Wayne Barker News

Endurance Theatre is proud to present Performing Tribute 9/11: Ordinary People, Remarkable Stories in New York and New Jersey to commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Endurance Theatre is proud to present Performing Tribute 9/11: Ordinary People, Remarkable Stories in New York and New Jersey to commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

They always tell aspiring writers to 'write what you know', and in the case of playwright/novelist Mark Harelik's THE IMMIGRANT, he's done just that, fully capturing the experience of his Russian grandparents as they fled from their oppressors and settled in the small town of Hamilton, Texas. It's a wonderful work, touching the heart and stirring the soul while allowing us to witness their progress over the course of time as they assimilate into American culture, without ever losing touch with their own Jewish heritage. The New Jewish Theatre closes their season with an absolutely lovely production of this warm and moving play that's not to be missed by any fan of theatre.

The Drama Desk Awards ceremony was hosted by Harvey Fierstein on May 23 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Center. This year, for the first time, a 90-minute Highlights Special of the Drama Desk Awards Ceremony will be televised nationally on OVATION, the national cable network dedicated to presenting creative arts programming to national TV audiences. The ceremony will be given two primetime broadcasts plus four other airings between June 4 and June 19, 2011.

On Monday, May 23, Harvey Fierstein hosted the 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. Matthew Rodrigues was in the winners room for the evening to catch up with the talent, and to figure out what a 'Drama Desk,' well, is. Click below for the theories (and to hear from the winners, too)!

The Awards ceremony, hosted by Harvey Fierstein took place last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Center! BroadwayWorld was updating the winners list live throughout the evening. Stay tuned for full coverage!

The Awards ceremony was hosted by Harvey Fierstein last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Center! BroadwayWorld was updating the winners list live throughout the evening.

Nominations for The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced on Friday, April 29, 2011, at 9:30 AM at the New York Friars Club, 57 East 55th Street, in Manhattan. Amongst the shows with multiple nominations were THE BOOK OF MORMON with 12, ANYTHING GOES with 10, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE with 7, BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS and WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN with 6.

Actor Mark Harelik wanted to pay tribute to his Russian immigrant grandparents Haskell and Leah. So, based on his grandmother's photo album, he wrote a play, 'The Immigrant' subtitled, 'A Hamilton County Album. It is the true story about two Eastern European Jews who immigrated to a small Texas town in 1909.

In what can be labeled a 'First,' the New Jewish Theatre is proud to boast that the director for the upcoming production of Clifford Odet's 1935 classic AWAKE AND SING! is Steve Woolf, Artistic Director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. While Woolf does direct outside of the Rep, he does not direct for other theatres in the St. Louis area. So this is a genuine First for both Woolf and the New Jewish Theatre. Most recently outside of the Rep, Mr. Woolf directed THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre (and then went on to direct the Rep's production of the same show). But the upcoming production at NJT was a show that he could not resist. Its realism and grittiness and the strength of the characters appealed to him.

The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards, hosted by Harvey Fierstein, will be held Monday, May 23, at 9:00 PM at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Center, 8th Avenue and 34th Street. This year, for the first time, a 90-minute Highlights Special of the Drama Desk Awards Ceremony will be televised nationally on OVATION, the national cable network dedicated to presenting creative arts programming to national TV audiences. The ceremony will be given two primetime broadcasts plus four other airings between June 4 and June 19, 2011.

Tony Nominee Melissa Errico joined a slate of outstanding artists from the worlds of Broadway, television, film and other mediums for 'The Bridge: Where Hope and Respect Come Together,' a benefit concert celebrating the work of the Crime Victims Treatment Center starting at New World Stages. Performers and volunteers for this amazing evening came together to ensure that the Crime Victims Treatment Center (CVTC)-located at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center-can continue its groundbreaking work empowering survivors of violent crimes including sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. The event was conceived of and organized by former clients of CVTC who were moved to give back to the program that helped them heal.

Morgan James (The Addams Family, Wonderland) will join a slate of outstanding artists from the worlds of Broadway, television, film and other mediums for "The Bridge: Where Hope and Respect Come Together," a benefit concert celebrating the work of the Crime Victims Treatment Center starting at 8:00pm on Monday, April 11, 2011 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

In what can be labeled a 'First,' the New Jewish Theatre is proud to boast that the director for the upcoming production of Clifford Odet's 1935 classic AWAKE AND SING! is Steve Woolf, Artistic Director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. While Woolf does direct outside of the Rep, he does not direct for other theatres in the St. Louis area. So this is a genuine First for both Woolf and the New Jewish Theatre. Most recently outside of the Rep, Mr. Woolf directed THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre (and then went on to direct the Rep's production of the same show). But the upcoming production at NJT was a show that he could not resist. Its realism and grittiness and the strength of the characters appealed to him.

New York Theatre Workshop presents Peter and the Starcatcher, written by Rick Elice, directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, based upon the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The cast of Peter and the Starcatcher features Adam Chanler-Berat as Peter next to normal; Christian Borle as Black Stache Angels in America, Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Mary Poppins, and Celia Keenan-Bolger as Molly 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Les Miserables, Bachelorette.

Morgan James (The Addams Family, Wonderland) will join a slate of outstanding artists from the worlds of Broadway, television, film and other mediums for "The Bridge: Where Hope and Respect Come Together," a benefit concert celebrating the work of the Crime Victims Treatment Center starting at 8:00pm on Monday, April 11, 2011 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Writer William Nicholson's play SHADOWLANDS, which was adapted from his 1985 television screenplay, takes a look at the life of C.S. Lewis, focusing its attention on the relationship between the famous author and an American fan named Joy Gresham that he wound up marrying. It's a superbly constructed work that's touching and surprisingly funny, and Mustard Seed Theatre has mounted a wonderful production that's sparked by flawless direction and brilliant performances.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is spicing up this holiday season with New Rep's Darling Divas Deck the Holidays. This festive holiday cabaret is directed by Kate Warner and features New Rep favorites Michele A. DeLuca (Hot Mikado, Cabaret, The Wild Party, and Ragtime), Aimee Doherty (Hot Mikado, Speed-the-Plow, Cabaret, tick, tick... BOOM!, The Wild Party, Ragtime, and Into the Woods), Kami Rushell Smith (Dessa Rose), and Bobbie Steinbach (The Clean House, Romeo and Juliet, A Girl's War, The Waverly Gallery, and Stonewall Jackson's House).

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is spicing up this holiday season with New Rep's Darling Divas Deck the Holidays.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is spicing up this holiday season with New Rep's Darling Divas Deck the Holidays. This festive holiday cabaret is directed by Kate Warner and features New Rep favorites Michele A. DeLuca (Hot Mikado, Cabaret, The Wild Party, and Ragtime), Aimee Doherty (Hot Mikado, Speed-the-Plow, Cabaret, tick, tick... BOOM!, The Wild Party, Ragtime, and Into the Woods), Kami Rushell Smith (Dessa Rose), and Bobbie Steinbach (The Clean House, Romeo and Juliet, A Girl's War, The Waverly Gallery, and Stonewall Jackson's House).