The Old Globe News

The Geffen Playhouse announces the complete cast for the West Coast premiere of Choir Boy. This new production -- featuring gospel music -- will highlight several performers from the Manhattan Theatre Club run. Nicholas L. Ashe and Grantham Coleman will join the previously announced Jeremy Pope.

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in the 2014-2015 season, Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Under the direction of 2014 Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Broadway's Violet, Chinglish, Well), The Heidi Chronicles will feature the talents of Kate Wetherhead, Ben Graney, Tracey Maloney and Zach Shaffer, as well as Sam Bardwell, Eleonore Dendy, Mo Perry and Stacia Rice.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 10, 2014 - Sunday, August 10, 2014.

BroadwayWorld just chatted with directors Steinfeld and Brody (who also play the Baker and Lucinda/Wolf/Cinderella's Prince respectively), as well as Fiasco Theater Co-Artistic Director cast member Jessie Austrian (Baker's Wife) about the thrills of bringing the show to life, the concept of their re-imagined version and so much more. Check out the full interview below!

The Old Globe's production of Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Globe alumnus, and Tony Award nominee Mark Lamos (Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Pentecost, Resurrection Blues) begins today, August 10 at the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. The production runs through September 14, 2014.

The Old Globe today announced additional performances for the third production of the 2014 Summer Season, Ronald Harwood's comedy Quartet, directed by Richard Seer (Other Desert Cities, God of Carnage, The Last Romance). Harwood received an Academy Award for his screenplay of The Pianist and was nominated for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Dresser (also a hit on Broadway and the West End). By popular demand, it will now play through Sunday, August 31. Tickets for the extension will go on sale to the general public on Sunday, August 10 at 12:01 a.m.

Over 380 guests attended The Old Globe's 2014 Gala, "Summer Splendor," on July 26 on the Globe's historic campus in Balboa Park. When final proceeds and expenses are tallied, the black-tie event is expected to net more than $1 million for the theatre's artistic and educational activities. Nina Doede, Deni Jacobs, and Sheryl White served as Co-Chairs for the Globe Gala, and lead underwriters for the evening were Audrey Geisel, Darlene Marcos Shiley, Conrad Prebys and Debra Turner, and Sheryl and Harvey White, with many other guests making generous gifts.

Cabaret at The Merc's new 2014 Summer Series follows up Next to Normal with the Tony Award-winning musical sensation, Spring Awakening, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, based on the play by Frank Wedekind, musical direction by Cris O'Bryon, choreography by Evan D'Angeles and directed by J. Scott Lapp. Spring Awakening will play today, August 8, 2014 and runs for one weekend through Monday, August 11, 2014, at The Merc in Temecula, 42051 Main St. Temecula, California 92590.

Combined Artform and Matthew Quinn present the return of "WOMEN" - with an official opening of September 5th. After a sold-out run in New York City and the Hollywood Fringe Festival, WOMEN, written by Chiara Atik and directed by Stephanie Ward, is returning to Los Angeles for a full run at the Asylum Theater, August 28th through October 25th.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: PHOENIX, starring Julia Stiles and James Wirt, opens off-Broadway, the Met Room celebrates Elaine Stritch, BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK returns for one of its final shows this summer and more!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the extension of American Blues Theater's Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matthew Brumlow as "Hank Williams," through Sunday, September 28, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical featuring music by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, lyrics by Brickell, and book by Martin, based on an original story by Martin and Brickell. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star will run September 13 - November 2, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 13 - September 27. Opening night is Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale on Friday, August 8 at noon.

Rehearsals start today at The 5th Avenue Theatre for one singular sensation: the celebrated Broadway triumph, A Chorus Line. Kicking off the company's 2014/15 season, this thrilling 5th Avenue production has plucked fabulously talented dancers from many of Seattle's chorus lines and is putting them center stage, including Greg McCormick Allen, Taryn Darr, Gabriel Corey, Trina Mills, Mallory King, Connor Russell, Sarah Rose Davis, Taylor Niemeyer, Eric Esteb, and many others. The 5th is also pleased to welcome back Los Angeles triple-threat Chryssie Whitehead in the role of Cassie. Whitehead turned heads and shook audiences with her smoking performance of Lola in Damn Yankees. Broadway's Andrew Palermo makes his 5th Avenue debut as Zach.

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced a one-night-only concert event at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 16 at 8pm. Broadway Under the Stars will star Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday (Dreamgirls) and will also feature (in alphabetical order) Obba Babatunde (Dreamgirls), Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys, stage and film), Rogelio Douglas, Jr. (In the Heights), Danny Gurwin (Little Women) and Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis). David Galligan will direct, and the music director is Gerald Sternbach.

The Old Globe today announced the creation of an exciting new producing platform, Globe for All. This free-of-charge tour of a professional production of Shakespeare will allow the theatre to serve more communities throughout San Diego by collaborating with a diverse range of local organizations. Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein will direct the first production, Shakespeare's fascinating romance All's Well That Ends Well. He plans to cast local professional actors, including recent graduates of the Old Globe/University of San Diego M.F.A. Program in classical acting. The first Globe for All free Shakespeare tour will begin October 28 and will culminate in three low-cost performances in the Globe's Hattox Hall November 7-9.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the world premiere of Dancing Lessons, the new romantic comedy by playwright and BSC Associate Artist Mark St. Germain from August 7 - 24. Opening night is August 13 at 7pm.

The Old Globe presents the third production of the 2014 Summer Season, Ronald Harwood's comedy QUARTET, directed by Richard Seer (Other Desert Cities, God of Carnage, The Last Romance). Harwood received an Academy Award for his screenplay of The Pianist and was nominated for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Dresser (also a hit on Broadway and the West End). QUARTET will play in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, now through August 24, 2014. The show opens tonight, July 31.

Casting has been announced for the Boston engagement of Disney's The Lion King. Boston's most eagerly awaited stage production returns to the Boston Opera House stage from September 9 to October 12 as part of the 2014-2015 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season.

Oh myyyyyyyyy....the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced today that George Takei, who first came to fame as Mr. Sulu on the original 'Star Trek' television show, will host the PNC Pops concert 'Sci-Fi Spectacular' on Nov. 14-16 at Heinz Hall.

Mary Poppins is set to fly over the rooftops of London and into the Ogunquit Playhouse tonight, July 30 to August 30! This family musical features the delightful songs from the cherished Disney film including 'A Spoonful of Sugar,' 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' and 'Step in Time.' Winner of 44 major theatre awards from around the globe, Mary Poppins has captivated audiences for generations with its enchanting story, unforgettable songs and dazzling dance numbers.