McCarter Theatre News

In an industry as unpredictable as show business, it is truly a unique experience to meet one of the longtime greats - a performer who has done everything from Broadway to off-Broadway, film, television, children's specials and variety circuits, who been everywhere from London to Abu Dhabi and back over the course of a nearly 45 year career. It is particularly exciting to be sitting next to this same someone, who I personally grew up watching on T.V. in shows and specials like the unforgettable 'Roots,' and who created some of the most famous roles in show business that have been copied thousands of times by professionals, amateurs and students alike, including 'Judas Iscariot' in Jesus Christ Superstar (Tony nomination), and 'Leading Player' in Pippin (Tony Award). This is a man who has made almost as much of a a name for himself on stage as he has off as an activist for diabetes awareness and arts in education, a motivational speaker, acting coach, mentor, and lecturer in black history (amongst other things) throughout the country.

Producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman announced the complete Broadway cast of AMERICAN IDIOT today. The production will begin previews on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 and open on Broadway Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44 Street).

Bick Goss and Frank Evans, Producing Artistic Directors, continue their 2010 season of Theatrical Thursdays at the Jerry Orbach Theater in the Snapple Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street. On Thursday, Jan 28, 2010, 6:30 PM, Musical Mondays revisits The Dirty Hippie Jam Band Project, the journey of a group of modern day hippies as they follow their favorite band across the country. Music is by Daniel Israel, Lyrics by Phoebe Kreutz and Book by Adam Mathias and Phoebe Kruetz.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its 25th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of Distracted, written by Lisa Loomer. The production is directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and will run January 28 - February 28, 2010 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron Street, Chicago. Press Opening is to be determined.

The Consortium of Theatre Programs at Brown University is proud to announce the first ever Writing is Live, a festival of new work featuring eight plays by writers in Brown's graduate programs.

WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE is Proud To Present NINE from February 18th through April 24th, 2010.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 season, an exploration of the theme of belief, with The Brother/Sister Plays: In the Red and Brown Water, The Brothers Size and Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet by Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau from January 21 - May 23, 2010 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Broken Watch Theatre (Drew DeCorleto, Artistic Director) will celebrate its tenth season by unveiling its newest and most ambition project to date: The Final Draft Production Series. Readings of the three finalists will be presented January 19th 20th and 27th at the Frederick Loewe Room (1501 Broadway, 7th Floor) and are FREE to the public.

Magic To Do: Ben Vereen's one man show, 'An Evening With Ben Vereen,' will dazzle the theater goers in a very special evening to benefit McCarter Theatre on Monday, February 1 at 8pm.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today five of six productions in its 2010/11 subscription season, including the world premiere of Annie Weisman's Surf Report, running June/July in the Mandell Weiss Forum; William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley and featuring an on-stage orchestra playing the music of Mendelssohn, running July/Aug in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; the world-premiere musical comedy A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, book by Robert L. Freedman, music by Steven Lutvak, lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak, starring Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays, running Sept/Oct in the Mandell Weiss Theatre; a new adaptation of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, adapted by Robert Woodruff and Bill Camp, directed by Robert Woodruff, running late Sept/Oct in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; and Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined, running Nov/Dec in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The final production of the 2010/11 season - a musical - will be announced shortly.

As part of its continued commitment to developing New Works, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, is hosting its seventh annual Writers' Retreat with the last day being January 24.

As part of its continued commitment to developing New Works, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, is hosting its seventh annual Writers' Retreat January 17-24.

Red Elevator Productions presents: TOO LITTLE TOO LATE: an evening of original and premiere short plays:

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the second extension of Oh Coward!, words and music by Noel Coward, devised by Roderick Cook. The production, which began its run in November 2009 is directed by Jim Corti, with musical direction by Doug Peck. The production has been extended through April 18, 2010, at Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe.

Fences, August Wilson's powerful story of a fractured African-American family in 1950s Pittsburgh, comes to South Coast Repertory's Segerstrom Stage January 22 through February 21.

The passionate world of opera comes to life in Philadelphia Theatre Company's world premiere of Terrence McNally's Golden Age on January 22 - February 14.

Bick Goss and Frank Evans, Producing Artistic Directors, continue their 2010 season of Theatrical Thursdays at the Jerry Orbach Theater in the Snapple Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street. On Thursday, Jan 28, 2010, 6:30 PM, Musical Mondays revisits The Dirty Hippie Jam Band Project, the journey of a group of modern day hippies as they follow their favorite band across the country. Music is by Daniel Israel, Lyrics by Phoebe Kreutz and Book by Adam Mathias and Phoebe Kruetz.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 season, an exploration of the theme of belief, with The Brother/Sister Plays: In the Red and Brown Water, The Brothers Size and Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet by Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau from January 21 - May 23, 2010 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted.

Pegasus Players will present the Midwest Premiere of Pulitzer Prize nominee and Obie Award-winning playwright Dael Orlandersmith's The Gimmick.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting for NEIGHBORS, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Niegel Smith, the second show of the 2009-2010 Public LAB season. NEIGHBORS begins performances on Tuesday, February 16 and runs through Sunday, March 7. Tickets go on-sale on Wednesday, January 20.