Good News - 1974 - Broadway Articles Page 14

Hennepin Theatre Trust today unveiled the lineup for the 2009/10 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season featuring six Minnesota debuts including Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, the 2008 multi-Tony Award-winning In The Heights, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein and Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage.

George Street Playhouse has announced full casting for New Year's Eve a world premiere from the pen of ARTHUR LAURENTS. George Street Playhouse Artistic Director DAVID SAINT will direct a starry cast comprised of WALTER BELENKY, KEITH CARRADINE, PETER FRECHETTE, MARLO THOMAS and NATASHA GREGSON WAGNER. New Year's Eve marks the ninth collaboration between Saint and Laurents at the New Brunswick Playhouse, and the return engagement of Ms. Thomas, who starred in Elaine May's Roger is Dead last season.

Columbia University announces the appointment of Melissa Smey as the new Director of Miller Theatre, effective immediately. Ms. Smey has been in the role of Acting Director of Miller since October 1, 2008.

George Street Playhouse has announced full casting for New Year's Eve a world premiere from the pen of ARTHUR LAURENTS. George Street Playhouse Artistic Director DAVID SAINT will direct a starry cast comprised of WALTER BELENKY, KEITH CARRADINE, PETER FRECHETTE, MARLO THOMAS and NATASHA GREGSON WAGNER. New Year's Eve marks the ninth collaboration between Saint and Laurents at the New Brunswick Playhouse, and the return engagement of Ms. Thomas, who starred in Elaine May's Roger is Dead last season.

Strawdog Theatre Company completes their 21st season with Peter Barnes' dark comedy 'Red Noses,' directed by House Theatre's Matt Hawkins. In Barnes' 1985 Olivier Award-winning play, the Black Plague has wiped out half of Europe's 14th century population, so God gives the young priest Father Flote a special mission to save his suffering people ... make 'em laugh. Flote gathers a band of desperately untalented misfits, turns them into clowns and together they search for salvation with hilarity. Hawkins, who also directed House's hit production of 'Hatfield & McCoy,' makes his Strawdog directing debut with a 23-person cast. 'Red Noses' runs about two hours and ten minutes with one intermission, and includes free admittance to Strawdog Late Night following the Friday and Saturday shows (Late Night schedule available at www.strawdog.org).

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced today that Craig Bierko (Tony Award nominee for The Music Man; Scary Movie 4) will star as 'Sky Masterson' and Kate Jennings Grant (Proof) will also star as 'Sarah Brown' in the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS.

Cory English begins as the new Igor in Mel Brooks' award-winning Young Frankenstein this Tuesday, November 25th, at Broadway's Hilton Theatre (213 W 42nd St), joining current cast members Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley, Beth Leavel, Fred Applegate, Michele Ragusa, and Kelly Sullivan. Young Frankenstein's original Igor, Christopher Fitzgerald - Tony nominated for his performance - completes his run Sunday, November, 23rd.

According to The New York Post's PAGE SIX, Mel Brooks might have changed his 'tune' when it comes to Cloris Leachman reprising her film role of Frau Blucher in his Broadway production of Young Frankenstein. Last year, Mel Brooks, creator and producer of the Broadway musical comedy, told Leachman that, at 81, she was too old for the role of Frau Blucher (the character she originated in his 1974 movie). Despite a stellar audition, Brooks was concerned that Leachman didn't have the 'stamina' for eight shows a week reports the Post.

LAUREN GRAHAM (Golden Globe Award nominee for 'Gilmore Girls') will appear as 'Miss Adelaide' opposite Oliver Platt's 'Nathan Detroit' in the new Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS.

A new production of GUYS AND DOLLS, directed by Tony-winner Des McAnuff will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. Opening Night is March 1.

Today it was announced that GUYS AND DOLLS will open on Broadway for the first time in 17 years in the spring of 2009 at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, this production is the first joint Broadway project by director Des McAnuff and Sergio Trujillo since Jersey Boys.

Angel Desai, Stephen Bogardus, Patricia Birch and others salute NYC and 'West Side Story' in a concert at a Manhattan museum.

Reached by telephone in Florida on the day after Christmas, Jerry Herman had just taken his morning swim and was enjoying the balmy weather. 'It's beautiful here. You know you take your chances with the weather this time of the year even in Miami, but it's just been beautiful.' After doing considerable reading about the composer and enjoying a lengthy conversation with him, it is quite apparent that much of this man's life has indeed been quite beautiful.

Tony Award-nominee Timothy Gray, who co-wrote the 1964 Broadway musical hit High Spirits with Hugh Martin, has died at the age of 79.

The Zipper Theatre, Ryan Hill and John Johnson are pleased to announce a one-night only, newly adapted concert version of WORKING, the 1978 musical adapted from the acclaimed non-fiction book by Studs Terkel. This one-night only premiere concert event to benefit the Actor's Fund of America will take place on Monday, February 19, 2007 at The Zipper Theatre (336 West 37th Street, between 8 th and 9th Avenues).

Beloved Baltimore/DC actor, Bryon Predika, passed away on January 6, 2007.

Barbara Cook, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth and Laura Benanti will star in the concert, Celebrate Sondheim, directed by John Doyle, in CT this September

Liza Minnelli told talk show host Larry King that while she is not likely to return to the long runs of Broadway musicals, she is developing a show and album dedicated to the work of her godmother Kay Thompson