Wallace Shawn News

Catch up on the week's biggest stories from Broadway and beyond in BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures,' featuring coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights, and more. Highlights this week include coverage of opening night of The Public Theater's GROUNDED, starring Anne Hathaway, the cast of THE VISIT recording the original cast album, a first look at Darren Criss's return to Broadway as HEDWIG, and more!

Acclaimed classical actor John Douglas Thompson will receive the Samuel H. Scripps Award for Extraordinary Commitment to Promoting the Power of Language In Classical and Contemporary Theatre at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's Birthday. The celebration, Monday, May 11, is at Capitale, 130 Bowery on the Lower East Side.

Just last night, The New Group featured original cast members from the company's critically-acclaimed 2005 hit revival of Hurlyburly: Bobby Cannavale, Josh Hamilton, Ethan Hawke, Parker Posey and Wallace Shawn, with Marin Ireland and Amanda Seyfried. Directed by Scott Elliott, this benefit reading took place at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

The New Group has announced that Marin Ireland and Amanda Seyfried will join original cast members from the company's critically-acclaimed 2005 hit revival of Hurlyburly: Bobby Cannavale, Josh Hamilton, Ethan Hawke, Parker Posey and Wallace Shawn, in the previously announced one-night-only benefit reading of David Rabe's award-winning play. Directed by Scott Elliott, this benefit reading within The New Group's current 20th Anniversary Season takes place Sunday, April 26 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

Andrea Most, author of Theatrical Liberalism: Jews and Popular Entertainment in America, will discuss her book at a free event on Monday, May 4, at 7:00pm at Theatre for a New Audience, Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: Today is the annual SONNET SLAM, a starry reading of HURLYBURLY is set for Sunday, and Anne Hathaway stars in GROUNDED, opening at the Public this weekend!

A glamorous dose of the legendary Lypsinka, John Epperson's iconic creation, will once again be doled out this summer when the acclaimed LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET returns for a limited Off-Broadway engagement. LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET will be performed Wednesday, July 22nd through Saturday, September 12th at the ravishing jewel-box Connelly Theater, located at 220 East 4th Street (between Avenues A and B) in Manhattan's East Village. The Opening is Saturday, July 25th at 8 PM. Tickets ($35 - $65) will go on sale on Monday, April 27th at 10 am online at www.lypsinka.com and www.tweedtheater.org/lypsinka, or by calling 866-811-4111.

Tessa Ross announces today that she is to step down as Chief Executive of the National Theatre, but will remain working with the National as a consultant. Rufus Norris will continue to lead the NT as Director, with Lisa Burger as Executive Director.

Dixon Place's new commission THE FLATIRON HEX, starring Award-winning puppeteer/performance & visual artist James Godwin, will have its world premiere on Friday, May 15th. Godwin's previous collaborations include Julie Taymor, David Bowie, the Muppets & even Aerosmith. A 2014 Jim Henson Award recipient, Godwin utilizes remarkable puppets, masks & mystical neo-noir visuals to tell a story set in a parallel, near-future NYC filled with ghosts, elemental spirits & evil demigods. THE FLATIRON HEX will play six performances only -- May 15th, 16th, 22th, 23th, 29th, and 30th at 7:30PM, at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street).

Dixon Place's new dance commission and the feath3r theory's production of, COLOR ME, WARHOL, will have its world premiere tomorrow, April 10th. Conceived, choreographed and directed by Raja Feather Kelly, this piece is the latest installment of an ongoing series jump-started by Mr. Kelly's interest in Andy Warhol, pop culture, and identity.

Dixon Place's new dance commission and the feath3r theory's production of, COLOR ME, WARHOL, will have its world premiere tonight, April 10th.

Flash forward some years later, with seven Broadway shows, roles opposite such stars as Lili Taylor and Kristen Johnston, and a burgeoning recording career -- she hits the stage with her band tonight Wednesday, April 8th for a taping of Verizon Fios1's 'Rick's Rising Stars' at Revolution Bar & Music Hall, located at 140 Merrick Rd, Amityville, NY 11701.

The New Group announces a one-night-only benefit reading of David Rabe's Hurlyburly, reuniting director Scott Elliott and original cast members from the company's critically-acclaimed 2005 hit revival: Bobby Cannavale, Josh Hamilton, Ethan Hawke, Parker Posey and Wallace Shawn, with additional casting to be announced. This special event within The New Group's current 20th Anniversary Season takes place Sunday, April 26 at The New Group at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

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: AIRLINE HIGHWAY and LIVING ON LOVE bring NOLA and comedic romance to Broadway, and 39 STEPS returns to NYC tonight!

Flash forward some years later, with seven Broadway shows, roles opposite such stars as Lili Taylor and Kristen Johnston, and a burgeoning recording career -- Brooke Moriber will hit the stage with her band Wednesday, April 8th for a taping of Verizon Fios1's 'Rick's Rising Stars' at Revolution Bar & Music Hall, located at 140 Merrick Rd, Amityville, NY 11701.

For native New Yorker Brooke Moriber, having a knack for stage performance came very early on. After garnering the role of Young Cosette in Broadway's "Les Miserables" as her first audition at age 8, it was clear the young actress had an abundant amount of talent and a bright future in show biz.

Pride Films and Plays presents Topher Payne's dark comedy Angry Fags as part of the Steppenwolf Theater Company's Garage Rep, beginning tonight, March 7, 2015.

Just last night, he New Group just honored Founding Artistic Director Scott Elliott and celebrated its 20th Anniversary season. Scott Elliott is an award-winning stage director, filmmaker and the founding Artistic Director of The New Group, where he recently directed the critically acclaimed revival of David Rabe's Sticks and Bones. At The New Group, he has directed world premieres by Thomas Bradshaw, Ayub Khan Din, Francine Volpe, Erika Sheffer and Tommy Nohilly; and the world premiere of the 2010 musical The Kid (Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Musical). Other credits include The New Group's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie starring Cynthia Nixon; David Rabe's Hurlyburly; and numerous collaborations with Ayub Khan Din, Wallace Shawn and Mike Leigh. Broadway credits include Present Laughter, Barefoot in the Park, The Threepenny Opera, The Women and Three Sisters. This spring at The New Group, he directs the world premiere of The Spoils, written by and featuring Jesse Eisenberg. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the gala below!

The New Group hosts its 20th Anniversary gala tonight, March 9, 2015, celebrating Scott Elliott and hosted by Bobby Cannavale and Natasha Lyonne.

On March 10, Jeff Biehl (Poor Behavior, Machinal) joins the company of the new Primary Stages production, Lives of the Saints, currently playingat Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project through March 27, 2015. Joining current cast members Arnie Burton (Peter and the Starcatcher, The 39 Steps), Carson Elrod (All in the Timing, The Explorers Club), Kelly Hutchinson (Desire Under the Elms, Don Peyote) and Liv Rooth (All in the Timing, Venus in Fur), Biehl will assume the roles played by Rick Holmes who departs the production to begin rehearsals for The Visit on Broadway.