The Roundabout Theatre Company News

The New York Post's Michael Riedel is reporting in his 'On Broadway' column this morning that the mother and daughter team of Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson had such a wonderful time performing in the Roundabout gala benefit reading of Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' last month that they're up for a full-fledged revival on Broadway next year.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and Ostar Productions announces the dates and theatre for the American premiere of playwright Patrick Marber's drama After Miss Julie, directed by Mark Brokaw. Making her Broadway debut, Sienna Miller will star as 'Miss Julie.'

Tony Award winner and recent Encores! 'Music In The Air' leading lady Kristin Chenoweth is set to perform a special benefit concert for L.A.'s Reprise Theatre Company on Monday, February 23 at the UCLA Freud Playhouse.

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that The Roundabout Theatre Company will be presenting a reading of the new Broadway-bound musical BONNIE & CLYDE on February 8 and 10, 2009. The show features a book by Ivan Menchell, music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, direction by Jeff Calhoun and music direction by John McDaniel. Starring in the reading will be Laura Osnes as Bonnie and Stark Sands as Clyde.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to announce the full cast for the upcoming New York premiere of Distracted, by Lisa Loomer, directed by Mark Brokaw. Distracted will begin previews on Saturday, February 7th and open officially on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street).

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that The Roundabout Theatre Company will be presenting a reading of the new Broadway-bound musical BONNIE & CLYDE on February 8 and 10, 2009. The show features a book by Ivan Menchell, music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, direction by Jeff Calhoun and music direction by John McDaniel. Starring in the reading will be Laura Osnes as Bonnie and Stark Sands as Clyde.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Artistic Director, Todd Haimes) is proud to announce plans to establish a permanent archive, generously funded by a major grant from the Leon Levy Foundation. Roundabout's archive will permanently document the company's illustrious 43-year production history as well as provide a resource for the theatre community, Roundabout's audience and the general public.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie will begin performances in the fall of 2009. After 48 years, Bye Bye Birdie returns to Broadway in a new production at Roundabout Theatre Company. The good news of 'Birdie's' return has brought up the usual discussions of casting Conrad Birdie himself, Newsday reached out to the original Broadway 'Birdie', Dick Gautier, who was a 1961 Tony nominee for his hip-swiveling to see what his thoughts on the subject were.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

The New York Times is reporting that The Roundabout Theater Company has announced two more productions for its 2009-10 season. Roundabout will offer the first Broadway production of 'Bye Bye Birdie' since its original production in 1960. There have been rumors for the last sevral years that the compnay would mount a revival and the rumblings were heating up for the past few weeks, Robert Longbottom ('Flower Drum Song') is the director and choreographer for the new production. Also reported was the news that the Roundabout will revive Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter,' with Victor Garber as the put-upon matinee idol Garry Essendine. Nicholas Martin, who directed the comedy for the Huntington Theater Company in 2007, which also starred Mr. Garber, will direct the new revival.

Escape the winter doldrums with some red hot jazz as Broadway, TV and film veteran Suzzanne Douglas brilliantly conjures up the legendary Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill opening Thursday, January 22, and running through Sunday, February 15, at the Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road, in Morristown, NJ.

Tomorrow, January 21, tickets will go on sale exclusively to American Express Card members for Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming Broadway production of Waiting for Godot. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents (in order of speaking) Nathan Lane (Estragon), Bill Irwin (Vladimir), John Goodman (Pozzo), David Strathairn (Lucky) and in a new Broadway production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and directed by Tony? award winner Anthony Page. Waiting for Godot will begin Friday, April 3rd, 2009 and open officially on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street). This will be a limited engagement. TICKET INFORMATION: Starting tomorrow, January 21, tickets will be available exclusively to American Express Card members online at www.roundabouttheatre.org, by phone at (212) 719-1300, or at the Studio 54 theatre box office (254 West 54th Street). Public on-sale begins Friday, February 6. Ticket prices range from $36.50 to $116.50. Through ACCESS Roundabout, 100 tickets will be available for the first preview performance (April 3rd) for only $10 each. The Waiting for Godot cast will also include Matthew Schechter (Boy). The design team includes Santo Loquasto (Sets), Jane Greenwood (Costumes) and Peter Kaczorowski (Lights).

Tomorrow, January 21, tickets will go on sale exclusively to American Express Card members for Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming Broadway production of Waiting for Godot. Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents (in order of speaking) Nathan Lane (Estragon), Bill Irwin (Vladimir), John Goodman (Pozzo), David Strathairn (Lucky) and in a new Broadway production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and directed by Tony? award winner Anthony Page. Waiting for Godot will begin Friday, April 3rd, 2009 and open officially on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street). This will be a limited engagement. TICKET INFORMATION: Starting tomorrow, January 21, tickets will be available exclusively to American Express Card members online at www.roundabouttheatre.org, by phone at (212) 719-1300, or at the Studio 54 theatre box office (254 West 54th Street). Public on-sale begins Friday, February 6. Ticket prices range from $36.50 to $116.50. Through ACCESS Roundabout, 100 tickets will be available for the first preview performance (April 3rd) for only $10 each. The Waiting for Godot cast will also include Matthew Schechter (Boy). The design team includes Santo Loquasto (Sets), Jane Greenwood (Costumes) and Peter Kaczorowski (Lights).

Stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth, Tony Award winner for 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,' and Tony Award nominee for originating the role of Glinda the Good Witch in 'Wicked,' will now perform her Benefit Concert at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on March 28th instead of the original date of February 7th, 8 p.m.

As previously announced, on Monday, February 2, 2009, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler and more will take part in The Drama League's 25th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.' This year's black-tie event, to be held at New York City's famed Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza), will honor Broadway producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, as well as the 25th Anniversary of The Drama League Directors Project. Among the highlights of The Drama League's annual benefit gala is the remarkable Gala Auction. This year?s auction will prove to be the most exciting in years and will feature a variety of stunning one-of-a-kind vacation packages, luxury gift items, intimate lunches with celebrities and unique theatrical experiences. For the first time this year, bidding on the Gala Auction has been made available to the general public via The Drama League's website, www.dramaleague.org, or directly at http://thedramaleague.cmarket.com.

As previously announced, on Monday, February 2, 2009, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler and more will take part in The Drama League's 25th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.' This year's black-tie event, to be held at New York City's famed Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza), will honor Broadway producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, as well as the 25th Anniversary of The Drama League Directors Project. Among the highlights of The Drama League's annual benefit gala is the remarkable Gala Auction. This year's auction will prove to be the most exciting in years and will feature a variety of stunning one-of-a-kind vacation packages, luxury gift items, intimate lunches with celebrities and unique theatrical experiences. For the first time this year, bidding on the Gala Auction has been made available to the general public via The Drama League's website, www.dramaleague.org, or directly at http://thedramaleague.cmarket.com.ASt

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents (in order of speaking) Nathan Lane (Estragon), Bill Irwin (Vladimir), John Goodman (Pozzo), David Strathairn (Lucky) and in a new Broadway production of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and directed by Tony? award winner Anthony Page. Waiting for Godot will now begin previews one week earlier on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 and open officially on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street). This will be a limited engagement. The cast will also include Matthew Schechter (Boy). The design team includes Santo Loquasto (Sets), Jane Greenwood (Costumes) and Peter Kaczorowski (Lights).

Jurors for The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) for the 2009 Next Link Project will include lyricist Susan Birkenhead, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, producer Robyn Goodman, and director Francesca Zambello. The New York Musical Theater Festival is currently accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 ? October 18, 2009. Twelve of the Festival?s full production slots are reserved for participants in The Next Link Project, NYMF?s primary writer service program. The Next Link Project empowers emerging musical theatre writing teams as both artists and entrepreneurs by providing the training and relationships needed to help them move their musicals from mere readings to fully-realized productions and to advance their careers by maximizing the exposure they receive in the Festival. A meet and greet to answer any questions from those interested in applying will be held Wednesday, January 28, 6-8pm at the Irish Rogue (356 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave). NYMF staff members will be on hand to answer questions about the Next Link Project submissions process and chat about other ways to get involved with the Festival.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Jennifer Van Dyck, Scott Parkinson, Sarah Rafferty and Jonathan Walker will complete the cast for their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. As previously announced Kathleen Turner and Mr. Busch will appear as dueling divas.