Neil Austin News

Conor McPherson's scintillating new drama, The Night Alive, is by turns surprising, abhorrent and profound. An uncommonly tangible play, this is a must-see for anyone who wants to be up to date with contemporary theatre. The Night Alive runs at the Donmar Warehouse until 27 July 2013 and is unsuitable for young audiences.

Here is a play that understands how best to quietly create the very raw, believable and incredibly human. The Weir runs at the Donmar Warehouse until 8 June.

Sheffield Theatres will stage Alan Bennett's award-winning modern comedy, The History Boys, for the first time on the Crucible stage from Thursday 16 May - Saturday 8 June, in a new production which sees the play staged in the city where it is set.

Tony Award-winner Scarlett Johansson, Ciaran Hinds, Benjamin Walker and Emmy Award-winner Debra Monk end their runs in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF when it takes its final bows on Broadway today, March 30, 2013. Directed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF plays at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street) where it opened January 17.

English National Ballet will premiere a new production of Le Corsaire (The Pirate), one of the great 19th Century classics, in October 2013. English National Ballet will be the first UK company to perform the complete work which will open in Milton Keynes. The production will tour Southampton, Oxford, Bristol, London and Manchester.

This is the last week to see Tony Award-winner Scarlett Johansson, Ciaran Hinds, Benjamin Walker and Emmy Award-winner Debra Monk in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Directed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, this limited engagement must end Saturday, March 30. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF is playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street) where it opened January 17 (previews began December 18).

There are only 2 more weeks to see Tony Award-winner Scarlett Johansson, Ciaran Hinds, Benjamin Walker and Emmy Award-winner Debra Monk in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.

Today the Donmar Warehouse announces the cast for The Weir, which will be followed by the world premiere of a new play also by Conor McPherson this June. The casts for both shows represent a gathering of some of the finest exponents of McPherson's work and the back to back productions will allow audiences to see his latest work alongside his recognised masterpiece. Risteard Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O'Hanlon will star in The Weir, directed by Josie Rourke from 18 April to 08 June 2013. Following this, The Night Alive will make its world premiere on 13 June, directed by McPherson himself. The cast for The Night Alive are Caoilfhionn Dunne, Brian Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Michael McElhatton and Jim Norton.

With his production of The Full Monty on national tour, and The Daughter-in-Law opening earlier this week, Artistic Director Daniel Evans announces the new season for Sheffield Theatres.

Risteard Cooper, Brian Cox, Dervla Kirwan, Peter McDonald and Ardal O'Hanlon will star in The Weir, directed by Josie Rourke from 18 April to 8 June 2013. Following this, The Night Alive will make its world premiere on 13 June, directed by McPherson himself. The cast for The Night Alive are Caoilfhionn Dunne, Brian Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Michael McElhatton and Jim Norton.

Lyric Opera of Chicago and its general director, Anthony Freud, announced the lineup for Lyric's 2013-14 season today. Joseph Calleja, Joyce DiDonato, Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson, Ana Maria Martinez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette are among those headlining the new season's offerings. These comprise 67 performances of eight different operas, beginning October 5, 2013 and concluding March 23, 2014: new productions of Parsifal, La traviata, The Barber of Seville, and Rusalka (Lyric premiere); a revival of Otello; and new-to-Chicago stagings of Madama Butterfly, Die Fledermaus, and La clemenza di Tito. Lyric's music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will lead three operas, and guest conductors Marco Armiliato, Bertrand de Billy and Michele Mariotti will make their house debuts. Additionally, Lyric will present a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music in the spring of 2014, continuing the company's American Musical Theater Initiative, and Davis will conduct a special Subscriber Appreciation Concert in March featuring Lyric's creative consultant - the star soprano Renee Fleming - with tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Lyric Opera of Chicago and its general director, Anthony Freud, announced the lineup for Lyric's 2013-14 season today. Joseph Calleja, Joyce DiDonato, Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson, Ana Maria Martinez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette are among those headlining the new season's offerings. These comprise 67 performances of eight different operas, beginning October 5, 2013 and concluding March 23, 2014: new productions of Parsifal, La traviata, The Barber of Seville, and Rusalka (Lyric premiere); a revival of Otello; and new-to-Chicago stagings of Madama Butterfly, Die Fledermaus, and La clemenza di Tito. Lyric's music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will lead three operas, and guest conductors Marco Armiliato, Bertrand de Billy and Michele Mariotti will make their house debuts. Additionally, Lyric will present a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music in the spring of 2014, continuing the company's American Musical Theater Initiative, and Davis will conduct a special Subscriber Appreciation Concert in March featuring Lyric's creative consultant - the star soprano Renee Fleming - with tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

A few months ago, producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced that Grammy Award-winning international pop icon Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger as Eva Perón and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón would play their final performance on Saturday, January 26, 2013. At that time, it was announced as well that the should would be announcing new stars and the production would be continuing its run. Later, they have revealed that the show will play its final performance on Saturday, January 26, tonight, after 26 previews and 337 regular performances.

Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, opened on January 17. The show will play a limited engagement through March 30, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). Check out photos of the show's stars in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride below!

Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, opened last night January 17, and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the whole cast at the after party. Check out what they had to say below!

BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture all of the excitement and glamour of the evening. Check out photos from the opening night party below!

Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, opened last night January 17, and BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture all of the excitement and glamour of the evening.

Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, will begin tonight, January 17, and will play a limited engagement through March 30, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Opening night of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciarán Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford, will begin tonight, January 17, and will play a limited engagement for 15 weeks only, through March 30, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

Hollywood superstar Scarlett Johansson, now starring in the Broadway production of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," tells CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD that she hates the nickname "ScarJo" which she's acquired in the media as her popularity has risen.