Peter James Zielinski News

The Alliance Theatre has announced that Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, author of Choir Boy, has been named one of the 2013 MacArthur Fellows, chosen for his exploration into the use of drama in the portrayal of urban communities. The MacArthur Fellowship recognizes 24 exceptionally creative individuals with a track record of achievement and the potential for even more significant contributions in the future. Fellows will each receive a no-strings-attached stipend of $625,000 paid out over five years. Without stipulations or reporting requirements, the Fellowship provides maximum freedom for recipients to follow their own creative vision.

The PATH Fund, Inc. presents ROCKERS ON BROADWAY 20 - Celebrating 20 Years (1993-2013) at SoHo's (le) Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street, NYC) on Monday, November 11 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now.

According to The New York Times, Broadway favorite Howard McGillin and his longtime parter Richard Samson tied the knot last week in Manhattan. The couple announced their engagement in July. BroadwayWorld sends our congratulations to the happy couple!

'Hot in Cleveland' has begun production today on its fifth season, which will premiere in spring 2014, it was announced by Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. With amazing guest stars including Emmy(R)-nominated Max Greenfield, 'The Office's' Angela Kinsey, Kirstie Alley from TV Land's new original sitcom 'Kirstie,' and returning guest stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Craig Ferguson and more, 'Hot in Cleveland' is getting even hotter as it nears 100 episodes.

Willem Dafoe has signed on to join Keanu Reeves in the upcoming hitman thriller JOHN WICKS, according to Deadline.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University welcomes three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston to play the lead role of Lyndon Baines Johnson in Robert Schenkkan's new play All The Way opening the A.R.T.'s 2013-14 Season at the Loeb Drama Center. The production, directed by Bill Rauch, will begin performances tonight, September 13, 2013.

Rod, the puppet star of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q -- who made international headlines on July 24, 2011 when he married his puppet boyfriend Ricky on the first day same-sex marriage became legal in the State of New York -- has himself been invited to the same-sex wedding of Mississippi couple Scott Barnes and Gary Holcomb in Washington, DC on Sunday, September 1. Sadly, Rod has sent his regrets to the grooms since Sunday is a two-show day at AVENUE Q and he is obligated to perform in the musical, now in its 10th year in New York. (New World Stages, 340 W. 50 St.)

Mint Theater presents Philip Goes Forth by George Kelly. Jerry Ruiz (Love Goes to Press, Basilica) directs a cast that includes Cliff Bemis, Teddy Bergman, Bernardo Cubria, Jennifer Harmon, Carole Healey, Christine Toy Johnson, Natalie Kuhn, BrIan MacDonald, Jennifer McVey and Rachel Moulton. Philip Goes Forth will have scenic design by Steven C. Kemp, costume design by Carisa Kelly, lighting design by Christian DeAngelis, and sound design by Toby Algya. Performances begin tonight, August 24th and continue through October 20th. Opening Night is set for September 16th at Mint's home (311 West 43rd Street).

Honeymoon in Vegas will star television, screen and stage icon Tony Danza (Who's the Boss?, Taxi, The Producers, A View From The Bridge, The Iceman Cometh) as Tommy Korman, a widowed and unscrupulous gambler looking for another shot at love. Leading the company are Tony nominee Rob McClure (Chaplin) as Jack Singer, Brynn O'Malley (Annie) as Betsy Nolan, Tony nomineeNancy Opel (Memphis, Urinetown) as Bea Singer, Matthew Saldivar (Peter and the Starcatcher) as Johnny Sandwich and David Josefsberg(Wedding Singer) as Tony Rocky/Roy Bacon

Performers will include Broadway actors Ali Ewoldt, (Les Miserables, The Fantasticks), F. Michael Haynie (Wicked, Dogfight), Amber Iman (Soul Doctor), Janet Krupin (Hands on a Hardbody, Bring it On), Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Love Labour's Lost), Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages, Bring it On), Robb Sapp (Shrek, Wicked), and Tally Sessions (Big Fish, Yank), and rising star Melanie Burg. Ben Cameron (Wicked) will host.

On the red carpet premiere of his new film '2 Guns' last night, actor Denzel Washington confirmed recent reports that he will return to the Broadway stage next spring in a revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

Broadway and film veteran Eileen Brennan has died at the age of 80, her publicist confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter today. The actress passed away in her Burbank home on Sunday, July 28, after a battle with bladder cancer.

Saturday Night Live's Molly Shannon will be adding two new shows to her recurring roster with HBO's GETTING ON and FOX's Raising Hope.

The Daily Mail reports that Kate Fleetwood and Anna Maxwell Martin will play KING LEAR's daughters Goneril and Regan, respectively, in the National Theatre's upcoming production of the Shakespearen tragedy. Olivia Vinall, who is currently appearing in the National's OTHELLO, will portray Cordelia.

'I had been traveling when Larry went into the hospital,' Webster told The Times. 'And when I was back and he was able to talk, he told me he had invited 20 people to the I.C.U. for the wedding. So it turned into a little party at his bedside.'

According to his Facebook page, Broadway favorite Howard McGillin just got engaged to his longtime parter Richard Samson. BroadwayWorld sends our congratulations to the happy couple!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University announced today that single tickets for the first production of the 2013/14 Season are now on sale to the general public. The A.R.T. will open its season with Robert Schenkkan's new play All The Way, directed by Bill Rauch, with three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston playing the lead role of Lyndon Baines Johnson. The production begins performances on September 13.

In a last minute change: Nancy Opel has stepped in to replace Liz Larsen, who had to cancel due to illness. The cast and crew are so pleased and touched that Nancy was available and willing to step in just one day before the reading!

THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DELUNA, an official selection of the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival, is an original new musical set against the backdrop of a Depression era family circus. Presented at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan! Check out a look at the cast in action below!