Second Stage Theatre News

The Producers of Broadway's most acclaimed new musical, Next to Normal, announced today that a National Tour will launch in Los Angeles in November 2010. Performances at the Center Theatre GroupAhmanson Theatre will begin November 23 and run through January 2. Winner of three Tony Awards - Best Score, Best Actress in a Musical, and Best Orchestrations - Next to Normal features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and direction by Michael Greif.

The New York Times is reporting that the musical Everyday Rapture, based on actress Sherie ReneScott's journey with religion, theater, and fame, will replace Terrence McNally's Lips Together, Teeth Apart at the Roundabout Theatre Company. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Lips Tgether has been indefinitely postponed following the sudden departure of Megan Mullally from this four-person ensemble comedy over disagreements with director Joe Mantello. The show was to open on April 29, 2010.

Julia Cho's THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE will receive its premiere at the South Coast Repertory Theatre as a part of their 2010 season. The show received a reading in 2009 as a part of SCR's Pacific Playwrights Festivals. The show will be directed by Mark Brokaw and will play March 26th to April 25th at the Segerstrom Stage.

Tisa Chang, Artistic Producing Director of Pan Asian Repertory Theatre continues its 33rd season with CHING CHONG CHINAMAN, a satirical new comedy by Lauren Yee directed by May Adrales. The limited engagement plays March 19 - April 11, 2010 at the West End Theatre (263 W. 86th Street between Broadway & West End Avenue in the Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew, 2nd floor). Opening night is Wednesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced that USMAN ALLY, TERENCE ARCHIE, DESMIN BORGES, CHRISTIAN LITKE, and MICHAEL T. WEISS (NBC's 'The Pretender') will star in the New York premiere of THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, a new play written by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Edward Torres.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents BATTLE OF BLACK AND DOGS by Bernard-Marie Koltès, translated by Michaël Attias, and directed by Robert Woodruff, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York), April 16-May 8. Opening Night is Thursday, April 22.

Stephen Sondheim turned 80 on Monday, March 22nd, 2010 and he celebrated this landmark event with Roundabout Theatre Company at a special performance of Sondheim on Sondheim and star-studded tribute at Roundabout's 2010 Spring Gala: Sondheim 80.

Longtime collaborators James Lapine and John Weidman announced the renaming of Henry Miller's Theatre to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The renaming of the theatre is dedicated to Stephen Sondheim, the greatest and best known artist in American musical theatre on his 80th birthday. The announcement was made at the curtain call following Roundabout Theatre Company's gala performance of the new Broadway musical Sondheim on Sondheim.

Second Stage Theater presents The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity By Kristoffer Diaz. Directed by Edward Torres, the show runs APRIL 26 - JUNE 20 at the Second Stage Theatre, 305 W. 43rd St.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Kenny Finkle's romantic comedy, Alive and Well. Directed by Jeremy Dobrish, Alive and Well will run in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre March 20 - April 25. Previews run from March 20 - March 24.

The Primary Stages School of Theater (PSST) has announcedthe addition of its popular Master Class Series that was created to provide students the chance togain rare insight and experience from some of the finest working professionals in thetheater. Special guests for the spring series include, Judith Ivey, Judith Light and Craig Lucas.Master Classes are open to the public with a suggested $5 donation.

Tulsa's Heller Theatre will end its run of Sarah Ruhl's play THE CLEAN HOUSE on March March 21. The production is be directed by Julie Tattershall.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Kenny Finkle's romantic comedy, Alive and Well. Directed by Jeremy Dobrish, Alive and Well will run in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre March 20 - April 25.

Tisa Chang, Artistic Producing Director of Pan Asian Repertory Theatre continues its 33rd season with CHING CHONG CHINAMAN, a satirical new comedy by Lauren Yee directed by May Adrales.

Noble Fool Theatricals presents the Tony-Award winning new musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by Kevin Bellie and music directed by Peter Storms, at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage Theater (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; telephone 630-584-6342).

Casting has been completed for the upcoming performance of THE CHERRY SISTERS REVISITED, which will play as a part of the Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. The production will feature music by Michael Friedman, commissioned by the theatre.

The Primary Stages School of Theater (PSST) has announcedthe addition of its popular Master Class Series that was created to provide students the chance togain rare insight and experience from some of the finest working professionals in thetheater. Special guests for the spring series include, Judith Ivey, Judith Light and Craig Lucas.Master Classes are open to the public with a suggested $5 donation.

Casting has been completed for the upcoming performance of THE CHERRY SISTERS REVISITED, which will play as a part of the Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. The production will feature music by Michael Friedman, commissioned by the theatre.

Joe Iconis headed into NYC's MSR Studios on February 28 with his band and the cast of his critically-acclaimed concert event Things To Ruin to lay down tracks for the show's forthcoming album. The recording, which will be released by Sh-K-Boom Records in Summer 2010, features a collection of songs by Kleban and Larson-winner Iconis as seen in Things To Ruin at off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre in May 2009.

Tulsa's Heller Theatre will present Sarah Ruhl's play THE CLEAN HOUSE on March 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 8 PM and on March 21 at 2 PM. The production will be directed by Julie Tattershall.