Second Stage News

Actress Emily Bergl will open the fall season of the Oak Room at the historic Algonquin Hotel with her cabaret, 'Kidding on the Square.'

Her first stage tour, Peppa Pig's Party, was one of the top-selling children's theatre shows in 2010 and 2011. Now hot on its heels comes a second stage production, Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt that sets out on the road from 13 October this autumn with tour dates through until July 2012. This brand new show will have a West End Christmas season at the Criterion Theatre (1 December 2011 - 1 January 2012), following the sell-out success of last year's seasonal run there.

In her smart comedy The Book Club Play, D.C.-area playwright Karen Zacarías examines the intricacies of book clubs, with their unspoken rules, high-spirited debates and strong bonds formed when least expected. With an ensemble cast featuring Fred Arsenault, Ashlie Atkinson, Rachael Holmes, Eric Messner, Kate Eastwood Norris and Tom Story, this is Zacarías' second collaboration with Director Molly Smith at Arena Stage and is the first work of a Resident Playwright to be produced as part of their three-year residencies through the American Voices New Play Institute. The Book Club Play runs October 7-November 6, 2011 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

The Manhattan Theatre Club has announced full casting for the upcoming world premiere of CLOSE UP SPACE by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Leigh Silverman. Joining the cast is Academy Award & Emmy Award nominee Rosie Perez (Fearless, The Ritz) as famous author 'Vanessa Finn Adams.' Completing the cast are Jessica DiGiovanni (Off-Broadway Debut) and Colby Minifie (The Pillowman, Landscape of the Body) as well as already announced Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce ('Frasier', Curtains) and Obie Award winner Michael Chernus (The Aliens, In The Wake).

Philadelphia Theatre Company opens its 2011-2012 season with the Philadelphia premiere of John Logan's Tony Award-winning drama Red October 14-November 13 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Anders Cato, the two-person cast features Broadway veteran Stephen Rowe and Oscar nominee Haley Joel Osment.

AFRAID OF THE DARK -- a new thriller whose author writes anonymously -- will be given its world-premiere production Off-Broadway this fall at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 W. 42 St.) in Manhattan, with previews scheduled to begin on September 8. Opening night and casting TBA.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce that Betsy Aidem, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Reed Birney, Christine Lahti, Shane McRae, Cotter Smith, and Katherine Waterston will star in the world premiere of Adam Rapp's DREAMS OF FLYING DREAMS OF FALLING, directed by Neil Pepe. Check out photos of the cast below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. A breakdown of the Equity Jeff Award nominations, plus a world premiere Jane Austen adaptation, 'Guys And Dolls,' 'Starting Here...,' 'Rodgers And Hart...' a Leonard Bernstein tribute and more....

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presents Outlaws: The Ballad of Billy the Kid a world premiere rock musical by Perry Liu, Joe Calarco and Alastair William King.

Original cast members Usman Ally (VP), Terence Archie (Chad Deity) and Desmin Borges (Mace) get back in the ring to reprise their roles in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at the Geffen Playhouse where they're joined by character actor Steve Valentine in the role of EKO (one more actor remains to be announced). Written by Kristoffer Diaz, this Pulitzer Prize finalist slams together thrilling spectacle, incredible characters and geopolitical allegory into an invigorating theatrical experience you can't find on pay-perview.

After a 2010 debut that showcased fourteen playwrights to over 3,500 satisfied patrons, the predominantly African American Philly Urban Theatre Festival (PUTF) returns on September 19th with a focus of diversity onstage.

Living Image Arts presents CHARLES WINN SPEAKS written by C. S. HANSON and directed by LYNN M. THOMSON

Producers Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith and Roy Furman have announced the on-sale Ticketing schedule for two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, NBC's upcoming 'Smash'). Directed by acclaimed Obie Award winner Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation, The Aliens, Tigers Be Still, Kin, The Coward) in his Broadway debut, the production will also star Tony Award nominee Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice, Steel Magnolias, this summer's lauded A Doll's House at Williamstown) and Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater (The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, 'The New Adventures of Old Christine'). SEMINAR will begin previews on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at The Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street) with an Opening Night set for Sunday, November 20 at 6:30 PM.