Will Rogers News

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Broadway Bares earns big money, Meryl & Kevin reunite, Laura gets a solo show, and so much more!

Last night, The Public Theater opened AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park--home of free Shakespeare in the Park. Previews began June 5. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the exciting opening night and brings you photo coverage below!

Last night, The Public Theater opened AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park--home of free Shakespeare in the Park. Previews began June 5. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the arrivals and brings you photo coverage below!

The Public Theater's AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte, officially opened last night, June 21 and continues through Saturday, June 30.

Fresh from the Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, long time entertainer, TV host and stage performer John Davidson will be appearing as Don Quixote for the third time-this time with the new Ocean Professional Theater Company's (OPTC) production of Man of La Mancha.

Canal Park Playhouse will present ROPES, WHIPS AND SONGS ABOUT COWS, created and performed by Chris McDaniel. ROPES, WHIPS AND SONGS ABOUT COWS begins performances on Friday, July 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 29.

The Public Theater presents AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte, which officially opens tonight, June 21 and continues through Saturday, June 30. BroadwayWorld brings you performance highlights below!

Harvey Schmidt, the celebrated composer of The Fantasticks, visited the show for the first time in more than twenty years on Saturday, June 16, 2012. After the performance, Schmidt met with the cast including television veteran John Davidson and triple platinum recording artist Aaron Carter. Check out photos of Schmidt with the cast below!

3-D Theatricals presents the third show of its 2012 season with the Three-time Tony Award-winning musical winner, AVENUE Q, music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, musical direction by David Lamoureux, director of puppetry is Christian Anderson and directed by 3-D Theatricals Executive Producer and Artistic Director T.J. Dawson and C.J. Porter. AVENUE Q will begin performances on Friday, July 13, with a press opening on Saturday, July 14 and perform through Sunday, July 29 at the historic Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave. in Fullerton. AVENUE Q will then travel across town to perform at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. for three performances only August 3-5.

The Public Theater will present an additional free performance of AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan, tonight (Tuesday, June 19) at 8 p.m. AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte, will officially open on Thursday, June 21 and continue through Saturday, June 30.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents Gypsy tonight, June 15 through July 1, 2012 at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre (117 N. Park Square, Marietta.) Tickets are available now at 404-377-9948 or www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.

Iconic funny man Bill Cosby, who has been making audiences laugh for decades with his keen insight into everyday existence, brings his signature comedy to the Treasure Island Theatre July 20 at 8 p.m.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) began previews on Tuesday, June 5, for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park--home of free Shakespeare in the Park. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 21. Check out photos of Paul Taylor, Andre Braugher, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Lily Rabe, David Furr, Donna Lynne Champlin, Oliver Platt, Jordan Tice, Stephen Spinella, Susannah Flood and Will Rogers in the production below!

Earlier today I had the extreme privilege of speaking to one of the biggest Broadway stars of the new millennium all about her new ABC Family original series BUNHEADS - two-time Tony Award-winning triple-threat dynamo Sutton Foster. Candidly recalling her professional beginnings, auditioning for the national tour of THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES at only 17 for director/choreographer Jeff Calhoun - our recent 2012 Tony Awards special chat available here - and starring in GREASE on Broadway under his direction shortly thereafter, Foster also shares her post-Tony Awards night memories from ten years ago today, when she first won a trophy for her star-making turn in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Clearly, Foster has remained busy since her Tony-winning Reno Sweeney in the hit revival of ANYTHING GOES last season, as well, with the fantastic new Amy Sherman-Palladino-penned BUNHEADS proving to be the ideal opportunity for her to bring her considerable stage chops to the small screen and show off her serious skills as a comedienne, dancer, singer and actress to a whole new audience in a major way. Of course, Broadway babies have known for over a decade that Sutton Foster is the rare star that comes along once a generation and BUNHEADS now gives her the national stage so that she may give the world everything she's got to give - and that's a whole lot. In addition to an analysis of the central character on BUNHEADS, Michelle, and a look ahead to what we can expect in the ensuing season that kicks off tonight at 9 PM on ABC Family with the enchanting and hilarious pilot episode, Sutton and I also shine a light on the many musical theatre associations in the BUNHEADS universe, current and future - such as the razzle dazzle Las Vegas opening number of the pilot, penned by songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, which was originally performed on Broadway in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; BUNHEADS series regular and A CHORUS LINE original cast standout Kelly Bishop as Michelle's domineering ballet instructor mother-in-law; Michelle's determination to land a lead role in CHICAGO someday; and, we even discuss some possibilities for musical numbers and song sequences on BUNHEADS in the future ("At The Ballet", perhaps?). Plus, Sutton shares her thoughts on SMASH, expresses her interest in exploring a revival of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN onstage soon and much, much more!

TRIASSIC PARQ The Musical, presented by Amas Musical Theatre, is set to begin performances tomorrow, June 12th for a limited Off-Broadway engagement through August 5th at the SoHo Playhouse. Opening night is Wednesday, June 27th. Winner of 2010's Best Musical Award at FringeNYC, TRIASSIC PARQ is written by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo, with direction by Mr. Pailet, choreography by Kyle Mullins and musical direction by Zak Sandler. The cast of TRIASSIC PARQ features Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Brandon Espinoza, Wade McCollum, Claire Neumann, Lee Seymour, Shelley Thomas, and Alex Wyse.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport announces a change in the line-up for next special event in their ongoing Broadway Concert Series on Saturday, June 23 at 8 PM.

Gallery Theater is holding auditions for The Will Rogers Follies, June 10-13. With book by Peter Stone, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and winner of Six Tony Awards, this production will be directed by Rich Pratt.

Thomas Kail's athletic and inventively theatrical directing chops (In The Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird) prove a perfect match for Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' Caribbean story-theatre musical Once On This Island. The beguiling new production gracing the Paper Mill stage is full of vibrant performances and colorful stagecraft.

Broadway Concerts Direct proudly presents a new concert series in River Edge, NJ- BROADWAY COMES TO RIVER EDGE SERIES, on June 30, at 8PM. The evening will star Carole Demas (original Sandy in GREASE, THE MAGIC GARDEN on TV), CELIA BERK & RICH FLANDERS (SHENANDOAH, ANNIE 2, Will Rogers Cowboy Award, Best Song), CRAIG POMRANZ (International Recording Artist, 2012), and SARAH RICE (original Johanna in SWEENEY TODD, 2011 MAC Awards, 2010 Bistro Award).

The 2012 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards ceremony took place today, June 5th at the Millburn theater. Schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Musical and Leading Actor/Actress nominees performed at the event and award recipients were presented with an engraved crystal award from Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards partner, Tiffany & Co.