Michael Murphy News

1959 was a heck of a good year for Broadway overtures.  The majestic trumpet fanfare and lowdown bump and grind of Gypsy's is generally regarded as the best in musical theatre, but there was also the rousingly rhythmic curtain-raiser to Fiorello! and, my personal favorite, Philip J. Lang's beautiful interpretation of Bob Merrill's music for Take Me Along, which touches on so many moods of the show while continually building the toe-tapping climax of The catchy title tune.

Bailiwick Repertory artists and friends will gather at the Bailiwick Arts Center , 1229 West Belmont, on December 29th to bid FAREWELL TO 1229: Fifteen Years of Great Musicals from POPE JOAN to HUNCHBACK. The special benefit performance features musical selections POPE JOAN, PARADE, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, DR. SEX, Q, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, JERRY SPRINGER ? THE OPERA, THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

Toronto's production of 'THE SOUND OF MUSIC' has been extended to March 29, 2009. Tickets for the extended weeks go on sale November 17th 2008.

Due to popular demand and sold out performances, NYMF has added performances of Max and the Truffle Pig with Kevin Michael Murphy and Play It Cool with Sally Mayes and Josh Strickland.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), in association with Martin Hummel, present the New York premiere of the new comedy, Love Child, written and performed by Daniel Jenkins (Mary Poppins, Big River) and Robert Stanton (The Coast of Utopia, All in the Timing), as an added event of the 2008-2009 season. Under the direction of Carl Forsman, performances are set to begin Sunday evening, October 12, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and will run in repertory with A Body of Water by Lee Blessing for a limited engagement through November 19, 2008. Opening night is October 26, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and KIM VASQUEZ/ GRAYLADY ENTERTAINMENT, INC. present NYMF's only Children's musical this year, MAX AND THE TRUFFLE PIG

Fn Productions, a New York-based Off-Off Broadway theatre company, will present Frank Blockers' 'Suite Atlanta' at the 78th Street Theatre Lab from July 10th through the 26th.

Fn Productions, a New York-based Off-Off Broadway theatre company, will present Frank Blockers' 'Suite Atlanta' at the 78th Street Theatre Lab from July 10th through the 26th.

Bernard Law could not have a better representative than Sam Babbitt, who has the unenviable task of portraying the notorious Cardinal

Sin is a collage of testimonies surrounding controversial church leader Cardinal Bernard Law, whose governance of his diocese was scrutinized when years of sexual abuse by priests under his authority were finally revealed

When a middle-aged therapist starts a correspondence with a young state prisoner, the therapist gets far more than he bargained for in Frawley Becker's new play Tiger by the Tail, opening March 24th (8PM) at downtown's Wings Theatre (154 Christopher Street).

Kristen Johnston and Cynthia Nixon host the New Group's 10 Years Off-Broadway benefit, which will also feature performances from John Cullum, Nellie McKay and the casts of Avenue Q and Hurlyburly

The 50th Annual Drama Desk Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday, May 22. The big winners of the night were Doubt and The Light in the Piazza, each of whom received 5 awards. Outstanding Musical however, went to Spamalot.

Spamalot leads the pack with 12 nominations, followed by Light in the Piazza with 11, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with 10. Click in to see all the nominees.

In a first-time co-production, The New Group and The Play Company are pleased to present the American premiere of Terrorism. Written by the Presnyakov Brothers and directed by Will Frears, Terrorism will play a limited Off-Broadway engagement Monday, May 9th through Sunday, June 26th at The Clurman Theater/Theatre Row.

Written by David Rabe, Hurlyburly depicts the addled lives of four Los Angeles men caught in love-hate relationships with Hollywood women.

Opening tonight - Monday, March 7th at 8:00 pm. Commedia del arte meets the Looney Tunes in Holly Golden's Servant of Two Masters, a fast-paced, punky update of the Italian comedy classic.

Commedia del arte meets the Looney Tunes in Holly Golden's Servant of Two Masters, a fast-paced, punky update of the Italian comedy classic. Play Practice Theater Company and THiS Theatre Company present this new adaptation at PS122 Downstairs, 150 First Avenue (at 9th Street) beginning next week - Saturday, March 5th.

The New Group will present the first New York revival of Hurlyburly by David Rabe as the second show of its 2004-2005 mainstage season. This limited Off-Broadway engagement will run Tuesday, January 11th through Saturday, March 5th at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening set for Thursday, January 27th @ 6:30 PM.

The New Group will present the first New York revival of Hurlyburly by David Rabe as the second show of its 2004-2005 mainstage season.