Blithe Spirit revival - West End Articles Page 16

Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Chuck Tobin today announced the opening of the Playhouse's 2014 summer theater season with the new Mel Brooks Broadway Young Frankenstein (June 17 - 28, 2014). Young Frankenstein features a book by three-time Tony Award-winner Mel Brooks and three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. Young Frankenstein, directed by Keith Andrews with music direction by Thomas Cleary, will feature Matthew Crowle as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, Kathryn Markey as Frau Blucher, Christian Kohn as the Monster, Abby Lee as Elizabeth, Brett Figel as Igor, Ashley McKay as Inga, Bill Carmichael as Inspector Kemp/Hermit, and Zachary Pesner as Ziggy. The ensemble includes Eugenio Contenti, Shelby Davis, Danielle Diniz, Antoinette DiPietropolo, Ian Frazier, Christopher Holloway, Kate Kramitz, Kevin Metzger, Vincent Ortega, and Chelsey Whitelock.

Broadway Producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, The Producer's Perspective) announces The 3rd Annual 10 Minute Play Contest! 10 original plays will be selected from submissions to be featured in a presentation evening and vie for the title of 'Best Play' as chosen by a panel of industry professionals. Finalists will receive a cash prize of $50 and the grand prize winner will receive $500.

The cast of West End's Blithe Spirit performed a special cabaret in honor of Angela Lansbury at the Cafe de Paris, directed by Michael Blakemore. Featured performers included Janie Dee, Charles Edwards, Simon Jones, and Jemima Rooper.

88-year-old Angela Lansbury does not seem to be retiring from the stage anytime soon. The Broadway vet may be set to take her final bow as Madame Arcati in West End's Blithe Spirit this weekend, but she has already expressed interest in taking on Enid Bagnold's THE CHALK GARDEN as her next project. 'I like the idea of doing Enid Bagnold's THE CHALK GARDEN,' she told the Telegraph. 'Now that is an interesting play. I also rather fancy the idea of a Restoration comedy.'

Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Chuck Tobin today announced casting for the production of the new Mel Brooks Broadway Young Frankenstein (June 17 - 28, 2014). Young Frankenstein features a book by three-time Tony Award-winner Mel Brooks and three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks.

Just last night, award-winning cabaret performer Jamie deRoy celebrated Broadway with a roster of Tony Award winners on her Multi MAC award-winning Variety Show, Jamie deRoy & friends, at New York's wonderfully-appointed cabaret The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street ~ btw. 5th & 6th Avenues).

Bailiwick Chicago presents the Chicago premiere of the 2012 Off-Broadway revival version of CARRIE: The Musical, with music by Academy Award-winner Michael Gore, lyrics by Academy Award-winner Dean Pitchford, book by original screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen, based on the novel by Stephen King, directed by Collective Member Michael Driscoll with choreography by Brigitte Ditmars and music direction by Collective Member Aaron Benham. This unique resurrection of 1988's CARRIE: The Musical will play today, May 29 - July 12, 2014 at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Broadway In Chicago has announced additional principal casting for the world premiere of AMAZING GRACE, the new musical with music and lyrics by Christopher Smith and a book by Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron, directed by Gabriel Barre (Andrew Lippas' The Wild Party) and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies).

Mark the countdown to the Tony Awards with award-winning cabaret performer Jamie deRoy when she celebrates Broadway with a roster of Tony Award winners on her Multi MAC award-winning Variety Show, Jamie deRoy & friends, on Monday, June 2nd (7PM) at New York's wonderfully-appointed cabaret The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street ~ btw. 5th & 6th Avenues).

Westport Country Playhouse will open its 2014 Season with Noel Coward's witty and poignant tale, 'A Song at Twilight,' directed by Playhouse artistic director Mark Lamos, tonight, April 29 - May 17, a co-production with Hartford Stage where it ran earlier this year.

Paper Mill Playhouse concludes its 75th Anniversary Season with America's favorite musical, Grease. With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease will be directed by Daniel Goldstein with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Additional songs are by John Farrar, Barry Gibb, Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis. Grease will play the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from May 28 through June 29, 2014. The official press opening night is Sunday, June 1, at 7:00pm. Paper Mill Playhouse's 75th Anniversary Season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

Tony-Nominated Director Randal Myler and multi-talented Music Director Dan Wheetman return to Lone Tree Arts Center (LTAC) to create a new vision for Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn after setting the bar high with Hank Williams: Lost Highway last spring and John Denver Holiday Concert in 2012. Returning to the roots of Mark Twain's classic American folktale, this production of Big River focuses on the talent and voices of the cast as they each become storytellers.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner for the West Coast premiere of his latest play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, an epic tale of love, family, sex, money, and politics. Kushner reunites with one of his favorite collaborators, Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone, to bring this sweeping drama to the Roda Theatre. With his trademark mix of soaring intellect and searing emotion, the legendary writer unfurls a poignant story about an Italian family in Brooklyn. When retired longshoreman Gus Marcantonio decides to die, his kids come home with a raucous parade of lovers and spouses to find that even the house keeps secrets. A portrait of a dysfunctional family filled with weighty dialogue, humor, and passion, Kushner's four-act play previews Friday, May 16, opens on Wednesday, May 21, and runs through Sunday, June 29, 2014.

49TH Parallel in association the multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE), are thrilled to present the Los Angeles premiere of a new play, BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW, written by Bekah Brunstetter (OOHRAH!) and directed by Sara Botsford. BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW will preview tonight, April 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, April 18 at 8pm and run for six weeks through Sunday, May 25, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Earlier today, stage and screen legend Angela Lansbury was just honored by the Queen, as she officially became a dame earlier today at Windsor Castle.Lansbury said: 'It is a very proud day for me to be recognized by the country of my birth, and to meet the Queen under these circumstances is a rare and lovely occasion.' Check out photos from the special event below!

A new paperback edition of Noel Coward's classic comedy BLITHE SPIRIT has been released.

49TH Parallel in association the multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE), are thrilled to present the Los Angeles premiere of a new play, BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW, written by Bekah Brunstetter (OOHRAH!) and directed by Sara Botsford. BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW will preview on Thursday, April 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, April 18 at 8pm and run for six weeks through Sunday, May 25, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Westport Country Playhouse will open its 2014 Season with Noel Coward's witty and poignant tale, 'A Song at Twilight,' directed by Playhouse artistic director Mark Lamos, April 29 - May 17, a co-production with Hartford Stage where it ran earlier this year. Celebrating its 84th season, Westport Country Playhouse was recently named Theater Company of the Year by The Wall Street Journal.

A new paperback edition of Noel Coward's classic comedy BLITHE SPIRIT is now available for pre-order.

A preliminary sneak peek at iconic Broadway and Hollywood legend Angela Lansbury in rehearsal for her much anticipated West End return in Noel Coward's classic comedy BLITHE SPIRIT is now available to view.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a first look at the Broadway company of MOTHERS AND SONS, a peek into rehearsals of THE WAY WEST with Amy Morton, coverage of opening night of BLITHE SPIRIT starring Angela Lansbury, and more!

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves) NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Jemima Rooper, Sandra Dickinson, Simon Jones and Patsy Ferran join Janie Dee, Charles Edwards and Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit, directed by Michael Blakemore. This new production of Noel Coward's sharp comedy of social mores opens at the Gielgud Theatre tonight, 18 March 2014.

A preliminary sneak peek at iconic Broadway and Hollywood legend Angela Lansbury in rehearsal for her much anticipated West End return in Noel Coward's classic comedy BLITHE SPIRIT is now available to view.