Robert Sean Leonard News

Welcome to BroadwayWorld's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. in today's installment, Richard talks with Venus in Fur stars Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy about the intricacies of servicing a play as intense as David Ives' Venus in Fur eight times a week, their career inspirations, and their shared dream role.

Fox's medical drama HOUSE returns from its midseason hiatus this Monday, January 23rd with an episode that has Chase and newcomer Adams disagreeing over some major moral issues. The episode, entitled 'Better Half', tells the story of a patient who checks into the hospital in order to begin taking a drug for Alzheimer's disease. The episode airs from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT on FOX.

Not to be outdone by their female counterparts, the men of Broadway can boast a banner year. Norbert Leo Butz won a second Tony for Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter mega-star Daniel Radcliffe made his debut in a Broadway musical to tremendous acclaim, Matt Stone, Trey Parker and Robert Lopez rocked Broadway to its core with the Rialto's latest certified Blockbuster, The Book of Mormon, and Pee-Wee Herman came to the stage at last.

Earlier today, prior to his appearance at Comic Con, I had the pleasure of speaking to WALKING DEAD lead actor Jon Bernthal all about his theatre background and his Ovation Award-nominated performance in SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, and, also, his critically praised work on the monster AMC hit series THE WALKING DEAD, which makes its grand return tomorrow night for the launch of its hotly-anticipated second season. I am also happy to share that I was just lucky enough to view the episode myself and I can tell you that it has certainly been worth the wait since THE WALKING DEAD was last seen on TV last year - although the pay-off certainly won't pay off completely until next week given the grisly occurrences in the premiere (and the mind-blowing cliffhanger)! Discussing all aspects of his WALKING DEAD character and what we can expect from tomorrow night's zombie apocalypse shocker - as well as the rest of Season Two - Bernthal and I shed some light on the production of the second season of the hit show so far and how the series will now fare without former show-runner Frank Darabont at the helm. Most importantly, Bernthal shares his deep understanding and passion for theatre and his devotion to his craft - musing on Brecht, Shakespeare and more - as we trace his career trajectory onstage and onscreen from his founding of the Fovea Floods theatre company and the film version of the hit Off-Broadway interactive play TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING in the early 1990s all the way up to HBO'S THE PACIFIC and Roman Polanski's THE GHOST WRITER more recently. Bernthal is also kind enough to share with us what we can look forward to coming up in the near future: RAMPARTS, co-starring fellow InDepth InterView participant Steve Buscemi! Plus, his comments on previous castmates Jason Ritter, Andrea Anders and more!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 26, 2011 - Sunday, June 26, 2011.

After garnering some of the best reviews of the season, Born Yesterday is set to close following the matinee on Sunday, June 26; it will have played 28 previews and 73 performances. The production, which stars Jim Belushi, Robert Sean Leonard, and Nina Arianda, opened Sunday, April 24, at Broadway's Cort Theatre, 138 West 48 Street. Doug Hughes directed the classic Garson Kanin comedy.

After garnering some of the best reviews of the season, Born Yesterday is set to close following the matinee on Sunday, June 26; it will have played 28 previews and 73 performances. The production, which stars Jim Belushi, Robert Sean Leonard, and Nina Arianda, opened Sunday, April 24, at Broadway's Cort Theatre, 138 West 48 Street. Doug Hughes directed the classic Garson Kanin comedy.

Last week, I created my Tony Categories that SHOULD Exist and posted nominations in ten categories. You spent the week voting, and now it's time to announce the winners! Everyone who voted (and then tweeted me at @BroadwayGirlNYC) was entered to win a BroadwayGirlNYC Prize Pack. I've chosen that winner as well. And here they are...

Alexander Greenfield (Asst. Director, BORN YESTERDAY) will direct a cast that includes Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon), Tobias Segal (The Miracle Worker), Arden Myrin (Chelsea Lately), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) Maggie Low (Times of War) and Elizabeth West (The Women) in a reading of Pulitzer- nominated Tom Diggs' new play LOVE IN THE TIME OF REAGAN at an industry reading in midtown Manhattan one day only on May 16, 2011 at 3 pm in an undisclosed location.

David Hyde Pierce and S. Epatha Merkerson are set to co-host the 56th annual Obie Awards. The ceremony will be held at Webster Hall May 16. Additionally, Nina Arianda, Alec Baldwin, Margaret Colin, Mamie Gummer, Rose Hemingway, John Larroquette, Robert Sean Leonard, Patina Miller, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Arian Moayed, Lee Pace, Jim Parsons, and Andrew Ranells are set to present.

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

It's Tony Awards Season again, and I've been pondering the things about theatre that I appreciate the most. Surely, score and libretto and scenery and (of course) acting. But what about the ensembles, the special effects, the fight scenes, and the on-stage chemistry of so many sexy couples? Sure, the Tonys can't cover EVERYTHING. But the shows deserve accolades for more than just the traditional Tony honors. So I present to you my 2011 Alternative Awards -- aka Tony categories that SHOULD exist -- for the 2010-11 Broadway Season.

Alexander Greenfield (Asst. Director, BORN YESTERDAY) will direct a cast that includes Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon), Tobias Segal (The Miracle Worker), Arden Myrin (Chelsea Lately), Lucas Near-Verbrugghe (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) Maggie Low (Times of War) and Elizabeth West (The Women) in a reading of Pulitzer- nominated Tom Diggs' new play LOVE IN THE TIME OF REAGAN at an industry reading in midtown Manhattan one day only on May 16, 2011 at 3 pm in an undisclosed location.

Previews for Born Yesterday began March 31, at Broadway's Cort Theatre. Directed by Doug Hughes, this revival of Garson Kanin's award-winning comedy about sex and politics opened Easter Sunday, April 24. BroadwayWorld was there to speak with the stars on their big night and takes you inside the party press room below!

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced that the 56th Annual Obie Awards will take place on Monday, May 16, 2011 at Webster Hall in the East Village (125 East 11th Street). The awards will be co-hosted by S. Epatha Merkerson and David Hyde Pierce.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met today for the fourth and final time this season to decide the eligibility of 19 Broadway productions for the 2011 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards®, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. The Tony Awards Administration Committee has met a total of four times throughout the 2010-2011 season to decide the eligibility for the 2011 Tony Awards.

Previews for Born Yesterday began March 31, at Broadway's Cort Theatre. Directed by Doug Hughes, this revival of Garson Kanin's award-winning comedy about sex and politics opened last night, Easter Sunday, April 24 and Broadway legend Liza Minnell was there to congratulate the stars. Check out the video by clicking below!

Previews for Born Yesterday began March 31, at Broadway's Cort Theatre. Directed by Doug Hughes, this revival of Garson Kanin's award-winning comedy about sex and politics opened last night, Easter Sunday, April 24 and BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the opening night curtain call!