Walter Bobbie News

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, will next season present new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, to be directed by John Doyle (the Tony Award-winning revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). PASSION is slated to begin performances in February, 2013.

On Monday, January 16, 2012, Broadway's celebrated revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO will welcome back Mexican stage and screen sensation Bianca Marroquin in the starring role of Roxie Hart.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, will present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in a new production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, translated by Charles Laughton, and directed by Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 11. The official press opening for GALILEO is Sunday, February 12. Tickets for GALILEO go on sale to the public today, Tuesday, January 3.

2012 is just around the corner, and there are a plethora of shows in store for this new Broadway season. From brand new musicals to vintage plays and West End transfers to American classics, 2012's upcoming shows should surely lead to a stellar awards season this spring. Check out a preview of all 21 announced productions below!

Classic Stage Company's new production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, featuring John Turturro (Lopakhin), Dianne Wiest (Ranevskaya), Ken Cheeseman (Pischick), Daniel Davis (Gaev), Alvin Epstein (Fiers), Josh Hamilton (Trofimov), Slate Holmgren (Yasha), Roberta Maxwell (Charlotta), Juliet Rylance (Varya), Michael Urie (Yepikhodov), Elisabeth Waterston (Dunyasha) and Katherine Waterston (Anya), has extended its upcoming engagement through Friday, December 30. Previews begin Wednesday, November 16 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). THE CHERRY ORCHARD is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, December 4 at 7pm.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, has announced that acclaimed actress Christina Ricci will join two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth in the company's upcoming production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Directed by Tony Speciale, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will begin performances Wednesday, March 28 and play a limited engagement through Sunday, May 6. Neuwirth will play the role of Titania and Ricci the role of Hermia. Additional casting will be announced early in the new year. Tickets will go on sale to the general public February 6. CSC is currently presenting the highly-acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's THE CHERRY ORCHARD (through January 8 only) and will next present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, directed by Brian Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1.

Tonight, Broadway's celebrated revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO is pleased to welcome back Brent Barrett in the role of 'that silver-tongued prince of the courtroom,' Billy Flynn.

VENUS IN FUR is currently playing at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The production will end its limited engagement at the Friedman on Sunday, December 18 and resume performances at the Lyceum Theatre on Tuesday, February 7. Tickets for the transfer of VENUS IN FUR went on sale yesterday and the production is a limited engagement through Sunday, June 17.

On Monday, January 16, 2012, Broadway's celebrated revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO is pleased to welcome Latin-American star Marco Zunino as he makes his Broadway stage debut in the role of 'that silver-tongued prince of the courtroom,' Billy Flynn.

Darius Campbell will finish his current run as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO on Saturday 24 December. Terence Maynard will return to the role on Monday 26 December. America Ferrera and Amra-Faye Wright will star as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly until Saturday 31 December. From Monday 2 January, the roles of Roxie and Velma will be played by Sarah Soetaert and Rachel McDowall. James Doherty will continue as Amos Hart, Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and R. Whitehead as Mary Sunshine.

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, featuring John Turturro and Dianne Wiest, among an esteemed cast, will extend by one additional week through Sunday, January 8. THE CHERRY ORCHARD is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones.

Tickets are on sale now for the upcoming Lyceum Theatre engagement of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy. Tickets can be purchased by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com. The Lyceum Theatre box office (149 West 45th Street) will open Monday, January 23.

White Christmas is always a treat on film (1954) and even brighter on stage. The touring and original Broadway productions, which played Los Angeles only once at the Pantages in 2005, were gloriously directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Randy Skinner, who turns the second act opener 'I Love a Piano' into one of the most inventive and lively tap sequences ever. Now on stage at Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa the new touring company under the banner Theatre of the Stars Atlanta has supplied this production with meticulous director Norb Joerder, and wisely brought back Randy Skinner for his brilliant Tony Award nominated choreography. The sturdy acting company makes this production a sublimely frothy confection playing through New Year's Day January 1, 2012.

Following sold out runs on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club and Off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company, VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie, will transfer to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: November 26- December 2.

On Monday, December 19, Broadway's celebrated revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO is pleased to welcome back Brent Barrett in the role of 'that silver-tongued prince of the courtroom,' Billy Flynn.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 6 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers. BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration and brings you full photo coverage from the performances below!

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and 6, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.

The opening number featured the original Broadway cast of Grease reuniting for a special 40-year anniversary tribute. Among the stars returning to the stage from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history are Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino) and Walter Bobbie (Roger). Also joining the opening number reunion are original cast members Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene Florczyk ), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady) and Mews Small (Frenchy). Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey, garnered seven Tony Award nominations and played 3,388 Broadway performances before closing April 13, 1980.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and today, Tuesday, December 6 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.