Steve Martin News

The Public Theater will continue its popular Shakespeare Salon Series this month with an engaging conversation with Director Daniel Sullivan, who will talk about this summer's upcoming Shakespeare in the Park production of AS YOU LIKE IT. Moderated by Shakespeare Initiative Director Barry Edelstein, this intimate event will be held on Thursday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Chinatown Brasserie (380 Lafayette Street). Member tickets, priced at $20, and single tickets, priced at $25, are on sale now and include a complimentary glass of wine.

What audiences should expect is a snapshot of family life in 1964 that is full of heart and insightful commentary on timeless facets of human nature. Some things--like the craziness of planning a wedding and the emotions it brings to the surface--never change.

The Brooklyn Philharmonic presents Charlie Looker, Tim Fite, and Natalie Elizabeth Weiss as 2011-12 Outside-In Composer Fellows, in the Outside-In Annual Concert tonight, May 2 at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO, Brooklyn. The Outside-In Composer Fellowship Program pairs non-orchestral composers from diverse musical backgrounds including hip hop, electronica, world music, jazz and indie rock with Resident Composer-Mentor, Randall Woolf, and the Brooklyn Phil's own Artistic Director, Alan Pierson. The fellows' new pieces will be performed by the Brooklyn Phil Chamber Players.

'I'm so excited for the show! 10 nominations is a really nice round number. My husband and I were watching NY1 this morning and simultaneously trying to get our twins out the door to go to music class. So, we were wrangling them and watching the nominations at the same time. My husband Scott Landis is a producer for NICE WORK and for VENUS IN FUR so we were especially thrilled. We're a quadruple nomination household! The cast is performing on David Letterman on Thursday so we have a rehearsal for that. I'm thrilled that i'll get to see them!'

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) kicks off the 10th anniversary of its Uptown Series with the world premiere of The Bad Guys, written by Alena Smith and directed by Hal Brooks. The Bad Guys will feature Michael Braun (War Horse), Roe Hartrampf (Unnatural Acts), James McMenamin (Suicide, Incorporated), Tobias Segal (The Miracle Worker) and Raviv Ullman (Russian Transport). Previews begin on May 22nd and opening night is Monday, June 4th.

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella Valley's premiere theatrical venue, celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The McCallum Theatre opened its doors on January 2, 1988 with a gala performance honoring Bob Hope that was nationally televised. Since then The McCallum has been the Coachella Valley's mecca for world-class entertainment including an extensive array of Broadway and Cabaret offerings. The man behind the tremendous success of the McCallum's eclectic performance calendar for the past thirteen years is Mitch Gershenfeld, Director of Presentations and Theatre Operations, who will take the helm as the theatre's President and CEO beginning June 1. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Gershenfeld as he begins preparations for The McCallum's exciting Silver Anniversary Season. Gershenfeld is warm, passionate, highly astute, a performing arts afficionado and a genuinely kind man. Here are a few highlights from that conversation.

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella Valley's premiere theatrical venue, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The season kicks off on August 31 with comedy legend Steve Martin joined by the Grammy nominated Steep Canyon Rangers. This wonderfully eclectic season also includes Pink Martini, Howie Mandell, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Elaine Page and Yo-Yo Ma, to name a few.

The Farmington Players stage now resembles a Little Shop of Horrors, as one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows in history comes to the Barn, tonight April 27th-May 19th. Tickets are available at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955.

Performances for LEAP OF FAITH began on Tuesday, April 3, and the show officially opened tonight at The St. James Theatre. Four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leads the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Today we are talking to one of the busiest choreographers on Broadway who was recently represented by four shows running on the Great White Way simultaneously (a new record) - the long-running hit JERSEY BOYS, Pulitzer Prize-winner NEXT TO NORMAL, multi-Tony Award-winning MEMPHIS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY. His most recent Broadway credit is the new Alan Menken/Glenn Slater musical adaptation of the 90s hit Steve Martin comedy LEAP OF FAITH featuring Broadway superstar Raul Esparza in the lead. In addition to discussing the unique demands of his involvement with the aforementioned new musicals with a pronounced focus on his current project, Trujillo opens up about the process of collaborating with a director and what musical staging is all about at its core, as well as outlining his experiences working with a number of notable names on his impressive assortment of projects so far and taking a look back at his own career as a performer, having previously appeared in GUYS & DOLLS, FOSSE and the film version of CHICAGO among other illustrious resume entries. Plus, Trujillo shares his infectious enthusiasm and passionate dedication to his art and reveals what he will be taking on next after LEAP OF FAITH's opening night, which is tonight - a tryout tour of a screen-to-stage adaptation of the iconic 80s hit FLASHDANCE and an original dramatic musical included. All of that and much, much more!

Two-time Emmy®-winning filmmaker Peter Jones explores his life, career, complexities, and contradictions in the two-hour documentary American Masters JOHNNY CARSON: KING OF LATE NIGHT premiering nationally Monday, May 14, 2012 at 9 pm (ET) on PBS (check local listings). 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of Carson taking over The Tonight Show from Jack Paar and the 20th anniversary of his retirement.

Leap of Faith, based on the 1992 film of the same name, began previews on April 3 and opens on Broadway on tonight at the St. James Theatre. It's been a long road to the Broadway stage, and we highlight key parts of the musical's journey below!

The Arvada Center has announced its seven-play season that includes four diverse musicals, three comedies, a continued collaboration with one of Colorado's critically acclaimed theater companies and a regional premiere.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts announces an all-star summer line-up set to kick off in June. The summer will feature the legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, jazz songstress Diana Krall, instrumentalist Chris Botti, the multi-talented Steve Martin and many more. Tickets to all performances go on sale Friday, April 27. Season sponsors include Bank of Nevada and the Las Vegas Design Center.

After premiering in a sold out, critically acclaimed run in Los Angeles, I AM A TREE, written and performed by Dulcy Rogers and directed by Allan Miller, arrives in NY, produced by United Pies, Inc, in association with The Elephant Theatre (Los Angeles).

Tony, Emmy and Grammy award-winning actress and comedienne LILY TOMLIN will perform at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County tonight, April 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall. As an exciting new addition to the Center's 2011-2012 Comedy Planet Series, LILY TOMLIN's performance is poised to be an unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laughter.

The Gladstone will present THE COMMUNICATION CORD by Brian Friel and directed by John P. Kelly from March 28th through April 14th.

Just announced is word that the 2012 Tony Awards Nominations Announcement will be co-hosted by Tony winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Parsons on Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com last week, the Public Theater confirmed today that Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy has been cast as The Witch in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Murphy last performed at the Delacorte in the Shakepeare in the Park production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1985. INTO THE WOODS will begin previews on Monday, July 23 and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25 with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.