Michael Smith News

The 23rd ANNUAL EASTER BONNET COMPETITION was a great success with $3,402,147 being raised this year by the participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. Since it began in 1987, 23 editions of the Annual Easter Bonnet Competition have raised nearly $38 million for BC/EFA.

Spring has arrived and the The Ringwald is taking a break from the blood and the camp to bring Detroit the Michigan Premiere of the new one-man musical, Songs from an Unmade Bed. Opening Saturday, May 9th at 8PM, Songs from an Unmade Bed will play Saturdays ? Mondays for an exclusive four-week engagement ending on Monday, June 1st.

THE THERESA FOUNDATION presented a concert performance of 'EXTRAORDINARY' to benefit the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts. 'EXTRAORDINARY' was performed at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (between West 4th and Astor Place) on Monday, March 30th at 7:00pm.

THE THERESA FOUNDATION is pleased to announce a concert performance of 'EXTRAORDINARY' to benefit the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts. 'EXTRAORDINARY' performs at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (between West 4th and Astor Place) on Monday, March 30th at 7:00pm. For additional information, visit www.extraordinarythemusical.com.

For 35 years, Pulitzer Prize winning THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY has nurtured hundreds of playwrights through its EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM. In June, 2006, we launched NEW CITY , NEW BLOOD, a play reading series designed to serve our audiences and writers even better. Curated by Michael Scott-Price, TNC Literary Manager, NEW CITY , NEW BLOOD will provide a hearing for worthy plays in earlier stages of Development. Audiences will get the opportunity to provide feedback, and artists will gain valuable insight from audience response. Be sure to check www.theaterforthenewcity.net for details about upcoming readings. Please join us!

THE THERESA FOUNDATION is pleased to announce a concert performance of 'EXTRAORDINARY' to benefit the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts. 'EXTRAORDINARY' performs at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (between West 4th and Astor Place) on Monday, March 30th at 7:00pm. For additional information, visit www.extraordinarythemusical.com.

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys and Understudies with its next editions of At This Performance... to be held on Monday, March 9th at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, (above the Promenade Theatre- Broadway at 76th Street), 3rd Floor at 8 PM.

For 35 years, Pulitzer Prize winning THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY has nurtured hundreds of playwrights through its EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM. In June, 2006, we launched NEW CITY , NEW BLOOD, a play reading series designed to serve our audiences and writers even better. Curated by Michael Scott-Price, TNC Literary Manager, NEW CITY , NEW BLOOD will provide a hearing for worthy plays in earlier stages of Development. Audiences will get the opportunity to provide feedback, and artists will gain valuable insight from audience response. Be sure to check www.theaterforthenewcity.net for details about upcoming readings. Please join us!

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys and Understudies with its next editions of At This Performance... to be held on Monday, March 9th at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, (above the Promenade Theatre- Broadway at 76th Street), 3rd Floor at 8 PM.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is pleased to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday, February 14th with a special evening that includes a three course dinner (specially prepared by Executive Chef Joe Marcus) and special musical performance, featuring acclaimed vocalist LISA ASHER. Please join us at 7:30pm for dinner and show (house opens at 6:30). Show only tickets are also available.* The Laurie Beechman Theatre, a sophisticated yet casual venue, is located within The West Bank Caf? at 407 West 42nd St. (@9th Ave).

Famous People Players Dine and Dream Theatre announces Leave The Porchlight On for 1/2009-4/2009. This show is an inspiring black-light musical based on the true evolution of Famous PEOPLE Players. Troubled youngster Chloe, a wildflower, is sent to perform community service with the troupe. Chloe's relationship with Famous PEOPLE Players, though difficult at times, shows her that hope can survive and flourish in the most unexpected of places. Something as small as the beam from a single porch light can make the difference to a soul, searching for care and guidance.* Character voices by Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Nathan Lane, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Michael Burgess and Catherine McKinnon. Music by the late Doug Riley.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is pleased to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday, February 14th with a special evening that includes a three course dinner (specially prepared by Executive Chef Joe Marcus) and special musical performance, featuring acclaimed vocalist LISA ASHER. Please join us at 7:30pm for dinner and show (house opens at 6:30). Show only tickets are also available.* The Laurie Beechman Theatre, a sophisticated yet casual venue, is located within The West Bank Caf? at 407 West 42nd St. (@9th Ave).

The contest to replace the 'George Bush' line in the finale 'For Now' in the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q (on Broadway at the Golden Theatre and on national tour) resulted in over 2,000 entries from contest participants coast-to-coast in the United States, as well as from overseas in Brazil, Australia, Ukraine and Israel, to name a few. On Friday, January 15th, the winners were revealed in a special press event, the entire Avenue Q gang was there and so was BroadwayWorld! AVENUE Q -- which opened on Broadway in 2003 and six years later continues to entertain audiences on Broadway (at the Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45 St.), on national tour and in London's West End -- concludes with the musical number 'For Now,' which reminds us that 'everything in life is only for now,' including 'sex, your hair and George Bush.' The contest (conducted Dec. 22, 2008 to Jan. 12, 2009) invited the general public to submit suggestions for a new lyric to replace 'George Bush' as he will leave the office of President of the United States on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009 and forfeit his spot as a lyric in a hit Broadway show, as well.

Victory Gardens Theater is offering two chances to go behind-the-scenes of The Snow Queen, the company?s smash hit holiday musical, sledding back into town for her third go-around as Chicago's #1 alternative to traditional holiday fare.

Younger audiences, Lincoln Park residents, families, and musical theater enthusiasts: get more out of your live theater experience - at the same price as a regular ticket - when you chose to attend any of these special events scheduled in association with the smash hit holiday musical The Snow Queen, playing November 28 through December 29 at the Victory Gardens' Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago:

Actress Carey Anderson, best known as Sophie in MAMMA MIA, returns to the Broadway cast of AVENUE Q as the Tony Award-winning musical's beloved puppet characters Kate Monster and Lucy, beginning Monday, November 24 at 8PM at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

Actress Carey Anderson, best known as Sophie in MAMMA MIA, returns to the Broadway cast of AVENUE Q as the Tony Award-winning musical's beloved puppet characters Kate Monster and Lucy, beginning Monday, November 24 at 8PM at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

Actress Carey Anderson, best known as Sophie in MAMMA MIA, returns to the Broadway cast of AVENUE Q as the Tony Award-winning musical's beloved puppet characters Kate Monster and Lucy, beginning Monday, November 24 at 8PM at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

Victory Gardens Theater is offering two chances to go behind-the-scenes of The Snow Queen, the company?s smash hit holiday musical, sledding back into town for her third go-around as Chicago's #1 alternative to traditional holiday fare.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company will pay tribute to late literary legend Studs Terkel with a free staged reading with music of Will the Circle Be Unbroken?, adapted by Derek Goldman from Terkel's book Will the Circle Be Unbroken?