Theatre News Roundup: 1/20-1/25

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• MTC's Broadway production of Our Mother's Brief Affair officially opened Jan. 20
• The Glory of the World, by frequent collaborators Charles Mee and Les Waters, officially opened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Jan. 21
• The Alving Estate, a new immersive theatre experience inspired by Henrik Ibsen's classic play Ghosts, officially opens in New York Jan. 21. The Alving Estate is scheduled to continue through Feb. 26. Each show admits a limit of 35 audience members per performance.
• Stephen Karam’s The Humans begins its Broadway engagement Jan. 23 at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
• The Burial at Thebes officially opened Jan. 24. The Off-Broadway engagement is scheduled to run through March 6 at the DR2 Theatre in Manhattan's Union Square.
• Death of the Liberal Class opened 1/25

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• The New York Theatre Workshop production of David Bowie and Enda Walsh's musical Lazarus played its final performance Jan. 20.
• Deaf West Theatre's Broadway production of Spring Awakening ended its limited run Jan. 24.
• Clever Little Lies ended its run Jan. 24 at 3 PM.

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• The box office at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th St.) opens Jan. 25 for the Broadway premiere of the new musical Bright Star, which will begin previews Feb. 25 prior to an official opening March 24.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Empire, a new musical about the building of the Empire State Building in New York City, will have its world premiere Jan. 23 at the La Mirada Theatre
• Plot details of the Spongebob musical

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• Our Mother's Brief Affair

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the world premiere of Sarah Burgess' comedy drama Dry Powder. The complete cast now includes Claire Danes, Hank Azaria, Sanjit De Silva, and John Krasinski.
• "Ken Watanabe will return to the role of the King of Siam in the Broadway revival of the King and I, for seven weeks starting March 1. Jose Llana, who succeeded Watanabe in the role last fall, will succeed him again for two weeks, April 19-May 1. Daniel Dae Kim will assume the role next from May 3-June 26."
• Denée Benton will make her Broadway debut as Natasha in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
• "Jenna Leigh Green and Sally Schwab have joined the cast of the forthcoming The Marvelous Wonderettes revival. They join the previously announced Christina Bianco and Kathy Brier. Performances of the 1950's-set high school comedy are set to begin March 23 at New York’s Theatre Row. The show opens April 28."
• Matthew Morrison, who starred as J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland, exited the production Jan. 24. Tony Yazbeck began performances Jan. 26.
• Kelsey Grammer will now end his run in Finding Neverland March 26.
• Spongebob musical casting
• Wicked cast changes
• Taylor Richardson has replaced Julia Garner in the New York premiere of Smokefall by Noah Haidle.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (RUMORS)

• Claire van Kampen's Farinelli and The King, which made its debut at Shakespeare's Globe, is headed to New York in November, according to London's Daily Mail

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Darren Criss replaces Jeremy Jordan in a New York Pops concert March 11 at Carnegie Hall.

A Musical (MUSICALS)

• Cats has booked the Neil Simon Theatre, with previews beginning July 14 and an official opening set for Aug. 2.

Theatre News Roundup: 1/15-1/19

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• The Glory of the World from Charles Mee and Les Waters opened Jan. 16
• Previews began Jan. 19 for John Patrick Shanley's Prodigal Son at Manhattan Theatre Club.
• Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew officially opened Jan. 19. It is scheduled to play through Feb. 14 at Atlantic Stage 2.

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder played its final performance on Broadway Jan. 17 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• "The Broadway revival of Les Misérables, which plays the Imperial Theatre, has launched a daily digital lottery for this winter for a limited number of $37 tickets. The lottery will continue through March 20. Entries can be submitted each day at LesMiz.com/lottery. For matinee performances, entries must be submitted by 11 AM and for evening performances by 3 PM. The production’s rush ticket program also will continue offering a limited number of $37 tickets beginning each day at 10 AM at the Imperial Theatre box office."
• "The School of Rock digital lottery will open daily at 12:01 AM ET for entrants to win a limited number of $37 same-day tickets to that day’s performance(s) at schoolofrocklottery.com. The lottery will remain open until 10:59 AM ET for matinees and 2:50 PM ET for evening performances."

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents free workshop performances of Helldrivers of Daytona, a rock musical about the world of NASCAR, Jan. 15-16.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• "Bette Midler has announced that she will play Dolly Gallagher Levi in a Broadway revival of the blockbuster 1964 musical, Hello, Dolly! Previews are scheduled to begin March 13, 2017 with an opening date of April 20."
• Complete casting for Tuck Everlasting 
• New York Theatre Workshop has announced full casting for next month's production of Red Speedo by Lucas Hnath.
• "Patrick J. Adams ("Suits") and Troian Bellisario ("Pretty Little Liars") have been cast in The Old Globe's world premiere of The Last Match, Anna Ziegler's new play that takes place during the U.S. Open tennis semifinals. The San Diego production is scheduled to run Feb. 13-March 13."

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (RUMORS)

• "Boston's Huntington Theatre Company's stage adaptation of "A Confederacy of Dunces," is now being "fine tuned for Broadway."
• "The Play That Goes Wrong, a comedy about an amateur university production that goes hopelessly awry is eyeing Broadway for 2017."

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Matthew Morrison has scheduled several concert dates following his departure from Finding Neverland.

A Musical (MUSICALS)

• Atlantic Theater Company has announced the world-premiere production of Marie and Rosetta by George Brant. Billed as a play with music, it tells the story of famed gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

It’s Only a Play (PLAYS)

• Theater for the New City will stage Dare to be Black: The Jack Johnson Story next month, making it the second show of the season to explore the famous boxer's story.
• "Chris Foley tells how he escaped a Wall Street career and embraced his inner performer in Off The Desk (Tales of A Mediocre Stockbroker), his new solo show starting previews Jan. 20 at the WorkShop Theater Main Stage in New York."

One Song Glory (ALBUMS)

• Johnny Gallagher — also known as Tony-winning Spring Awakening actor John Gallagher, Jr. — released his debut solo recording Jan. 15.
• "Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin," will be released on Feb. 26.
• Original cast recording for Merman's Apprentice available 

We Open in Venice, We Next Play Verona (TOURS)

• Once tour

They Mean Chicago, Illinois (CHICAGO NEWS)

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced productions of Carmen and My Fair Lady

A Foggy Day in London Town (UK NEWS)

• The world premiere of Miss Atomic Bomb, a new musical comedy starring Catherine Tate will open in March
• Casting for Nick Payne's Elegy 
• Audra McDonald will star as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, beginning performances June 25 prior to an official opening July 5 at Wyndham's Theatre, for a run through Sept. 3.

Let Me Be Your Star (TV NEWS)

• Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey have penned a new song for Fox's Grease: Live for Carly Rae Jepsen's Frenchy.
• Tim Curry will play The Criminologist who narrates the story in Fox's Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Debra Messing will play Baby's mother in ABC's Dirty Dancing
• "A host of theatre actors can be seen in the six-part series Mercy Street"
• A feature-length documentary titled "Hamilton's America," will be broadcast as part of PBS' "Great Performances" series in fall 2016.

Stop! Wait! What?! (EVERYTHING ELSE)

• A new exhibition, Curtain Up: Celebrating 40 Years of Theatre in London and New York, will be presented in both cities, transferring to New York's Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (Oct. 19, 2016-June 2017).
• "Applications are now being accepted for the sixth annual Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, which provides a secluded summer getaway for writers of new musicals."

Theatre News Roundup: 1/8-1/14

Sorry for the long hiatus! I have been quite sick. Let's get right into things.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• Mac Wellman's The Offending Gesture officially opened Off-Broadway Jan. 9
• Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life officially opened Jan. 11
• "Death of the Liberal Class has its world premiere at Off-Broadway's New Ohio Theatre Jan. 10-Feb. 13, officially opening Jan. 25."
• Noises Off officially opened Jan. 14 at the American Airlines Theatre.
• The Burial at Thebes began performances Jan. 14

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• The Off-Broadway revival of Annie Baker's The Flick ends its run Jan. 10 at the Barrow Street Theatre.

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• The daily discount lottery at Hamilton will continue to be offered outdoors on the steps of the Richard Rodgers Theatre, but Ham4Ham has moved online.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• The Prom, a new musical comedy featuring a book by Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and  Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), with music by Matthew Sklar (Elf), and lyrics by Beguelin, will receive its pre-Broadway premiere in August as part of the Alliance Theatre's upcoming season in Atlanta.
• That Lovin' Feelin', a new musical chronicling the life and music of The Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, is currently playing a West Coast premiere engagement in Los Angeles.
• Unexpected Joy, a new musical by lyricist-librettist Bill Russell and composer Janet Hood, will make its world premiere at the Wellfleet Harbor Actors
• "Mark Medoff has written a new drama, Marilee & Baby Lamb: The Assassination of an American Goddess about film icon Marilyn Monroe, which is scheduled for an invitation-only industry reading Jan. 21 and 22 at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York."
• Arlington's Signature Theatre has announced the world premiere production of Freaky Friday, Bridget Carpenter, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's new musical. Performances are set to begin Oct. 4, running through Nov. 13 in Signature's MAX Theatre.

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• Noises Off

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Nick Cordero will take over the role of Earl, the oppressive husband of lead character Jenna, in the upcoming musical Waitress.
• Roundabout Theatre Company has announced complete casting for the New York revival of Alfred Uhry and Robert Waldman’s musical comedy The Robber Bridegroom.
• Complete casting has been announced for the new musical American Psycho.
• Jenna Gavigan has joined the cast of Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola's Straight
• David Beach has assumed the role of Brother Jeremiah in Something Rotten
• "Lilli Cooper has joined the cast of The Wildness: Sky-Pony’s Rock Fairy Tale. The Wildness: Sky-Pony’s Rock Fairy Tale will begin performances Feb. 16, with an official opening night slated for Feb. 29. The Off-Broadway production is scheduled to run through March 19 at Ars Nova. Joining Cooper and the duo, the complete cast also includes David Blasher, Jeff Fernandes, Katie Lee Hill, Jamie Mohamdein, Sharone Sayegh and Kevin Wunderlich."
• Arlington's Signature Theatre has announced the cast of Road Show, its 26th Stephen Sondheim production.
• Alison Luff assumes the role of Fantine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables beginning Feb. 4 at the Imperial Theatre.

Theatre News Roundup: 1/6-1/7

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew begins previews Jan. 6 at the Atlantic Theater Company

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• Allegiance will close Feb. 14 after 37 previews and 113 regular performances.

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• Spring Awakening will offer a special Buy One/Get One Free "Teen Night" Jan. 19 at 7 PM at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Jarrod Spector has replaced the previously announced Gabriel Ebert in the Jan. 14-15 industry readings of Death — The Musical. 
• Stephen Adly Guirgis (Between Riverside and Crazy) will write a new play based on the movie "Dog Day Afternoon."

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Tony Yazbeck will take over the role of J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland beginning Tuesday, January 26
• Signature Theatre has announced casting for the revival of Martha Clarke and Alfred Uhry's Angel Reapers.
• Rita Rudner joins Charles Shaughnessy in the U.S. premiere of the play Act 3 at Laguna Playhouse in California

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Daniel Reichard Celebrates Rodgers and Hammerstein will play Feinstein's/54 Below Feb. 5
• John Riddle Keep It Simple will play Feinstein's/54 Below Jan. 21

It’s Only a Play (PLAYS)

• "Bobby Steggert is scheduled to star with Heidi Armbruster this February in the world premiere of Boy, a new Off-Broadway play by Anna Ziegler."

I Want to Go to Hollywood (MOVIE NEWS)

• Emma Stone is in negotiations to play Cruella de Vil in Disney's live-action "Cruella."

Let Me Be Your Star (TV NEWS)

• The HBO adaptation of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, starring six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald as Billie Holiday, will premiere on March 12.
• Boyz II Men will sing Beauty School Dropout in Grease Live

Stop! Wait! What?! (EVERYTHING ELSE)

• The Public's Under the Radar Festival 
• "New York City Center is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Carol Channing's New York stage debut with a podcast entitled "Carol Channing on Auditions, Communists, and Her Stage Debut."
• Jeanine Tesori has added Elizabeth Swados' 1978 musical Runaways to the 2016 Encores! Off-Center season.  
• Tony eligibility

Theatre News Roundup: 1/2-1/5

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• Dames at Sea closed with a 1/3/16 matinee. Therese Raquin ended its limited run the same way.
• The Humans ended its run at the Laura Pels 1/3/16
• 39 Steps ended its run at the Union Square Theatre
• Sylvia closed 1/3/16
• Hand to God ended its Broadway run 1/3/16
• Lord of the Dance ended its run and will head back out on tour
• Joe DiPietro's new comedy, Clever Little Lies, which officially opened Oct. 12 at the Westside Theatre Upstairs, will end its run Jan. 24.

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• Hamilton lottery going digital. Predictably there were some issues. Producers announced that they would return to a live lottery outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Jan. 6.
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is also offering a digital lottery. Tickets are $30 and limited to two per person. To enter the digital lottery, visit CuriousOnBroadway.com/Lottery.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Corbin Bleu, Emma Hunton, and Jared Gertner will head the cast of the world-premiere staging of Diana Amsterdam's new play The Dodgers, about a group of musicians and friends facing the Vietnam draft lottery.
• Free reading of Stephen Kaplan's The Community

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Kyle Selig has been cast as Elder Price in the Book of Mormon. His run will be 1/5-2/21.
• Kecia Lewis will replace Tonya Pinkins in CSC's Mother Courage and Her Children
• Victoria Justice (Janet) and Ryan McCarten (Brad) have been cast in Fox's Rocky Horror Picture Show. Reeve Carney (Riff Raff) and Staz Nair also cast.
• Complete casting for Disaster!
• Full cast for Cirque du Soleil's Paramour
• Casting for Familiar by Danai Gurira
• Casting for LCT3's production of Greg Pierce's Her Requiem

Brush Up Your Shakespeare (SHAKESPEARE)

• First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare will tour. (June 7-July 17: New York Historical Society, New York, NY)
• Emma Rice has announced her first season as artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Tommy Tune at Cafe Carlyle 
• Valentine’s Day with Megan Hilty and the NJSO
• I Do! I Do! in concert at 54 Below Feb 14

Theatre News Roundup: 12/25-1/1

Hello my dears,

I took a break for the holidays. I saw Tappin' Thru Life with Maurice Hines and his amazing all-female band. If you've been thinking about seeing it, do. It's a fun night out.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• The Changeling began performances 12/26. It is scheduled to open 1/10 and run through Jan. 24, 2016.
• Previews began Dec. 28 for Our Mother's Brief Affair

Closed for Renovations (CANCELLATIONS)

• "Tonya Pinkins, who is currently starring in the title role of the Classic Stage Company production of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children will depart the production Jan. 5, 2016. Her statement."
• Hughie first preview pushed back 3 days

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• "Broadway Week returns Jan. 19-Feb. 5, 2016. The semi-annual promotion offers theatregoers the chance to purchase two-for-one tickets to a range of Broadway shows."
• New York will get its first peek at Sarah Jones' new solo show, Sell/Buy/Date, in a reading Jan, 6-16 at New York Live Arts. Tickets start at $25."

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• An industry reading of Death — The Musical will be presented Jan. 14-15, 2016, in Manhattan. The new musical features book, lyrics and music by Paul Gordon. The cast will be headed by Gabriel Ebert with Megan McGinnis, Sarah Litzsinger, Beth Leavel, Kate Reinders and Leigh Ann Larkin.
• Burning Desire, a new play written by and starring Lou Diamond Phillips, will make its world premiere in February 2016 at Connecticut's Seven Angels Theatre.

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• Gotta Dance

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Brandy will star in the April 26-May 1, 2016, engagement of Chicago's national tour at the Pantages Theatre

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (RUMORS)

• Smokey Joe's Café, featuring the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, will return to New York City, according to an Equity casting notice.

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Feinstein's/54 Below's "54 Sings" concert series will continue Jan. 7, 2016, with a concert version of Kiss Me, Kate. The performances will feature the talents of Robert Cuccioli, Lesli Margherita, Danny Gardner, and Carole J. Bufford.

Theatre News Roundup: 12/20-12/24

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• Danny Burstein stars in the 50th anniversary staging of Fiddler on the Roof, which officially opened Dec. 20
• "American Dance Machine for The 21st Century (ADM21) kicks off its engagement at New York's Joyce Theater Dec. 21, with performances set to run through Jan. 3, 2016."
• Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life begins previews Off-Broadway Dec. 23.

TKTS (TICKETS/RUSH/ETC)

• New York Theatre Workshop has announced that beginning Dec. 28, theatregoers will be able to enter a mobile lottery for the chance to win $25 tickets to see David Bowie and Enda Walsh's musical Lazarus.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• "New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre has announced that it will now conclude its 2015-16 season with the Kathleen Marshall-helmed My Paris."
• "Lynn Cohen will head the cast of a Jan. 10, 2016, Barrow Group Theatre Company staged reading of Christine Toy Johnson's The Secret Wisdom of Trees."

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• Fiddler on the Roof

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Daisy Eagan, Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo, Cheyenne Jackson, Ben Platt, and others join MCP's The Secret Garden with Sydney Lucas.
• Off-Broadway revival of the musical, The Marvelous Wonderettes in spring 2016. Leading the cast of the 1950's-set high school comedy will be Christina Bianco and Kathy Brier. Performances will begin March 23, 2016 at The Kirk Theatre at Theatre Row, with an official opening night set for April 28.
• Primary Stages has announced casting for the New York premiere of Dan O'Brien's The Body of an American. The show will feature Michael Crane and Michael Cumpsty in the true story of a friendship between a war photojournalist and a playwright.
• "Adam Monley assumes the role of Javert in the Broadway production of Les Miserables beginning Dec. 22 at the Imperial Theatre. He will play the part through Jan. 28, 2016. New Zealand native Hayden Tee begins his run as Javert Jan. 29."
• "The Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris has announced more casting for the March 2016 French premiere of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion. Fosca will be played by French opera singer Natalie Dessay. She will be joined by Ryan Silverman as Giorgio and Erica Spyres as Clara."

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• "Stillwater (the new musical co-written by Tuck Everlasting lyricist Nathan Tysen) will hit Joe's Pub Jan. 4, 2016. In Stillwater, according to press notes, "rock, pop, and alt-country tunes tell the story of two love triangles catastrophically intersecting in a modern-day drug-fueled trailer park in Stillwater, Oklahoma."
• "Following the conclusion of his year-long residency at SubCulture, Jason Robert Brown will return to the Greenwich Village club Jan. 25 with Tituss Burgess."
• "The 2016 American Songbook series launches Jan. 19 at 7:30 PM with a free concert by composer/lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver." Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This concert will be livestreamed. Cameras will be present.

It’s Only a Play (PLAYS)

• "Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company will present Tennessee Williams 1982, an evening of two lesser-known, one-act plays by Tennessee Williams. Performances will begin Feb. 14, 2016, with an official opening night scheduled for Feb. 21. The engagement runs through March 13 at Walkerspace. The production includes the world premiere of A Recluse and His Guest and the New York premiere of The Remarkable Rooming-House of Mme. Le Monde."
• "New York's Fault Line Theatre will stage The Wedge Horse by 2015 Page 73 Playwriting Fellow Nick Gandiello and directed by Aaron Rossini. The new drama is set to begin previews Jan. 29, 2016."

A Foggy Day in London Town (UK NEWS)

• Lead casting has been announced for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I Want to Go to Hollywood (MOVIE NEWS)

• "Cheyenne Jackson will co-star with Audra McDonald in the film adaptation of Michael John LaChiusa's 1994 musical Hello Again."

Let Me Be Your Star (TV NEWS)

• "CBS' "Sunday Morning" news magazine show went behind the scenes of the forthcoming new Broadway musical, Shuffle Along, Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed"
• "Signature Theatre's Off-Broadway revival of Incident at Vichy, by Arthur Miller, will be featured in the second season of "Theater Close-Up" on Thirteen. The haunting production was filmed Dec. 16 and will be broadcast in spring 2016."
• Taped recordings of the American Songbook series at New Jersey's Performing Arts Center will be broadcast on NJTV beginning Jan. 6, 2016.