Playbill News

'The Battery's Down,' the hit online television series, will return for a second season on Wednesday, April 1, on YouTube featuring a slew of Broadway guest stars. Filmed in a style similar to 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' or 'The Office,' 'The Battery's Down' chronicles the life of young actor Jake Wilson in New York City. Each twenty-minute, two-part episode will premiere at 12:01AM the first of every month.

The producers of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical have announced that the 37-member cast and band will go into the studio on Monday, April 6th, to record the show's new Broadway cast album. Production is being rushed for the highly anticipated recording which will be released officially this Spring by Ghostlight Records. The CD will be produced by Kurt Deutsch, Joel Moss & Galt McDermott with Bill Rosenfield acting as Executive Producer.

It's Feline Fun in Baltimore Until March 29

Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records website has the New Broadway Cast Recording of Hair as one of their forthcoming releases, the recording rights were rumored to have been won by Sh-K-Boom. This listing on the website would seem to confirm it.

CUBBY BERNSTEIN and BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS are proud to present CUBBY BERNSTEIN, THE SERIES, the new DVD of the 'celebrity-studded, buzz-generating, record-breaking web series !' (Playbill). Last year, The New York Times said, 'I suggest that next year the TONY producers put production of the telecast into the subversively witty hands of Cubby Bernstein.' Instead, Mr. Bernstein has chosen to turn his enterprise into a charitable one, building upon his working relationship with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Ghostlight Records is proud to confirm its release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the critically acclaimed new musical NEXT TO NORMAL. Digital release has been set for April 7th, followed by a Double-CD brick-and-mortar retail release on May 12th.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is pleased to announce BONNET TEAM RAISER, an alternative way to participate in fundraising for the 23rd ANNUAL EASTER BONNET COMPETITION BONNET TEAM RAISER allows theatre fans to make donations to BC/EFA via the Broadway Cares website (www.BroadwayCares.org), allowing theatre fans from across the globe to make donations to BC/EFA and be a part of the Easter Bonnet Competition festivities without having to go to the theatre.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will present EVERYDAY RAPTURE, written by Dick Scanlan (Tony nominee for Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Sherie Rene Scott (Tony nominee for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), with musical supervision by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, High Fidelity), directed by Michael Mayer (Tony Award winner for Spring Awakening).

Join us for a tour of Minneapolis' new Guthrie Theater designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Guthrie Artistic Director, Joe Dowling, and members of his production team, show co-hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins around this impressive complex on the banks of the Mississippi River, giving Theater Talk a fascinating look at the Guthrie's multiple stages, as well as all the work that goes on behind-the-scenes to maintain it as one of the most thriving and significant theaters in the world.

'Theater Talk,' the nationally syndicated program co-hosted by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel and producer Susan Haskins, takes an exciting look behind the scenes at Minneapolis's Guthrie Theater, in a special broadcast airing on Friday, March 20 (early Saturday morning) at 12:30 AM on WNET, Channel 13. Check local listings or visit www.theatertalk.org.

I ATE WHAT? THEATRE, in conjunction with The Looking Glass Theatre Space Grant Program, is pleased to announce the return of Simona Berman’s acclaimed JUST SHUT UP & SMILE!, directed by Diana Basmajian. JUST SHUT UP & SMILE! will play a special limited engagement at The Looking Glass Theatre (422 West 57th Street, btw 9th/10th Ave). Performances begin Monday, March 16 and continue thru Friday, April 3.

The second in our Women's History Month profiles of female artistic directors.

Theater Talk NYC Announces their Updates for the week of March 11, 2009 Theater Talk now also on NJN in NYC! In addition to airing weekly on Thirteen and (5 times weekly) on CUNY TV, Theater Talk is also now telecast on NJN every Thursday at 11:30 PM. NJN is available to all over-the-air digital and cable TV viewers in the NYC area. Check your local listings!

One of Chicago's favorite duos, After Dark Award Winners Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael, celebrate the songs of the Great White Way in their new show Broadway, Our Way. Both Broadway enthusiasts, the show will feature music from classic musicals such as West Side Story, South Pacific and Carousel to the more recent Chicago and Wicked. But don't expect to hear the songs as they were in the original shows. Beckie and Tom will sing Broadway their way!

Though no longer Commander-in-Chief, George Bush's tenure on Broadway as a lyric in the musical AVENUE Q will continue, it has been announced by the Tony Award-winning musical's creators and producers.

I ATE WHAT? THEATRE, in conjunction with The Looking Glass Theatre Space Grant Program, is pleased to announce the return of Simona Berman’s acclaimed JUST SHUT UP & SMILE!, directed by Diana Basmajian. JUST SHUT UP & SMILE! will play a special limited engagement at The Looking Glass Theatre (422 West 57th Street, btw 9th/10th Ave). Performances begin Monday, March 16 and continue thru Friday, April 3.

March will be yet another great month on Broadway for theatre-loving kids as KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY (KidsNightonBroadway.com) continues its year-round program where kids ages 6-18 can see a participating Broadway show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of every month.

Theater Talk now also on NJN in NYC. In addition to airing weekly on Thirteen and (5 times weekly) on CUNY TV, Theater Talk is also now telecast on NJN every Thursday at 11:30 PM. NJN is available to all over-the-air digital and cable TV viewers in the NYC area. Check your local listings.

Legendary Broadway star, actress/singer Betty Buckley will continue her successful Song Interpretation and Communication Workshop hosted by Imagination Celebration in March and April 2009. The Fort Worth native will share her singing and acting techniques in her master class designed for both dedicated students and advanced professional performers.

Sutton Foster performs live on NBC4-TV's Weekend Today Show in NY. The program airs at 9am EST - Check local listings.