Valentina News

Greetings Dear Readers. The lure of the Mothership was finally too great and I have returned to her to see what kind of wisdom she wants to impart. Yes, I have returned to New York to avail myself of the fabulous new shows the city has to offer.

Today's New York Times featured a piece written by 2014 Tony Award Nominee Harvey Fierstein (Casa Valentina). The piece tells the horrifying story of a teenage girl (referred to as simply Jane Doe to protect her identity as a youth) who has been sexually and physically abused by family members as well as staff members of various institutions and residencies she's been placed in. Fierstein hypothesizes that the reasoning behind these attacks on this girl is because she is transgender.

The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon is being held this afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners will be announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event, which began at noon, is hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. BroadwayWorld is updating the winners live! Check back in to find out who took home the big awards!

Below you can check out photos of Harvey Fierstein, nominated for Best Play for Casa Valentina, in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In the Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

Today we continue our Tonys coverage with Reed Birney, a nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Casa Valentina, who chats about why the show is 'the perfect acting experiences,' how he worked his way up from being Mr. Off-Broadway and more. Check out what he had to say below!

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: UNDER MY SKIN opens off-Broadway, JUST JIM DALE begins previews at Roundabout, and much more!

Harvey Fierstein's new Broadway play CASA VALENTINA may be heading to the big screen.

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: HONOR BOUND opens off-Broadway, Elaine Paige launches her new show and ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS kicks off its UK tour!

Manhattan Theatre Club, by special arrangement with Colin Callender, Robert Cole, Frederick Zollo and The Shubert Organization, has announced an extension for CASA VALENTINA, the hit world premiere play by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello. An additional two weeks have been added to the critically acclaimed limited engagement, with tickets now on sale through Sunday, June 29 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur was featured at the Schomburg Center's Theater Talk Panel last night. HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME director Kenny Leon, stars Saul Williams and Saycon Sengbloh and producer Jessica Green; along withMarcyliena Morgan, Executive Director of the Hip Hop Archive at Harvard and moderator Dr. James Peterson, Director of African Studies and Associate Professor at Lehigh University as they discuss the musical and why now is the time for the words of Tupac Shakur to be on Broadway. The video also features a performance of "Unconditional Love" by Saul Williams and Saycon Sengbloh. Check it out below!

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 5/11/2014.

Grosses for all the Broadway shows for the week ending 5/11/2014.

HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur, is offering $43 tickets to the performance on Monday, June 16 at 8pm in celebration of the late Tupac Shakur's 43rd birthday. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at www.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 877-250-2929 or in person beginning May 12 at the Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway (at 47th Street). The $43 price includes the facility fee; services fees may apply; tickets are subject to availability.

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, will take place on Wednesday, May 21st from 11:00am-12:30pm in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. Entrance to the concert is on 44th street.

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2013-14 season in 24 categories.

Anne Berlin is pleased to present a reading of Mark Jason Williams' A Man's Man, directed by Valentina Fratti, May 17th at 1pm at The Paradise Factory as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Paradise Factory is located at 64 East 4th Street. A Man's Man is a powerful, timely new drama about three generations of men bound by family obligations and the unexpected revelations that force them to question the pressures of conventional stereotypes as they face loss and love.

The Palace Theatre box office opens this Monday, May 12 at 10:00 am for tickets to HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. The Palace Theatre is located at 1564 Broadway (at 47th Street).

Peter Maloney and Mare Winningham are the recipients of the annual Richard Seff Award presented by the Actors' Equity Foundation to a veteran male and female character actor for the best performance in a supporting role in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. The announcement was made by Arne Gundersen, president of the Foundation, which administers the award.

The New York Drama Critics' Circle met on May 5, 2014, at the offices of Time Out New York magazine, to determine the winners of its 79th annual awards.

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 5/4/2014.