William Finn News

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of its New York premiere production of MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, a new play by Anne Washburn, with music by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman. Directed by Steve Cosson, the Obie Award-winning Artistic Director of The Civilians, MR. BURNS is being presented as the first production of Playwrights Horizons' 2013/2014 Season.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning performer known around the world for her iconic original performance as Eponine in both the West End and Broadway editions of international stage sensation LES MISERABLES, copiously convivial chanteuse Frances Ruffelle. Discussing her legacy with the iconic mega-musical and her relationship with the show's director, John Caird, Ruffelle opens up about a life in the theatre, telling tales of her time spent treading the boards in the various incarnations of LES MISERABLES - winning the Tony for her Broadway performance - as well as working on the original London production of Stephen Schwartz's CHILDREN OF EDEN with Caird and fellow InDepth InterView participants Matthew Bourne and Ruthie Henshall in addition to shedding light on fascinating workshop experiences - STARLIGHT EXPRESS, SUNSET BOULEVARD and WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND among them - and her more recent roles, such as her run as the title character in PIAF and featured part making up the intricate ensemble of William Finn's entertaining revue MAKE ME A SONG. Ruffelle also discusses her solo album work and future recording plans and also comments upon the pop success of her daughter, UK star Eliza Doolittle. Most importantly, Ruffelle peels back the layers of the return engagement of her successful solo show BENEATH THE DRESS and clues us in on what we can expect from her upcoming dates at celebrated cabaret venue 54 Below. Plus, Ruffelle fills us in on her next cabaret piece and its inspiration, as well as shares the 411 about her new films coming out in the next couple of months. All of that, thoughts on Broadway versus the West End, sharing the screen with Anne Hathaway in the mega-hit big screen edition of LES MISERABLES, thoughts on some of her recent TV roles as well as much, much more in this all-access pass with a particularly lovely and lively star.

Second Stage Theatre will celebrate its upcoming 35th Anniversary Season with special retro prices and audience perks throughout the season.

Marty Thomas presents DIVA is a weekly show at Industry Bar in midtown Manhattan. Featuring a cast of Alexa Green (WICKED, COMPANY), Kelly King (Babyface, Michael Bolton) and Marissa Rosen (MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING), it is hosted and produced by Marty Thomas (XANADU, WICKED, THE SECRET GARDEN). DIVA celebrates fabulous female vocalists paying tribute to some of histories most over the top icons! The cast performs a brand new show every week with exciting new guests rotating.

Today we are talking to a supremely talented triple-threat who has carved out an astonishingly impressive career thus far onstage with her string of stupendous performances ranging from her blazing debut in the late-90s revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and WONDERFUL TOWN through to SWING!, INTO THE WOODS, NINE, THE WEDDING SINGER and her Tony Award-winning work in the recent revival of GYPSY - the alluring and simply phenomenal Laura Benanti. Touching upon many of her past stage and screen roles and expressing candid insights into many of her most celebrated characters to date, Benanti opens up about the productions and properties which have made her one of the most exciting and in-demand Broadway crossover performers of the 21st century. In addition to all about her many Broadway bows - including her most recent runs in IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) and WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN - Benanti also shares thoughts on her multiple TV and film projects, new and old, shedding light on THE PLAYBOY CLUB, GO ON, STARVED, THE BIG C, her current arc on USA's ROYAL PAINS, prior and upcoming film roles and even more. Most importantly, Benanti provides us with all the details on her new live solo album, IN CONSTANT SEARCH OF THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTENTION: LIVE AT 54 BELOW, as well as gives a preview of her series of upcoming concerts at 54 Below in promotion of the sterling new release. Plus, Benanti looks ahead to taking on Shakespeare via the new Public Theater production of THE TEMPEST as well as tackling a particularly operatic part in 2014 (byway of the just-announced THE MOST HAPPY FELLA). All of that, Benanti's recollections of performing a hilarious specialty song at this year's spectacular Tony Awards, as well as roles she would love to play in the future and much, much more!

This marks the company's fifth year and we hope to continue to bring quality entertainment to the tri-state area! In addition LRT is proud to announce that we will be offering kids workshops several times a year. All children will be featured in scenes and solo songs from popular musicals! Please check our website for more information.

Producers Michael Alden, Stefany Bergson and Rodger Hess have announced the New York premiere of Becoming Dr. Ruth, a warmhearted, candid and inspiring comedy starring Debra Jo Rupp, ('That 70's Show') written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Julianne Boyd.

Tony Award nominee WILL SWENSON (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert; Hair) will play the role of Richard Hoover in the upcoming off-Broadway musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, with book and direction by Tony Award-Winner JAMES LAPINE and music and lyrics by Tony Award Winner WILLIAM FINN. Mr. Swenson replaces the previously announced Will Chase.

Two Muses Theatre presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, with music and lyrics by William Finn and Book by Rachel Sheinkin. The show will be performed weekends from Sept 27 through Oct 20. Two Muses Theatre performs in the intimate 150-seat theatre inside Barnes & Noble Booksellers, located at 6800 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield (south of Maple).

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the Pulitzer and Tony-winning Clybourne Park from September 26 through October 13, on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage. The press opening is Sunday, September 29 at 3pm. Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and 2012 Tony Award, Clybourne Park is directed by Giovanna Sardelli (BSC's Muckrakers, Lord of the Flies and The North Pool).

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has announced details for its 2013-14 Studio Series of opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an inaugural filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent conversation featured stage and screen star Sebastian Arcelus moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge, and you can check it out below!

Berkshire Theatre Group presents Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-Winning play Anna Christie at the Fitzpatrick Main Stage. Opening Night is tomorrow, August 24 at 8pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The season opens with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Music and Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin), a hilarious musical comedy about six young people in the throes of puberty participating in a spelling bee, overseen by adults who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. Performances September 27 - October 20.

LA Drama Critics Circle Award-winning California Repertory Company and the CSULB Theatre Arts Department are proud to announce our 2013 - 2014 Season, at the Royal Theater aboard the Queen Mary and the CSULB Theatre Arts Building, which runs September 20, 2013 - May 10, 2014.

On Stage at Kingsboroughhas just announced its fall 2013 season of award-winning performances from internationally-renowned artists in exclusive Brooklyn engagements.

Two Muses Theatre, a nonprofit, professional theatre based in West Bloomfield, Michigan, will produce six shows beginning in September with something for everyone: a musical comedy, two holiday shows (one geared for family, one a bit more unconventional), a theatre for the young series, a contemporary comedy and a serio-comedy. Three of the shows have exclusively female casts in fitting with Two Muses Theatre's mission to provide opportunities for female professionals in theater.

Today we are talking a phenomenally talented performer known for his decades treading the boards in a number of featured and lead roles, most recently wowing crowds with his turn as one of the title characters in THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS - the engaging and golden-voiced Norm Lewis. Discussing many of his most celebrated roles as well as some more obscure, Lewis paints a vivid picture of his career trajectory thus far and shares compelling and candid stories of working on productions as varied and diverse as the original Broadway versions of THE WHO'S TOMMY, SIDE SHOW, THE WILD PARTY, AMOUR, THE LITTLE MERMAID and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM as well as his sensational work regionally in projects such as his recent essaying of Javert in LES MISERABLES at The Muny (to say nothing of the 25th Anniversary live at the 02) as well as turns in SWEENEY TODD and THE WIZARD & I: THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ among many others. Additionally, Lewis sheds some light on his recent onscreen work, clueing us in on how he became involved with hit nighttime soap SCANDAL and how he enjoyeds working with co-stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on it - and if we will possibly see him in Season Three, perhaps. Plus, Lewis opens up about his upcoming solo gigs and performing plans - including first news on his starring part in the upcoming Public Theater musical version of THE TEMPEST - as well as touches upon a host of topics ranging from his appearances at spectacular special events - DREAMGIRLS: IN CONCERT, HAIR: IN CONCERT, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA in the Park - to his appearance in SEX & THE CITY 2 (opposite Liza Minnelli) to recording studio work, dream projects, future goals, favorite workshop/reading experiences and much, much more!

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein have announced the upcoming lineup at the all-newFeinstein's at the Nikko for the months of October, November and December. Artists include Emmy Award winning actress Megan Mullally ('Will and Grace) and actress Stephanie Hunt ('Friday Night Lights,' 'Californication') and their band Nancy & Beth; actress, producer and singer Rita Wilson; Broadway star and recording artist Linda Eder; soul and jazz vocalist Oleta Adams; and more! Additional artists will be announced at a later date.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and BroadwayWorld have partnered for an inaugural filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. Tomorrow, August 14 (7pm), join Career Conversations with Sebastian Arcelus moderated by Broadway World's Richard Ridge of 'Backstage with Richard Ridge' at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (Engelman Recital Hall Theater)