Mary Ann News

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full cast this July for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block as Edwin Drood. Meet the whole cast in the video and bios below!

Theatre East presents "Normalcy" by Bennett Windheim, Off Broadway at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 416 West 42nd Street, NYC. Benard Cummings directs the new play. Previews begin for the limited engagement on August 31 and the opening is Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm. For this opening of its 2012-13 season, there will be a series of talk-backs throughout the run, with the author, the producers and director, as well as experts in the respective field of this emotionally charged play.

Joan Roberts, the stage and film actress who created the role of 'Laurey' in the original 1943 production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, died on Monday August 13, in Stamford, Connecticut. She was 95, and died of congestive heart failure, according to her son, John Donlon.

Philadelphia's Broadway dreams came true for the fourth consecutive summer when The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) partnered with The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to present their Summer Performing Arts Intensive, July 30 through August 5, 2012. Jason Robert Brown, Tony Award-winner for Parade, and a faculty of Broadway professionals taught master classes during the week to aspiring Philadelphia area students interested in pursuing a career in musical theatre. Check out photos of Brown in workshop and the faculty and students performing in concert below!

Devil in the Dirt, created and performed by Daria Harper and directed by Mary Ann Thebus, is set for just three shows at Redtwist Theatre, tonight, August 4, 2012 at 3pm; Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 7:30pm; and Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 7:30pm. All tickets are $20.

Theatre East presents "Normalcy" by Bennett Windheim, Off Broadway at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 416 West 42nd Street, NYC. Benard Cummings directs the new play. Previews begin for the limited engagement on August 31 and the opening is Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm. For this opening of its 2012-13 season, there will be a series of talk-backs throughout the run, with the author, the producers and director, as well as experts in the respective field of this emotionally charged play. The schedule will soon be announced.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly announces the Ensemble's 27th season will take place at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.. For more information, visit americanbluestheater.com.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Peck School of the Arts caps its 2012 Summer Dance season with 11 works from 12 choreographers.

Philadelphia's Broadway dreams will come true for the fourth consecutive summer when The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) partners with The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to present their Summer Performing Arts Intensive July 30 through August 5, 2012. Jason Robert Brown, Tony Award winner for Parade, and a faculty of Broadway professionals will teach master classes during the week to aspiring Philadelphia area students interested in pursuing a career in musical theatre. A week's end, the Broadway faculty will perform alongside BDF students in "Express Yourself," a unique concert event directed by acclaimed New York director Matt Lenz (Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast) at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts' Perelman Theater on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 3 pm and 8 pm. Tickets range from $23 - $76 and are available now online at www.kimmelcenter.org, by calling 215-893-1999 or by visiting the Kimmel Center Box Office (260 Broad Street).

Devil in the Dirt, created and performed by Daria Harper and directed by Mary Ann Thebus, is set for just three shows at Redtwist Theatre, Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 3pm; Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 7:30pm; and Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 7:30pm. All tickets are $20.

Sundance Institute today announced the acting company and creative advisors for the eight projects being developed at its 2012 Theatre Lab, July 9-29 at the Sundance Resort. Under the supervision of Philip Himberg, Producing Artistic Director, and Associate Director Christopher Hibma, the Lab is the centerpiece of the Theatre Program's year-round work and is designed to support emerging and established artists and to create a place where their original work can be effectively mentored and challenged.

Joe's Pub gives you a look ahead at the schedule today, July 9-July 15, including Amanda Holley, Bridget Everett & The Tender Moments, Matt Munisteri, Mary C., Happy Ending Music & Reading Series, Charles Perry, Kalman Balogh Gypsy Cimbalom Trio, Summer & Eve, Batz, Bhi Bhiman, Justin Robinson & The Mary Annettes, Ilusha Tsinadze's Dede Ena, Russian Red with special guest Tulsa, Lori Lieberman, Michael Serveris, and Loose Cattle. See full details below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company closes its 2011/12 season with Three Sisters, Anton Chekhov's humorous and affecting tale of longing for a better life, adapted by Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Tony Award-winning ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro. Letts and Shapiro continue their celebrated collaboration following their acclaimed world-premiere production of August: Osage County (2007), bringing fresh insight to this classic story of a privileged family's changing fortunes.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, has extended the run of the world premiere of Dr. Ruth, All The Way by Mark St. Germain, directed by Julianne Boyd. Starring stage, film and television actress Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show), Dr. Ruth, All the Way will now run from June 19 through July 21 at St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield. Opening night was Saturday, June 30 at 8pm. View photos below!

The Man Who Came To Dinner by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, acknowledged as one of the funniest comedies ever written, is coming to the Coronado Playhouse stage June 29 -August 5, 2012.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company closes the 2011/12 season with Three Sisters, Anton Chekhov's humorous and affecting tale of longing for a better life, adapted by Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Tony Award-winning ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro. Letts and Shapiro continue their celebrated collaboration following their acclaimed world-premiere production of August: Osage County (2007), bringing fresh insight to this classic story of a privileged family's changing fortunes. Check out photos from the cast and creative team in rehearsal below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company closes the 2011/12 season with Three Sisters, Anton Chekhov's humorous and affecting tale of longing for a better life, adapted by Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Tony Award-winning ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company concludes its 2011/12 season with Anton Chekhov'sThree Sisters, adapted by Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Tony Award-winning ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

Roman Holiday is now playing on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater, and we have a new promo spot featured on the video below. Click below to watch!

Probably the golden age of musical theatre in the US was from 1950 to 1960. Great scripts like King and I, My Fair Lady, and West Side Story were staged. Also produced were such flops as Salad Days, Zuleika, Ankles Away, The Vamp, ShaNgri-La, Shinbone Alley, and Free As Air. Most shows were of the neither great nor flop variety. These included the likes of Call Me Madam, Guys and Dolls, Paint Your Wagon, Can-Can, Wonderful Town, Fanny, and The Pajama Game. Also included in the list was DAMN YANKEES, now on stage at Porthouse Theatre.