McCarter Theatre News

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud present the premiere of Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show on Monday, December 9 at 7pm. Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) was Donna's Very Special Guest for the evening, with singers Nick Adams and Nikki MacCallum singing songs from Mitchell's hit shows. Donna and Jerry discussed life, love, careers and even ended the evening with a good, old-fashioned soft-shoe, after Mitchell demonstrated his most successful audition tune, 'I Love A Piano!' Scroll down for photos!

Due to extraordinary early demand for the final two productions of its 2013-2014 Season, Huntington Theatre Company announces one-week extensions to the runs of Melinda Lopez's Becoming Cuba and Lydia R. Diamond's Smart People. The Huntington's previous productions by these acclaimed Boston playwrights - Sonia Flew by Melinda Lopez and Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond - hold the records as the two highest grossing productions ever staged in the Wimberly Theatre of the Huntington's second home, the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in 'Man With The Bag' presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) today, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.

Now in its 50th year, the American Repertory Ballet's holiday presentation of THE NUTCRACKER delights young and old with humor, spectacle, and stirring music.

Continuing its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents The Little Prince, produced in Association with The Actors Gymnasium, by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin. The Little Prince runs tonight, December 5, 2013 - February 2, 2014 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) has announced the dates, creative team and leading actress for its next production - the new musical ARLINGTON by Victor Lodato and Polly Pen - with previews set to begin Wednesday, February 12 prior to its official opening night on Sunday, March 2, according to Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director.

Long Wharf Theatre, in co-production with the McCarter Theatre, presents August Wilson's Fences, directed by Phylicia Rashad. Check out a first look below!

Birdland Jazz Club has announce its upcoming schedule for December 9-15, featuring Donna McKechnie, Shoshana Bush, Frank Wildhorn, Jazz Stories: Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, and more!

American Repertory Ballet's Nutcracker production is celebrating 50 consecutive years this coming holiday season. It is one of the longest-running Nutcracker productions in the United States, and is the longest-running in New Jersey. Today, November 30, 2013, directly following the 4:30pm performance at McCarter Theatre, American Repertory Ballet will hold a celebratory reception at The Nassau Club in Princeton.

American Repertory Ballet's 50th Annual Nutcracker production will come to State Theatre on Friday, December 21 and Saturday, December 22 at 1:00pm and 4:30pm. These performances feature Tchaikovsky's score played live by an orchestra under the direction of Maestro Michael Pratt, and vocals by the Princeton Girlchoir. In addition to ARB's 50th Nutcracker milestone, State Theatre is also celebrating its own 25th year.

Raven Theatre, whose production of Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful just finished a successful run, will stage the Chicago premiere of Foote's Dividing the Estate next season. The announcement was made today by Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro, co-Artistic Directors of the company.

The Huntington Theatre Company announces the following special events in conjunction with its production of A.R. Gurney's The Cocktail Hour (now - December 15, 2013 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre):

Red Bull Theater presents the first-ever Off Broadway revival of Loot by Joe Orton. Red Bull Artistic Director Jesse Berger directs a company that includes Rebecca Brooksher (Fay), Eric Martin Brown (Meadows), Jarlath Conroy (McLeavy), Ryan Garbayo (Dennis), Rocco Sisto (Truscott), and Nick Westrate (Hal). Loot will have scenic design by Narelle Sissons, costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti, lighting design by Scott Zielinski, and sound design by Brad Berridge.

McCarter Theatre Center's production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has become a much loved holiday treat for families across the region. This heartwarming and powerfully honest adaptation by David Thompson of Dickens' classic novel is a wonderful way to honor tradition while experience the joy and warmth of a holiday favorite. Directed by Michael Unger, A Christmas Carol runs December 6 through December 29. (Press opening: Thursday, December 12). The Production Sponsor is Bank of America. The Opening Night Sponsor is McCarter & English.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (President and CEO, John Schreiber) and Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst) announced today a new collaboration that will bring a concert version of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, performed by an African-American cast, to audiences in both Newark and Red Bank, New Jersey.

PICT Theatre's final production of the season is the Pittsburgh premiere of Paul Giovanni's The Crucifer of Blood, a Sherlock Holmes adventure featuring characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Matt Torney directs. David Whalen returns to reprise the role of Sherlock Holmes since his 2011 turn as the master detective. Also returning from the 2011 production is Daryll Heysham as Inspector Lestrade. Justin R. G. Holcomb makes his PICT debut as Dr. Watson.

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in "Man With The Bag" presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their zesty line-up of impressive talent for the month of December 2013. Featuring: Michael Feinstein, Stacey Kent, Jazz Stories with Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Cabaret, Cheyenne Jackson, Donna McKechnie, Frank Wildhorn & Friends with Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes, Jane Monheit and more, A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Native Soul, Victoria Shaw, Natalie Toro, Shoshana Bush, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

The famed Princeton Triangle Club, now in its 123rd year, returns to McCarter Theatre with the world premiere of Zero Gravitas, all-student written and performed, for three performances tonight and Saturday, November 15 and 16 at 8pm with a special family matinee on Sunday, November 17 at 2pm.