GRACE NOTES - Wednesday, March 9, 2011

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Today’s highlights:

* Agnes Under the Big Top opens at Long Wharf.

* Peter and the Starcatcher opens at NY Theatre Workshop.

* The Homecoming opens at San Francisco's A.C.T.

* Wicked begins performances at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

* Beauty and the Beast begins performances at the Pantages.

* In The Next Room or the vibrator play begins performances at Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

* Jim Caruso's Cast Party returns to Hollywood's Magic Castle (through March 10). 323-851-3313 x303

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Producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark are planning to temporarily shut down the troubled musical for a major overhaul (for 2-3 weeks), but the show will go on without star director Julie Taymor, the Daily News has learned. Taymor, 58, has walked away from the show she co-wrote and worked relentlessly to bring to Broadway, a source close to the production said Tuesday night. Her departure also left Broadway insiders speculating whether lead actor Reeve Carney will stay with the show.

Plans being worked out Tuesday also call for the show's official opening night at the Foxwoods Theatre to be postponed for three months, according to the sources.

The NY Post's Michael Riedel reports that Christopher Ashley is likely to take over as director.

Read the complete Daily News article here.

Read the complete NY Post article here.

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National Theatre Live will continue with Academy Award winner Danny Boyle’s acclaimed production of Frankenstein, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. Broadcasts in the New York City area will be held at the Brooklyn Academy of Musica (BAM), NYU’s Skirball Center, City Cinema 123, Kew Gardens Cinema, Fairfield University (CT), the Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC) and more.

The broadcast will also be shown on screens across the United States, including the Music Box Theater in Chicago, Downtown Independent in Los Angeles, Amherst Cinema in Massachusetts, the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights, OH, and more.

Frankenstein, a new play by Nick Dear based on Mary Shelley’s novel, will be filmed twice to allow cinemagoers the chance to see Cumberbatch and Miller alternate in the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.

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RIP. Dialect coach and speech therapist Sam Chwat has died of lymphoma, according to a report in The New York Times. He was 57 years old.

His Broadway credits include the 1990 revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which starred Kathleen Turner as Maggie, Herb Gardner's Conversations with My Father, the one-woman show Rose, which starred Olympia Dukakis, and the 2005 revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, which featured Alan Alda, Liev Schreiber, and Frederick Weller, among others.

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According to the NY Daily News, 135 New York City arts teachers have recently lost their jobs. This statistic, pulled from the Education Department, pales in comparison to the projected 356 who will likely be jobless after next year's scheduled layoffs. In 2009, the city boasted 2,597 arts teachers, which was reduced to 2,462 last year. By next year, there will be 20% less arts educators than there were 3 years ago. Read the complete article here.

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Rob Ashford on How to Succeed: http://bit.ly/enn0g9

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The 2011-2012 season at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre will include Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, the world-premiere comedy Broke and Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh in Golda's Balcony, both playing in the fall.

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The Ugly Duckling, book by Lloyd J. Schwartz, music and lyrics by Adryan Russ, has opened at Theatre West's Storybook Theatre, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles, CA, and plays every Saturday at 1 PM. An interactive theater experience for children ages 4 to 9, many are invited onstage to play with the actors. Birthday parties and special field trips for schools are available.

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Fun article! Broadway audition horror stories: http://bit.ly/ebqVdb

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Town Hall, which was built in 1921 to serve as a political forum and has since become a showcase for performers, including plenty of Broadway talent, is celebrating its 90th anniversary with an essay contest.

Fans of the hall who remember it from the years 1930-1965 are invited to submit a 500-word essay to “Memory Essay Contest.” For more information, click here.

The winner will receive $1,000, with the runner-up getting a pair of tickets to the hall’s 90th anniversary celebration May 2.

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Tony Sheldon, who has originated the role of Bernadette in Priscilla, chats about the show: http://bit.ly/g78Qxs

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The American Theatre Wing has announced the recipients of the 2011 Jonathan Larson Grants:

* Danny Larsen (Composer/Co-Lyricist) & Michelle Elliott (Bookwriter/Co-Lyricist), Cloaked

* Marisa Michelson (Composer) & Joshua H. Cohen (Bookwriter/Lyricist), Tamar and the River

* Andy Monroe (Composer), Jack Lechner (Lyricist) & Michael Zam (Bookwriter), The Kid.

The prestigious grants, totaling $10,000, will be presented on Tuesday, March 29 at a private event in New York City. The event will feature special performances of the recipients’ work.

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The Westchester Broadway Theatre presents Ricky Nelson Remembered, starring Gunnar and Matthew Nelson. It's like a rock show meets the Biography channel - this multimedia show is a pure delight Tuesday, March 29 -- 6:15 PM dinner & 8 PM show. (914)-592-2222

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Video: Sneak peek at Baby, It’s You: http://bit.ly/h7fvdn

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South Coast Rep’s 14th Annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) will take you through time and across the map, from tornado-tossed Kansas to not-quite-past, not-quite-future London, from a ramshackle trailer in the Colorado desert to the visiting area of a Massachusetts prison.

The festival, which takes place April 29 – May 1, will feature fully-produced world premieres by Itamar Moses and Lauren Gunderson and staged readings of brand-new works by Sharr White, Catherine Trieschmann, Octavio Solis and Adam Gwon, Meg Miroshnik and Steven Drukman. For more information and a complete schedule, click here.

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First, the final stop on Kerrigan-Lowdermilk’s You Made This Tour is Sunday, March 27 at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleeker Street). Doors open at 9:45 PM and tickets are only $25. There will be friends from past shows and new stars in the mix, so make sure you get your tickets soon to the biggest K-L concert yet.

If you buy your concert tickets before midnight on March 9, they will send you an exclusive, unreleased board recording of "Holding On" featuring Dee Roscioli (Wicked). Just email your receipt to crew@kerrigan-lowdermilk.com and “wait for the magic to happen.”

Also, they just launched an amazing new K-L contest. Check their Facebook page here to get all of the details. They’re absolutely sure that you’re going to love this one...

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The Kennedy Center has announced its 2011- 2012 theatre season:

* Uncle Vanya, starring Cate Blanchett, adapted by Andrew Upton and directed by Tamás Ascher, Aug. 4-27.
* Les Misérables – The New 25th Anniversary Production, Sept. 27-Oct. 30.
* Norman, Oct. 6-8.
* Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Aaron Lazar, Oct. 8.
* Dollhouse (Mabou Mines production), Oct. 20-22
* Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Euan Morton, Oct. 28
* Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Alexandra Silber, Dec. 2
* Billy Elliot, Dec. 14-Jan. 15, 2012
* La Cage aux Folles, Jan. 17-Feb. 12, 2012
* ANN: An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards, starring Holland Taylor, Dec. 17-Jan. 15, 2012
* Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Emily Skinner, April 13
* Pal Joey, updated book by Terrence McNally, directed by Christopher Ashley, June 2-July 1, 2012
* Memphis, June 12-July1, 2012
* Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Barbara Cook, June 15-16, 2012
* The Sondheim Celebration 10th Anniversary Concert, directed by Eric Schaeffer, June 25, 2012
* The Addams Family, July 10-29, 2012

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"Scrubs" actor Zach Braff, who appeared Off-Broadway last season in the world premiere of Paul Weitz's Trust, will have his own play produced by Second Stage Theatre this coming August, according to Showbiz411. Representatives for Second Stage could not confirm plans for the production, and no title or subject was revealed in the initial report.

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Tony-winning Addams Family star Bebe Neuwirth and her mother, artist Sydney Neuwirth, will co-host "The Mother/Daughter Art Show," a one-night-only benefit sale of photographic prints by Bebe Neuwirth and paintings focused on ballet dancers by her mother. Admissions is free, but space is limited. RSVP: tickets@actorsfund.org.

The April 4 event will be held at the Rouge Space Gallery, located in Manhattan at 526 West 26th Street, #9E, from 6-8 PM. Net proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit The Dancers' Resource, founded in 2007 by Bebe Neuwirth as an outreach program of The Actors Fund. It functions as a support system that addresses the unique needs of dancers.

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Florida’s Asolo Rep has announced its 2011-12 season:

* My Fair Lady, Nov. 18-23
* Once in a Lifetime, Jan. 6-April 1, 2012
* God of Carnage, Jan. 13-Feb. 29, 2012
* Yentl, Jan. 20-April 26, 2012
* Fallen Angels, March 9-May 13, 2012
* Hamlet, Prince of Cuba, March 23-May 6, 2012
* Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? (world premiere), March 30-April 2, 2012
* Tommy Tune Presents: State of the Art Song and Dance, starring Noah Racey, directed by Tommy Tune, May 25-June 17, 2012

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Video: Matthew Morrison’s "Summer Rain" rehearsal: http://bit.ly/eMffkK

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Stephen Bogardus, Chad Kimball, LaChanze, Kelli O'Hara, and Mary Testa will perform at Playwrights Horizons' annual spring gala benefit, to be held on Monday, May 2, beginning at 6 PM. Entitled "A Play in Forty Acts", the evening will honor Board Chair Judith O. Rubin for her 25 years at Playwrights Horizons. Playwrights Horizons is currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season. 212-564-1235 ext. 3143

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Casting has been announced for A Very Shamrocky -- Rocky Horror in Concert, to be held at LA’s Show At Barre, at midnight on Saturday, March 12. Music direction will be by Christopher Bratten. Join Brad, Janet, Frank n' Furter and the rest of the gang in a 360 degree horrifying St. Patty's adventure at the Frankenstein place!

The cast will feature Ty Taylor(Frank N Furter), Lesli Margherita (Magenta), Jason Paige (Riff Raff), Angela Pupello (Columbia), Brooke Tansley (Janet), Steve Mazurek (Brad), Mike Motroni (Rocky), and Christopher Youngsman (Narrator). The ensemble will include Ben Caron, Ben Goldberg, Caitlin O'Brient, Lauren Santos, Stephanie Hayslip, and Chelsea Butts.

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RIP. Jean Bartel, who followed her reign as Miss America in 1943 by appearing on Broadway, died on Sunday, March 6, according to published reports. She was 87 years old. Bartel played Clementina in the 1946 revival of the operetta The Desert Song, and she appeared in the ensemble of the 1952 revival of Of Thee I Sing, along with understudying the role of Diana Deveraux.

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Although Jeffrey Tambor won't be performing on Broadway this season after withdrawing from La Cage last month, he won't be out of show business for long, either. The actor will co-star in NBC's pilot "Bent."

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International City Theatre in Long Beach presents Southern Comforts, starring Michael Learned and Granville Van Dusen, March 15-April 10 (opening is set for March 18). Directed by Jules Aaron.

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"The Rockette Summer Intensive," a new three-part series about young dancers aspiring to train with New York City's most iconic dancers, will debut March 15 on MSG Varsity network. The training program is frequently a foot in the door for dancers to ultimately become Radio City Rockettes. Since its creation, 47 young women have landed a place in the kickline.

"The Rockette Summer Intensive" will offer behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, as well as a look into the world of the Rockettes. To view a preview, click here.

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Interesting article about Arena Stage’s two-month exploration of Edward Albee: http://bit.ly/gS9JYj

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Berkeley Rep's 2011-12 season:

* Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, Sept. 2-Oct. 30
* How to Write a New Book for the Bible, Oct. 7-Nov. 20
* TBA, Dec. 3-Jan. 1, 2012
* Ghost Light, Jan. 6-Feb. 19, 2012
* A Doctor in Spite of Himself , Feb. 10-March, 25, 2012
* Red, March 16-April 29, 2012
* TBA, May 26-June 24, 2012

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"An Evening With Sutton Foster – Live at the Café Carlyle," which was recorded live at the famed nightspot June 26, 2010, will be released on the Ghostlight Records label March 15. To listen to audio sample and pre-order the CD, click here.

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Songwriting duo Sam Carner and Derek Gregor, who penned the award-winning NYMF hit "Unlock’d," will showcase their songs March 15 at 8 PM at the East Village venue DROM. The concert, which is entitled Carner & Gregor’s Barely Legal Showtune Extravaganza, will be hosted by Hair’s Andrew Kober and Avenue Q’s Sarah Stiles.

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Roundabout's production of Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, a rarely seen title about a wealthy, aging Southern eccentric barking her memoirs to a secretary as a harbinger of death climbs up the hill, has been extended one week Off-Broadway, now to April 10.

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