Thomas Ryan News

Sandy Hackett grew watching his dad, legendary comic Buddy Hackett, tickle the funny bones of thousands of people packed into Las Vegas showrooms night after night. Now, the producer and star of the international hit touring musical 'Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show' (www.sandysratpackontour.com) brings 'My Buddy' (www.MyBuddyHackett.com) home once again via his critically hailed one man musical comedy show about his dad and the special father-son relationship they shared.

The 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL has announced the full line-up for the January 17, 18 and 19, 2014event set to take place at venues along northwest Florida's scenic Highway 30A and the resort neighborhoods of South Walton. The 5th annual celebration will feature performances from such esteemed artists as Kristian Bush (Sugarland), Loudon Wainwright III, Ani DiFranco, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Richard Thompson, Shawn Mullins, John Oates, Jerry Douglas, Rusty Young (Poco), Jonathon Edwards, Jesse Harris, Craig Fuller (Pure Prairie League), John Gorka, Mary Gauthier, James McMurtry, Bob Schneider, Glenn Phillips Band, Matthew Sweet, Jeffrey Steele, Jim Lauderdale, Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers) and Tinsley Ellis.

Today, October 13, Las Vegas-based song and dance collaborators Michael Kessler and MeLinda Jackson will welcome guests to their newest Las Vegas show, 'That's Life.' The performance will be held one night only at Summerlin's Starbright Theatre and include the duos' signature song and dance stylings along with fine artist Terry Ritter. The production will intertwine Ritter's live painting with song and dance.

On October 13, Las Vegas-based song and dance collaborators Michael Kessler and Melinda Jackson will welcome guests to their newest Las Vegas show, "That's Life." The performance will be held one night only at Summerlin's Starbright Theatre and include the duos' signature song and dance stylings along with fine artist Terry Ritter. The production will intertwine Ritter's live painting with song and dance.

59E59 Theaters, with The Directors Company, in association with Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, and Invictus Theater Company is presenting MURDER IN THE FIRST, written by Dan Gordon and directed by Michael Parva. MURDER IN THE FIRST began performances on May 25 for a limited engagement through July 1, and celebrated an official opening night on June 6. BroadwayWorld has just recevieved production highlights and brings you an exclusive look below!

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes The Directors Company, in association with Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, and Invictus Theater Company, with MURDER IN THE FIRST, written by Dan Gordon and directed by Michael Parva. MURDER IN THE FIRST begins performances tonight, Friday, May 25, for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 1. Check out photos of Chris Kimball, Guy Burnet, Larisa Polonsky and more on stage below!

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes The Directors Company, in association with Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, and Invictus Theater Company, with MURDER IN THE FIRST, written by Dan Gordon and directed by Michael Parva. The production is led by Tony nominee Chad Kimball (MEMPHIS) as Willie. Additional cast members include: Joe Adams, Guy Burnet, Richard Fiske, Anthoula Katsimatides, Darren Kelly, Joe Lawless, Larisa Polonsky, Thomas Ryan and John Stanisci. The show opens tonight,5/25

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes The Directors Company, in association with Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, and Invictus Theater Company, with MURDER IN THE FIRST, written by Dan Gordon and directed by Michael Parva. The production will be led by Tony nominee Chad Kimball Kimball as Willie.

Partial casting was today announced for Dan Gordon's MURDER IN THE FIRST, coming to 59E59 Theaters.

'Acting is reacting,' says many a teacher of the craft, and if they're right then Christopher Durang has handed his leading lady, Laura Benanti, a career's worth of reasons to react in his surreal cavalcade, Why Torture Is Wrong And The People Who Love Them. A meta-theatrical farce disguised as a satire of America's war on terrorism (with a brief lesson about taking control of your life and a somewhat romantic conclusion for those who require such things) Why... is top-shelf Durang lunacy and Benanti, making a rare non-musical appearance, proves herself a wonderful everywoman foil.

At the beginning of Dan Gordon's engrossing and uplifting drama, Irena's Vow, Tovah Feldshuh, as real life heroin Irena Gut Opdyke, is introduced to a high school auditorium filled with students to tell them about her experiences as a 19-year-old trying to hide 12 Jews in Nazi occupied Poland. At the end of the play she is reminding her young listeners that they are the last generation that will hear first hand accounts of the Holocaust's atrocities from those who survived it, and that it is their responsibility to never back away from confronting hatred.

In the 2009 Theatre Fans' Choice Awards, sponsored by BroadwayWorld.com, Irena's Vow won a Best Play award and its star, Tovah Feldshuh, took the honor for Best Leading Actress in a Play. Tonight's show (June 4) marks the production's 100th performance on Broadway.

Tovah Feldshuh, playwright Dan Gordon and the cast of 'Irena's Vow' were joined by Broadway luminaries including Lynn Redgrave, and a group of African-American Rabbis headed up by Rabbi Benyamin Ben Levy fr0m Temple Beth Belohim in St. Albans Queen. They all took part in a candlelight ceremony in commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) immediately prior to the evening performance of 'Irena's Vow.'

Irena Gut Opdyke, whose courageous story of hiding and ultimately saving Jews during World War II and who is the subject of the current Broadway play, Irena's Vow, was honored posthumously by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) this week for her heroism in risking her life to save others.

Tovah Feldshuh, playwright Dan Gordon and the cast of Broadway's 'Irena's Vow' will hold a candlelight vigil in commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). The vigil will take place April 21st at the Walter Kerr theatre immediately prior to that evening's performance of 'Irena's Vow.'

Tovah Feldshuh, playwright Dan Gordon and the cast of Broadway's 'Irena's Vow' will hold a candlelight vigil in commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). The vigil will take place April 21st at the Walter Kerr theatre immediately prior to that evening's performance of 'Irena's Vow.'

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, April 13, 2009.

The Directors Company production of Irena's Vow, the new play by Dan Gordon, starring four-time Tony nominee, and three-time Drama Desk Award-winner Tovah Feldshuh, and directed by Michael Parva, opened on Broadway last night, Sunday, March 29th. BroadwayWorld.com was there for all the opening night action!

The Directors Company production of Irena's Vow, the new play by Dan Gordon, starring four-time Tony nominee, and three-time Drama Desk Award-winner Tovah Feldshuh, and directed by Michael Parva, opened on Broadway last night, Sunday, March 29th. BroadwayWorld.com was there for the emotional curtain call.

The Directors Company production of Irena's Vow, the new play by Dan Gordon, starring four-time Tony nominee, and three-time Drama Desk Award-winner Tovah Feldshuh, and directed by Michael Parva, opens on Broadway tonight, Sunday, March 29th at 6:30 pm.