Winston Churchill News

Helen Mirren returns to Broadway!

Based on the real life events of socialite Pamela Churchill Hayward Harriman, who was appointed U.S. Ambassador to France in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, will have a limited engagement January 8 - February 1, 2015 at NJ Rep. She was dubbed the ultimate "party girl" among society's elite, the last courtesan of her time. Living the idyllic life at the luxurious Ritz in Paris for years, Harriman, who was married to the son of Winston Churchill, among others, had no problem spending her step children's inheritance on her extravagant lifestyle. But her step children had enough and conspired with their attorneys to shut her down.

The theatre community lost one of our own on Christmas Day. Actor David Ryall, best recognized in America as Elphias Doge in Harry Potter, has died at age 79, according to reports.

2015 is almost here, and that means that a slew of new shows are on their way to the Great White Way. Before the 2015 Awards season gets started, no less than nineteen new productions will take tike their first Broadway bows. Catch up on what's in store for the season ahead below!

The producers of Peter Morgan's Broadway-bound The Audience, starring Academy Award winner Helen Mirren and directed by Stephen Daldry, announced today that two additional previews have been added to the limited engagement at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) which will now begin performances on February 14. The official opening night remains March 8. The production runs through June 28, 2015.

The producers of Peter Morgan's Broadway-bound The Audience, starring Academy Award winner Helen Mirren, announced today that Dakin Matthews and Rod McLachlan will take on the roles of Winston Churchill and Gordon Brown, respectively. Stephen Daldry directs the limited engagement at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Previews begin February 17; opening night is March 8. The production runs through June 28, 2015.

'Swimming at the Ritz' opens at New Jersey Repertory in Long Branch on January 8th and will run through February 1st. We had the chance to interview the playwright for the show, Charles Leipart.

Hosted by "Downton Abbey" star Elizabeth McGovern, MILLION DOLLAR AMERICAN PRINCESSES, premiering on January 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel

New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, will present the U.S. Premiere of Swimming at the Ritz by Charles Leipart, which is based on the real life events of socialite Pamela Churchill Hayward Harriman, who was appointed U.S. Ambassador to France in 1993 by President Bill Clinton.

Joe Orton's insanely insane world in 1960s England is no better displayed than in his third and final play What the Butler Saw now onstage at the Mark Taper Forum through December 21. A terrifically energized cast are on hand as is seasoned director John Tillinger, but things got off to a somewhat slow start opening night and really did not start to cook until Act II. It might be the width and depth of the Taper stage, which is not easy to cross that rapidly. I saw a production a couple of years back at the Odyssey, and the space being half the size, entrances and exits were quicker as was the tempo of the whole play.

Below, check out quotables from THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON for the week of November 3 - November 7

The International Rescue Committee just hosted its annual Freedom Award Dinner to support the organization's lifesaving humanitarian aid work around the world. This year's event honored Cliff and Laurel Asness and Ken and Vickie French with the IRC's Freedom Award. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special event below!

Though only 38 years old, British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has already amassed an impressive list of credits on stage, on television, and on the big screen. Though he has yet to grace a Broadway stage, I have a feeling that that is just an eventuality as his popularity continues to skyrocket on this side of the Atlantic. Today we are taking a look at his career from the British stage in 'Hedda Gabler,' 'After the Dance,' and 'Frankenstein' to his work on film in '12 Years a Slave,' 'August: Osage County,' and 'Star Trek: Into Darkness,' to his iconic work on TV as the 'high-functioning sociopath' titular character on the BBC's 'Sherlock,' for which he is nominated a second time, in addition to his 2013 nomination for HBO's 'Parade's End.'

Acclaimed Chicago actor Ronald Keaton performs his one-man show Churchill, based on the life and writings of one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century. Experience the man who famously proclaimed, 'I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter...' Come hear Winston discuss his failures and his successes, his love of art, liquor, and women, and the bravery of Britain's finest hour.

Commissioned by the Finborough Theatre from Cerberus Theatre, the UK premiere and the English world premiere of controversial German playwright Rolf Hochhuth's Sommer 14 - A Dance of Death in a brand new translation opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season today, 5 August 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 7 August at 7.30pm).

Acclaimed Chicago actor Ronald Keaton performs his one-man show Churchill, based on the life and writings of one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century. Experience the man who famously proclaimed, "I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter..." Come hear Winston discuss his failures and his successes, his love of art, liquor, and women, and the bravery of Britain's finest hour.

Commissioned by the Finborough Theatre from Cerberus Theatre, the UK premiere and the English world premiere of controversial German playwright Rolf Hochhuth's Sommer 14 - A Dance of Death in a brand new translation opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season on Tuesday, 5 August 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 7 August at 7.30pm).

This week's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE had a very Broadway feel to it with Josh Bergasse, the choreographer of the upcoming ON THE TOWN revival, staging a Top-20 routine to the show's anthem 'New York, New York' (the one by Bernstein, Comden, and Green, not Kander and Ebb). As we learned last week, this season's winner will earn a spot in the musical's ensemble. While some people, including @Actor_Friend, don't like this idea, remember, the last network show to give away roles on Broadway brought us Laura Osnes, so let's reserve judgment, just in case a reality show brings us more Broadway royalty this time.

This big gal was cast to play the sexy, beat up, beautiful Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. It was an Incredible experience! I honestly believe that if you love yourself, then no one can bring you down.

Airing next month on PBS is a unique documentary about sites beneath London, for example the secret bunkers used by Winston Churchill during WWII and silver vaults housing the world's most fascinating silverworks. Called "Secrets of underground London," the show will air to the public beginning June 22.