Second Stage Theatre News

Buzz22 Chicago has announced the casting for the World Premiere production of Laura Jacqmin's 'GHOST BIKE,' directed by Co-Artistic Director Sara Sawicki, February 27 - March 30, 2014 at Red Tape Theatre, 621 W Belmont Ave. Combining elements of Greek, African, and Chinese mythology, 'GHOST BIKE' depicts two best friends navigating the ultimate challenge to a friendship through an underworld beneath their home city of Chicago. 'GHOST BIKE' is Buzz22 Chicago's next production after their sold out and highly acclaimed production of 'She Kills Monsters' at the Steppenwolf Garage in Feb-April 2013.

The original cast recording of MURDER FOR TWO, the hit new musical comedy starring Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback, will be released digitally on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 by Ghostlight Records. Produced by Joel Moss and executive produced by Kurt Deutsch, the album will be available in stores and everywhere music is sold on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. The physical CD features complete lyrics, never-before-seen photos, a show synopsis by creators Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair and an essay by Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz. Admission to the album release party is exclusive to ticket holders of the Monday, January 13, 2014performance of Murder For Two. Sign up to pre-order the original cast recording at www.sh-k-boom.com/murderfortwo.html.

The Marsh announces that Geoff Hoyle's hit solo show GEEZER will move to The Marsh Berkeley January 23 - March 1, 2013, following its multi-extended runs at The Marsh San Francisco. This vivid look at NOT 'going gentle into that good night' by one of the era's most acclaimed physical comedy actors will play Thursdays at 8pm and Saturdays at 5pm at The Marsh Berkeley Main Stage, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. For tickets ($25-$50), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

After beginning his career in 1993, longtime theatrical press agent MICHAEL HARTMAN, founder and CEO of one of the largest and most successful theatrical publicity firms in New York, will say goodbye to Broadway and close THE HARTMAN GROUP on Sunday, January 5, 2014, remaining fully operational until then.

2014 Winter/Spring Cleveland Theater Offerings

A slew of Broadway favorites will return to Broadway in the upcoming theatre season, including Will Swenson, who will will star as 'Javert' in Les Miserables (set to open at the Imperial Theatre on March 23, 2014).

THE SANTALAND DIARIES returns to PlayhouseSquare for a limited engagement, December 5 through December 22, 2013.

Producers Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre have announced the Murderous Musical Mondays Concert Series at New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street) following the 7pm performances of the new hit musical comedy Murder For Two on Mondays beginning December 2, 2013 and culminating with the Kellen and Joe Christmastime Show on December 16, 2013. Admission to the post-show 'singbacks' is exclusive to ticket holders of the December 2, 9, and 16, 2013 performances of Murder For Two. A portion of ticket sales for the designated performances will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of the hit new musical comedy MURDER FOR TWO in early 2014. MURDER FOR TWO, which was a hit at Second Stage Theatre Uptown before transferring to New World Stages, has already extended its run through March 16, 2014. The album will be produced by Joel Moss with Kurt Deutsch serving as executive producer. Sign up to pre-order at www.sh-k-boom.com/murderfortwo.html.

This week highlights the opening of RICHARD III/TWELFTH NIGHT, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, as well as Broadway Rocks Caberat, and MAMMA MIA'S 5,000th performance.

Tonight, November 14, Second Stage opens its much-anticipated production of Little Miss Sunshine. This new musical comedy is based on the film of the same name by Michael Arndt. It was adapted for the stage by Tony Award-winning team James Lapine, who wrote the book, and William Finn, who wrote the lyrics and music. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director), currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary season, has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winnerQuiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The company will feature ANTHONY CHISHOLM (Radio Golf, Jitney), DARIUSH KASHANI (Homebody/Kabul), TONY PLANA (Ugly Betty), ARMANDO RIESCO (2ST's Water by the Spoonful), ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ (Motherf***er with the Hat, Orange is the New Black), and ANNAPURNA SRIRAM (Pericles at Berkeley Rep).

Producers Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre present Murder For Two, currently playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street). Direct from a critically-acclaimed, sold-out run at Second StageTheatre Uptown (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director and Christopher Burney, Curator and Associate Artistic Director), Murder For Two began performances at New World Stages - Stage 5 on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 and officially opens tonight, November 6, 2013.

Producers Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre present Murder For Two, currently playing Off-Broadway at New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street). The show, which was originally scheduled to play through Sunday, January 5, 2014, will now play its final performance on Sunday, March 16, 2014. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Producers Jayson Raitt, Barbara Whitman, Steven Chaikelson and Second Stage Theatre have announced a 10-week extension to the limited engagement of Murder For Two at Off-Broadway's New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street). The show, which was originally scheduled to play through Sunday, January 5, 2014, will now play its final performance on Sunday, March 16, 2014.

The Power of Duff playwright Stephen Belber and Trinity College professor of religion in public lifeMark Silk will lead the conversation at the Huntington Theatre Company's Humanities Forum on Sunday, November 3rd following the 2pm performance of Belber's The Power of Duff.

Beginning Monday, October 28, Broadway's Tony Award-winning, record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO will welcome two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Fitzgerald in the starring role of Roxie's all-but-invisible husband, 'Mister Cellophane' Amos Hart.

It's the news that everyone's been waiting for! Cameron Mackintosh announced today the first four cast members of his acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece Les Miserables, which returns to Broadway beginning Saturday, March 1 at the Imperial Theatre.

Happy Birthday, Aaron Tveit! Tveit recently shined as Enjolras in the critically acclaimed film adaption of LES MISERABLES, and has since then starred in the original USA Network series GRACELAND. Tveit starred on Broadway in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, in the role of Frank Abagnale Jr and also created the role of 'Gabe' in the Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical, NEXT TO NORMAL, which he developed off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre and debuted on Broadway. In addition to WICKED and HAIRSPRAY on Broadway, he starred in the national tours of Hairspray and Rent.

Just yesterday, the cast of Second Stage Theatre's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, including Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, celebrated the release of the cast album at Barnes & Noble. Accompanied by composer Jason Robert Brown, the duo sang from the show and signed copies of the album afterwards. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage below!