Michael Cumpsty News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: A rare revival of JOHN & JEN opens off-Broadway and more!

This past Monday, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominee Melissa van der Schyff in "The Summer in Winter," an intimate concert of lush jazz standards, a few country classics and some engaging originals. Scroll down for photos!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, Managing Director Jeff Griffin and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its production of Ivan Turgenev's A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, starring Peter Dinklage and Taylor Schilling, will extend through Saturday, February 28 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). The production had been schedules to close February 22. Directed by Erica Schmidt, the cast also includes Peter Appel, Ian Etheridge, Anthony Edwards, Mike Faist, Elizabeth Franz, James Joseph O'Neil, Elizabeth Ramos, Thomas Jay Ryan, Annabella Sciorra, Frank Van Putten, Megan West and Kate Wetherhead.

The Public Theater announced the line-up today for the 2015 FREE Shakespeare in the Park season, continuing a 53-year tradition of free theater in Central Park. Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by founder Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all, The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the Company's mission to increase access and engage the community. This summer, free Shakespeare in the Park will feature Shakespeare's late romances with THE TEMPEST (May 27-July 5), directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, and CYMBELINE (July 27-August 23), directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

Classic Stage Company welcomes Emmy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Anthony Edwards ('ER'), Annabella Sciorra ('The Sopranos') and Tony Award-winner Elizabeth Franz (Death of A Salesman, Brighton Beach Memoirs), alongside Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister on HBO's Game of Thrones) and Taylor Schilling (Piper Chapman on Netflix's Orange Is The New Black) in Ivan Turgenev's A Month in the Country, opening at CSC (136 East 13th Street) tonight, January 29, for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 22.

Don't miss 'Absurd Person Singular,' now on stage at Two River Theater through February 1st. Written by Allen Ayckbourn and directed by Jessica Stone and featuring a stellar cast, this show is a true gem for metropolitan area audiences.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic DirectorJohn Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2014/15 Season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by Jessica Stone. The production runs January 10-February 1, 2015, with the opening night on tonight, January 16 at 8pm. Tickets starting at $20 and ticket packages for Two River's season are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org. Absurd Person Singular is supported by co-sponsor The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. Check out the videos below!

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic DirectorJohn Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2014/15 Season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by Jessica Stone. The production runs January 10-February 1, 2015, with the opening night on tonight, January 16 at 8pm. Tickets starting at $20 and ticket packages for Two River's season are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org. Absurd Person Singular is supported by co-sponsor The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. Check out a first look below!

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2014/15 Season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by Jessica Stone. The production will run through February 1, 2015, with the opening night set for tonight, January 16 at 8pm.

Mary Birdsong will play the role of Marion in 'Absurd Person Singular' at Two River Theater from January 10th through February 1st. Written by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by Jessica Stone, this is a laugh out loud satirical play about English couples who gather at three successive Christmas celebrations.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2014/15 Season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by Jessica Stone. The production will run January 10-February 1, 2015, with the opening night on Friday, January 16 at 8pm. Tickets starting at $20 and ticket packages for Two River's season are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org. Absurd Person Singular is supported by co-sponsor The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

The official opening is Thursday, January 29. The cast will also include Peter Appel, Ian Etheridge, Mike Faist, James Joseph O'Neil, Elizabeth Ramos, Thomas Jay Ryan, Frank Van Putten and Megan West. A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY will be directed by Erica Schmidt.

Classic Stage Company presents its new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Tony Award-winner and CSC Associate Director John Doyle, at CSC (136 East 13th Street) through Sunday, December 14. The official opening night of ALLEGRO is tonight, November 19.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, Managing Director Jeff Griffin, and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Tony Award-winner and CSC Associate Director John Doyle, now in previews at CSC (136 East 13th Street) will extend its limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. The official opening night of ALLEGRO is Wednesday, November 19. The cast of ALLEGRO features George Abud (Charlie Townsend), Alma Cuervo (Grandma Taylor), Elizabeth A. Davis (Jenny Brinker), Claybourne Elder (Joseph Taylor Jr.), David Finch (understudy), Malcolm Gets (Joe Taylor Sr.), Maggie Lakis (Hazel), Megan Loomis (Beulah), Paul Lincoln (Brook Lansdale), Kara Mikula (understudy), Jane Pfitsch (Emily), Randy Redd (Dr. Bigby Denby), Ed Romanoff (Ned Brinker) and Jessica Tyler Wright (Marjorie Taylor).

Second Stage Theatre's production of Terrence McNally's play, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, directed by Peter DuBois, officially opened last night, October 29, 2014. The production features Michael Chernus(Obie Award winner for In the Wake), Tracee Chimo (Lortel Award winner for Bad Jews, 2ST Uptown's Bachelorette), America Ferrera(Emmy Award winner for 'Ugly Betty') andAustin Lysy (2ST's The Water's Edge). BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos from the star-studded theatre arrivals below!

In advance of Classic Stage Company's rare production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1947 musical Allegro, CSC's artistic director Brian Kulick and Tony Award-winning director John Doyle lead a conversation on the legendary team's most personal, groundbreaking and little-known work. The discussion also includes Ted Chapin, president and executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, and cast members George Abud, Claybourne Elder, and Jane Pfitsch.

In advance of Classic Stage Company's rare production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1947 musical Allegro, CSC's artistic director Brian Kulick and Tony Award-winning director John Doyle lead a conversation on the legendary team's most personal, groundbreaking and little-known work. The discussion also includes Ted Chapin, president and executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, and cast members George Abud, Claybourne Elder, and Jane Pfitsch.

In celebration of this season's ON THE TOWN, we've collected 10 of our favorite dance musicals. From classics like ANYTHING GOES, 42ND STREET, A CHORUS LINE and WEST SIDE STORY to modern marvels such as NEWSIES and STRICTLY BALLROOM, the way choreography is used to tell a story continues to evolve and inspire.

Signature Theatre presents the U.S. Premiere of And I and Silence by Naomi Wallace, directed by Caitlin McLeod. The production runs now through September 14, 2014. The show opened last night, August 25, in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big night below!

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, has concluded its 20th Anniversary Season, highlighted by far-reaching new-play development activities supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The season was bookended by the Two River directorial debuts of acclaimed actors Joel Grey (Paul Osborn's On Borrowed Time) and Michael Cumpsty (Wendy Wasserstein's Third).