Williamstown Theatre News

The stars of the upcoming revival of JEKYLL & HYDE, Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages) and Grammy Award Nominee Deborah Cox (Aida), will host the 4th annual National High School Musical Theater Awards on Monday, June 25th at 7:30pm at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 W 45th St). The show will feature 60 of America's most talented young musical theater performers vying for the "Jimmy Award" for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor. Winners will be awarded college scholarships and other prizes will be announced live.

Playwright Annie Baker and director Sam Gold-whose previous collaborations include the acclaimed The Aliens and Circle Mirror Transformation-have reunited to stage a new adaptation of Chekhov's masterpiece, Uncle Vanya. Soho Rep, in association with John Adrian Selzer, presents the world premiere production tonight, June 7 through July 15.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, has extended the run of the world premiere of Dr. Ruth, All The Way by Mark St. Germain, directed by Julianne Boyd. Starring stage, film and television actress Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show), Dr. Ruth, All the Way will now run from June 19 through July 21 at St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield. Opening Night is Saturday, June 30 at 8pm.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten has announced a series of special events that will enhance the previously announced 2012 summer season. Additions to the Festival's 58th season include one-night-only stand-up comedy performances from Lewis Black on July 9th and Susie Essman (who will also appear in the Nikos Stage production of Last of the Red Hot Lovers) on July 23rd. Also added to the schedule is a reading of Dustin Lance Black's political docudrama 8, presented in partnership with Broadway Impact as a benefit for the American Foundation for Equal Rights. The Festival's popular Late-Night Cabaret Series returns, featuring Festival stars in rarely seen performances.

Charlie Hofheimer is set to join the cast of Nicky Silver's new comedy THE LYONS on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48 St.) starting Tuesday, June 12. Mr. Hofheimer assumes the role of Curtis Lyons, joining the cast of THE LYONS which stars 2012 Best Actress Tony nominee Linda Lavin, Dick Latessa, Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley and Gregory Wooddell.

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' global hit musical MAMMA MIA! welcomes new principals Christy Altomare, Lauren Cohn, Daniel Cooney, Felicia Finley, Aaron Lazar, Graham Rowat and Zak Resnick who will join Judy McLane as "Donna Sheridan" at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) tonight, June 4, 2012.

22Q Entertainment LLC and GoAlleyCat Productions presents the West Coast Premiere of the New York hit, IT IS DONE, a thrilling new play in an environmental setting, written by award-winning playwright Alex Goldberg and directed by Ovation award-winner Michael Michetti (The Twentieth Century Way, Carousel, Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings). IT IS DONE opened on May 15 and runs through Tuesday, June 12 at the Pig ‘N Whistle Restaurant, 6714 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. See photos from the opening night party below!

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, has announced additional casting for its 2012/2013 Season. Four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara and two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey join previously-announced Oscar and two-time Tony Award nominee Amy Ryan and Emmy Award nominee David Schwimmer for the Playwrights Horizons 2012/2013 Season at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street.

The Colony Theatre presents the first production of its "Season of Premieres" with the Los Angeles Premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, written by Evan Smith and directed by award-winning Cameron Watson and will star three-time Los Angeles Drama Critics Award-winning actress Anne Gee Byrd.

As the summer days near, BroadwayWorld rounded up our worldwide community - from Australia to Spain, California and beyond! - to bring you our top picks for the best of summer theater in each of our main markets! Looking for the best of the summer venue and production offerings in your area? Let's hear from a sampling of the BroadwayWorld experts!

Great theater is less than a tankful away from Boston this summer.

Oberon in association with the Ministry of Theater will present a pre-New York tryout of ROLLER DISCO THE MUSICAL!, an unautherized parody of the classic film Roller Boogie, from May 30 to August 30 at Oberon in Cambridge Massachusetts, with its world premiere opening night on June 13. With executive producer Pablo Rojas, Roller Disco aims to transfer to Off-Broadway in Spring 2013.

Oberon in association with the Ministry of Theater will present a pre-New York tryout of ROLLER DISCO THE MUSICAL!, an unautherized parody of the classic film Roller Boogie, from tonight, May 30 to August 30 at Oberon in Cambridge Massachusetts, with its world premiere opening night on June 13. With executive producer Pablo Rojas, Roller Disco aims to transfer to Off-Broadway in Spring 2013.

Chris Isaacson has announced that Upright Cabaret's AMERICAN ICON Series ends another stunning season with VIVA LAS VEGAS - a presentation of personality and pop that honors the flashiest performers of all time: Elvis, Cher and Elton John. Joining the group of all-star performers will be Patrick Cassidy.

Two-time Tony Award® winner Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises, Noises Off) will star as Miss Hannigan in the new production of ANNIE, the Tony Award-winning classic musical. ANNIE opens November 8 at the Palace Theatre (1567 Broadway at 47th Street). Previews begin October 3.

Comedian and commentator Lewis Black shows off his playwriting prowess with ACT - A Contemporary Theatre's production of the wedding day comedy One Slight Hitch. The play is the West Coast debut of a new work by Black, who is not only a Comedy Central regular and a contributor to the award winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but also a stand-up performer and studied playwright. The play begins previews June 8 and opens June 14, running until July 8.

Katselas Theatre Company presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening tonight, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute concludes Philadelphia Theatre Company's 2011-2012 season tonight May 25 through June 24 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed byMaria Mileaf, the ensemble cast features Paul Felder, James McMenamin, Genevieve Perrier, and Elizabeth Stanley.

Katselas Theatre Company will present Tony Abatemarco's BEAUTIFIED, described as 'a riotous new romp through four decades in a Massachusetts beauty parlor.'