Terrence McNally News

Surf the Musical is the feel-good production that transports audiences back to the happy times of 1960s California beach life, featuring the songs of The Beach Boys. Director Kristin Hanggi has created an upbeat summer production, complete with an all-star cast and crew, fantastic visuals, and great music, that will open at Planet Hollywood on June 22nd.

The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake offers a dazzling new production of the 1996 musical RAGTIME that makes a case for the show as a great American musical. A terrific cast wins standing ovations nightly at the Festival Theater where the show plays until October 14.

The official opening night for Polly Draper in MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE, took place last Saturday night at Bay Street Theatre. Geraldine Aron, the playwright for this American Premiere attended the after party in the lobby along with other theatre veterans including Blythe Danner, TEd Hartley and Dina Merrill, John McDaniel, Terrence McNally, Joe Pintauro, Mercedes Ruehl, Sloan Shelton, and Harris Yulin. The show runs now through Sunday, June 24. The production is directed by Matt McGrath, one of Bay Street Theatre's Artistic Associates.

Yesterday, June 3, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their 50th Anniversary Gala at the Mandarin Oriental New York. This year's event, hosted by Jon Cryer, honored Chicago and Cabaret composer John Kander. Performances and tributes were given by well-known members of the theater community including Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, Christie Brinkley, Stockard Channing, Joel Grey, Rob Marshall, Susan Stroman, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Joshua Henry.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Playing in repertory now through - 8 September 2012, Timothy Sheader directs RAGTIME, a contemporary musical based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow; Olivier Award nominated Javier De Frutos is choreographing. Matthew Dunster is directing Shakespeare's most magical of plays A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM from tonight, 2 June - 5 September 2012.

Lips Together, Teeth Apart by Terrence McNally plays New Conservatory Theatre Center from tomorrow, June 1 through July 1, 2012.

The Dallas Opera today announced important promotions within the Department of Development: Gae Whitener has been appointed to serve as the company's new Director of Development, effective immediately, after fulfilling those responsibilities in an interim capacity for the past year; while Eva James Toia has assumed the role of Associate Director of Development previously held by Ms. Whitener.

Smoke Jazz & Supper Club-Lounge is going from live jazz to live theater on Monday, June 4th, presenting a Miles Davis-inspired play written by Smoke co-owner Frank Christopher. The evening, which begins at 6:30 pm and is part of the club's month-long Miles Davis Festival, will also feature a live performance of a classic Miles Davis record and a three-course dinner, all for just $49.95.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has just announced that Jason Robert Brown's musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS has been added to the company's upcoming 2012-2013 season. The musical, which has not been seen in New York City since its brief off-Broadway run over ten years ago, will be directed by Mr. Brown.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, which played its final performance on Broadway in September, will launch a non-equity national tour in the Fall of 2012, presented by Troika Entertainment. The cast has yet to be announced, but in the mean time, view the just-released trailer below!

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced two Off-Broadway productions for the upcoming 2012-2013 theatrical season.

Yesterday, May 24, New Dramatists honored two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters with their 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 63rd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those who offered tributes were Emmy Award-winner Mary Tyler Moore, Peters' Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music co-star Elaine Stritch, and New Dramatists Artistic Director Todd London. Tony and Academy Award-winner Joel Grey and Peters' Tony-nominated Gypsy co-star John Dossett offered musical tributes. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below!

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces the world premiere of the new musical Stars of David to open its 2012-2013 season this fall.

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal welcomes Broadway's Faith Prince and Jason Graae Monday, June 11, 2012 for the Los Angeles debut of The Prince and The Showboy.

Manhattan Theatre Club will celebrate Artistic Director Lynne Meadow's 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization with a special tribute on Monday, June 18. The event will begin at 6:30 PM with a VIP cocktail reception, followed by a 7:30 tribute event at the Samuel J. Friedman (261 West 47th Street). Immediately after the Friedman tribute event, a party will follow at Copacabana (268 West 47th Street).

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo just announced that the theatre will honor New York Theatre Workshop Board Chair Barbara Warner Howard and Disney Theatrical Group and its president Thomas Schumacher at its 2012 Spring Gala on Tuesday, May 22 at the Plaza Hotel.

The 2012 season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre includes productions of RAGTIME and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Playing in repertory from tonight, 18 May through 8 September 2012, Timothy Sheader directs RAGTIME, a contemporary musical based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow; Olivier Award nominated Javier De Frutos is choreographing.

Following an acclaimed season which included the world premiere of Paul Weitz's Lonely, I'm Not and a critically lauded second staging of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winner, How I Learned To Drive, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has just announced two of the four mainstage productions in the company's upcoming 34th season. For subscription or ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com. All productions are staged at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue).

The Dallas Opera today announced the commissioning of a new original one-act opera by renowned British composer Joby Talbot (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and the critically acclaimed American librettist Gene Scheer (Moby-Dick, Cold Mountain) in their first joint project.