Michael Cerveris News

Straight, a new play co-authored by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola, with direction by Tony Award-winner Andy Sandberg (Hair; The Last Smoker in America), will present two invitation-only readings in New York on Monday, September 26, 2011.

Today we are continuing the male-centric portion of our ongoing series of interviews with the stars of Lifetime's DROP DEAD DIVA with the boss of the legal practice on the show and the main love interest for Kate Levering's character, Kim: the affable and charming stage and screen star Josh Stamberg. In addition to dishing all about Season 3 of DROP DEAD DIVA and the future for Parker, Kim and company at the legal firm, Stamberg and I also discuss many of the various guest stars on the show this season and seasons past - Liza Minnelli, Sharon Lawrence and Faith Prince included - as well as how he sees Parker himself, his own insights into the complex character and what he feels the future holds for his relationships on the show - Kim, Jane and beyond. In addition to all things DIVA-related, Stamberg and I also discuss his many past stage and screen appearances, including: his unforgettable work as Sarge on SIX FEET UNDER and what it was like working with creator Alan Ball, as well as his role on the Aaron Sorkin-scripted series STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, plus: working at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and Atlantic Theatre Company, doing the workshop of A STEADY RAIN (and eventually getting replaced by Hugh Jackman), doing FRACTURED with Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins, acting alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Watts in Clint Eastwood's forthcoming film J. EDGAR, his favorite work experiences so far, roles he is yearning to essay in the future both near and far and much, much more! Over the course of the last several weeks, we have been taking an extensive look at the sights and sounds both onscreen and onset of the hit TV dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA - new episodes airing Sunday nights at 9 PM on Lifetime - featuring exclusive interviews with the leading lady divas and stalwart supporting men on the LA-based supernatural legal series. Featuring a memorable collection of musical performances and Broadway guest stars over the years - Paula Abdul, Rosie O'Donnell, Delta Burke and many more included - DROP DEAD DIVA is the quintessential TV series for Broadway babies looking for some laughs and levity - the latter available in many more ways than one, given the show's heavenly aspirations. DROP DEAD DIVA centers on a legal eagle named Jane whose body acts as the means for the indomitable spirit of a model, Deb, who loses her life, to make a second chance and how the girl inside must learn to adjust to looking like the woman on the outside that she is now. In other words, a model finds out what it means to look like everybody else in a delightfully quirky twist of fate - and learns to be a lawyer along the way, as well. Season Three picked up with the cliffhanger car crash that closed last season in a dark and shocking way. Questions and posed and answered so far: What will Grayson remember of the conversation he had with Jane pre-crash? What will Jane do to save him? What about his engagement (to somebody else)? What will happen back at the office with Teri, Kim and Parker? What about Stacy and Fred? Indeed, all of these questions and many more will most assuredly be answered come the next two Sunday nights! Plus, as always, there's always a musical number or two not too far off if you stay tuned - such as last month's BroadwayWorld exclusive world premiere of "Lean On Me"! Will there be a musical grand finale after all? We shall soon see! Also, don't forget to check out the past interviews in this BRIDGING TV & THEATRE series - Margaret Cho, Kate Levering, April Bowlby, Sharon Lawrence, Faith Prince and Jackson Hurst included! There are only a few episodes of Season Three left - airing Sundays at 9 PM on Lifetime, as always, throughout September until the finale on September 25 - so be sure to check back here in coming weeks for chats with Ben Feldman and the titular diva herself, plus maybe even a surprise or two, too!

McCarter Theatre Center will open its 2011/2012 season with John Doyle's Ten Cents A Dance: The Music of Rodgers and Hart Friday, September 16 and runs through Sunday, October 9. Ten Cent A Dance is a co-production with Williamstown Theatre Festival where it recently completed a successful run. The show previews Friday, September 9 through Thursday, September 15.

Revelation Readings is an OBIE Award-Winning ongoing series presenting staged readings of new plays and rarely-performed classic texts.

The Public Theater announced the first Public Forum of the 2011-2012 season, 'The 9/11 Decade: New York and America After the Towers.' Moderated by Alec Baldwin, the discussion will immediately follow the 7:30 p.m. performance of Richard Nelson's Sweet and Sad at The Public Theater on Thursday, September 8. Additional guests to be announced at a later date.

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Joey Parnes Interim Executive Director) has announced the line-up of the best-selling author and journalist Kurt Andersen, Pulitzer Prize-winner Carl Bernstein, and the playwright and director of Sweet and Sad Richard Nelson, for the first Public Forum of the 2011-2012 season, 'The 9/11 Decade: New York and America After The Towers.'

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Joey Parnes Interim Executive Director) is proud to announce the line-up of the best-selling author and journalist Kurt Andersen, Pulitzer Prize-winner Carl Bernstein, and the playwright and director of Sweet and Sad Richard Nelson, for the first Public Forum of the 2011-2012 season, 'The 9/11 Decade: New York and America After The Towers.' Hosted by Alec Baldwin, the discussion will take place at The Public Theater on Thursday, September 8. Single tickets to this special event, which includes the 7:30 p.m. performance of Sweet and Sad and The Public Forum immediately following, are $25, and can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555.

Tony Award-winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman delighted students as their special surprise guests during the Broadway Artists Alliance 2011 Summer Intensive Session One. Shaiman and Wittman lent their talents for a surprise Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance. Following the Q&A, they led a Song Interpretation master class.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA opening on Broadway in the spring of 2012 at The Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway. SEt to star in the production are Ricky Martin (Che), Michael Cerveris (Juan Peron) and, in her Broadway debut, Olivier Award Winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger (Eva). Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage and Tony Award winner Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph, respectively. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago. Martin, who is just starting vocal rehearsals, recently posted a photo on his Facebook page of the score for the show. Check it out below!

The Amoralists are proud to present HotelMotel, a site-specific theatrical event featuring the New York Premiere of Animals and Plants, written and directed by Obie Award-winner Adam Rapp, and the World Premiere of Pink Knees on Pale Skin, written and directed by Derek Ahonen. HotelMotel began Off-Broadway performances on August 4, and continues to run through August 29 at The Gershwin Hotel, located at 7 East 27 Street between Madison & Fifth Avenues in New York City.

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced today that Michael Cerveris will star as Juan Peron in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA opening on Broadway in the spring of 2012 at The Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway. Cerveris joins the previously announced world renowned music artist Ricky Martin (Che) and, in her Broadway debut, Olivier Award Winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger (Eva). Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage and Tony Award winner Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph, respectively. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago.

Tony Award-winning actress Nikki M. James delighted students as their special surprise guest during the Broadway Artists Alliance 2011 Summer Workshop. Ms. James (currently starring the the Tony Award-winning The Book of Mormon) lent her talents for a surprise Q&A with the students of Broadway Artists Alliance.

The Public Theater announced the first Public Forum of the 2011-2012 season, 'The 9/11 Decade: New York and America After the Towers.' Moderated by Alec Baldwin, the discussion will immediately follow the 7:30 p.m. performance of Richard Nelson's Sweet and Sad at The Public Theater on Thursday, September 8. Additional guests to be announced at a later date.

Primary Stages Marvin and Anne Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), the company's professional training school, has announced its 2011 Fall schedule of classes. ESPA will offer new classes including Acting the Song, Character Acting, and Directing and Producing. New instructors Liz Duffy Adams, Charles Busch, Dominic D'Andrea, A.R. Gurney, Michael Cerveris and Cheri Magid join returning faculty members Tanya Barfield, Karen Braga, Bekah Brunstetter, Michelle Bossy, Denis Butkus, Kara Lee Corthon, Carl Forsman, Jane Guyer Fujita, Jackson Gay, Randy Graff, Adam Gwon, Josh Hecht, Lila Rose Kaplan, Kait Kerrigan, Stephanie Klapper, Primary Stages Artistic Director Andrew Leynse, Linda and David Laundra, Michele Lowe, Rogelio Martinez, Winter Miller, Adam Reist, Richard Topol, Edwin Sanchez, Julian Sheppard, Daniel Talbott, Ken Urban and Kim Weild.

With Annie returning to Broadway in 2012, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City will present the second of several Annie-themed master classes. They are thrilled to announce that Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle, will be leading the class on Monday, July 25th. A representative from Telsey & Co., the casting directors for the revival, will also be present to lead an audition technique class. Space is limited, and only a few spots remain available.

With Annie returning to Broadway in 2012, Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City will present the second of several Annie-themed master classes. They are thrilled to announce that Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle, will be leading the class on Monday, July 25th. A representative from Telsey & Co., the casting directors for the revival, will also be present to lead an audition technique class. Space is limited, and only a few spots remain available.

The award-winning East Lynne Theater Company is proud to present a world premiere based on the works of this famous Algonquin Round Table personality. Titled 'The World of Dorothy Parker,' it is adapted and directed by Gayle Stahlhuth, and runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. from July 27- Sept. 3 at The First Presbyterian Church

Ann Arbor's professional theatre turns 30 next year, and as the award-winning troupe wraps up its 29th season with record-breaking attendance, PNT announces its long-awaited 30th anniversary season.

Random Unrelated Projects, the first feature film by award-winning independent filmmaker/playwright Aaron Mark (Zbornik Developing, Commentary), featuring a cast of Broadway veterans, will be screened on Saturday, July 2nd at 9:00 PM at Anthology Film Archives as part of NewFilmmakers New York (newfilmmakers.com).

5th Floor Productions will revive the musical Assassins for a limited run at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Chelsea. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, Assassins will open June 22nd for six performances through June 26th.