Paul Newman News

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the newly revised adaptation of the timeless classic, 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' helmed by award-winning director Gerald Freedman, September 28 through October 30, as part of its 80th Anniversary Season.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Al Pacino's star power has earned The Merchant of Venice the winners spot for the fall's highest advance generating show. The production, which opens at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 7, 2010, has reportedly taken in approximately $4M, beating out all incoming fall plays and musicals.

Critically acclaimed novelist Francine Prose, writer of the recently published Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, will present an author talk and book signing, on Sunday, September 19, 3 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse. Prose will speak about her book, followed by an interview with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, and a Q&A with the audience.

Michael Riedel is reporting in today's New York Post that Nicole Kidman, who was last seen on Broadway in 1998 in THE BLUE ROOM, will be returning to the stage next fall in a revival of Tennessee Williams' SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, directed by David Cromer.

Off-Broadway's acclaimed Irish Repertory Theatre begins its 23rd Season with the world premiere of BANISHED CHILDREN OF EVE - a play by Kelly Younger, adapted from Peter Quinn's bestselling novel - set to begin previews October 13, prior to its official press opening October 24, at The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Ciarán O'Reilly, who helmed last season's celebrated revival of THE EMPEROR JONES, directs.

Warren Beatty, Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen, Marilyn Monroe, Brad Pitt, Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor and the stars of the 'Harry Potter' films are but a few of the subjects featured in the 165 photographs that will next grace the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Grand Lobby Gallery. Opening to the public on Thursday, September 16, 'Up from the Vault: 85 Years of Treasures from the Warner Bros. Photo Lab' will run through December 12. Admission is free.

Concurrent with its autumn production of 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' Westport Country Playhouse is partnering with 16 community organizations to present 'Window onto History: Perspectives on ‘The Diary of Anne Frank.'

Some of Broadway's best and brightest talents will perform in a one-night-only salute to theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz at Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Annual Gala on Monday, September 13.

The second production in the 'Japan Meets' series is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by American playwright Tennessee Williams. Williams has said this was his favorite of all his plays, and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. It became a Broadway hit, with direction by Elia Kazan, and a film version was released in 1958 starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. The NNTT version will feature an impressive cast which includes Terashima Shinobu, Kitamura Yukiya and Kiba Katsumi.

Sundance Channel and GREY GOOSE ENTERTAINMENT® are set to debut the fifth season of Iconoclasts on Sundance Channel on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Westport Country Playhouse's popular Script in Hand Series will feature two autumn playreadings, Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious 'Bedroom Farce' on Monday, October 4, 7 p.m., and Noël Coward's bittersweet 'A Song at Twilight' on Monday, November 15, 7 p.m. Tickets to the one-night-only events are $15.

Concurrent with its autumn production of 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' Westport Country Playhouse is partnering with 16 community organizations to present 'Window onto History: Perspectives on ‘The Diary of Anne Frank.'

Westport Country Playhouse announces that due to ticket demand for 'I Do! I Do!,' the charming and touching musical about marriage, three extra performances have been added, Thursday through Saturday, September 2 - 4, evenings at 8 p.m.

Westport Country Playhouse's 80th anniversary gala on Monday evening, September 13, honoring Stephen Schwartz has been re-imagined with the influence of Lead Corporate Sponsor, Virgin Atlantic Airways, based in Norwalk.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the newly revised adaptation of the timeless classic, 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' helmed by award-winning director Gerald Freedman, September 28 through October 30, as part of its 80th Anniversary Season.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce full casting for the Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere production of Beau Willimon's SPIRIT CONTROL, directed by Henry Wishcamper (Graceland, Port Authority).

The second production in the 'Japan Meets' series is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by American playwright Tennessee Williams. Williams has said this was his favorite of all his plays, and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1955. It became a Broadway hit, with direction by Elia Kazan, and a film version was released in 1958 starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. The NNTT version will feature an impressive cast which includes Terashima Shinobu, Kitamura Yukiya and Kiba Katsumi.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced the opening date today for the summer's biggest hit, Daniel Sullivan's critically acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Al Pacino will reprise his celebrated performance as Shylock on Broadway for 78 performances only, beginning Tuesday, October 19 at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street) and running through Sunday, January 9. Opening Night will be Sunday, November 7 at 6:45 p.m.

The Public Theater, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, producers of BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON are pleased to announce that in celebration of the box office opening on Monday, August 23rd they will be offering tickets for the first preview (Monday, September 20th at 7:00) for the cost of an ‘Andrew Jackson' ($20).

Why watch a movie at home when you can celebrate cinema the way it was meant to be seen! This August, the Palace Theatre will once again play host to screening classic cinema from Hollywood's Golden Era of the 1930's through the special effects laden 1980's!