Vanessa Williams News

Golden Globe(C) winner and famous 'Housewife' Teri Hatcher has signed a directing and recurring guest star role deal with ABC Family for the original series JANE BY DESIGN. Hatcher will be playing Jane's (Erica Dasher) long-lost mother for four episodes to be filmed between mid-May and mid-June, and will make her appearance starting on the June 19th episode.

Today in 2002, the first Broadway revival of Into the Woods opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 279 performances. Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Into the Woods won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera. The main characters are taken from the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, tied together by a more original story involving a baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, most likely taken from the original story of Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm.

Scott Bakula guest stars as Bree's attorney, Trip and Doris Roberts guest stars as Gaby's rich client on tonight's April 29th episode of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES entitled 'Lost My Power'.

In tonight's April 29, episode, the ABC drama DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES entitled 'Lost My Power', with Mike gone, Susan attempts to build a car for MJ's father-and-son school soapbox derby; Bree's attorney, Trip (Scott Bakula), learns of her previous drunken sexual spree and needs her to come clean about it in order to help strengthen her case; Lynette tries to cause some negative friction between Tom and his girlfriend, Jane, by flirting with his boss and getting him to pile more work on her estranged husband; Gaby is furious with Carlos when he tries to poach one of her rich, personal shopper clients (Doris Roberts) and talk her into helping with his newly formed charity organization; and Renee discovers that Ben is keeping a secret from her about his involvement with Bree -- and the body found at his work site -- on 'Desperate Housewives,' tonight, APRIL 29 (9:01-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

R&B vocalist Brian McKnight has spent the better part of the last two decades on top of the charts, churning out one romantic hit after another for the Mercury, Motown, Warner Bros. and E1 Music labels. The multi-instrumentalist and 16-time Grammy nominee will explore some relatively new musical territory as a frontman for The Duke Ellington Orchestra from May 16 - 18 at the Blue Note. The Ellington Orchestra will perform without McKnight on May 19.

The ABC Television Network announces highlights of its upcoming May sweeps programming, including the two-hour series finale of 'Desperate Housewives,' the Live Broadcast of 'The 2012 Billboard Music Awards,' and the Season Premiere of 'The Bachelorette.'

Spend an unforgettable evening commemorating the life and works of Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, as PlayhouseSquare and Great Lakes Theater present the musical SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, May 16 - July 8 at the Hanna Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. The production is a part of both the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare and the 50th Anniversary Season of Great Lakes Theater.

On the April 29th episode of the ABC drama DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES entitled 'Lost My Power', with Mike gone, Susan attempts to build a car for MJ's father-and-son school soapbox derby; Bree's attorney, Trip (Scott Bakula), learns of her previous drunken sexual spree and needs her to come clean about it in order to help strengthen her case.

Actor Matthew Broderick will appear on GOOD MORNING AMERICA next Friday, April 20th to discuss his new Broadway play 'Nice Work if You Can Get It'.

The Town Hall will present Lea Salonga: The Journey Continues. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning actress and recording artist will perform in concert on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 8pm. Tickets, priced at $55, $50 and $45, are now available via Ticketmaster.com (800-982-2787).

Actor Matthew Broderick will appear on GOOD MORNING AMERICA next Friday, April 20th to discuss his new Broadway play 'Nice Work if You Can Get It'.

Matt Zarley began his career at 12 years old, dancing with Tony The Tiger in a Kellogg's 'Frosted Flakes' commercial. Subsequently, his path took him to Broadway many times. He made his Broadway debut, while still a teen, in A CHORUS LINE. He's also been featured in CATS, CHICAGO, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, and played the title roles in both JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and THE WHO'S TOMMY.

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com last week, the Public Theater confirmed today that Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy has been cast as The Witch in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Murphy last performed at the Delacorte in the Shakepeare in the Park production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1985. INTO THE WOODS will begin previews on Monday, July 23 and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25 with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

EVITA opened last night, April 5, at the Marquis Theatre! The company of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical is led by Ricky Martin as Che, Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Perón and Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón, along with Max von Essen as Migaldi and Rachel Potter as the Mistress. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening's starry opening night arrivals and brings you photo coverage below!

BroadwayWorld's Rialto Chatter was the first to break the news in January that INTO THE WOODS was to play the Delacorte Theatre as part of the 2012 Shakespeare in the Park season.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Robert Joy (Le Beau, Lord) and Oliver Platt (Touchstone) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), David Furr (Orlando), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), Lily Rabe (Rosalind), and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Scott Bakula guest stars as Attorney Trip Weston on the April 1st episode of ABC's DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES entitled 'With So Little to Be Sure Of'.

Jessica Alba, Owen Wilson, Liev Schreiber and John Leguizamo recite poetry set to classic Disney animation in new installments of the acclaimed short-form series A POEM IS... premiering during National Poetry Month, MONDAY, APRIL 2 through SATURDAY, APRIL 21 (8:25 a.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel's Disney Junior.

ABC details its 12 drama pilots under consideration for next season.