Susan Hilferty News

TONY and EMMY Award nominee Ron Raines returns to Broadway as Daddy Warbucks in the new Broadway production of ANNIE at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). He will begin performances on Tuesday, December 10. Australian superstar Anthony Warlow will play his final performance as Daddy Warbucks on Sunday, December 8.

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director) will begin performances for the return engagement of THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, the first play in the tetralogy, The Apple Family Plays: Scenes from Life in the Country, on Tuesday, October 22. Written and directed by Richard Nelson, the acclaimed plays will run in repertory through Sunday, December 15 and culminate in the world premiere of the fourth and final play, REGULAR SINGING, which opens on the day it is set, November 22 - the 50th Anniversary of JFK's assassination that shocked the world.

October is Adopt-a-Dog month, and ANNIE on Broadway is celebrating by showing support for those who adopt shelter dogs. From October 15 through 31, at participating shelters around the city, individuals who adopt a dog from a participating shelter will receive a voucher for two tickets to see ANNIE in November, while supplies last. ANNIE has partnered with a select number of shelters and rescue groups in NYC, all of which are members of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, to participate. Participating shelters include The Humane Society of NY, New York Animal Care & Control, Animal Haven, Sean Casey Animal Rescue and Louie's Legacy. More shelters will be announced via social media.

ANNIE, the critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, celebrates one year on Broadway with this evening's performance. ANNIE began preview performances at the Palace Theatre (Broadway and 47th Street) on October 3, 2012, and opened on November 8, 2012.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY another special event this month. Green will host the concert Amanda Green and Friends at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) tonight, September 29 at 6:00 PM to celebrate the album's release. Her special guests will include Keith Carradine, Allison Case, Jenn Colella, Van Hughes, Janet Krupin, Kathleen Monteleone, Jim Newman, Jacob Ming-Trent, Jon Rua and William Youmans. The singers will be backed by members of the original Broadway 'Pit Crew' for Hardbody, including Musical Director Matt Gallagher on piano, Skip Krevens on pedal steel, Shannon Ford on drums and Skip Ward on bass.

The Wicked touring company and Hennepin Theatre Trust are pleased to announce that a day-of-performance lottery for alimited number of orchestra seats will be held prior to each performance of Wicked during the Minneapolis run, September 18-October 27. Two and one-half hours before each show, people who present themselves at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (910 Hennepin Avenue) will have their names placed in a lottery container. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This offer is available only in-person at the Orpheum Box Office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID to enter and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets

The producers of ANNIE announced this evening that the show will play its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, January 5, 2014. Upon closing, the production, which opened on November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street), will have played 487 performances and 38 previews.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules. The exclusive event will take place tonight, September 4 at 7:00 PM. Call (212) 369-2180 for details.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2009, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in Providence, RI, December 26, 2013 - January 12, 2014.

Wicked, the smash hit musical, makes its much-anticipated return to Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, Wednesday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. This fourth Minneapolis engagement follows extremely popular runs in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire about the untold story of the witches of Oz, Wicked is the winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards. Wicked is a special addition to Hennepin Theatre Trust's 2013/14 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season. Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to buy tickets, call 1.800.982.2787 or visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules.

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY both in stores and via online outlets today, August 27.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Jenni Barber, who most recently starred in THE NANCE on Broadway will take on 'Grace Farrell' in ANNIE beginning August 20. Brynn O'Malley, who currently plays the role, will temporarily depart to star in HONEYMOON IN VEGAS at Paper Mill Playouse. She will return to the production on November 5.

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince will return to Broadway as evil orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in the new Broadway production of ANNIE at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). She will begin performances tonight, July 19. Emmy Award-winning 'Glee' star Jane Lynch will play her final performance as Miss Hannigan on Sunday, July 14.

The Nominating Committee attends all productions during the Broadway season and meets on the date designated by the Administration Committee to determine, by vote, the Tony Award nominees for that season. The committee of Tony Nominators, which has been expanded to 46 members for the 2013-2014 season, includes:

I was a freshman at Sam Houston State University when I first read Gregory Maguire's riveting and racy novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. That same year, on October 30, 2003 WICKED opened on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre. I was first bewitched by WICKED when the Original Broadway Cast Album was released on December 16, 2003. In October 2005, I saw the miraculous show for the first time when the First National Tour landed in Houston. Now, WICKED is retuning to Houston for the fourth time and the musical's Broadway production will turn 10 years old this year. It is currently the 12th Longest Running Show in Broadway history. WICKED, with its multiple productions all over the world, is a musical phenomenon that enchants audiences everywhere it goes.

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY both in stores and via online outlets on August 27. The musical features a book by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical), and music byTrey Anastasio (Phish) and Amanda Green. The show was nominated for three 2013 Tony Awards, including "Best Original Score," and nine 2013 Drama Desk Awards, including "Outstanding Musical," "Outstanding Music" and "Outstanding Lyrics." The album features "The Tryers," a special bonus song that was cut from the show. To pre-order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/handsonahardbody.html.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to Houston at the Hobby Center with performances from July 10-August 11.

Today we are talking to a passionate and prolific performer who has appeared in a number of impressive properties over the course of his career thus far - Milky White in the most recent Broadway revival of INTO THE WOODS to his starring roles in MEMPHIS and beyond - the charming Chad Kimball.

Having sold out to records crowds in Philly in 2010, Wicked flies back to town and remains the theatrical spectacle that earned it several well-deserved Tony Awards.