Playbill News

It all started in November of 2021 when one of my friends was visiting New York City for the first time. Being the theatre fan I am, I insisted that we saw a Broadway show together. He suggested a show called David Byrne’s American Utopia. “Sounds good to me,” I responded, “but quick question - Who’s David Byrne?”

I was fortune to be able to see the last production Ron Celona will direct in his role as artistic director at CVRep. He's once again delivered top-notch entertainment in the form of Closer Than Ever.

At every point of her career, Liz Callaway has been closely associated with the work of Stephen Sondheim. Her Broadway debut was in Merrily We Roll Along, which despite its sadly brief run has gone on to be the ultimate cult musical. Along with Merrily co-star, Jim Walton, she sang excerpts of Sondheim’s work when he appeared on Bravo’s Inside the Actors Studio. She has also appeared in a number of Sondheim tributes including You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow and the much-heralded concert of Follies in which she played Young Sally. This month, Liz Callaway pays tribute to the recently departed maestro in a very personal evening entitled TO STEVE, WITH LOVE which will premiere at Feinstein’s 54 Below on March 23. I had the pleasure of talking to Ms. Callaway about the show and her body of work with Stephen Sondheim.

Cleveland Play House's Artistic Director, Laura Kepley, in her comments in the playbill for ANTIGONE states, 'We originally programed ANTIGONE to be produced during the 2019-2020 season. The play was in its second week of rehearsals when we had to make the heartbreaking announcement that the production was cancelled.' The rampant COVID epidemic had struck the theatre world!

After winning a Playbill-helmed talent contest, student and singing actress Sally Shaw shows that the win was not a flash-in-the-pan fluke.

Everyone’s favourite lovelorn duellist is returning to the Shaw Festival. The Chris Abraham-directed, Kate Hennig-adapted Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand’s tale of unrequited and selfless love, begins previews Sunday, March 20 at the Royal George Theatre.

In keeping with its tradition of spotlighting new plays and emerging playwrights, in addition to the stalwarts that theatre audiences know and love ('Little Shop of Horrors' is next on the docket), Rochester's JCC Centerstage Theatre launched its production of 'Tracy Jones' on March 5th, a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere written by Stephen Kaplan. It's a play filled with laughs, tears, and high-octane anxiety that you don't want to miss.

Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and Executive Director Anita Gaffney have agreed to stay on as the Stratford Festival’s leadership team at the request of the Board of Governors.

On Monday, April 4, 2022, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City, will hold its annual gala at the Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street, New York City to honor Tony and Obie Award winning director, Kenny Leon, and global financial services provider, Prudential Financial.

The new Broadway talk show Live with Rye & Friends on Broadway hosted by talk show Host & Producer Rye Myers at BAR 9 (807 9th Ave) will welcome Broadway performer and singer/songwriter Daniel Quadrino on Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 as this week’s special guest.

During today’s Shaw Festival Annual General Meeting, outgoing Board Chair Peter Jewett announced the appointments of Greg Prince and Samiha Sachedina to the Shaw Festival Board of Directors, along with Rebecca H. Joseph’s placement on the Festival’s Board of Governors. All are leaders in their respective industries and passionate supporters of arts and culture in Canada. Vice Chair Ian M.H. Joseph was also elevated to the position of Chair. He has served on the Shaw Festival Board of Directors since 2016.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion were given the daunting task of sorting and routed an overwhelming backlog of more than 17 million pieces of mail. Led by Major Charity Adams, their motto was 'No Mail, Low Morale.'

Orchestral music will be accompanied by the breathtaking views of the Wasatch Range in Park City this summer at the Utah Symphony's 18th annual Deer Valley Music Festival. The six-week summer concert series, which runs from July 1 through August 6, features a diverse musical lineup, showcasing the versatility of Utah Symphony musicians as they perform music ranging from classical to alternative rock.

The new Broadway talk show Live with Rye & Friends on Broadway hosted by talk show Host & Producer Rye Myers at BAR 9 (807 9th Ave) welcomes Writer, Performer, and Musician  Alexander Williams on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 for a special Audience Appreciation show!

This past month, I had the opportunity to speak with Tim Dolan, the owner of Broadway Up Close, a company of storytellers who share stories to help visitors get a closer look at the world of Broadway. There are three different components that make up Broadway Up Close - Tours, gifts, and workshops. The tours are given both in-person and virtually, going over a range of different topics related to Broadway.

Let me answer the big question right off the bat...does it actually rain, on stage, in Dutch Apple's production of Singin' in the Rain? You bet it does! Through a combination of twinkling lights and a very effective sprinkler system, actor Alex Fullerton gleefully taps. skips, and twirls throughout a spectacular downpour. Fullerton looked like he was having a lot of fun stomping through puddles, and it puts the audience in cheerful spirits for the show's intermission.

The Green Room 42 has announced their March line-up for in-person performances. Located inside YOTEL Times Square (570 Tenth Avenue, Fourth Floor), The Green Room 42 is Broadway's newest and most spacious cabaret club.

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has announced casting and creative teams for the Shaw Festival’s 60th anniversary season.

MICHAEL CERVERIS and KIMBERLY KAYE bring a stripped down version of their band LOOSE CATTLE to Evanston SPACE in an intimate afternoon of songs from their recent album Heavy Lifting (and perhaps a rock showtune or two). 

 The Episcopal Actors' Guild (EAG) is happy to welcome to the Guild Hall stage a one-night-only, benefit reading of American Lives: Two One-Act Plays by Mervyn Rothstein (former chief theater reporter and theater editor at The New York Times, former columnist for Playbill Magazine, former member of the Tony Awards Nominating Committee.) This evening of theatre will be directed by Tyrone Henderson (founder Quick Silver Theater Company).