GRACE NOTES - Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

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Today’s highlights:

* Million Dollar Quartet opens at London's Noel Coward Theatre.

* Priscilla Queen of the Desert begins previews on Broadway at the Palace Theatre.

* Starry musical event, celebrating Carol Channing's 90th birthday, at 7:30 PM in the lobby of the Pantages Theatre. (323) 933-9266, ext. 34

* Treasure Island industry-only reading. Info: info@treasureislandthemusical.com

* Starry Kerrigan-Lowdermilk concert (at 7:30 PM) and NewMusicalTheatre.com concert (at 8:30 PM) at NYC's Canal Room.

* Celebrity Autobiography, with Mario Cantone, Rachel Dratch and Rosie Perez, at 7:30 and 9:30 PM at The Triad.

* Things to Ruin: The Songs of Joe Iconis, at 7:30 PM Le Poisson Rouge.

* Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick host tribute to Susan Stroman at Vineyard Gala at 6 PM at Hudson Theatre

* Harmony, NY Gay Men's Chorus' concert (with guest Ann Harada) at 6:30 PM at Christie's.

* Starry A Benefit Evening Honoring Michael Kuchwara at 7 PM at Birdland. Tickets: kuchwaraevent@gmail.com.

* Where Bison Run reading, starring Logan Marshall-Green, at Ars Nova. Reservations: rsvp@arsnovanyc.com

* Are You Working on Something News?, BC/EFA benefit at 7 PM at Don’t Tell Mama.

* Theatre for the New City’s Love ‘N Courage benefit concert, honoring Marian Seldes, at 6:30 PM at the National Arts Club.

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2011 Academy Award winners:

Picture: The King's Speech”
Director: Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech”
Lead Actor: Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
Lead Actress: Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
Supporting Actor: Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): “The Social Network,” Aaron Sorkin
Writing (Original Screenplay): “The King's Speech,” David Seidler
Cinematography: “Inception” Wally Pfister
Art Direction: “Alice in Wonderland,” Robert Stromberg, Karen O'Hara
Costume Design: Alice in Wonderland”, Colleen Atwood
Animated Feature: “Toy Story 3”
Documentary (Feature): “Inside Job,“ Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
Documentary (Short Subject): “Strangers No More,” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
Short Film (Animated): “The Lost Thing,” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Short Film (Live Action): “God of Love,” Luke Matheny
Foreign Language Film: “In a Better World,” Denmark
Film Editing: “The Social Network,” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
Music (Original Score): “The Social Network,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Music (Original Song): “We Belong Together,” (“Toy Story 3”), Music/Lyrics by Randy Newman
Makeup: “The Wolfman,” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
Sound Editing: “Inception,” Richard King
Sound Mixing: “Inception,” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
Visual Effects: “Inception,” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Peter Bebb

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Lanford Wilson’s Burn This, directed by Nicholas Martin, begins previews at the Mark Taper Forum on March 23, opens April 3 and continues to May 1.

The cast includes Brooks Ashmanskas, Ken Barnett, Zabryna Guevara and Adam Rothenberg.

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The complete cast has been announced for Ayub Khan-Din's Olivier Award-winning comedy, Rafta, Rafta..., based on All in Good Time by Bill Naughton. Directed by Jonathan Silverstein, Rafta, Rafta... will run in The Old Globe Theatre March 19 - April 24, with an opening night on March 24.

The cast features Shalin Agarwal (Etash Tailor), Ranjit Chowdhry (Eeshwar Dutt), Geeta Citygirl Chopra (Lopa Dutt), Amir Darvish (Jivaj Bhatt), Nasser Faris (Laxman Patel), Ariya Ghahramani (Jai Dutt), Mahira Kakkar (Vina Patel), Caralyn Kozlowski (Molly Bhatt), Gita Reddy (Lata Patel) and Rachid Sabitri (Atul Dutt).

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Westchester Broadway Theatre presents Singin’ in the Rain March 24-June 12. Directed by Richard Stafford, the musical stars Jeremy Benton and Shannon O'Bryan. Additional casting TBA.

The season continues with Seussical the Musical (June 16-July 31), Altar Boyz (Aug. 4-Sept. 18) and My Fair Lady (Sept. 22-Nov. 27 and Dec. 28-Jan. 9).

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The 2011 Directors Lab West will take place June 11-18 in residence at The Pasadena Playhouse. Attendance is by application only. There is no charge to participate; applications must be received by Friday, April 15 at 5 PM. For an application and more information, click here.

Directors Lab West, which launched in 2000, seeks theatre directors to participate in a week-long series of workshops, panels, roundtables, and symposia, with some of the nation’s leading theatre artists. Directors Lab West, like its New York inspiration at Lincoln Center Theater, creates an intensive laboratory environment where theatre directors come together to inspire, educate, and challenge themselves and each other.

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Video: Mary Testa, Annie Golden and Ann Harada sing from Joe Iconis’ Things to Ruin: http://bit.ly/h3AhlU

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Jeffrey Tambor has withdrawn from the role of Georges in La Cage aux Folles following the Feb. 24 performance at the Longacre Theatre.

Chris Hoch, who regularly plays the role of Francis and understudies the role of Georges, will play Georges opposite Tony winner Harvey Fierstein at the Feb. 25 performance. Casting for the role of Georges will be announced soon.

"Jeffrey Tambor was experiencing complications from recent hip surgery and the pain and the challenge of performing in a musical eight times a week proved to be too physically demanding," the producers of the musical said in a statement. "We respect his talent enormously and regretfully accept his withdrawal from the production."

The New York Post painted a slightly different picture in the Feb. 25 edition of the New York daily, saying the Emmy-nominated actor was vocally uncomfortable in his musical debut and has been "by turns anguished and angry."

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Birdbrain, by Tony Pasqualini, will play March 3-20 at Pacific Resident Theatre (707 Venice Blvd. in Venice). The cast features Jason Huber, Elyse Dinh, Sarah Brooke, Ed Levey, Tom Beyer, Tracie Lockwood and Sebastian Schier. All performances are pay-what-you-can. 323-460-2508.

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Robert Morse, Donna McKechnie and Merle Debuskey — the respective star, chorus gypsy and press agent of 1961's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — reminisce about the hit: http://bit.ly/gPDXSe

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RIP. Haila Stoddard, an unusual Broadway artist who transitioned from actress to producer during a lengthy theatre career, died at her home in Weston, CT. She was 97. As an actress, Ms. Stoddard performed in a wide variety of Broadway plays in the 1930s and 1940s, including I Know What I Like, Kindred, Suzanna and the Elders, The Moon Vine and Springtime for Henry.

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The 92nd Street Y's popular Lyrics and Lyricists series will celebrate the 75th anniversary of America's entry into World War II with Stage Door Canteen: Broadway Responds to WWII.

The March 12-14 concerts will feature vocalists Anderson Davis, Jeffry Denman, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tony winner Debra Monk and Betsy Wolfe. The concert will be written and hosted by Ted Chapin, in his debut as a Lyrics & Lyricists artistic director. Andy Einhorn will serve as music director with Caitlin Carter as stage director.

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Video: Teaser for the new Off-Broadway production of Rent: http://bit.ly/gPDXSe

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Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are stepping out with Susan Stroman on a new dance musical for Lincoln Center Theater.

Ahrens and Flaherty, who are Tony winners for their score to Ragtime, will return to Lincoln Center Theater for a month-long workshop of the yet-to-be-titled original musical this June. It will have lyrics by Ahrens and music by Flaherty. Cider House Rules playwright Peter Parnell is writing the book.

Inspired by true events, the work focuses on the relationship between a young ballerina and 19th century French painter and sculptor Edgar Degas. Stroman will direct and choreograph the work, which is set in the harsh and colorful backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet. LCT presented a reading of the piece last year.

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Obie Award winner Lisa Banes, Obie nominee Tim Hopper and Tony Award nominee Stephen Bogardus are among the players who will join David Greenspan in the world premiere of his comedy Go Back to Where You Are at Playwrights Horizons' intimate Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

Leigh Silverman (Well) will direct the production, to play March 24-May 1 (opening night is April 12). The cast also includes Brian Hutchison, Michael Izquierdo and Obie winner Mary Shultz.

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An evening of new songs, entitled Are You Working on Something New?, will be presented Feb. 28 at Don't Tell Mama. Proceeds from the 7 PM concert, which is presented by TNT Music, will benefit BC/EFA. Performers will include Robin Baxter, Haley Carlucci, Sarah Corey, Josh Franklin and John A. Saunders. Fred Tessler directs with musical direction by Mark T. Evans.

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Casting has been announced for the Philadelphia engagement of the Mary Poppins national tour, which will begin performances March 23 at the Academy of Music with an official opening March 25. Performances will continue through April 17.

Steffanie Leigh, who previously understudied the title role in the touring production, will star as Mary Poppins with original Broadway company member Nicolas Dromard as Bert. The cast will also feature Michael Dean Morgan as George Banks, Blythe Wilson as Winifred Banks, Rachel Izen as Mrs. Brill, Dennis Moench as Robertson Ay, Q. Smith as Miss Andrew, Janet MacEwen as The Bird Woman and Michael McCarty as Admiral Boom.

Rounding out the company are Jacob ben Widmar, Kiara Bennett, Troy Edward Bowles, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Arielle Campbell, Debra Cardona, Eric Coles, Carol Angeli Dillard, Case Dillard, Elizabeth Earley, Geoffrey Goldberg, Mark Harapiak, Eric Hatch, Garett Hawe, Tiffany Howard, Lisa Kassay, Sam Kiernan, Koh Mochizuki, Shua Potter, Chuck Rea, Nick Sanchez, Jesse Swimm, Jen Taylor, Rachel Wallace and Michelle E. White.

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Video: Rob Ashford and Daniel Radcliff talk about How to Succeed…

Part 2: http://bit.ly/gGqcOk
Part 3: http://bit.ly/e3cvTx

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David Strathairn, Ken Ruta, Giles Havergal, and Marco Barricelli, along with members of the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) core conservatory, will perform selections from Harold Pinter's plays as part of Pursuing Pinter, to be offered on March 20, following the 2 PM matinee of the theater's production of Pinter's The Homecoming.

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Gary Cole and Edi Gathegi lead the cast of the West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts' play Superior Donuts, to run May 31-July 10 at the Geffen Playhouse. The production, to be directed by Randall Arney, will open officially on June 8. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

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The Acting Company will salute Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize winner Terrence McNally at a beneift on Monday, March 28 at the Longacre Theatre. Tony wunner John Doyle will direct the performance, which will feature musical direction by Mary Mitchell Campbell. Tickets and information: 212-258-3111

Scheduled perfomers include Stephen Bogardus, Tyne Daly, Jason Danieley, Joyce DiDonato, Raul Esparza, Edie Falco, John Glover, Angela Lansbury, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Bobby Steggert, Alexandra Silber, Emily Skinner, and Barbara Walsh.

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Video: Sneak peek at That Championship Season: http://bit.ly/fDfeuj

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In celebration of Cabaret Month, internationally acclaimed Barbra Streisand impressionist Steven Brinberg brings the latest Simply Barbra show to the West Coast:

In Hollywood, the show plays March 3-4 at Mbar (1253 Vine Street ) at 8 PM. Order tickets here.

In San Diego, the show plays March 12 (8 PM) and 13 (2 PM) at The Celebration Center (5820 Oberlin Drive). Order tickets here.

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Jim Caruso’s Cast Party returns to Hollywood’s Magic Castle March 9-10 (doors open at 6 PM, show starts at 8 PM). Tickets and information: 323-851-3313 x303 or boxoffice@magiccastle.com.

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Video: Broadway Beat features Book of Mormon, Cactus Flower and Broadway Backwards 6: http://bit.ly/g4tnRw

Video: The Feb. 14 episode of Broadway Beat features The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Ghetto Klown, cast interviews with La Cage (before Jeffrey Tambor’s departure) and Phantom’s 23rd anniversary : http://bit.ly/bu8GeN

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Tony Award winner Frank Wood, Tony nominees Terry Beaver and Michael McGrath, plus Patricia Hodges, will join the previously announced Jim Belushi, Nina Arianda and Tony winner Robert Sean Leonard in the new Broadway production of Born Yesterday, which begins previews on March 31.

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