Walt Spangler News

Beth Henley's Southern Gothic comedy/drama pulls you in with its attention-grabbing characters and atmosphere but then leaves you wondering if it's ever going to take you anywhere.

Due to demand, The New Group has announced a one-week extension for The Jacksonian, by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley. Originally set to play a limited Off-Broadway engagement through December 15, this production now plays through Sunday, December 22. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this New York premiere features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan, Bill Pullman and Juliet Brett. Previews begin October 25 in advance of an Opening Night on November 7 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical have announced the full cast for the production when it arrives at The Theater at Madison Square Garden for its December 11 - 29, 2013 engagement. Reprising their roles will be Dan Lauria (Lombardi, 'The Wonder Years,' 'Sullivan and Son') as Jean Shepherd, John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Gossip Girl') as the Old Man, Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother and Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields. Eli Tokash (Mary Poppins) will play Ralphie at certain perforances, Noah Baird as little brother Randy, and Jake Lucas (Newsies, Far From Heaven), donning the famous spectacles will take on the lead role of Ralphie.

Tuesday, October 22 marks the first day of rehearsal for the Guthrie Theater's 2013 production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, presented by U.S. Bank. The perennial holiday favorite, now in its 39th year at the Guthrie, features a script by British playwright Crispin Whittell and is directed by Joe Chvala. Chvala is the founder and artistic director of the Flying Foot Forum and has previously served as both director and movement director for the production. Longtime Guthrie actor J.C. Cutler will reprise the role of grubby miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Cutler has been involved in 30 productions at the Guthrie since 1993, including five productions of A Christmas Carol - appearing as Ebenezer Scrooge (2011), Bob Cratchit (1995, 1997), Banker (1996) and Young Scrooge (1993, 1994) - and was last seen on a Guthrie stage in this past summer's original romantic comedy Pride and Prejudice. Check out a first look at highlights below!

Tuesday, October 22 marks the first day of rehearsal for the Guthrie Theater's 2013 production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, presented by U.S. Bank. The perennial holiday favorite, now in its 39th year at the Guthrie, features a script by British playwright Crispin Whittell and is directed by Joe Chvala. Chvala is the founder and artistic director of the Flying Foot Forum and has previously served as both director and movement director for the production. Longtime Guthrie actor J.C. Cutler will reprise the role of grubby miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Cutler has been involved in 30 productions at the Guthrie since 1993, including five productions of A Christmas Carol - appearing as Ebenezer Scrooge (2011), Bob Cratchit (1995, 1997), Banker (1996) and Young Scrooge (1993, 1994) - and was last seen on a Guthrie stage in this past summer's original romantic comedy Pride and Prejudice. Check out a first look below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the addition of John McGinty to the cast of the upcoming Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs, also featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard and Helen Sadler. The American premiere of Tribes was Off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theater in 2012, featuring ensemble member Jeff Perry. McGinty joins the cast as Billy, after playing the role at Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Russell Harvard, previously announced in the role, withdrew due to a schedule conflict. Tribes begins previews December 5, 2013 (opening night is December 15; press performances are December 14 at 3pm and December 17 at 7:30pm) and runs through February 9, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $82) go on sale Friday, October 4 at 11am.

Five world premiere plays and three new adaptations seen first by Chicago audiences received Jeff nominations by the Jeff Awards Committee and are among the 166 nominations in 36 categories announced for Chicago Equity theatrical productions opened between August 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013.

The New Group launches its 2013-2014 season with the New York premiere of the Geffen Playhouse production of The Jacksonian, by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this production features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan, Bill Pullman and Juliet Brett. Previews begin October 25 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 7 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through December 15 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

Carolee Carmello, David Friedman and Kathie Lee Gifford of the Broadway musical SCANDALOUS will appear for a 'Live at B&N' event featuring music from the show. The guests will sign copies of the new Broadway cast recording tonight, July 16, 2013 at 6 PM at the Barnes & Noble at 86th & Lexington Ave, NYC.

Carolee Carmello, David Friedman and Kathie Lee Gifford of the Broadway musical SCANDALOUS will appear for a 'Live at B&N' event featuring music from the show. The guests will sign copies of the new Broadway cast recording on Tuesday July 16, 2013 at 6 PM at the Barnes & Noble at 86th & Lexington Ave, NYC.

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical, have announced that the three-time Tony nominated production will return for the holiday season with engagements at the The Bushnell in Hartford, CT (November 12-17) and The Wang Theatre in Boston, MA (November 20 - December 8) before returning to New Yorkat The Theater at Madison Square Garden (December 11 – 29). Tickets are now on sale for the New York engagement. Single tickets for the general public go on sale for the Boston engagement June 16, and for the Hartford engagement on September 9.

Most people expected after last night's Tony Awards that A CHRISTMAS STORY would be headed back to Broadway, but it turns out that they had a slightly different plan in mind.

Casting is complete for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs a cast featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard, Russell Harvard and Helen Sadler. The American premiere of Tribes was Off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theater in 2012, and also featured Harvard, alongside ensemble member Jeff Perry; Harvard was recently featured in the Mark Taper Forum production as well.

The Original Cast Album for the new Broadway musical SCANDALOUS: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson, starring nowthree-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello in the title role, is now available for digital download on iTunes and Amazon.com byShout! Broadway (www.ShoutBroadway.com).

Company members from A Christmas Story, The Musical will reunite for their appearance on the Tony Awards telecast on CBS. The cast will travel from various corners of the country and the world including Dan Lauria from Los Angeles, Johnny Rabe from Chicago, Caroline O'Connor from Australia, and Broadway's favorite four-foot tap dancing whiz kid, Luke Spring, from Ashburn, Virginia.

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical, including Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in the original 1983 film, are holding open auditions to find exceptionally talented kids for the upcoming 2013 production. Recently nominated for three 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical,A Christmas Story, The Musical seeks young actors to play Ralphie, his friends and classmates, including: Randy, Flick, Schwartz, Scut Farcus, Grover Dill, Mary Beth, and Esther Jane.

The world premiere production of the new musical TUCK EVERLASTING, scheduled to play Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Emerson Colonial Theatre (106 Boylston Street) from July 28-August 18, 2013, has been postponed due to a lack of theatre availability for its planned subsequent production in New York. Future plans for the production will be announced at a later date.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that A Christmas Story, The Musical!, which played the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre for the 2012 holiday season, might be heading back to the Great White Way this year. A show respresentative revealed that following a mini-tour to Hartford's Bushnell Theatre (November 12-17) and Boston's Wang Theatre (November 20-December 8), producers are considering bringing the show back to Broadway. An official announcement has not yet been made.

The world premiere production of the new musical TUCK EVERLASTING will play at Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Emerson Colonial Theatre (106 Boylston Street) from July 28-August 18, 2013. The pre-Broadway production will feature (in alphabetical order): Fred Applegate (Sister Act) as 'Constable Joe,'Marylouise Burke (Fuddy Meers) as 'Nana,' Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello (Scandalous) as 'Ma Tuck,' David Garrison (Titanic) as 'The Man In The Yellow Suit,' Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies) as 'Jesse Tuck,' Daytime Emmy Award Winner Michael Park (How To Succeed...) as 'Pa Tuck,' Michael Wartella (The Kid) as 'Hugo,' and Valerie Wright (Elf) as 'Mother,' and will introduce Sadie Sink in the role of 'Winnie.' In the video below, watch Jeremy Jordan sing 'The Wheel' from the new musical!

Below, check out the newly released trailer for Steppenwolf's production of The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter! The Birthday Party is directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton and features ensemble members Ian Barford, Francis Guinan, Moira Harris and John Mahoney with Marc Grapey and Sophia Sinise.