The Muppets News

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen announced today that acclaimed actresses Marin Ireland (Tony nominee for reasons to be pretty) and Juliet Rylance (Obie winner for The Bridge Project's As You Like It) have joined the cast of the company's highly-anticipated upcoming production of Anton Chekhov's THREE SISTERS. Ireland will play Natasha and Rylance Irina, joining 2010 Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal (Masha), Josh Hamilton (Andrey), 2010 Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht (Olga) and acclaimed film and stage actor Peter Sarsgaard (Vershinin). Also featured in the cast are Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Tuezenbach), Glenn Fitzgerald (Solyony), Roberta Maxwell (Anfisa), Louis Zorich (Chebutykin), George Morfogen (Ferapont), Paul Lazar (Kulygin), Gabe Bettio (Rohde) and James Patrick Nelson (Fedotik).

Wakka Wakka will present the U.S. premiere of its latest original theatre piece entitled "BABY UNIVERSE (A Puppet Odyssey)," written and directed by Wakka Wakka members Kirjan Waage and Gwendolyn Warnock, featuring over 30 expressive hand-and-rod puppets created by Mr. Waage.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present Anton Chekhov's THREE SISTERS, featuring 2010 Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal (Masha), Josh Hamilton (Andre) 2010 Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht (Olga) and acclaimed actor Peter Sarsgaard (Vershinin).

Wakka Wakka will present the U.S. premiere of its latest original theatre piece entitled "BABY UNIVERSE (A Puppet Odyssey)," written and directed by Wakka Wakka members Kirjan Waage and Gwendolyn Warnock, featuring over 30 expressive hand-and-rod puppets created by Mr. Waage.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2010-2011 Programs for Young Audiences series with Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences On Tour newest national touring production, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical. With music by Grammy Award winning composer Michael Silversher, six-time Emmy Award winning author/illustrator Mo Willems adapts his Caldecott Honor winning children's book Knuffle Bunny into a brand new family musical. Directed by Rosemary Newcott with choreography by Paige Hernandez. The production is recommended for children ages 4 and up. Performances are Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

A little Muppet girl with an afro is getting a lot of attention on YouTube and on a lot of news channels lately with stories on ABC and NPR to name a few. And the puppet has no name. But its creator does - it's Joseph Mazzarino - the head writer at Sesame Street. 'I Love My Hair' debuted on the Oct. 4 episode of Sesame Street and is a love letter from father to daughter. Mazzarino and his wife, Tony Nominatated actress, Kerry Butler are parents of 5-year-old, Segi, who they adopted from Ethiopia.

Skyline Comedy Cafe and Stone Cellar Brewpub have partnered to offer patrons a special 'DINNER AND A SHOW' experience!

Renowned mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne will share her valuable insights and experiences in a rare interview with Nancy Shear, as part of Music For All Seasons' popular and acclaimed 'Conversations' series. The event will launch the 2010/2011 series, and will be held on Thursday, October 14, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, Citigroup Center on 54th Street and Lexington Avenue.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts kicks off its 2010-2011 Programs for Young Audiences series with Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences On Tour newest national touring production, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical. With music by Grammy Award winning composer Michael Silversher, six-time Emmy Award winning author/illustrator Mo Willems adapts his Caldecott Honor winning children's book Knuffle Bunny into a brand new family musical. Directed by Rosemary Newcott with choreography by Paige Hernandez. The production is recommended for children ages 4 and up. Performances are Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

The 'Muppets Kitchen With Cat Cora' cooking demonstration held at Disney Studios on September 30, 2010 in Burbank, California.

'Welcome aboard Pam Ann Airways flight 74747 to the Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End. Please fasten your seats belts as we'll be Flying High from 29th September until 10th October 2010. Please ensure you have your tickets booked, you've read the safety instructions and have oxygen at the ready... as Pam Ann will be BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! '

BWW is excited to present a new blog, which will follow the Early Stages of CHIX 6, a new multi-genre rock musical written and composed by Lourds Lane (lead singer and multi-instrumentalist from the national touring band, LOURDS) and directed by DJ Salisbury which is now being workshopped...

Today, August 25 Jane Henson, co-creator of the Muppets, participated in a ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Jane Henson donated 10 of her late husband Jim Henson's characters from 'Sam and Friends' to the museum including the original Kermit the Frog.

'Welcome aboard Pam Ann Airways flight 74747 to the Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End. Please fasten your seats belts as we'll be Flying High from 29th September until 10th October 2010. Please ensure you have your tickets booked, you've read the safety instructions and have oxygen at the ready... as Pam Ann will be BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! '

Renowned mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne will share her valuable insights and experiences in a rare interview with Nancy Shear, as part of Music For All Seasons' popular and acclaimed 'Conversations' series. The event will launch the 2010/2011 series, and will be held on Thursday, October 14, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, Citigroup Center on 54th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Puppet Heap has released 'Exit Row', a new comedy web series that joins two air sickness bags, Ralph and Chuck, as they grapple with everything from love, betrayal, friendship, identity, in-flight etiquette, and life ad nauseum from the perspective of a seat back pocket.

Bringing the Great White Way downtown to Castle Clinton National Monument, the Alliance for Downtown New York will present three nights of free outdoor concerts featuring Broadway-themed performances by Madeleine Peyroux, Duncan Sheik, and Antibalas as part of the River To River Festival.

'The Dynamite Show' is a 'wildly unique' (NBC) song and dance review best described as Fame meets the Muppets. This up-beat musical spectacle will feature live neo-vaudevillian Dixie brass band tunes with 'jaw-dropping dance numbers' and slapstick antics. It will follow the colorful characters of Fou Fou Ha! to Hollywood, as they are invited to audition for a reality-TV talent competition.

Bringing the Great White Way downtown to Castle Clinton National Monument, the Alliance for Downtown New York will present three nights of free outdoor concerts featuring Broadway-themed performances by Madeleine Peyroux, Duncan Sheik, and Antibalas as part of the River To River Festival.

The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills will host evenings celebrating the 45th anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's iconic1965 television production of Cinderella starring Lesley Ann Warren and a salute to the innovative 1960's television musical comedy series That's Life which starred Robert Morse (Mad Men) and E.J. Peaker (Hello Dolly) as part of it inaugural PaleyFest Rewind Classic TV Festival.