Broadway Bound Photos - Broadway

A native New Yorker, Neil Simon is recognized as Broadway's King of Comedy. Following his very successful 1961 production of COME BLOW YOUR HORN, Simon's name on a script basically meant instant box office sell-outs during the era from 1960-1980, the Great White Way's era of comic plays.

The quick-witted American actor and icon, Groucho Marx was a frequent visitor to New Hope and Bucks County. Now nearly 41 years after his death, Groucho makes a hilarious return to Bucks - this time in the form of award-winning actor Frank Ferrante in the global comedy hit, "An Evening with Groucho." The show is presented February 14 - 25 at Bucks County Playhouse as part of the 2018 Visiting Artists Series.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

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 openings of IT'S ONLY A PLAY, CURIOUS INCIDENT, and CAN-CAN, Michael C. Hall's meet the press event for HEDWIG, Len Cariou's birthday celebration at 54 Below, and more!

From December 1986 to September 1988, Jason Alexander, the actor best known for his role as George Costanza for nine seasons on the television series Seinfeld, played older brother Stanley in the original Gene Saks production of BROADWAY BOUND on Broadway. It's a play that he loves dearly, calling it Neil Simon's strongest dramedy, and he has directed the marvelous production on the intimate Odyssey stage through September 21, effectively seating the audience in the living room of the Jerome home.

Audience members at the Sunday matinee of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's production of Broadway Bound were in for a treat -- playwright Neil Simon was seated in the front row. Check out photos from his appearance bleow!

Heartwarming, poignant -- and hilarious. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical dramatic comedy, Broadway Bound, directed by Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), who created the role of 'Stanley' in the original Broadway production. The 8-week run at the Odyssey Theatre is set to open tomorrow night, August 2. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Alexander working with the cast, plus production photos, below!

Drury Lane Theatre presents Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning dramatic comedy BROADWAY BOUND, opening June 16 and running through July 31 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane. BROADWAY BOUND stars Jeff Award and Drama Desk Award winner Mike Nussbaum as 'Ben' (Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, The Merchant of Venice at Chicago Shakespeare); Jeff Award and Sarah Siddons Award winner Carmen Roman (National Tour of Angels in America) as 'Kate,' reprising the role she played in the 2004 Peninsula Players production of BROADWAY BOUND; and multi-Jeff Award recipient and Sarah Siddons Award winner Paula Scrofano as 'Blanche' (Thoroughly Modern Millie at Drury Lane Theatre, The Most Happy Fella at Ravinia Festival, The Wizard of Oz at Chicago Shakespeare, and Sunday in the Park with George at Goodman Theatre). The production is directed by David New, multi-Jeff Award nominee, Sarah Siddons Award winner and former Associate Artistic Director at Steppenwolf Theatre.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning dramatic comedy BROADWAY BOUND, opening June 16 and running through July 31 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane. BROADWAY BOUND stars Jeff Award and Drama Desk Award winner Mike Nussbaum as 'Ben' (Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, The Merchant of Venice at Chicago Shakespeare); Jeff Award and Sarah Siddons Award winner Carmen Roman (National Tour of Angels in America) as 'Kate,' reprising the role she played in the 2004 Peninsula Players production of BROADWAY BOUND; and multi-Jeff Award recipient and Sarah Siddons Award winner Paula Scrofano as 'Blanche' (Thoroughly Modern Millie at Drury Lane Theatre, The Most Happy Fella at Ravinia Festival, The Wizard of Oz at Chicago Shakespeare, and Sunday in the Park with George at Goodman Theatre). The production is directed by David New, multi-Jeff Award nominee, Sarah Siddons Award winner and former Associate Artistic Director at Steppenwolf Theatre.

The first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND, two of Simon's beloved semi-autobiographical 'Eugene Jerome' plays will be directed by David Cromer (Our Town) and will play the beautifully restored Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Rehearsals began in New York on Monday, August 24th and the cast and creative team took a moment to meet and greet the press. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there to mingle with the talented theatrical team!

Tickets go on sale on Friday, August 7 for THE Neil Simon PLAYS, new productions of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND. Specially priced preview tickets for $50-$35 (not including Saturday evening performances) will be available for both plays if ordered by September 6. Regular priced tickets are $100-$65. Tickets will be available at www.Ticketmaster.com.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) officially opened their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story on Monday, February 2nd and BWW was there to celebrate opening night!

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms?marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac). The centerpiece production of Goodman Theatre's two-month 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century,' Desire Under the Elms appears January 17 ? February 22 in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 82.