Michele Pawk News

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director,Casey Reitz, Executive Director) presents the world premiere production of THE LAYOVER, written by Leslye Headland and directed by Trip Cullman. BroadwayWorld was on hand for opening night and you can check out photos from the red carpet below!

Himself and Nora, a new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Brielleis currently in previews at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Directed by Michael Bush, produced by Cherie King and executive produced by R. Erin Craig, Himself and Nora officially opened last night, June 6th. Check out photos from the red carpet arrivals below!

Second Stage Theatre, in association with Stacey MindichProductions, just last night opened the new musical, Dear Evan Hansen, featuring Ben Platt as the title character. Also reprising their performances from the 'splendid (Marks, Washington Post) DC cast are Laura Dreyfuss as Zoe, Mike Faist as Connor, Rachel Bay Jones as Heidi, Will Roland as Jared, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Cynthia. New cast members John Dossett (Larry) and Kristolyn Lloyd (Alana) complete the company.

?The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders sponsors students from Union County high schools to participate in the first annual Drama Festival next week in Rahway.

?The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support American Theater Group (ATG), one of New Jersey's newest nonprofit theatre companies, in the American premiere of Joe Slabe's new musical Crossing Swords at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage in Rahway April 21 to May 1.

Tony Award-winner and Broadway veteran Michele Pawk will direct A Chorus Line, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical at Wagner College Theatre, April 13-24.

 Wagner College Theatre will host a fundraiser, MUSIC AMONG FRIENDS, featuring Theater faculty members Dr. Lauri Young, Theresa McCarthy, Michele Pawk and Amy Williams, on Saturday, March 19 at 7pm at Wagner College's Performance Center.

Penguin Rep Theatre, under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, announces its 2016 season, the professional Equity company's 39th at its home in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York, a season filled with current and controversial subject matter.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) concludes its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of BLINK, written by Kate Moira Ryan and directed by Mark Armstrong.

The award-winning Wagner College Theatre presents a reimagined production of Gilbert & Sullivan's topsy-turvy musical Iolanthe from February 24-March 6, 2016 in the Main Hall Theatre.

Today in 1992, Crazy for You opened at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for 1622 performances. Crazy for You is a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as 'The New Gershwin Musical Comedy', it is largely based on the songwriting team's 1930 musical, Girl Crazy, but interpolates songs from several other productions as well. Crazy for You won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production was directed by Mike Ockrent and choreographed by Susan Stroman.The cast included Jodi Benson as Polly, Harry Groener as Bobby Child, Bruce Adler as Bela Zangler, John Hillner as Lank Hawkins, Michele Pawk as Irene Roth, Jane Connell as Mother, and Beth Leavel as Tess.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) continues its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of Evanston: A Rare Comedy, written by Michael Yates Crowley. This reading, directed by Michael Rau, will be performed for one night only on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 7pm at SOPAC (One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079). The reading is $15 and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at www.sopacnow.org or by calling 973-313-ARTS (2787).

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) will present LET IT SING! Broadway Comes Home for the Holidays, a one-night-only benefit concert on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 7:30pm at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079).

In this week's edition, we caught up with Alex B, who stars as 'Voice of Moritz/Guitar' in Spring Awakening, currently playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) will present LET IT SING! Broadway Comes Home for the Holidays, a one-night-only benefit concert on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 7:30pm at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079). Tickets are $30-$50 and can be purchased at www.sopacnow.org or by calling 973-313-ARTS (2787). For direct link to purchase tickets, please Click Here.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) continues its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of WHAT GOD HATH WROUGHT ~ A TRANSATLANTIC FARCE, written by John Walch, with songs by Rachel Peters.

The world premiere musical First Daughter Suite, written by Michael John LaChiusa, and debuting at The Public Theater, directed by Kirsten Sanderson, runs now through Sunday, November 15, the show just opened last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out photos from the festivities below!

BroadwayWorld has just learned that film, television, and theatre actor Geoffrey Arend (MADAM SECRETARY on CBS) will be joining previously announced Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus in Midtown Direct Rep's staged reading of THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF NOW, a new play written by Y York and directed by Will Pomerantz.  Broadway actress Marni Raab (The Phantom of the Opera) will read the stage directions. 

It's sad faces all around as BroadwayWorld bids farewell to Tony Award nominee Sydney Lucas who plays her final performance in Broadway's Fun Home today, Sunday, October 4. Below, we take a look back at the pint-sized star's journey with the production!

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR), kicks off its 2015-16 season at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with Theatre in the Loft, a series of staged readings of new plays and musicals. The Impossibility of Now, written by Y York and directed by Will Pomerantz, will be performed for one night only on Sunday, October 18, 2016 at 7pm at SOPAC (One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079).