Rich Frank News

A haunting American classic, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL marks the first Cleveland Play House production of a work by Pulitzer Prize- and Academy Award-winner Horton Foote, and the world-premiere performance of this play by an African-American cast. Receiving the blessing of Hallie Foote, daughter of the playwright, this co-production with Round House Theatre is helmed by Timothy Douglas and stars preeminent African-American actress Lizan Mitchell as Carrie Watts. THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL begins in the Drury Theatre at Cleveland Play House on Friday, February 4 and runs through Sunday, February 27, 2011. Tickets are available at Cleveland Play House box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL is presented with support from US Bank, Turner Construction, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, and the Ohio Arts Council.

Due to the recent blast of snowy and icy weather, Civic Theatre of Allentown will delay performances of Lanford Wilson's Tony-nominated play, "Fifth of July," by one week. The show, which was previously scheduled to open on February 18, will now begin performances on Thursday, February 24 and will run through Saturday, March 5. Patrons holding tickets for cancelled performances are asked to contact the Civic Theatre Box Office at 610-432-8943 to receive tickets for a new date.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Wayne Kelton, Executive Director) today announced the cast for the 25th Anniversary production of Benefactors. Carl Forsman will direct a cast that includes Vivienne Benesch (appeared opposite Maggie Smith in the London revival of Edward Albee's The Lady from Dubuque; OBIE winner for Lee Blessing's Going to St. Ives), Daniel Jenkins (Love Child, Mary Poppins, Tony nominee for Big River), Deanne Lorette (La Bete), and Stephen Barker Turner (Rinne Groff's Compulsion opposite Mandy Patinkin).

A haunting American classic, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL marks the first Cleveland Play House production of a work by Pulitzer Prize- and Academy Award-winner Horton Foote, and the world-premiere performance of this play by an African-American cast. Receiving the blessing of Hallie Foote, daughter of the playwright, this co-production with Round House Theatre is helmed by Timothy Douglas and stars preeminent African-American actress Lizan Mitchell as Carrie Watts. THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL begins in the Drury Theatre at Cleveland Play House on Friday, February 4 and runs through Sunday, February 27, 2011. Tickets are available at Cleveland Play House box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL is presented with support from US Bank, Turner Construction, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, announced today the nominees for its 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards. By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

The Waterfront Playhouse presents David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' considered to be one of the theater's masterworks of the late 20th Century. The New York Times calls the play 'ferocious comedy and drama, crackling with tension.' Directed by George Gugleotti and featuring an ensemble of powerhouse actors, 'Glengarry' runs January 27 to February 12. The production is sponsored by AT&T, The Real Yellow Pages, with the opening night party sponsored by Sandra and Lee McMannis. The production carries an audience advisory of 'adult language.'

Cast members from GLEE and other hit shows were in attendance at The Fox All-Star Party held at Villa Sorriso in Pasadena, California on January 10th, 2011.

Lanford Wilson's Tony-nominated Fifth of July, called the "wisest and funniest play of its generation" by the New York Times, will make its Lehigh Valley debut when it opens in Civic's 19th Street Theatre on Friday, February 18th.

The New Theatre Project is pleased to announce a special one-night only event, for the closet masochist in all of us.

The New Theatre Project is pleased to announce a special one-night only event, for the closet masochist in all of us.

Stephen Sondheim to Jerry Herman to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael John LaChiusa to Kander & Ebb to Dempsey & Rowe, PUTTING IT TOGETHER to MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET on Broadway - the phenomenally gifted co-founder of the Signature Theater is one of the brightest lights in directing today - whether in regional theatre or on Broadway or the West End - and a mere glance at his resume reveals many of the reasons why. Discussing the current production of SUNSET BOULEVARD opening later this month at the Signature, plus a complete rundown of the upcoming Kennedy Center production of FOLLIES, in this, his most comprehensive interview to date, Eric Schaeffer bares all and reveals what makes his productions shine so bright on Broadway and beyond.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) celebrated its 2010-2011 playwright-in-residence Tony Kushner at its 20th anniversary gala on November 8 at Espace. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

On October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed.

Three quarters of a century before a Frank Rich review had the power to close a Broadway show on opening night, New York City Police Commissioner William McAdoo accomplished the same feat with his pan of the 1905 American premiere of George Bernard Shaw's, Mrs. Warren's Profession.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) opens the first New York revival of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning epic work, ANGELS IN AMERICA: A GAY FANTASIA ON NATIONAL THEMES on October 28. The production will be directed by Michael Greif. ANGELS IN AMERICA is the first production of Signature's 20th Anniversary season, celebrating the works of Tony Kushner.

FX is adding more original comedy to its programming slate, ordering 13 episodes of Wilfred, a live-action comedy series starring Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Jason Gann, which is based on the critically acclaimed Australian series of the same title, announced Nick Grad, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, FX Networks.

Last night, October 18, the Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, earned a heartfelt standing ovation at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The reading starred Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that raised $150,000 for The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed.

Producer Daryl Roth announced that Glenn Close will play the role of 'Dr. Emma Brookner' in the upcoming, Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart. She joins cast members Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed. The historic reading will take place at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.

In a career that has consisted of everything from voicing Howard the Duck to originating the roles of The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical INTO THE WOODS and Marvin (and Dr. Mendel) in the FALSETTOS trilogy by William Finn, as well as some DePalma and numerous stage roles in between, Chip Zien is a character actor extraordinaire who now is trying out a new role - that of book writer - in the New York Musical Theater Festival's new musical THE HISTORY OF WAR. Last week we spoke to one of the stars of the show, Max Von Essen, and today we shine some light on the process of bringing the show to the stage as well as a look back at many of the notable film and theatre appearances that Zien has made over his nearly four decades in show business. Working with Stephen Sondheim, William Finn, Dustin Hoffman and Nicolas Cage is just the tip of the iceberg, as Zien also opens up about his unusual career and the many friendships he has built along the way. All that, and what it was like to be at the birth of a brand new Sondheim song written just for him in the form of 'No More' from INTO THE WOODS. Marvin to Mendel, Baker to book writer, Chip Zien is an authority of all the glitters and the gold of having a true collaborative breakthrough as he has had on FALSETTOS, INTO THE WOODS and, now, THE HISTORY OF WAR. Tickets are on sale at the link below! Only three performances left, tonight and tomorrow only!

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that Glenn Close will play the role of 'Dr. Emma Brookner' in the upcoming, Joel Grey-directed, 25th anniversary staged reading of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart. She joins previously announced cast members Victor Garber, Jason Butler Harner, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Jack McBrayer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Patrick Wilson in the one-night-only event that will benefit The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed. The historic reading will take place at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Monday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.