Michael Donovan News

SLEEPLESS, which will begin socially distanced indoor performances at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on 25 August, will begin using a new accurate COVID-19 test on cast, musicians, crew and theatre staff on a daily basis during rehearsals and during the run of the show. ests results will be sent directly to crew, cast and staff phones via a secure app within an hour of a swab being taken.

SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle, will premiere at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London on Tuesday 1 September 2020, with previews from 25 August. The limited season will run until Sunday 27 September 2020.  Performances will begin pending Government guidance.  Audiences will be socially distanced and the producers and venue will follow COVID-secure guidelines for cast, crew and audiences.

Over 150 actors, dancers and musicians including Harvey Fierstein, Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth, Teri Hatcher, Matthew Morrison, Martin Short and more came together to create an at-home video of “You Can't Stop The Beat,” the joyful finale from Hairspray, as a celebration to raise money and awareness for The Actors Fund's Emergency Relief efforts.

Sue Simmerling, owner of costume design company Carry on Costumes, is doing her bit to help the NHS in its battle against COVID-19. Sue was contacted by fellow designer Dulcie Scott, who started the crowdfunding group 'Helping Dress Medics'. The group's aim is to purchase fabrics that are then made into scrubs for the NHS medics dealing with the virus in hospitals.

The cast is set for Pulitzer-winning playwright Annie Baker's sharp new comedy, a?oeThe Antipodes,a?? at the Mark Taper Forum March 25 through April 26, 2020. Directed by Machel Ross based on Lila Neugebauer's original direction of the world premiere at Signature Theatre, leads the Center Theatre Group production opens April 1. 

Foursome Productions and Adriano Aragon have announced the limited San Francisco's engagement of David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW, directed by Peter Allas. The production will run from March 18 a?" April 4, 2020 at San Francisco's Gateway Theatre (215 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111), with the press opening on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $30 - $65 (with group discounts available) and can be purchased at speedtheplowsf.org.

International City Theatre opens its 35th anniversary season with a madcap musical salute to the swinging '40s. Written and created by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wondrettes, Life Could Be A Dream), and with director/choreographer Jamie Torcellini at the helm, The Andrews Brothers opens on Feb. 21 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue through March 8, with two low-priced previews set for Feb. 19 and Feb. 20.

Jay McGuiness, Kimberley Walsh and Daniel Casey will star as Sam, Annie and Walter respectively in SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle. They are joined by Harriet Thorpe as Eleanor, Tania Mathurin as Becky and Jake Sharp as Rob. SLEEPLESS will premiere in London on 1 April 2020 at the newly opened Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London, with previews from 24 March.

The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, the arts center of the Archdiocese of New York, has announced highlights of its 2020 Spring season, a rich mix of theater, film, music, author's nights, gallery exhibitions, and talk events featuring artists and thought leaders including Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal columnist and author Peggy Noonan; New York Times columnist and bestselling author David Brooks, and Director of The Philanthropy Roundtable's Character Initiative and author Anne Snyder; Director of the Vatican Observatory and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation Br. Guy Consolmagno, SJ; a rousing evening of gospel music from Vy Higginsen's Sing Harlem choir; celebrated composer and big bandleader Darcy James Argue plus the New England Conservatory Alumni Big Band; Tony Award nominee Melissa Errico and multi-award winning New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik; singer, songwriter, and acclaimed clawhammer banjo player Abigail Washburn and genre-bending composer, guzheng virtuoso and vocalist from Beijing Wu Fei; and events tackling thought-provoking topical themes including justice in underserved communities, the protection of immigrants to America, and the inspiration of Sr. Thea Bowman and other Servants of God.

David Carver Music presents HAMLET THE ROCK MUSICAL featuring music and lyrics by Cliff Jones and additional music, lyrics and orchestrations by Craig Fair.

David Carver Music will present HAMLET THE ROCK MUSICAL featuring music and lyrics by Cliff Jones and additional music, lyrics and orchestrations by Craig Fair.

Casting Society of America honored excellence in casting across feature films, television and theatre at the 35th Annual Artios Awards held on Thursday, January 30 at ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles, and London. The New York ceremony was hosted by Michelle Buteau at Stage 48, Ron Funches hosted in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton, and Jason Isaacs hosted in London at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square.

International City Theatre opens its 35th anniversary season with a madcap musical salute to the swinging '40s. Written and created by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wondrettes, Life Could Be A Dream), and with director/choreographer Jamie Torcellini at the helm, The Andrews Brothers opens on Feb. 21 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue through March 8, with two low-priced previews set for Feb. 19 and Feb. 20.

In 1976 on Broadway, just 11 songs into the 2-hour performance, the audience erupted into a show stopping standing ovation. That, and the well-earned nightly show-ending standing ovations proved how powerful and moving this musical was in '76 and will be again in February, with the re-imagined 21st century version of Hamlet The Rock Musical.

Following a record number of nominations and votes, winners have been announced for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, brought to you by TodayTix!! The nominees were set, audiences voted, and now we get to recognize local theatres and performers for their outstanding achievement!

Following a record number of nominations and votes, winners have been announced for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, brought to you by TodayTix!! The nominees were set, audiences voted, and now we get to recognize local theatres and performers for their outstanding achievement!

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) announced today that they will present the critically-acclaimed play LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL by Lanie Robertson.

Rock of Ages Hollywood will open on January 15th at a specially built performance venue and nightlife destination on Hollywood Boulevard named after the venue at the center of the show, The Bourbon Room. With 6 years on Broadway and over 2,350 performances, 5 Tony Nominations, 12+ productions worldwide and featuring 30 hit songs from the 80s, Rock of Ages is the best-reviewed- most-nominated-longest-running-hair-band musical of all time. Rock of Ages Hollywood began preview performances in December.

Garry Marshall Theatre will open its doors for a very special concert fundraiser - Songs For Lincoln - in honor of Lincoln McCoy on Sunday, January 12, 2020. Lincoln is the newborn son of actors Josie and Josey McCoy ('Zeke' in the marshallARTS musical The Root Beer Bandits).

There's just one final week to submit votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Maine Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!