Chicago and Executive Director L. Walter Stearns. The matinee performance on March 22, Stephen Sondheim's actual birthday, will also feature a classic Sondheim sing-a-long immediately following the panel discussion with selections from Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Roadshow. A delicious birthday cake from gourmet Southport bakery Sensational Bites A Dessert Cafe will be served following the sing-a-long on March 22. Directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, INTO THE WOODS has been extended through Saturday, April 5.

Today in 2002, Sweet Smell of Success opened at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre), where it ran for 109 performances. Created by Marvin Hamlisch (music), Craig Carnelia (lyrics), and John Guare (book), the show is based on the 1957 movie of the same name. It tells the story of a powerful newspaper columnist named J. J. Hunsecker (based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems inappropriate. The show starred John Lithgow as J.J. Hunsecker, and Brian d'Arcy James as Sidney Falcone.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., announces that The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, has been extended through Saturday, April 5. The production was selected as a Critics' Pick by Time Out Chicago and has hailed as 'Beautiful' (Chicago Tribune) and 'A wonder! Terrific! Excellent! Perfectly charming.' (Newcity)

Producers Howard & Janet Kagan (Pippin, The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess) just announced that a new Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN - the musical-comedy love letter to New York City - will open in October 2014 at the Lyric Theatre. This year marks the 70thanniversary of the opening of this iconic musical comedy created by the legendary creative team of Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Jerome Robbins. The Lyric Theatre will be reopened after a renovation being completed by its new owners, Ambassador Theatre Group. This historic theater at the crossroads of 42nd Street and Times Square was created from a combination of the original Apollo Theater, and the original Lyric Theatre that stood on the site, and the facade of which still stands on 42nd and 43rd Streets.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays today, March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets and information the public may visit www.theatreworks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

MAN OF LA MANCHA returns to the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in an all-new production of the Tony Award winning musical that has inspired audiences since the very first notes of 'The Impossible Dream' were heard on opening night.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, opening Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. and running through Sunday, March 30. Scroll down for some pictures from the production!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, February 9, 2014 - Sunday, February 9, 2014.

Mercury Theater Chicago and The Hypocrites will feature Stephen Sondheim: The Man and The Music, a post-show talk back discussion on the renowned composer with Dr. Mark E. Lococo, Professor and Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago; Dr. Sarah Gabel, Chairperson for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago; and Director Geoff Button, following the 8:00 p.m. performance of INTO THE WOODS tonight, February 7 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine, The Hypocrites bring their heightened and playful sense of theatricality to the musical INTO THE WOODS through March 30.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, previewing February 6, opening Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. and running through Sunday, March 30.

Today in 1984, The Rink opend at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre), where it ran for 204 performances. With a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander, the musical focuses on Anna, the owner of a dilapidated roller skating rink on the boardwalk of a decaying seaside resort, who has decided to sell it to developers. Complicating her plans are her prodigal daughter Angel, who returns to town seeking to reconnect with the people and places she long ago left behind. Through a series of flashbacks, revelations, and minimal forward-moving plot development, the two deal with their pasts in their attempt to reconcile and move on with their lives.

Mercury Theater Chicago and The Hypocrites will feature Stephen Sondheim: The Man and The Music, a post-show talk back discussion on the renowned composer with Dr. Mark E. Lococo, Professor and Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago; Dr. Sarah Gabel, Chairperson for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago; and Director Geoff Button, following the 8:00 p.m. performance of INTO THE WOODS on Friday, February 7 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine, The Hypocrites bring their heightened and playful sense of theatricality to the musical INTO THE WOODS through March 30.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents The Hypocrites' production INTO THE WOODS, directed by Geoff Button* with Musical Direction by Matt Deitchman, previewing February 6, opening Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. and running through Sunday, March 30.

Man Of La Mancha returns to the stage in an all-new production of the Tony Award winning musical that has inspired audiences since the very first notes of 'The Impossible Dream' were heard on opening night. Performances began January 4th in Idaho Falls; subsequent tour stops include Yakima, WA, Kennewick, WA, Cerritos, CA, Austin, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Alto, NM, Prescott, AZ, Palm Desert, CA, Avon, CO, Riverside, CA, Ft. Smith, AR, Cape Girardeau, MO, Topeka, KS, St. Louis, MO, Gainesville, FL, Providence, RI, Richmond, KY, Sarasota, FL, Ft. Pierce, FL, Macon, GA, Hamlet, NC, Newberry, SC, Worcester, MA, Morgantown, WV, Greenvale, NY, Schenectady, NY, West Point, NY, Coral Springs, FL, Baltimore, MD, Elmira, NY, Burlington, VT, Rutland, VT, Portland, ME, Springfield, MA, Wilmington, DE and Green Bay, WI, with more cities to be announced. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

MAN OF LA MANCHA returns to the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in an all-new production of the Tony Award winning musical that has inspired audiences since the very first notes of 'The Impossible Dream' were heard on opening night.

Man Of La Mancha returns to the stage in an all-new production of the Tony Award winning musical that has inspired audiences since the very first notes of 'The Impossible Dream' were heard on opening night. Performances begin tonight, January 4th in Idaho Falls; subsequent tour stops include Yakima, WA, Kennewick, WA, Cerritos, CA, Austin, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Alto, NM, Prescott, AZ, Palm Desert, CA, Avon, CO, Riverside, CA, Ft. Smith, AR, Cape Girardeau, MO, Topeka, KS, St. Louis, MO, Gainesville, FL, Providence, RI, Richmond, KY, Sarasota, FL, Ft. Pierce, FL, Macon, GA, Hamlet, NC, Newberry, SC, Worcester, MA, Morgantown, WV, Greenvale, NY, Schenectady, NY, West Point, NY, Coral Springs, FL, Baltimore, MD, Elmira, NY, Burlington, VT, Rutland, VT, Portland, ME, Springfield, MA, Wilmington, DE and Green Bay, WI.

Today in 1935, Romeo and Juliet opened at the Martin Beck Theatre. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.