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Photo Flash: GREASE's Taylor Hicks 'Says Cheese' To Wisconsin Audience

Taylor Hicks had a surprise in store for the audience attending last Saturday evening's performance June 6th with prop that stopped the show with laughter and applause. While on stage in Appleton, Wisconsin (the CHEESE state), Hicks decided to surprise the local audience when he appears from inside the ice cream cone by wearing a cheese hat!

2009 Tony Award Nominations Round-Up

Nominations in 27 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced by Tony Award Winners Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

Atkinson, Ivey, Finneran, Cooper and More Poised for 2009 Williamstown Theatre Fest

The Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) has announced casting for its 2009 Main Stage Season running from July 1 to August 23 at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance in Williamstown, MA. In making the announcement Artistic Director Nicholas Martin said, 'I am so thrilled to bring this decorated and talented group of artists to the Berkshires this summer for our 55th Anniversary Season.'

54th Annual Drama Desk Award Noms Announced, '9 To 5' Leads Pack with 15 Nods

Nominations for the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club by Faith Prince and Jim Dale, multi-award winning stage stars. They were joined for the announcement by William Wolf, Drama Desk President, Barbara Siegel, Chairperson of the Drama Desk Nominating Committee, Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards ceremony, and Randie Levine-Miller, Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk.

16th Merit Award Honors Todd Rosenthal 4/27 At Steppenwolf

The 16th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, honoring world class scenic designer Todd Rosenthal (August: Osage County), will take place on Monday, April 27, at the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a viewing of the third annual ?Theater Design Expo' showcasing the works of over 20 Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and a student portfolio review. Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will moderate an inclusive discussion, 'Moving Chicago Productions to New York and Beyond' with the awardees, Director Anna Shapiro and Joshua Schmidt, composer and librettist, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

'SHREK', 'BILLY' & RUINED Lead Outer Critics Circle Nominations

Based on a recommendation by the OCC Executive Committee, Special Achievement Awards will be given to David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish for their performances in 'Billy Elliot the Musical' and an Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award will be bestowed to the full cast of 'The Norman Conquests' (Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter and Amanda Root).

ALT Commissioned THE GOLDEN TICKET, Opera Based on Dahl's 'Chocolate Factory', Holds Special NYC Reading 4/4

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of ALT, has announced that the company has commissioned The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In his announcement, Edelson explained that all of Dahl's beloved characters find a unique voice in this exciting new opera. 'If thoughts of Augustus Gloop being swept away in the Chocolate River, Violet Beauregarde inflating like a giant blueberry, Mike Teavee being demagnified into the tele-dimension, and Veruca Salt being thrown down the rubbish shoot by a gang of nut-inspecting squirrels sound like your idea of a fun night at the opera - or better yet, unlike any night at the opera or theater you've ever experienced - The Golden Ticket is....just the ticket!'

Crowley, Long Receive TDF/Irene Sharaff Award 3/27

Legendary designers WILLIAM IVEY LONG and BOB CROWLEY are among the four recipients of 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards to be presented at a ceremony this Friday, March 27 at 6:30pm, at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Five-time Tony Award winning costume designer William Ivey Long will receive the 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for theatrical costume design, and, for his achievements as both a costume and scenic designer, Bob Crowley (also a five-time Tony Award winner) will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards' special Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatrical Design.

Kyrian Friedenberg Cast In ALT's Golden Ticket 3/25, 4/4

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater, has announced that Kyrian Friedenberg, the ten-year old singer, violinist and actor most recently seen in Gypsy with Patty LuPone on Broadway, has been cast as Charlie Bucket in ALT's upcoming workshop and reading of The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Speaking of the young performer, Edelson said that 'Kyrian has a wonderful voice, is incredibly musical, and has charisma that is truly contagious. After hearing him sing Charlie's first act Aria from The Golden Ticket, I had no doubt that he was the right boy to bring Roald Dahl's classic character to life in our upcoming workshop.'

'Hicks' is the Word! GREASE Tour Hits SF's Golden Gate Theatre 3/24

Complete casting has been announced for the brand new production of GREASE, starring American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, playing the Golden Gate Theatre beginning Tuesday, March 24 through Sunday, April 19. Taylor Hicks made his debut on Broadway in the role of 'Teen Angel' this past summer. This brand new production of GREASE will feature songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture performed for the first time ever in a Broadway production. GREASE is presented as a part of the 2008-2009 Citibank Best of Broadway series season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets on sale now. Taylor Hicks achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition 'American Idol.' On May 24, 2006, Hicks was named the winner of the fifth season of 'Idol' with over 63.4 million votes in total. Winning the title over Katharine McPhee, the announcement was made during the live finale episode which aired to a worldwide audience of over 200 million viewers. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Taylor Hicks' passion for music began at an early age. He toured the Southeastern Unites States during his teenage years and released two independent albums. Known for his energetic performances with influences derived from classic soul, blues and R&B music, he quickly grew a large fan base among the millions of viewers and voters who tuned in to 'Idol' each week. His fans ultimately dubbed themselves the 'Soul Patrol.'

AMERICAN IDOL'S Taylor Hicks Stars As Teen Angel In 'GREASE'

Tickets for the brand new production of GREASE, starring American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, go on sale Wednesday, December 17. Taylor Hicks made his debut on Broadway in the role of 'Teen Angel' this past summer. GREASE will play the Golden Gate Theatre beginning Tuesday, March 24 through Sunday, April 19. This brand new production of GREASE will feature songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture performed for the first time ever on stage. GREASE is presented as a part of the 2008-2009 Citibank Best of Broadway series season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays.

Review - Blithe Spirit and Early To Bed

One of the many delights of director Michael Blakemore's revival of Noel Coward's giddily funny 1941 froth, Blithe Spirit, is that this 2009 production looks like it could have been seen in the play's premiere year. No doubt contemporary Broadway theatre can provide more spectacular ways for an actress playing a ghost to enter a room than to just have her walk through the French windows. And certainly if an invisible spirit chooses to destroy her husband's drawing room, modern technology can whip up a few tricks more gasp-inducing than simply having a picture frame fall and a bookshelf topple over. But when you have one of the English language's great comedies played by a company that excels in the verbal dexterity of the playwright's wit, there's no need for such distractions.

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