Playbill News

Broadway In Chicago will soon welcome Tony Award® nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Chicago production of WICKED, You Can't Take It With You and Masters of Sex) as she makes her solo Chicago premiere with an evening of song, story and sequin in her critically-acclaimed, Lost in the Stars, for one-night only on Saturday, March 21 at 8 PM at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut).

The Menier Chocolate Factory will present the UK premiere of Jonathan Tolins' critically-acclaimed, smash-hit comedy Buyer & Cellar which opens March, 19, 2015, with previews beginning March, 12, 2015, at the Menier Chocolate Factory (53 Southwark Street, London). Buyer & Cellar will play a strictly limited engagement through May, 2, 2015.

Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch has announced that Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange), will join the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival, in the role of Yitzhak, beginning Tuesday April 14 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street).

"…the plot revolves around the lives of the four March daughters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy - and follows their triumphs and tragedies as they grow up, fall in love, and face life." Per the playbill comes a simple, but altogether truthful, analysis of the lengthy goings on of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. In playwright Thomas Hischak's stage adaptation, Alcott's timeless work remains as close to the original text as one could hope. In this particular version, however, Jo takes on the role of narrator which provides an entirely new dynamic to a work that many know quite well.

New York City Ballet's 'All Balanchine III, Hear the Dance: Italy' features a perfect pairing of pieces that brim with Balanchine's incomparable sense of showmanship. Ballet is an art form, but Mr. B knew that it can also serve as sheer entertainment without losing integrity. Beyond that, he was a master of making us 'see the music, hear the dance', as he put it. This double bill, with works set to scores by great Italian composers, does precisely that.

While upcoming casting for Yitzhak will be announced in the coming weeks, BWW contemplates who would be the perfect actress to take over the role?

Hedwig and the Angry Inch's Tony Award winner Lena Hall will play her final performance as Yitzhak on Saturday, April 4. Hall created the role of Yitzhak at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) earning rave reviews for her performance being called 'excellent,' (New York Times), 'dazzling' (Harper's Bazaar), 'magnificent' (The Chicago Tribune), and 'simply wonderful' (The Hollywood Reporter).

Peter Filichia, noted theatre journalist, author and President of the Theatre World Awards, will host the 46th Anniversary Gala for Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, on Monday, March 30th, 2015 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington & 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is distinguished actor, director, and choreographer Andre De Shields.

Ana Gasteyer is best known for her incomparable work on "Saturday Night Live." During her six year stint, she created some of the most famous SNL characters including middle school music teacher Bobbie Moughan-Culp, NPR radio host Margaret Jo, Lilith Fair poetess Cinder Calhoun, as well as spot-on impressions of Martha Stewart, Celine Dion and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I've never been a fan of Peter Martins' choreography so I was surprised to find myself moved by the "balcony pas de deux" in Romeo + Juliet, his adaptation for the New York City Ballet of Shakespeare's tragic tale about star-crossed lovers. Sterling Hyltin as Juliet and Robert Fairchild as Romeo, returning to the roles they originated when the ballet had its premiere in 2007, used the beautiful but difficult intertwinings and lifts to convey their youthful passion in a way that was entirely believable to me.

Handurawan in Philippine dialect means a memory, a remembrance, or a vision. More than its literal meanings, this word, which happens to be the title of a musical collaboration between Assumption Antipolo and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), is a memory and remembrance of a well-forged relationship among participants throughout the production process. On the other hand, it is also a vision of a beautiful world in these critical times when environmental degradation has reached an alarming level.

Artists Repertory will extend their production of Tribes, by Nina Raine, directed by Artists Rep's Artistic Director Damaso Rodriguez. The five additional performances, including an added ASL interpreted performance, are due to the significant demand for additional performances of this exceptional play that has been sweeping the nation at luminary theatre companies like Steppenwolf, Barrow Street Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse after originating at London's Royal Court Theatre.

'Chicago' returns yet again to DC's historic National Theatre. Even if you've seen the tour the other times it has come through our fair city, the current engagement is worth the return visit.

Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford will perform a final encore performance of Annaleigh Ashford - Lost in the Stars tonight at 9:30pm at 54 Below. Ashford with Will Van Dyke and the Whiskey 5 then head on the road to Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Las Vegas with more cities to be announced soon. Tickets and more information can be found at www.LostInTheStarsCabaret.com.

Colorado native and Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford will be performing in ANNALEIGH ASHFORD - LOST IN THE STARS at The Garner Galleria Theatre April 11 & 12 only. Tickets go on sale to current DCPA subscribers starting at 10a on Monday, February 16th by calling 303.893.4100 or visiting denvercenter.org. A public on-sale will follow on February 19th at 10a.

Board Chair Andrew M. Pringle announced the appointment of Lord Mayor Pat Darte and Arlene Carson to the Board of Governors during the Shaw Festival's Annual General Meeting earlier today.

Ben Rimalower's new play about spending beyond his means -- will be performed in rep with his first piece PATTI ISSUES at The Duplex (61 Christopher Street at Seventh Avenue) through April 29. PATTI ISSUES, which ran for a year at the same venue and subsequently toured the country and abroad, explores his obsession with Broadway diva Patti LuPone and his relationship with his troubled gay father. The pieces will be performed on alternating Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM. Both shows are written and performed by Ben Rimalower and directed by Aaron Mark.

Writers Theatre presents The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman and directed by Kimberly Senior. The show runs February 24 - June 28, 2015 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, 2015.

The Drama League launches its Winter 2015 Season of events at the Drama League Theater Center in Tribeca.

Broadway In Chicago has announced Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Chicago production of WICKED, You Can't Take It With You and Masters of Sex) makes her solo Chicago premiere with an evening of song, story and sequin in her critically-acclaimed, Lost in the Stars, for one-night only on Saturday, March 21 at 8 PM at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut). Individual tickets go on-sale to the public on Friday, February 6 at 10 AM.