Stockard Channing News

TMZ reports that comedian Joan Rivers is currently on life support. Sources close to the star say that her life is completely dependent on machines at the moment, and in a few days, her family will be faced with the decision of whether or not to keep her on the life support. The family is holding out hopes that she will make a recovery of some sort very soon.

Joan Rivers' daughter, Melissa Rivers, has spoken out today after news broke that her mother been rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital yesterday after she stopped breathing during a minor throat operation. The 81 year-old comedienne was having surgery on her vocal chords.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include Milly and Abigail Shapiro at 54 Below, the red carpet at the Emmy Awards, NEWSIES final curtain call, and more!

The star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony® Award winner Terrence McNally, began preview performances last night at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) with an opening night set for Thursday, October 9, 2014. As previously announced, Academy Award® winner F. Murray Abraham, Tony® Award winner Matthew Broderick, Emmy® and Tony® Award winner Stockard Channing, international film sensation Rupert Grint, Tony® Award winner Nathan Lane, Emmy® Award winner Megan Mullally, and newcomer Micah Stock star in It's Only a Play. 3-time Tony® Award winner Jack O'Brien directs. The cast greeted fans outside of the stage door and BroadwayWorld was there for all of the excitement. Check out photos below!

We are sad to report the news that Joan Rivers died at 1:17pm this afternoon, at 81 years old. Rivers was undergoing a procedure on her vocal cords last Thursday, during which she stopped breathing. She was quickly rushed to Mount Sinai hospital in New York City, where she was admitted in critical condition, and later upgraded to stable as she was put into a medically induced coma and put on life support.

UPDATE: According to new reports, Joan Rivers is now in stable condition. Her daughter said in a statement late today, Thursday, August 28: 'I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support for my mother. She is resting comfortably and is with our family. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.'

In 1985, Larry Kramer's play 'The Normal Heart' debuted at The Public Theatre, and sent shockwaves through the theatrical community. The play was a current, powerful look at the quick-spread of the AIDS epidemic that was raviging the gay community in New York. In The New York Times, theatre critic Frank Rich said of the initial production, 'There can be little doubt that 'The Normal Heart' is the most outspoken play around - or that it speaks up about a subject that justifies its author's unflagging, at times even hysterical, sense of urgency.'

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwaWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include Andrew Rannells in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, rehearsals with the touring cast of KINKY BOOTS, and more!

Inspired by Ellen DeGeneres' star-packed Oscar Selfie that went global in a matter of seconds last February during the Academy Awards® telecast, the all-star cast of the upcoming Broadway play It's Only A Play - F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally and Micah Stock - celebrate and send-up that now-infamous pop culture moment in a first-look photo of their new Broadway production.

The upcoming revival of Tony winner Terrence McNally's IT'S ONLY A PLAY has now drawn nearly $8 million before its opening on Broadway this fall, according to Deadline. In July, the production had already sold $5.5 million worth of tickets in advance.

The cast of the star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, including F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Micah Stock, just met the press yesterday. BroadwayWorld was there for all of the festivities and you can check out photos from the press conference below!

The cast of the star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, including F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Micah Stock, just met the press yesterday. BroadwayWorld was there for all of the festivities and you can check out photos of the stars' arrivals below!

The cast of the star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, including F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Micah Stock, just met the press this morning. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand to chat with the whole gang and you can check out what they had to say about the play below!

The cast of the star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, including F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Rupert Grint, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Micah Stock, just met the press this morning - check out a first look below!

Westport Country Playhouse will stage Alan Ayckbourn's romantic comedy, 'Things We Do for Love,' today, August 19 through Sunday, September 7, directed by Tony Award nominee John Tillinger, a veteran director of many Ayckbourn plays on Broadway and at the Playhouse.

The Poets' Theatre has announced that it is reorganizing and planning to present a full season of programming in 2014-2015. This historic Cambridge based organization will be led by Robert Scanlan, as President and Artistic Director, Benjamin Evett as the new Producing Artistic Director, and David Gullette as Literary Director. Scanlan, Evett, and Gullette have been charged by the Board of Directors to bring The Poets' Theatre back to prominence after more than a decade of inactivity. They will professionalize the company, create valuable partnerships with other organizations, and develop the resources to allow the theatre to present top quality productions in a regular and sustainable manner.

The box office officially opened today for the star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy It's Only A Play, by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, which will play a limited 18-week engagement at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) with previews beginning on Thursday, August 28, 2014 and an opening night set for Thursday, October 9, 2014. Tickets are available by visiting the Schoenfeld Theatre box office Monday - Saturday, 10am - 8pm (also Sundays, beginning August 31st); or online at Telecharge.com. For groups of 20 or more, call 855-329-2932. It's Only A Play is produced on Broadway by Tom Kirdahy, Roy Furman, and Ken Davenport. For more information, visit www.ItsOnlyAPlay.com.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage Alan Ayckbourn's romantic comedy, "Things We Do for Love," Tuesday, August 19 through Sunday, September 7, directed by Tony Award nominee John Tillinger, a veteran director of many Ayckbourn plays on Broadway and at the Playhouse.

The New York Post writes that the upcoming revival of Tony winner Terrence McNally's IT'S ONLY A PLAY has already drawn $5.5 million before its opening on Broadway this fall, more than any other show so far. No question the numbers are at least partially due to legendary duo Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick and their all-star castmates.

According to Out.com, Joan Rivers is heading back to Broadway! Michael Musto writes that the funny lady will revive the 1994 play that she wrote and starred in- Sally Marr...and Her Escorts. The play will get a reading at Washington D.C.'s National Theatre this fall, with plans to move to Broadway after.