Paul Newman News

Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner for 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and Tony Award nominee for originating the role of Glinda the Good Witch in 'Wicked,' will now perform her Benefit Concert at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on March 28th instead of the original date of February 7th, 8 p.m.

Westport Country Playhouse incoming artistic director Mark Lamos and managing director Michael Ross announce a new look to the 2009 season. The Playhouse will open its 79th season in April with 'Around the World in 80 Days' directed by Michael Evan Haney. 'Around the World in 80 Days' was original scheduled for a September run, but will now open the 2009 season. 'Around the World in 80 Days,' an adventure tale adapted from the book by Jules Verne and written by Mark Brown, will play April 21 through May 9. Hailed by the New Yorker as 'a riveting testament to the ingeniousness of the human imagination,' and heralded by Associated Press as 'a clever, action-packed production skillfully directed by Michael Evan Haney,' 'Around the World in 80 Days' is a wild, global adventure for the whole family about Phileas Fogg and his ever loyal man-servant Passepartout---complete with elephants, steamboats and trains. Following 'Around the World in 80 Days,' the season's second play will be 'Children,' a timeless and touching family drama by A.R. Gurney, the playwright who penned 'The Dining Room,' 'Sylvia' and 'Love Letters.' It will run May 26 through June 13. When their mysterious brother, Pokey, returns to the family's beachside vacation home, all the family plans crumble as love affairs and family secrets explode. Westport favorite John Tillinger will direct.

Arizona-based actress Susan Claassen, who completed a highly successful engagement on London's West End this summer as legendary Hollywood designer Edith Head in 'A CONVERSATION WITH EDITH HEAD', recently began an intermittent US tour which will bring her to Arizona and California. (The month-long engagement at London's new Leicester Square Theatre was preceded by a sold out run at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.)

WENN news service reports that current James Bond, Daniel Craig is eager to appear in a West End play - but is hoping to avoid classics which are too 'complicated' or have 'too many lines.'

Theater veterans Mark Lamos and Michael Ross have been named artistic director and managing director, respectively, of Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut, as the historic theater enters its 79th season. The new leadership team will assume their positions on February 1, 2009.

James Naughton and Joanne Woodward Join Cast of "A Holiday Garland"at Westport Country Playhouse. Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton and Academy Award winner Joanne Woodward have joined the cast of "A Holiday Garland" at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director). Staged December 13 - 21, the production will feature holiday songs, funny stories, poignant readings, jokes and poems compiled to celebrate the season and enchant the family. Performances are Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.

Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton and Academy Award winner Joanne Woodward have joined the cast of ?A Holiday Garland? at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director). Staged December 13 ? 21, the production will feature holiday songs, funny stories, poignant readings, jokes and poems compiled to celebrate the season and enchant the family. Performances are Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.

The producers of the upcoming Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit are pleased to welcome Tony-nominated actress Deborah Rush in the role of Mrs. Bradman, reuniting her with her Noises Off! director, two-time Tony Award winner Michael Blakemore.

Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner for 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and Tony Award nominee for originating the role of Glinda the Good Witch in 'Wicked,' will appear in a Valentine's Benefit Concert at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on Saturday, February 7, 8 p.m. A pre-show champagne welcome will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets for the fundraising event are $100, $150, $250.

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony based on the book by E.B. White, adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and direction by Gary Griffin. The production features a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown. Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony is part of a season-long initiative Broadway: The Third Generation, celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers, and will appear for five performances in the Eisenhower Theater December 4-6, 2008. The theatrical adaptation is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

Grammy Award-nominated jazz vocalist and Jazz Week's Vocalist of the Year Award winner Tierney Sutton and her four-piece band will present a concert on Sunday, November 23, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) announces the debut of its annual benefit gala: ONE NIGHT ONLY...With a Little Help From Our Friends, hosted by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, scheduled to take place at UCLA's prestigious performing arts theater, Royce Hall, on December 2nd at 7:30 pm.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (David Van Asselt, Artistic Director and Sandra Coudert, Managing Director) presents the World Premiere production of Geometry of Fire, by Stephen Belber.

Tony Award winner and Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter/composer Duncan Sheik will perform selections from his hit musical 'Spring Awakening,' winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards including Best Musical, along with captivating original materials, in a concert on Friday, November 14, 8 p.m.

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony based on the book by E.B. White, adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and direction by Gary Griffin. The production features a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown. Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony is part of a season-long initiative Broadway: The Third Generation, celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers, and will appear for five performances in the Eisenhower Theater December 4-6, 2008. The theatrical adaptation is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

James Naughton and Joanne Woodward Join Cast of "A Holiday Garland"at Westport Country Playhouse. Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton and Academy Award winner Joanne Woodward have joined the cast of "A Holiday Garland" at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director). Staged December 13 - 21, the production will feature holiday songs, funny stories, poignant readings, jokes and poems compiled to celebrate the season and enchant the family. Performances are Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.

Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton and Academy Award winner Joanne Woodward have joined the cast of 'A Holiday Garland' at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

Shuler Hensley ('Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical'), Keir Dullea ('The Good Shepherd') and other actors will read the Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'They Knew What They Wanted,' written by Sidney Howard and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, November 10, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse

Grammy Award-nominated jazz vocalist and Jazz Week's Vocalist of the Year Award winner Tierney Sutton and her four-piece band will present a concert on Sunday, November 23, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).

Brian Hutchison, who recently appeared as George in "Of Mice and Men" at Westport Country Playhouse, and Andrea Maulella, who last August appeared in the Playhouse production "Tryst," will join Shuler Hensley ("Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical"), Keir Dullea ("The Good Shepherd") and other actors for a reading of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "They Knew What They Wanted," directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, November 10, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).