Murray Abraham News

THE 15th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS will bring together under one roof in just three days a multitude of performing artists - actors, dancers, singers, painters, sculptors, playwrights, performance artists, poets, etc. -- all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, artistically rich Lower East Side -- for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, will turn 50 this coming Monday, May 3, 2010. Three days of celebration are planned to commemorate this historic occasion.

Sonnet Repertory Theatre and Matchbook Productions proudly present Richard II at The Tank this May, bringing an uncommon aspect to this classic: flight. Re-imagined as a tale told by Nineteenth Century artists railing against Imperialism, eight actors, four low-flying trapezes and live music combine to raise the language of Shakespeare to new heights.

Sondheim on Sondheim opened officially last night on April 22nd, 2010 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street) and BroadwayWorld.com was there to cover the red carpet arrivals!

The Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center announced an expanded season of productions, artists, local discoveries, and new film and performance series. The summer pre-season begins on June 17 with the new musical, DADDY LONG LEGS. The official season kicks off October 7- 9, with an opening weekend of performances and events featuring jazz star, Esperanza Spalding; classical cellist, Lynn Harrell; and folk singer, Judy Collins.

The Broad Stage will be celebrating it's third season with a variety of artists including: F. Murray Abraham, Joshua Bell, Branford Marsalis and Alan Cumming. This new season will also include shows in its Eyde Second Space, which will soon be converted into a '21st Century Cabaret.'

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will honor their board member Rosemarie Tichler, the highly-respected producer, casting director, teacher and author, at this year's annual benefit gala Monday evening, May 17 at Twenty Four Fifth. The Honorary Chair for the evening is Mike Nichols and Honorary Co-Chairs are Olympia Dukakis, Dianne Wiest, Walter Bobbie and James Lapine. Honorary Artists include F. Murray Abraham, Christopher Durang, Michael Greif, John Guare, Bill Irwin, S. Epatha Merkerson, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn and Michael Stuhlbarg.

According to EW.om, stage and screen star F. Murray Abraham will guest star in the season finale of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The episode is set to air in July with Abraham playing the father of Jeff Goldblum's character.

What do you do when the only thing the man you're in love with wants to do is kill you? Seduce him, disguised as a man impersonating another woman, while fending off the affections of both his uncle and his aunt, of course... which is exactly what happens in Triumph of Love, a musical comedy romp.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director; Mary McCann, Atlantic School Executive Director) hosted their 25th Anniversary Spring Gala last night, on Monday, April 12, 20010 at Gotham Hall.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director; Mary McCann, Atlantic School Executive Director) is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary Spring Gala on Monday, April 12, 20010 at Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway).

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director; Mary McCann, Atlantic School Executive Director) is proud to announce its 25th Anniversary Spring Gala on Monday, April 12, 20010 at Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway).

The Wilma Theater concludes its 2009 - 2010 Season with the U.S. Premiere of Leaving, by Václav Havel. The first play in 20 years from playwright and former Czech President Havel, Leaving will receive its U.S. Premiere production under co-Artistic Director Jiri Zizka's direction, with Academy Award® nominee David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck) starring in the role of ex-Chancellor Dr. Vil?m Rieger.

As the Helen Hayes Awards ceremony on April 5th honors performances and productions from the past year, DC theatergoers will be hearing two gorgeous scores by Jason Robert Brown and Jeanine Tesori, and seeing a new opera about a boxer, a splashing pool on stage, Tyne Daley as diva Maria Callas, Maurice Hines tapping his way on the Lincoln Theatre stage, Mrs. Robinson seducing Benjamin, a red balloon thrilling young audiences, Harvey Fierstein wishing he was a rich man, tales and songs from a Scottish Jewish composer, a new children's show with lots of princesses, a little musical with the title in [ ], a triumphant mounting of a short-lived Broadway musical, and a wordless Kafka classic performed in Georgian style. The crocuses, cherry blossoms, and azaleas will be in full bloom, as the nation's capital will be awash in beautiful colors. It's the perfect time to visit and see some great shows in our DC area theatres.

The Shakespeare Society (Michael Sexton, Artistic Director) has announced that Songs for Ophelia, a special one-night-only collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera (which is currently presenting Amboise Thomas' Hamlet), will take place on Monday, March 22 at 7:00pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95 Street.

What do you do when the only thing the man you're in love with wants to do is kill you? Seduce him, disguised as a man impersonating another woman, while fending off the affections of both his uncle and his aunt, of course... which is exactly what happens in Triumph of Love, a musical comedy romp.

The Pulitzer Prize and Obie Award-winning Theatre for the New City (TNC) will hold its 7th Annual LOVE 'N' COURAGE Gala on Monday, February 22nd at the National Arts Club, this year honoring the beloved acting couple Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, as well as Martha Coigney, director of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in the U.S. for over 35 years, it has been announced by Crystal Field, co-founder and artistic director of Theater for the City. The LOVE 'N' COURAGE celebration will begin with cocktails at 6:30pm, Dinner at 7:00pm, and performances at 8:00pm.

Four-time Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh has been announced to return as the host of The Broadway Beauty Pageant, Broadway's forth annual beauty contest, set for Monday evening, April 19th, 8p.m., at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.).

Michael Riedel of the New York Post is reporting today that there's not one, but two attempts to bring Dracula, which was last seen on Broadway in 1977 back to New York City.

Mark Lamos will stage a reading of You Can't Take It With You for The Acting Compay at Playwrights Horizons on Monday, February 8th at 7pm. The cast for the reading, headed by Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham, also features Matt Amednt, Casey Biggs, Patricia Conolly, Stephen DeRosa, Harriet Harris, Pamela Hyberg, Angela Pierce, David Schramm, and Andrew Weems.