Michael Riedel News

Nominations for the 2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, which honor outstanding dance and choreography on stage and screen, were announced today at the Friar's Club by New York Post columnist Michael Riedel. For the first time, the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards have explored recognizing excellence in dance, movement, and choreography off-Broadway. Twenty eligible shows in the non-profit and commercial off-Broadway arenas met the eligibility requirements and were considered.

Today's big news: Broadway's best gather for tonight's 2016 New York Pops Gala, this year's August Wilson Monologue Competition is this evening, and the cast of WAITRESS hits the recording studio, so stay tuned for coverage!

The Arts Club of Washington has just announced that the winner of the tenth annual Marfield Prize, the National Award for Arts Writing, is Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway by Michael Riedel.

Favorite guest Frank Langella returns to THEATER TALK to discuss his spellbinding, critically acclaimed performance as André, a man in the early-to-mid-stages of dementia, in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of Florian Zeller's The Father, directed by Doug Hughes.  Revealing that he's “never been so frightened of a part…we're all frightened of this; it terrifies; there's no way back from this disease,” he also tells co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins that his brother is in the early stages of the disorder.

Could David Bowie and Enda Walsh's divisive new musical LAZARUS, which premiered last year Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop, soon land in London?

Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro returns to THEATER TALK for a timely Shakespeare 400th Death-Day Anniversary Special, culled from two previous Shapiro appearances on the series and merged to celebrate Shakespeare's 452nd birthday next week and acknowledge the 400th anniversary of his death on April 23, 1616. Shapiro discusses two of his books in separate segments, Shakespeare in America – An Anthology from the Revolution to Now (with Shapiro as Editor, published by the Library of America) and The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606 (published by Simon and Schuster).

Cher's much-hyped biomusical could soon light up Broadway. 

Sunday night's performance of Villain: DeBlanks SPACE HOLE! closed out the comedy-benefit's monthly run at The Triad NYC. Produced by Tony-nominee Brenda Braxton, who also starred in the latest performance, Villain: DeBlanks has been a genuine fan-favorite, offering audiences the chance to meet & mingle with the all-star casts while also providing them ridiculous words to add to the show's unpredictability.

An all-new THEATER TALK presents playwright Danai Gurira, actress Lupita Nyong'o and director Liesl Tommy discussing their collaboration on Eclipsed, Gurira's powerful drama about young women kidnapped and used as 'wives' by warlords in the Liberian civil war. The play explores the women's strategies to survive and their struggle to find a way out of their situation for all the women in their country.

On Sunday, Billy Mitchell's Villain: DeBlanks ended a triumphant six-month run at New York City's The Triad. The all-star cast, led by producer Brenda Braxton, brought the house down with Mitchell's latest script, Space Hole!.

Doug Plaut (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Preppie Connection) has joined tonight's cast of Villain: DeBlanks SPACE HOLE! at The Triad NYC. Previously announced Eric Ulloa has had to withdraw due to illness.

Tony Award-winning director Pam MacKinnon sat down with The Buffalo News for an interview earlier this year at the Metro Diner on the Upper West Side. The article describes the diner as somewhat similar to MacKinnon herself, saying, 'The Metro skips glitz, and so does Pam MacKinnon.'

Joel Grey recently took part in Curran: Under Construction's 'Groundbreakers with Kevin Sessums' series on Tuesday, March 8 7:00 p.m., where he opened up about his storied life and career, touching upon his many roles including the Emcee in Cabaret, his history at the Curran, his 25+ year marriage and his decision to publicly come out last year at the age of 82. The evening will be one filled with show biz dish, heartfelt conversation, and even a performance or two. Check out highlights from the interview below!

Laugh your (BODY PART)_____ off at 'Brenda Braxton presents Villain: DeBlanks' on April 3 -- the final installment of our monhtly run at The Triad NYC. A portion of proceeds from each performance will benefit the Humane Society of New York.

On Monday, February 29, Villain: DeBlanks SPACE HOLE! made its West Coast premiere at Rockwell Table & Stage in LA, benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The hilarious, one-night performance starred Nicole Parker, Barrett Foa, Mary Birdsong, Tom Lenk, Gabrielle Ruiz & Greg Ainsworth, and the special media guest was Tom Perumean of KABC-LA. Scroll down for photos from the event!

An all-new THEATER TALK presents an interview with writer James Grissom. In 1982 at age 20, Grissom met playwright Tennessee Williams. He became the famous writer's confidant, took copious notes of their conversations, and - encouraged by Williams (who died the year after they met) - went on to interview many of the great actresses who had worked with the master dramatist about their impressions of him and the impact of his work. Grissom then compiled their insights about one of the most gifted and complex American playwrights into his wonderful book, FOLLIES OF GOD - Tennessee Williams and the Women of the Fog, now published by Alfred A. Knopf.

An all-new THEATER TALK presents an interview with writer James Grissom. In 1982 at age 20, Grissom met playwright Tennessee Williams. He became the famous writer's confidant, took copious notes of their conversations, and - encouraged by Williams (who died the year after they met) - went on to interview many of the great actresses who had worked with the master dramatist about their impressions of him and the impact of his work. Grissom then compiled their insights about one of the most gifted and complex American playwrights into his wonderful book, FOLLIES OF GOD - Tennessee Williams and the Women of the Fog, now published by Alfred A. Knopf.

An all-new THEATER TALK showcases the acclaimed Broadway revival of the musical The Color Purple, based on the novel by Alice Walker, now at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.  Guests are director John Doyle and the show's powerful leading ladies - Jennifer Hudson ("Shug"), Cynthia Erivo ("Celie") and Danielle Brooks ("Sofia").

Carole Shorenstein Hays announced today the next two subjects of Groundbreakers with Kevin Sessums, Curran: Under Construction's on-stage series of conversation and performance featuring today's most compelling thought leaders and artists. 

Theater critic Jesse Green (New York Magazine) and theater journalists Michael Musto (Out.com) and Patrick Pacheco (NY1 News) join co-hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins for the annual Spring Season Preview of upcoming Broadway and Off-Broadway productions on an all-new THEATER TALK.