Playbill News

The Shaw Festival witnessed a growth in attendance during its milestone 50th season, which also included an increase in the number of people who came to The Shaw to see the plays by its namesake.

Leading online charity auction site charitybuzz is giving Broadway lovers a chance to jump from their seats to the stage with some fantastic opportunities to act alongside their favorite Broadway stars, get behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest shows in town, and experience the Great White Way unlike ever before. Check out a full list of Broadway auction items below.

Tickets for the Shaw Festival's 50th season went on sale to Shaw Festival Members and Visa Infinite cardholders on November 6 and December 4, respectively, and the response has been wonderfully strong. Compared to the same time last year, Members ticket sales are 5% ahead, with group sales reaching the $1 million mark, 15% ahead of the same time last year. Next season's productions of My Fair Lady and The Admirable Crichton are very popular with families, reflecting a remarkable 143% increase in family package sales.

Broadway In Chicago and Emerald City Theatre are excited to be partnering with Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation for a 'Day of Pink' on Sunday, Nov.6, 2011, for 4 year-old Carli Highberger, who is currently battling pediatric Lymphoma,.

On Monday, October 31, the Metropolitan Opera Guild pays tribute to the legendary American mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, one of the greatest singers of our time, at the Guild's 77th annual luncheon, a perennial highlight of the opera season.

Following her successful run of her new show 'Ah, Men! The Boys of Broadway!' at the prestigious NYC Cabaret Feinstein's, legendary Broadway star Betty Buckley her Song Interpretation & Monologue Workshops in Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency is now presenting the Tony Award winning theater icon Betty Buckley in an exclusive four week run of the new show 'Ah Men! The Boys of Broadway.' In the show, Buckley performs men's songs from Broadway shows that she has always wanted to sing, including numbers from Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Pippin, Mame and La Cage Aux Folles. She is joined by Christian Jacob on piano, Peter Barshay on bass and Anthony Pinciotti on drums. The show runs through October 29 at Feinstein's. BroadwayWorld was on hand for a recent show and spoke with Buckley about all things men and how it feels to perform their material, the future of the show, and what her not-yet-performed female repertoire wish list looks like. Click below to hear from Buckley and watch exclusive concert footage!

Ann Arbor's professional theater, Performance Network, will hold a fall 2011 member drive as a part of its 30th anniversary. It aims to increase its member base by 30%.

A Special Jeff Award will be presented to Sun-Times theatre critic Hedy Weiss at the Jeff Awards Ceremony, November 7, in recognition of her contributions to Chicagoland theatre.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre tackles Thornton Wilder's 20th century classic with David Patrick Kelly.

Ghostlight Records' new Broadway cast recording of Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony-Award winning production Anything Goes will debut at #1 on BILLBOARD's Cast Album Chart!

Broadway In Chicago today announced that Emerald City Theatre's 2010 hit PINKALICIOUS: THE MUSICAL extended due to rave reviews and by popular demand through Jan. 7, 2012. Perfect for a back-to-school treat, PINKALICOUS: THE MUSICAL is playing at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St). Individual tickets through Jan. 7, 2012 are on sale now.

Norwich's Spirit of Broadway presents Stephen Dolginoff's musical riff on Orson Welles' infamous 'War of the Worlds' broadcast.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell officially announced the playbill for the Shaw Festival's 51st season today.

Gary Naylor delights in a play full of wit and vim.

Norwich's Spirit of Broadway presents Stephen Dolginoff's musical riff on Orson Welles' infamous 'War of the Worlds' broadcast.

Today, September 13, 2011, Ghostlight Records released the world premiere recording of Brian Crawley and Andrew Lippa's new musical, A Little Princess, everywhere music is sold.

Today, September 13, 2011, Ghostlight Records released the world premiere recording of Brian Crawley and Andrew Lippa's new musical, A Little Princess, everywhere music is sold. To hear song previews and order the album, visit http://sh-k-boom.com/alittleprincess.shtml.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony Award-winning creator and composer-lyricist of the spirited musical In the Heights, sent his opening night cheer to the cast and production team of In the Heights via Twitter last weekend. 'Happy opening @InTheHeightsMNL! It's okay to send ME the bootleg ;) Wishing you all the luck! Mahal minamahal Kita siempre! (Of course I love you)' said Miranda.

This week I introduced the hashtag #BwayConfessions. Hundreds of fans (and stars!) posted their confessions. Some are moving, and others are hilarious; some contradict each other while others echo each other eerily. Many involve secret dreams... and a satisfying number take pride in dreams-come-true. Here are the confessions of Broadway fans everywhere! Some of the confessions are moving, and some are hilarious; some contradict each other while others echo each other eerily. Some are adorable and innocent; a few are on the darker side. Many involve secret dreams... and a satisfying number take pride in dreams-come-true. The below are a few of my favorites. I hope you're as amused, touched, and inspired by them as I have been. And don't forget to tweet your own #BwayConfessions or leave them in the comments below.