Matthew Risch News

The 2009 Astaire Awards Ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, took place last night, June 1, 7:30pm at The Haft Auditorium at Fashion Institute of Technology (7th Avenue at West 27th Street). Peter Darling (Billy Elliot) took home the award for Best Broadway Choreographer and Longines Fernandes (Slumdog Millionaire) for Best Film Choreographer.

The 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards were held, Sunday, May 17, 2009 in the LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. Drama Desk nominees received their official Nomination Certificates at a cocktail reception on Friday, May 1st at Il Bastardo restaurant, 191 Seventh Avenue (between 21st and 22nd Streets).

Nominations for the 2009 Astaire Awards were announced last night at Elaine?s Restaurant by Michael Riedel of the New York Post. These selections were made by this year?s Nominating Committee; Sylviane Gold (Theater Columnist for Dance Magazine), Anna Kisselgoff (former Chief Dance Critic of The New York Times), Wendy Perron (Editor in Chief of Dance Magazine), Linda Winer (Chief Theater Critic of Newsday) and Damian Woetzel (Former Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet). The producers of the 2009 Astaire Awards, which recognizes excellence in dance on stage and in film, are Patricia Watt and Ron Glucksman.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a new Broadway production of The Philanthropist starring Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Cake, Anna Madeley and Steven Weber. The Philanthropist, by Christopher Hampton, is directed by David Grindley at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street). The cast also includes Tate Ellington, Jennifer Mudge andSamantha Soule.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a new Broadway production of The Philanthropist starringMatthew Broderick, Jonathan Cake, Anna Madeley and Steven Weber. The Philanthropist, by Christopher Hampton, is directed by David Grindley at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street). The cast also includes Tate Ellington, Jennifer Mudge andSamantha Soule.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a new Broadway production of The Philanthropist starring Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Cake, Anna Madeley and Steven Weber. The Philanthropist, by Christopher Hampton, is directed by David Grindley at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street). The cast also includes Tate Ellington, Jennifer Mudge andSamantha Soule.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents (in order of speaking) Nathan Lane (Estragon), Bill Irwin (Vladimir), John Goodman (Pozzo), David Strathairn (Lucky) and in a new Broadway production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and directed by Tony? award winner Anthony Page. Waiting for Godot will now begin previews one week earlier on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 and open officially on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street). This will be a limited engagement. The cast will also include Matthew Schechter (Boy). The design team includes Santo Loquasto (Sets), Jane Greenwood (Costumes) and Peter Kaczorowski (Lights).

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Pal Joey will play its final performance on Sunday, March 1st at 2:00 PM. This revival of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's classic musical stars Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps) and is directed by Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) limited engagement of Pal Joey will play its final performance on Sunday, March 1st at 2:00 PM. This revival of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's classic musical stars Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps) and is directed by Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions announces the dates and theatre for the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw. Making her Broadway debut, Sienna Miller will star as 'Miss Julie.'

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the full cast for the upcoming New York premiere of Distracted, by Lisa Loomer, directed by Mark Brokaw. Distracted will begin previews on Saturday, February 7th and open officially on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).

Stockard Channing, star of Roundabout Theatre Company's Pal Joey, will be interviewed on 'Regis and Kelly,' tomorrow, February 5th between 9:00-10:00AM on channel 7. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a new Broadway production of PAL JOEY starring Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps). PAL JOEY features a new book by Tony? Award winner Richard Greenberg, based on the original book by John O'Hara, with music direction by Tony? Award winner Paul Gemignani, choreography by Graciela Daniele and directed by two-time Tony? Award winner Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway.

Stockard Channing, star of Roundabout Theatre Company's Pal Joey, will be interviewed on 'Regis and Kelly,' tomorrow, February 5th between 9:00-10:00AM on channel 7. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a new Broadway production of PAL JOEY starring Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps). PAL JOEY features a new book by Tony? Award winner Richard Greenberg, based on the original book by John O'Hara, with music direction by Tony? Award winner Paul Gemignani, choreography by Graciela Daniele and directed by two-time Tony? Award winner Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Artistic Director, Todd Haimes) is proud to announce plans to establish a permanent archive, generously funded by a major grant from the Leon Levy Foundation. Roundabout's archive will permanently document the company's illustrious 43-year production history as well as provide a resource for the theatre community, Roundabout's audience and the general public.

Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie will begin performances in the fall of 2009. After 48 years, Bye Bye Birdie returns to Broadway in a new production at Roundabout Theatre Company. The good news of 'Birdie's' return has brought up the usual discussions of casting Conrad Birdie himself, Newsday reached out to the original Broadway 'Birdie', Dick Gautier, who was a 1961 Tony nominee for his hip-swiveling to see what his thoughts on the subject were.

The veteran of 12 B'way shows looks back on hits, flops, L.A. and unforgettable choreographers.

Stockard Channing, star of Roundabout Theatre Company's Pal Joey, will conduct a live interview with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, tomorrow on NBC's 'Today Show' between 10:00-11:00AM on channel 4. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents a new Broadway production of PAL JOEY starring Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Matthew Risch (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps). PAL JOEY features a new book by Tony? Award winner Richard Greenberg, based on the original book by John O'Hara, with music direction by Tony? Award winner Paul Gemignani, choreography by Graciela Daniele and directed by two-time Tony? Award winner Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway. The cast of Pal Joey features Robert Clohessy (Mike), Jenny Fellner (Linda English), Daniel Marcus (Ludlow Lowell), Steven Skybell (Ernest), Timothy J. Alex, Brian Barry, Kurt Froman, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Lisa Gajda, Anthony Holds, Nadine Isenegger, Mark Morettini, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Abbey O'Brien, Hayley Podschun, Krista Saab and Eric Sciotto.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler, starring Mary-Louise Parker, Michael Cerveris, Paul Sparks and Peter Stormare. Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen with a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn, is directed by Ian Rickson at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld's camera caught the starry cast and crowd as they arrived for the after party for the new production! The cast also includes Lois Markle, Ana Reeder and Helen Carey. Hedda Gabler officially opened on Sunday, January 25th, 2009. This is a limited engagement through March 29th, 2009. Mary-Louise Parker stars as 'Hedda Gabler' in this new interpretation of Henrik Ibsen's modern classic. A woman of dangerous independence restrained by a conventional marriage, Hedda Gabler indulges in a cruel game, amusing herself with the misfortune she inflicts on those around her. As Hedda struggles to balance her wild desires against her chosen life, she sets into motion a manic chain of events that bring her story to a chilling end.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler, starring Mary-Louise Parker, Michael Cerveris, Paul Sparks and Peter Stormare. Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen with a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn, is directed by Ian Rickson at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street). The cast also includes Lois Markle, Ana Reeder and Helen Carey. Hedda Gabler officially opened on Sunday, January 25th, 2009. This is a limited engagement through March 29th, 2009.

The New York Times is reporting that The Roundabout Theater Company has announced two more productions for its 2009-10 season. Roundabout will offer the first Broadway production of 'Bye Bye Birdie' since its original production in 1960. There have been rumors for the last sevral years that the compnay would mount a revival and the rumblings were heating up for the past few weeks, Robert Longbottom ('Flower Drum Song') is the director and choreographer for the new production. Also reported was the news that the Roundabout will revive Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter,' with Victor Garber as the put-upon matinee idol Garry Essendine. Nicholas Martin, who directed the comedy for the Huntington Theater Company in 2007, which also starred Mr. Garber, will direct the new revival.