Tom Hanks News

Fresh off his lauded New York production of Farragut North, director Doug Hughes reunites much of his ensemble cast, including Juno's Olivia Thirlby, The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr, Mia Barron, Dan Bittner and Justin Huen, at the Geffen Playhouse to join the previously announced Chris Noth and Chris Pine. Noth, best known for his longtime stint as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order and as the (in)famous Mr.Big on Sex and the City, is a fellow cast member from the Atlantic Theater Company's NY production, while Pine, who is starring as the young Captain Kirk in the new film Star Trek and was recently seen in the Geffen's production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, is new to the LA production. Written by Beau Willimon, Farragut North was recently nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

Shakespeare Festival/LA (SF/LA), a professional and community-based non-profit theater company, is auctioning off a speaking role alongside Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks in the 2009 Simply Shakespeare adaptation of ?The Comedy of Errors? under the direction of Ben Donenberg, founding Artistic Director, SF/LA. The winner will participate in rehearsal, gain admission to the VIP post-show party and take a group photo with the cast, which the cast will all sign. The auction began May 1 and will end at 7pm PDT on May 11, 2009.

The Canadian Stage Company wraps its 2008.2009 season with Doubt, a parable, the award-winning play that's taken North America by storm. The production stars Canadian theatre icons Seana McKenna (Canadian Stage's The Clean House, Wit) and David Storch (Canadian Stage's Frost/Nixon and director of Palace of the End), and is helmed by renowned director Marti Maraden (Canadian Stage's Trying). The production runs from through May 30, 2009 (media night: May 7) at the Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East. For tickets and information, contact 416-368-3110 or canstage.com.

George Clooney sits down with Bono for nearly 40 minutes on a dimly lit stage to talk about everything from world causes, Darfur, journalism, sex appeal to the movie industry...

The concert will feature The New York Pops conducted by Steven Reineke, Music Director-Designate. The most recent additions to the program are Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Tony Martin, who join a star-studded lineup of performers that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Feinstein.

The concert will feature The New York Pops conducted by Steven Reineke, Music Director-Designate. The most recent additions to the program are Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Tony Martin, who join a star-studded lineup of performers that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Feinstein.

The Canadian Stage Company wraps its 2008.2009 season with Doubt, a parable, the award-winning play that's taken North America by storm. The production stars Canadian theatre icons Seana McKenna (Canadian Stage's The Clean House, Wit) and David Storch (Canadian Stage's Frost/Nixon and director of Palace of the End), and is helmed by renowned director Marti Maraden (Canadian Stage's Trying).

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of RAGTIME in the Eisenhower Theater April 18 - May 10, 2009. Based on a 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, the production features book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and will be directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The musical is part of the Kennedy Center's Broadway: The Third Generation, a series celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers. The official press night will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

After 12 years of SRO performances in theatrical venues on five continents, actor/writer/composer David M. Sanborn will bring his acclaimed stage musical King David (www.kingdavidmusical.com) to New York theater audiences on April 16 for a limited engagement through June 27 at the Promise Theater, 316 East 91st Street, in Manhattan.

After 12 years of SRO performances in theatrical venues on five continents, actor/writer/composer David Sanborn will bring his acclaimed stage musical King David (www.kingdavidmusical.com) to New York theater audiences on April 9 for a limited engagement through June 27 at the Promise Theater, 316 East 91st Street, in Manhattan.

After 12 years of SRO performances in theatrical venues on five continents, actor/writer/composer David M. Sanborn will bring his acclaimed stage musical King David (www.kingdavidmusical.com) to New York theater audiences on April 16 for a limited engagement through June 27 at the Promise Theater, 316 East 91st Street, in Manhattan.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Aaron Tveit announced at last night's MISCAST benefit that they indeed will be playing the leading roles in the upcoming Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Tveit will portray young con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. while Butz will play FBI agent Carl Hanratty, his tireless pursuer.

After 12 years of SRO performances in theatrical venues on five continents, actor/writer/composer David Sanborn will bring his acclaimed stage musical King David (www.kingdavidmusical.com) to New York theater audiences on April 9 for a limited engagement through June 27 at the Promise Theater, 316 East 91st Street, in Manhattan.

Producer David Shor has announced he is developing Sleepless in Seattle-The Musical through his entity Sleepless in Seattle Management, LLC. Shor acquired the rights to produce a play based on the hit TriStar motion picture and has brought in his longtime partner Jeff Arch, who penned the film's original story and co-wrote the screenplay, sharing 1994 Oscar, BAFTA and WGA nominations with Nora Ephron and David Ward. Arch will write the book for the show.

13 time Emmy Award winner Rosie O'Donnell stars in and executive produces the poignant new Lifetime Original Movie, 'America,' premiering, Saturday February, 28th 2009. Based on E.R. Frank's book of the same name, the film follows the story of a boy named America, an emotionally vacant sixteen-year-old, who spent his entire life shuffled through the foster care system.

Emerging Artists Theatre presents the world premiere of Vanda's 'Memory River' (inspired by the true story of a man with no long-term memory), as part of the Spring EATfest 2009.

Tony Nominee Kerry Butler has been cast in the the upcoming musical adaptation of 'Catch Me if You Can,' by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind 'Hairspray.'