Rob Ruggiero News

Tony winner Jarrod Emick has been replaced by actor Chad Allen in the upcoming pre-Broadway showing of Matthew Lombardo's 'LOOPED.'

LOOPED tells the story of actress Tallulah Bankhead, the original celebrity bad girl who enters a film studio session to re-record (or 'loop') one line of dialogue for her final film, Die, Die My Darling. What ensues is a showdown between an uptight sound editor and the outrageous legend.

Valerie Harper and Chad Allen star in the upcoming pre-Broadway showing of Matthew Lombardo's 'LOOPED.' BroadwayWorld's cameras were in the area and caught some shots of the marquee for the production.

LOOPED tells the story of actress Tallulah Bankhead, the original celebrity bad girl who enters a film studio session to re-record (or 'loop') one line of dialogue for her final film, Die, Die My Darling. What ensues is a showdown between an uptight sound editor and the outrageous legend.

Tony winner Jarrod Emick has been replaced by actor Chad Allen in the upcoming pre-Broadway showing of Matthew Lombardo's 'LOOPED.'

Arena Stage recently received news that an actor cast in a leading role of the upcoming production of Sweet Bird of Youth is no longer available. At the same time, Arena was presented with the opportunity to produce a pre-Broadway comedy about an American icon starring a four-time Emmy Award-winning actress. With the major artist no longer available to perform in Sweet Bird of Youth, the theater has decided to seize the limited-time opportunity to share Looped?starring Valerie Harper (Rhoda in The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Tallulah Bankhead?with its audiences prior to the show's Broadway engagement.

Goodspeed Musicals, under the leadership of Michael P. Price, is pleased to announce the 2009 musical season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. The 46th season includes three extraordinary musicals that are sure to delight theatregoers: the dazzling Broadway song and dance extravaganza 42nd Street will run from April 17 - June 28; the second production, the Tony Award-winning Camelot will run from July 10 - September 19; and completing the season is the zany adventure A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, featuring such memorable classics as 'Comedy Tonight,' which will run from September 25 - November 29.

TheaterWorks in downtown Hartford presents the New England Premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, the latest comedy by one of America's hottest contemporary playwrights, Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House, Eurydice, 2006 winner of the MacArthur 'Genius Grant'). The production runs January 30 through March 15, 2009 (please note the change in previously announced dates). Written in Ruhl's signature juxtaposition of keenly observed realities and hilarious flights of fantasy, Dead Man's Cell Phone 'takes surprising twists and leaps' (The New York Times). TheaterWorks' production is directed by Rob Ruggiero.

Four Time Emmy Award winning actress Valerie Harper stars as Tallulah Bankhead in the Pre-Broadway Engagement of Looped , a new comedy by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Rob Ruggiero. The production (direct from its sold out World Premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse) arrives at The Cuillo Centre for the Arts, prior to a Broadway bow in Summer 2009. Tony Award winning actor Jarrod Emick co-stars.

On Monday, November 24, Goodspeed Musicals will hold their Annual Food Drive to benefit the East Haddam Food Bank.

Today, the Jefferson Awards announced the winners among the 150 nominees in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008. Beginning with this season, the Jeff Awards is acknowledging the work of Large and Midsize theatres in separate categories for productions and technical elements.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, announces the cast of Big River, a spirited musical adventure like no other. Big River will begin September 26 and run through November 30, 2008 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. Big River is sponsored by Bank of America and Connecticut Light & Power / Yankee Gas.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, announces the cast of Big River, a spirited musical adventure like no other. Big River will begin September 26 and run through November 30, 2008 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. Big River is sponsored by Bank of America and Connecticut Light & Power / Yankee Gas.

Northlight Theatre's 33rd Season and Artistic Director BJ Jones' 10th Anniversary Season broke attendance and box office records, surpassed all revenue and fundraising goals and celebrated its first-ever international production with Better Late at the Galway Arts Festival. The theatre is well-poised to kick-off its season in September with its 5-play season and Interplay, its staged reading series of new plays.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, announces the cast of Big River, a spirited musical adventure like no other. Big River will begin September 26 and run through November 30, 2008 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. Big River is sponsored by Bank of America and Connecticut Light & Power / Yankee Gas.

Today, the Jefferson Awards announced the 150 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008. Beginning with this season, the Jeff Awards is acknowledging the work of Large and Midsize theatres in separate categories for productions and technical elements.

F.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company announces the Boston Premiere of Bare, a musical by Damon Intrabartolo and John Hartmere. Bare opens for the press on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 8:00 and plays through Saturday, August 2, 2008.

F.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company announces the Boston Premiere of Bare, a musical by Damon Intrabartolo and John Hartmere. Bare opens for the press on Friday, July 25, 2008 at 8:00 and plays through Saturday, August 2, 2008.

The legendary Ladies of Summer continue their captivating hold on Hartford Stage audiences with the swinging sound of the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, in Ella, starring Broadway veteran Tina Fabrique.

F.U.D.G.E. Theatre Company announces 'Fuddy Meers', a play by David Lindsay-Abaire. 'Fuddy Meers' opens for the press on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 8:00 and plays through May 10, 2008.