GRACE NOTES

GRACE NOTES - Friday, March 11, 2011

2011-03-11T05:55:00.000-08:00

As of Monday, March 14, 2011, GRACE NOTES will move to its new home at GraceNotesStage.com. If you are not automatically directed to the new site in a few seconds, please come find us. Thanks!

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This weekend’s highlights:

Friday, March 11

* Kathy Griffin wants a Tony opens on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre.

* Crimes of the Heart opens at the McCarter Theatre.

* The Next Fairy Tale opens at Hollywood's Celebration Theatre.

* Catch Me If You Can begins previews at the Neil Simon Theatre.

* Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo begins previews at the Richard Rogers Theatre.

* MCC Theatre’s The Other Place, starring Laurie Metcalf, begins previews at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

* The Great Judy Garland, featuring Ashley Brown, Heather Headley, Karen Olivo and Lorna Luft, at 8 PM at Carnegie Hall.

* The Mikado, starring Christiane Noll, plays March 11-13 at Eugene Opera.

* Starry concert presentation of the musicals The Water Dream and Clear at 8 PM at Brooklyn’s Bushwick Starr. (see article below)

Saturday, March 12

* Having It All opens at North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts Center.

* Streep Tease re-opens at LA’s Bang Comedy Theatre.

* Double Falsehood opens at Classic Stage.

* Groundswell begins previews at The Old Globe.

* Eccentricities of a Nightingale begins previews at A Noise Within.

* Pecadillo Theatre's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn begins performances at Theatre at St. Clements.

* Lyrics & Lyricists’ starry Stage Door Canteen: Broadway Responds to WWII (through March 14) at 8 PM at 92Y.

* A Very Shamrocky -- Rocky Horror in Concert at midnight at LA's Show at Barre.

* Company closes at London's Southwark Playhouse.

* Diary of a Madman closes at BAM.

Sunday, March 13

* Compulson, starring Mandy Patinkin, closes at the Public.

* Nancy Opel begins her run as Mama in Memphis (replacing Cass Morgan).

* The Weir begins previews at South Coast Rep.

* ABC Daytime Salutes Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at 8 PM at Town Hall.

* David Hyde Pierce will appear in conversation with Guthrie Theater director Joe Dowling at 7 PM at the Guthrie.

* Three Hotels reading, starring Christine Lahti and Ron Rifkin, at 7 PM at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.

* Ajax closes at Boston's A.R.T.

* AfterMath, starring Annie Potts, closes at LA's Odyssey Theatre.

* Arsenic and Old Lace, with Betty Buckley and Tovah Feldshuh, closes at Dallas Theatre Center.

* August: Osage County, starring Josie de Guzman, closes at Houston's Alley Theatre.

* Dangerous Beauty closes at Pasadena Playhouse.

* Nunsensations! -- The Nunsense Vegas Revue closes at LA's Lyric Theatre.

* The Crucible closes at Providence’s Trinity Rep.

* What the Public Wants closes at Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre.

* White People closes at NYC's Ensemble Studio Theatre.

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Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong will return to the role of St. Jimmy for the final three weeks of the Broadway run of American Idiot, which will close April 24 at the St. James Theatre.

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The 2011 Garland Awards, voted on by the Los Angeles theater critics of Back Stage, have been announced:

The Center Theatre Group's presentation of the national tour of Lincoln Center Theater's revival of South Pacific won seven awards, including for Production, director Bartlett Sher, choreographer Christopher Gattelli, music director Ted Sperling, and performers Carmen Cusack, Rod Gilfry, and Keala Settle.

Among the other winning performers are Steven Glaudini (1776), Josh Grisetti (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Dakin Matthews (King Lear), and Matthew Scott Montgomery (Yellow).

Winners in the musical score category included Michael John LaChiusa for See What I Wanna See, and Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes for In the Heights.

Del Shores won awards for both playwriting and direction for Yellow, with other notable winners including playwright Julia Cho for The Language Archive; Jeffrey Hatcher for his adaptation of Cousin Bette; Gordon Edelstein for his direction of The Glass Menagerie; Marcia Milgrom Dodge for her choreography of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; and Neil Patel for his set design for The Language Archive.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

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Josie Rourke, currently artistic director of London's Bush Theatre, will succeed Michael Grandage as artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse as of Jan. 1, 2012.

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GN quote of the week: “Remember you are a star. Never go across the alley even to dump garbage unless you are dressed to the teeth.” ~ Cecil B. de Mille

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Video: Karen Olivo and Ashley Brown discuss the March 11 Judy Garland Carnegie Hall Tribute Concert: http://bit.ly/fKiSDo

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Arizona Theatre Company's 2011-2012 season:

* Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club, Sept. 17-Oct. 8 (Tucson) and Oct. 13-30 (Phoenix).

* God of Carnage, Oct. 22-Nov. 12 (Tucson) and Nov. 17-Dec. 4 (Phoenix).

* Daddy Long Legs, Nov. 26-Dec. 17 (Tucson), and Dec. 29-Jan. 15, 2012 (Phoenix).

* The 39 Steps, Jan. 14-Feb. 4, 2012 (Tucson), and Feb. 9-26, 2012 (Phoenix).

* The Great Gatsby, Feb. 25-March 17, 2012 (Tucson), and March 22-April 8, 2012 (Phoenix).

* Red, April 7-April 28, 2012 (Tucson), and May 3-20, 2012 (Phoenix).

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Through the Night will extend its run to play two additional performances on Monday, March 21 and Monday, March 28 at the Westside Theatre (407 W. 43rd Street), before ending its limited engagement.

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Two small-town twentysomethings—one a party girl, the other a homebody—find their roles reversing after they move to L.A. and meet a smooth-talking local in South Coast Rep’s workshop production of Sofia Alvarez’ Between Us Chickens.

The play, which runs March 25 - April 3, is part of SCR’s inaugural Studio Series, a pilot program designed to create stronger ties between arts organizations and expose audiences to the rich diversity of the local arts scene. It also gives SCR a chance to extend its artistic boundaries and produce works that might not find a home on a main stage.

Casty Stangl directs a cast that includes Amelia Alvarez, Annabelle Borke and Ben Huber.

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Virginia’s Signature Theatre presents Yasmine Reza’s (God of Carnage) scathing dark comedy Art March 29-May 22. Matt Gardiner direct a cast that features Mitchell Hébert, John Lescault and Michael Russotto.

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Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn will be presented by Kansas City’s (MO) Spinning Tree Theatre April 1-3 and 8-10. The cast includes Leah Berry, Shea Coffman, Tom Lancaster, Allison Moody and Jakob Wozniak at the piano. Directed by Michael Grayman with choreography by Andy Parkhurst.

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The 2011 Ravina Festival schedule:

* The 2011 Gala Benefit Evening will celebrate the work of composer George Gershwin July 23 at 7 PM.

* The 2011 summer season at the Illinois venue will also feature concerts by Jennifer Hudson (July 16 at 7:30 PM in the Pavilion), Laura Benanti (Aug. 27 at 8:30 PM in Bennett Gordon Hall) and Mandy Patinkin with Nathan Gunn (Aug. 31 at 8 PM in the Pavilion).

* Rufus Wainwright will also return to Ravinia Aug. 14 in a performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, featuring the Chicago premiere of his settings of 5 Shakespeare Sonnets, a work co- commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony and Ravinia Festival. Following intermission, Wainwright returns without the orchestra for a solo rock concert.

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Composer Jeffrey Stock (Triumph of Love) and book writer Marc Acito ("How I Paid For College") are at work on a musical adaptation of E.M. Forster's "A Room with a View." The duo are also collaborating on the musical's lyrics.

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Video: Sondheim and Kushner in conversation at the Public: http://bit.ly/hHDGAj

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Mamie Gummer, Hamish Linklater and Jenn Gambatese are among players in the spring Classic Stage production of David Ives' The School for Lies, a comedy inspired by Molière's classic The Misanthrope. Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago) will direct the world premiere.

The Off-Broadway production begins April 13 at CSC's home at 136 E. 13th Street. Opening night is May 1. Performances play to May 22.

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Tony Award-winning composers John Kander, Adam Guettel and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz will gather to discuss Opera or Musical Theater? April 10 at 7:30 PM at the Gershwin Theatre. New York City Opera general manager and artistic director George Steel will moderate the discussion. (212) 721-6500

NYCO presents the in-depth panel discussion, which will take place on the set of Schwartz's musical Wicked. NYCO is set to stage the New York premiere of his opera Séance on a Wet Afternoon this spring.

Joining Schwartz, Kander and Guettel will be Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and Tony-winning playwright and librettist David Henry Hwang.

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Stage and screen star Mario Cantone has joined the cast of the NBC pilot "A Mann's World." The drama will be written, directed and executive-produced by "Sex and the City" executive producer Michael Patrick King.

It will star Don Johnson as a 50-something Beverly Hills hairdresser trying to maintain his relevancy in the increasingly looks-obsessed world around him. Taylor Kinney, Kelly Hu, Sandra Vergara, Caitlin Crosby, Amanda Warren and J.R. Bourne will also be part of the cast.

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Philadelphia’s Wilma Theatre has announced its 2011-12 season:

* Our Class, by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, Oct. 12-Nov. 13
* Body Awareness, by Annie Baker, Jan. 4-Feb. 5, 2012
* Curse of the Starving Class, by Sam Shepard, March 7-April 8, 2012
* Angels in America, Part One, by Tony Kushner, May 23-June 24, 2012

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Naked Boys Singing, originally seen at the King's Head Theatre and subsequently at the Arts, will return for a fourth London run, beginning performances March 18 at the re-branded Charing Cross Theatre (formerly the New Players).

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Keira Knightley will be the voice of Tinker Bell in the “Neverland” miniseries, set to air on Syfy in December.

Rhys Ifans, Anna Friel, Bob Hoskins, Charles Dance, Raoul Trujillo and Charlie Rowe are also part of the cast. Nick Willing wrote and will direct.

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Twyla Tharp's Las Vegas dance musical Sinatra Dance With Me has extended for a second time, now through April 30 at the Wynn Hotel.

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The Village Voice has some fun with Spider-gate in a comic strip: http://bit.ly/fKiSDo

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Casting has been announced for a concert presentation of the musicals The Water Dream and Clear, to be offered on Friday, March 11 at 8 PM at The Bushwick Starr (207 Starr St. in Brooklyn). Doors will open at 7:30 PM. Cash only ($20).

Shawn Cody has written the book, music and lyrics for The Water Dream, which focuses on an overly critical mythologist who, through facing loss and falling in love, becomes an artist: the author of an awe-inspiring myth. For more information, click here.

Clear, with book, music and lyrics by Paul Oakley Stovall and additional music by Stew, Ryan Link, Christo Willis, and Irv Johnson, is based on Stovall's real-life transition from an actor and retail clerk to a member of a President Obama's Advance Team. For more information, click here.

The company for the presentation will include writer Cody, along with Anthony Rapp, Karmine Alers, Dee Roscioli, Emily Otto, Adam Kern, Cheo Bourne, Doug Chapman, Catherine Hesse, Roger Stewart, Alisa Ledyard, Alana Rader, Lauren Champlin and Jonathan Gregg.

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The National Entertainment Fund for the Cultural Arts has announced participating artists for the 7th Annual Broadway Purim Shpiel, to be held on Monday, March 14 at 7 PM at the Hudson Theatre. Proceeds will benefit The Birthright Israel Foundation, an organization dedicated to sending young Jews from across the world to Israel. Gilbert Gottfried will host the event.

Playwright David Mamet will open the proceedings with a personal message, and there will be a screening of a new short film by the award-winning playwright and director.

Performers will include Nick Adams, Dave Attell, Kelli Barrett, Kevin Earley, Curtis Holbrook, Garrett Long, Mitchell Jarvis, J. Elaine Marcos, Patti Murin, Anne L. Nathan, and Rachel Potter.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda will appear on ABC's award-winning sitcom "Modern Family" later this season as the inventor of an innovative dog-training technique.

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Catch Me If You Can's songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman talk career, early influences and meeting cute girls: http://bit.ly/huJVXF

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The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre is pleased to present the swashbuckling theatrical adventure Treasure Island, April 22 - May 1 at the Laguna Playhouse. The production is directed by Donna Inglima and features members of the Laguna Playhouse Youth Conservatory as well as adult actors. Based on the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and adapted by Ken Ludwig.

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Barbara Walsh will star in the world premiere of Tony Glazer's Reading Under the Influence: The "Real" Westchester Women's Book Club, to be presented Off-Broadway at the DR2, April 6-May 15, with an opening on April 16. Wendy C. Goldberg will direct.

In the play, the wine hits the fan as the women of the Westchester Book Club gather to discuss their current required reading, "The Homeless Dogs of Egypt." During their chardonnay-fueled discussion, they find out that the rights to their book club have been sold to a reality TV production company.

The cast will also include Joanna Bayless, Summer Crockett Moore, Ashley Austin Morris, Maria-Christina Oliveras, and Jeremy Webb.

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Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht will star in Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue, to run April 21 - May 15 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Glenn Casale will direct the production.

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Off-Broadway's Pearl Theatre presents David Davalos' Wittenberg, which begins previews March 11 and opens March 20 at New York City Center Stage II. Artistic Director J.R. Sullivan directs a cast that includes Sean McNall, Scott Greer, Chris Mixon and Joey Parsons.

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REMINDER: As of Monday, March 14, 2011, GRACE NOTES will move to its new home at GraceNotesStage.com. If you’re a subscriber, be sure to add sgrace1122@gmail.com to your address book. If you’re a web visitor, please note the new web address.

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GRACE NOTES - Thursday, March 10, 2011

2011-03-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* Cactus Flower, starring Maxwell Caulfield, opens Off Broadway at Westside Theatre Upstairs.

* Flare Path, starring Sienna Miller, opens at London's Theatre Royal, Haymarket.

* Roundabout's Anything Goes begins previews at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

* Blood Brothers, starring Andrea McArdle and her daughter, begins previews at Florida’s Theatre Zone.

* Zazou reading, starring Liliane Montevecchi and Robert Cuccioli, at 2 PM at MTC Studios. RSVP: jmeyr@earthlink.net

* Broadway Goes to the Dogs, benefit for Friends of Animals Rescue, at 9 PM at the Triad. (see article below)

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Video: In response to the increase in the numbers of student suicides stemming from anti-gay bullying, Center Theatre Group is releasing a video for the It Gets Better Project. CTG staff members, including Artistic Director Michael Ritchie and Managing Director Charles Dillingham, share personal stories from childhood in a message of support for lesbian, gay,bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth: http://bit.ly/h2PrmK

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Kansas City Rep has announced casting for John Kander and Fred Ebb's Cabaret, to run March 18 - April 10. Eric Rosen will direct the production, which will have music direction by Anthony T. Edwards and choreography by Richard J. Hinds.

The company will feature Claybourne Elder (Clifford Bradshaw), Kara Lindsay (Sally Bowles), Hollis Resnik (Fräulein Schneider), Brian Sills (Master of Ceremonies), KC Comeaux (Bobby/Kit Kat Klub Boy/Ensemble), Jerry Jay Cranford (Max/ Kit Kat Klub Boy/Ensemble), Jenny Florkowski (Kit Kat Klub Girl/Ensemble), Charles Fugate (Ernst Ludwig), Colleen Grate (Kit Kat Klub Girl/Ensemble), Gary Neal Johnson (Herr Schultz), Bryan LaFave (Victor/ Kit Kat Klub Boy/Ensemble), Mandy Morris (Kit Kat Klub Girl/Ensemble), Kym Chambers Otto (Kit Kat Klub Girl/Ensemble), Vanessa Severo (Fräulein Kost/Ensemble), and Emily Shackelford (Kit Kat Klub Girl/Ensemble).

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Second Stage has announced plans to stage All New People, a world-premiere comedy by "Scrubs" actor Zach Braff, this summer Off-Broadway. Previews will begin June 28. Peter DuBois will direct. The production will officially open in mid-July. Casting TBA.

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Video: Highlights from Ghetto Klown: http://bit.ly/goYg20

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Christopher Seiber will debut in La Cage earlier than the March 15 date reported earlier. He will now begin performances March 11.

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The 26th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in Off-Broadway theatre, will be presented May 1. Nominations for the annual awards will be announced March 31. A cocktail reception honoring this year's nominees will be held April 11.

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Lisa Howard, who made her Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will celebrate the release of her new CD with a concert at Birdland April 11 at 7 PM.

Howard’s new CD, “Songs of Innocence and Experience: The Music of William Finn,” will be available on the Sh-K-Boom label beginning April 12 on iTunes, Amazon.com and in stores.

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Judith Light, who is currently appearing in Lombardi at Circle in the Square Theatre, has been cast in the ABC pilot "Other People's Kids." Light will play the free-spirited, over-involved ex-mother-in-law of Michelle (Bonnie Somerville), who is juggling two kids, an ex-husband, her ex-in-laws, and a new romance with younger man Adam (Jesse Bradford), who has had no previous family responsibilities.

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Sarah Ruhl's adaptation of Three Sisters, which debuted at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in 2009, will be part of the 2011-2012 season at Yale Rep.

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Video: Robin Williams, Moises Kaufman, Rajiv Joseph talk up Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo: http://bit.ly/gFkCtD

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Tony Award winners James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave, who head the cast of the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Driving Miss Daisy, will likely repeat their performances for London audiences.

Variety reports that producers Jed Bernstein and Adam Zotovich hope to bring the revival, including its two stars, to London this fall. The London engagement would precede Jones' return to Broadway in 2012 in the revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man.

A national tour, which is aiming for a launch in fall 2012, is also in the works. Jones and Redgrave are not expected to be part of the U.S. tour, although the producers plan to cast name actors for all three roles.

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Brian d'Arcy James has joined the cast of "Smash," an NBC pilot about the creation of a Broadway musical. James will play the husband of Julia, the musical's lyricist, who will be played by Emmy Award winner Debra Messing.

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Upcoming concerts with the Boston Pops:

Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops will kick off the 2011 Spring Pops Season May 11, with a gala Opening Night tribute to the music of Judy Garland featuring Jekyll and Hyde's Linda Eder.

Hooray for Hollywood and a Tribute to Audrey Hepburn will be presented May 25-26 and 28.

On May 31 and June 1, Michael Feinstein will join Lockhart and the Boston Pops for Michael Feinstein and the American Songbook. Feinstein will offer tunes from the Frank Sinatra Songbook.

Broadway and the American Songbook, which will be offered June 16-17, features Stephanie J. Block and Julia Murney.

On June 23-24 concertgoers can enjoy Keith Lockhart Celebrates American Icons, which will explore the musical legacies of Richard Rodgers and George Gershwin. Canadian soprano Kathleen Brett and actor/vocalist Ron Raines will be featured.

At Tanglewood, conductor John Williams will lead a concert featuring James Taylor on July 1. This concert features Morgan Freeman as a guest narrator and special guest Gil Shaham on violin.

Also at Tanglewood, Lockhart will conduct the Pops in A Tribute to Cole Porter July 17, with Broadway vocalists Kelli O’Hara and Jason Danieley. O’Hara and Danieley rejoin the Pops Aug. 6 at the Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center in Bethel Woods, NY, and on Aug. 7 on the Town Green in Hyannis for additional performances of the Cole Porter set.

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Video: In rehearsal with Encores! Where’s Charley: http://bit.ly/fd1Sqb

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Tony Award-nominated songwriter David Yazbek, last represented on Broadway with Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, will discuss his work and share some of his music April 11 at the 92YTribeca. The 7:30 PM performance and chat is presented as part of the "Lyrics & Lyricists Downtown" series. Jack O'Brien, who collaborated with Yazbek on The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, will moderate the evening.

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The national tour of La Cage aux Folles will play Chicago's Bank of America Theatre Dec. 20- Jan. 1, 2012. Casting TBA. (312) 977-1710

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Complete casting has been announced for L.A. Theatre Works' presentation of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, to perform at the Skirball Cultural Center March 16-20. Eric Simonson will direct the performances.

Stacy Keach (Willy Loman) and Jane Kaczmarek (Linda Loman) star, along with Steven Culp (Biff Loman) and John Sloan (Happy Loman), along with Maureen Flannigan, Jason Henning, Sam McMurray, Kathryn Meisle, Tim Monsion, Kate Steele, and Kenneth Williams.

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Michael Imperioli, Anthony Rapp, and Scott Shepherd will be among the participants in Selected Shorts' 40th Anniversary Celebration of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, to be held at Symphony Space on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 PM. Benicio del Toro has withdrawn due to a change in his schedule.

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Akiko Aizawa, J.Ed Araiza, Leon Ingulsrud, Ellen Lauren, Tom Nelis, Barney O'Hanlon, Makela Spielman, Samuel Stricklen, and Stephen Duff Webber will star in the New York premiere of Charles Mee's Under Construction, to be presented by SITI Company at Dance Theater Workshop, April 21-May 7. Anne Bogart will direct.

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Video: Preview of Paper Mill’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: http://bit.ly/gD6Ngv

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Erin Davie, Ann Harada, Kendrick Jones, Burke Moses, and Wesley Taylor will star in The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport's Broadway Tribute, the next special event in the theater's ongoing Broadway Concert Series, to be held on Saturday, April 2 at 8 PM. The performers will recreate some of their most memorable career highlights, display their versatility and share amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Eugene Gwozdz will be the concert's musical director.

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Julianne Moore will play politician and reality TV star Sarah Palin in the HBO movie Game Change. The film, by Jay Roach, is about the 2008 presidential election, and has been adapted from the behind-the-scenes book written by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.

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Casting has been announced for Laguna Playhouse's production of Noël Coward's Private Lives that runs March 15 - April 10. Directed by Andrew Barnicle, the cast features Julie Granata as Amanda, Joseph Fuqua as Elyot, Winslow Corbett as Sybil, and Matthew Floyd Miller as Victor.

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John Tartaglia, creator, producer and writer of the Drama Desk Award nominated Off-Broadway musical hit John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean, and a star in the upcoming Hollywood stage production of The Temperamentals, has announced a new session of his Master Class Intensive in theatre and children's television style puppetry. A world renowned puppeteer, Tartaglia has offered this course in New York -- most recently in 2010 -- and for the first time is now bringing it to emerging puppeteers in the Los Angeles area March 18-20. Puppetry students of all levels are welcomed.

Topics to be covered include: fundamentals, one-on-one training, group scene work, musical performances, special guests, and viewings of puppetry classics. For more information and to register, click here.

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Kathy Griffin discusses her debut on Broadway: http://bit.ly/dW2OQ6

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Kimberly Faye Greenberg replaces Farah Alvin in One Night With Fanny Brice, a new musical play written, arranged, and directed by Chip Deffaa. The show will make its Off-Broadway debut beginning March 16 at St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 West 46th St. Opening night is set for Sunday, April at 7 PM. Greenberg originated the role in earlier productions.

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Burbank’s Colony Theatre presents All Night Strut March 30-May 1, with an opening set for April 2. Directed and choreographed by Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel, the cast features Michael Dotson, Jayme Lake, Scotch Ellis Loring and Jennifer Shelton.

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Videos: Backstage look at the "Grey's Anatomy" musical episode: http://bit.ly/fxyDsh and Sara Ramirez recording a song for the episode: http://bit.ly/icpuTE

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Santa Barbara’s Ensemble Theatre will continue its critically-acclaimed 2010-11 season with a fresh new production of the revered and courageous play Ghosts, by Henrik Ibsen. Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox will direct. Starring Maureen Silliman, Gregory North, Wyatt Fenner and Michael Rothhaar, Ghosts begins performances on March 31 and plays through April 24. Opening night is Saturday, April 2.

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Danny Burstein answers readers' questions: http://bit.ly/heo8Ps

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Broadway Goes to the Dogs, a one-night-only cabaret concert to benefit Friends of Animal Rescue, will be held March 10 at 9 PM at the Triad Theatre in Manhattan. Brandon Cutrell hosts the evening with musical direction by Joshua Stephen Kartes.

The concert features the talents of Nellie McKay, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Derek St. Pierre, Michele Mais, Stephen Wallem, Kevin Meaney, Annie Golden, Leslie Henstock, Clinton Roane, Sarah Rice, Daisy Hobbs, Gabrielle Stravelli, Jamison Stern, Michelle Dowdy and Felicia Finley.

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The new musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will now open in summer 2011 instead of its scheduled March 15 opening, according to a statement released by the show's producers. No announcement was made regarding cancelling future perrformances or taking a hiatus.

In addition, the show's director and co-creator, Julie Taymor, is giving up day-to-day supervision of the musical, but will still be involved with the production. Philip William McKinley is coming in to implement new staging. The musical's book -- which Taymor co-wrote with Glen Berger -- will also be revamped by playwright and comic book author Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.

The show's composer and lyricist, Bono and The Edge of the band U2, are also adding additional songs to the show. Veteran musical consultant Paul Bogaev and sound designer Peter Hylenski recently joined the creative team.

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Bryan Batt and Patricia Clarkson will offer two benefit performances of A.R. Gurney's Love Letters at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre in New Orleans on Friday, March 18 at 8 PM and Sunday, March 20 at 3 PM.

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GRACE NOTES - Wednesday, March 9, 2011

2011-03-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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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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GRACE NOTES - Tuesday, March 8, 2011

2011-03-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

IMPORTANT GRACE NOTES NEWS!

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the new GRACE NOTES website, which will debut next Monday, March 14 at GraceNotesStage.com.

The blog format will remain as it always has, providing the most comprehensive, concise and up-to-date theatre news around, every Monday-Friday.

What’s new:

* A brand new look!
* A Search function, so you can access information from past issues.
* An RSS feed.
* A variety of advertising options (information and Rate Card available on request).

What you need to know:

* Subscribers – you don’t need to do a thing – your subscription will continue as it always has. Simply add my new email to your address book: sgrace1122@gmail.com
* Website visitors – you will be automatically re-directed to the new site.

Thank you all for your extraordinary loyalty and support. Now in my 13th year, I’m as passionate as ever to promote all things theatre… in Los Angeles, New York, London and everywhere in between.

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Today’s highlights:

* Brad Oscar, Heidi Blickenstaff, Adam Grupper and more join the cast of The Addams Family.

* Crimes of the Heart begins previews at the McCarter Theatre.

* The Holy Rosenbergs begins performances at London’s National Theatre's Cottesloe.

* She Loves Him, Kate Baldwin’s solo show celebrating Sheldon Harnick, at Feinstein’s through March 12. (see article below)

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Tony Award winner Kevin Spacey will deliver the 24th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy on April 4 at 6:30 PM in the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center. The open-to-the-public address is part of 2011 Arts Advocacy Day events, presented by Americans for the Arts.

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Video: God’s favorite musical? Chatting with Sister Act’s Whoopi Goldberg, Patina Miller, Victoria Clark and more: http://bit.ly/ejnJ1w

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The Keen Company presents the 25th Anniversary production of Benefactors March 22-April 30, with an opening set for April 5 at The Clurman Theatre (410 W. 42nd St.)

Carl Forsman directs a cast that includes Vivienne Benesch, Daniel Jenkins, Deanne Lorette and Stephen Barker Turner.

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Interesting article in NY Magazine about Book of Mormon: http://bit.ly/g4B8N8

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The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa has announced its 2011-2012 schedule:

The venue's Broadway Series will offer six touring productions including Shrek the Musical (Oct. 4-16), Blue Man Group (Nov. 8-20), Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Dec. 13 - January 1), Million Dollar Quartet (April 24 - May 6), the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables (June 12-24), and La Cage aux Folles (July 24 - Aug. 5).

In addition, the Center's Curtain Call Series will offer presentations of Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away (Jan. 31 - Feb. 5), the multimedia performance piece Traces (Feb. 28 - March 4), and Green Day's American Idiot (May 29 - June 3).

Tony Award winner Audra McDonald will open the Segerstrom's Cabaret Series on Oct. 15. Also on the schedule is Stephen Sondheim and Friends (Oct. 29), which will feature the composer/lyricist in conversation with Michael Kerker in addition to appearances by special guests. Other offerings in the series will be performances by Chita Rivera in My Broadway (Nov. 10-13), Paulo Szot (Dec. 15-18), Steve Tyrell (Jan. 5-8), and Andrea Martin, with Seth Rudetsky, (Feb. 16-19).

The venue will be also offer its Off Center Series, which will present work in partnership with The Public Theater's Under the Radar Festival. Confirmed for the series is the National Theater of the United States of America's production of Chautauqua! (Jan. 13-15), as well as Ten Tiny Dances (Jan. 20-21). Other offerings will be announced in the near future.

John Tartaglia's Imaginocean (Feb. 4-5) will be just one offering in the Segerstrom's Family Series. Additional family presentations will be the Polyglot Theatre's Muckheap (Oct. 8-9), the bilingual musical Dream Carver (April 14-15), and Zorro (March 17-18), which will be presented by Scotland's Visible Fictions, among others.

The Segerstrom's season will also include a Jazz Series, the International Dance Series, a Concert Series, and a free summertime Film Series, as well as such "season bonus events" as a one-night-only performance by the National Acrobats of China (Oct. 1), an engagement of the popular Irish dance show Riverdance (Oct. 28-30), and a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (Jan. 17-22).

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Harry Connick, Jr. – In Concert on Broadway is now available on DVD on Amazon.com.

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Williamstown Theatre Festival's 2011 summer season:

* A Streetcar Named Desire, June 22-July 3, directed by David Cromer, starring Jessica Hecht and Sam Rockwell.

* You Can’t Take It With You, July 1-27, directed by Christopher Ashley.

* One Slight Hitch, July 6-17, directed by Joe Grifasi, starring Paige Howard and Mark Linn-Baker.

* A Doll’s House, July 20-31, directed by Sam Gold, starring Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater.

* She Stoops to Conquer, July 27-Aug. 7, directed by Nicholas Martin.

* Touch(ed), Aug. 3-14, directed by Trip Cullman

* Ten Cents a Dance, John Doyle, starring Malcom Gets and Lauren Molina.

* You Better Sit Down: tales from my parents' divorce, Aug. 16-21, directed by Anne Kaufman

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Video: Highlights from Good People: http://bit.ly/eXp11k

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Alec Baldwin has joined the cast of Warner Bros./New Line feature film "Rock of Ages," which also stars Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough.

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The Town Hall's Broadway by the Year series will continue March 21 at 8 PM with Broadway Musicals of 1932.

Created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel, the evening will feature the talents of Christiane Noll, Jeffry Denman, Meredith Patterson, William Michals, Kendrick Jones, Jason Graae, Scott Coulter, Bill Daugherty and Carole J. Bufford. Coulter will direct the concert with choreography by Denman. Ross Patterson is the musical director.

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Emmy winner Holland Taylor, who plays Charlie Sheen's mother in the much- in-the-news "Two and a Half Men," will star in ANN: An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards, which will play a three-week engagement at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre this fall. Billed as the "pre-Broadway engagement," performances are scheduled for Nov. 13-Dec. 4. Ann Richards was the second female governor of Texas. (312) 977-1710

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NY Times’ upcoming TimesTalks events at 242 W. 41st St.:

* Tom Stoppard, March 15 at 6 PM.
* Bradley Cooper, March 15 at 8 PM.
* Joel Grey, Sutton Foster, Kathleen Marshall, March 21 at 6 PM.

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Academy Award-winning musician and Tarzan songwriter Phil Collins may retire from the recording business, according to Billboard.com. Collins has previously mentioned in the press that he suffers from nerve damage in his hands and hearing loss. He is currently in treatment to regain full use of his hands after years of drumming.

"I don't think anyone's going to miss me... I look at the MTV Music Awards and I think, 'I can't be in the same business as this,'" Collins said in an interview.

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Video: Jackie Hoffman’s Addams Family Farewell vlog: http://bit.ly/hgzMd7

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"True Blood" star and Tony nominee Sam Trammell and theater veteran Missy Yager are expecting twins.

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59E59 Theaters’ Americas Off Broadway festival:

* Love Song (April 5-May 8), written and directed by John Kolvenbach.

*Triangle (April 14-30), written by Jack Gilhooley and Daniel Czitrom, directed by Stephan Morro.

* Julia (April 19-May 15), by Vince Melocchi, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos.

* City Love Song (May 3-15), written and performed by Jack Finnegan, directed by Tralen Doler.

* World Trade Center view (May 3-15), written by Brian Sloan, directed by Andrew Volkoff.

* I Married Wyatt Earp (May 20-June 12), features a book by Thomas Edward West and Sheilah Rae, lyrics by Sheilah Rae, music by Michele Brourman, and is directed by Cara Reichel.

* Play About My Dad (June 16-July 2), by Boo Killebrew, directed by Lee Sunday Evans.

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An updated list of performers has been announced for Miscast 2011, to be held at The Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday, March 14 beginning at 6:30 PM (show starts at 8:45 PM). Andy Cohen will host the event, which will raise funds for the theater's ongoing work.

The line-up will now feature Christian Borle, Brian d'Arcy James, Kelsey Fowler, Ana Gasteyer, Justin Guarini, Josh Henry, Alison Jaye Horowitz, Laura Osnes, Nicole Parker, and Steven Pasquale. The musical director for the evening will be Phil Reno.

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Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory") will play Tommy Boatwright and Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies") will play Bruce Niles in the Broadway revival of The Normal Heart. Joel Grey, working with George C Wolfe, will direct the production, which, as previously announced, will begin performances at the Golden Theatre on April 19 before opening on April 27. The limited engagement continues to July 10.

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Commonwealth Shakespeare Company announces the second installment in its American Voices 2011 script-in-hand presentation series: The Skin of Our Teeth, by Thornton Wilder. Acclaimed actor and singer Anthony Rapp directs. The free performance is Monday, March 14 at 7 PM at the Wimberly Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts. There will be a Wine and Cheese reception with the cast and director immediately following the reading.

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Streep Tease is back, with new cast members, new choreography and new special guests. The show re-opens Saturday, March 12 at 8 PM at LA’s Bang Comedy Theatre, 457 N. Fairfax Ave. (South of Melrose).

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The Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University is coming to New York City this weekend only! Don't miss the chance to see some men in heels, and get "curried" away with HPT 163: Kashmir If You Can on March 11 and 12 at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. 212-772-4448

As the oldest theatrical troupe in the nation, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals annually performs a hilarious student-written drag burlesque production. Each year, the troupe also awards a Man and Woman of the Year award to those who have made a lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment. This year, the honor was bestowed upon Julianne Moore and Jay Leno.

In its 163rd reincarnation, The Hasty Pudding Theatricals takes you on a magical journey to the greatest subcontinent in the world – the exotic and erotic land of India – as we unveil the eccentric epic Kashmir If You Can. The beloved Maharajah has suddenly and mysteriously died and panic has taken the kingdom by storm. His daughter, the air-headed heiress to the kingdom, Sari M. Notsari, is now forced by her scheming and soulful stepmother, Queen Latikah, into an arranged marriage with the evil slumdog millionaire, Pooch Yermoneywhereyermouthis…an actual dog and an actual millionaire, who has secret plans to take over the kingdom. Sari hires the world-famous British detective, now suffering from short-term memory loss, Watson Yourmind to investigate her father’s death and that suspicious mutt. Will Vishnu Werehere, the powerful blue deity offer some divine guidance? Will Sari be able to consumate her forbidden love with the Arabian slave, Kareem Inyourpants? Or will that pesky pooch sell the kingdom to the highest bidder?

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Christopher Seiber will begin performances as George in La Cage on March 15.

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A host of Broadway talent, including Barbara Cook, Mandy Patinkin, Michael Rupert and Donna Murphy, will take part in Monday at the Plaza with James, a tribute to James Lapine, May 23 at 6 PM at the Plaza Hotel. The even is a benefit for the New York Theatre Workshop. Information and reservations: alisas@nytw.org.

Dan Knechtges will direct the concert that will reunite Lapine with many of his previous cast members, including Cook (Sondheim on Sondheim, Candide), Patinkin (Sunday in the Park…, Evita), Rupert (Falsettos), Murphy (Passion, People in the Picture), Carolee Carmello (Parade, Falsettos), Bogardus (Falsettos, Man of La Mancha), Debra Monk (Curtains, Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing), Heather MacRae (Falsettos), Claudia Shear (Dirty Blonde), Vanessa Williams (Into the Woods, Sondheim on Sondheim) and opera star Deborah Voigt.

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Original Jean Valjean Colm Wilkinson (Aug. 12-13), the national tour of American Idiot (Dec. 28-Jan. 15, 2012) and Donny and Marie Osmond (July 5-17) will play in Toronto as part of Dancap's 2011-2012 season. Also included are 9 to 5 (June 29-July 10); Next to Normal (July 19-31); Come Fly Away (Aug. 16-28); The Addams Family (Nov. 16-27); and Memphis (Dec. 6-24).

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Mark Blum, Michael Stahl-David, Donna Hanover, Tom Lipinski and Liz Stauber will be featured in the world-premiere of Christopher Shinn's Picked, at the Vineyard Theatre with previews beginning April 6 in anticipation of an April 20 opening. Michael Wilson will direct. The play concerns a young actor who prepares for his life to change when a legendary director casts him as the lead in a big-budget Hollywood movie.

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The long-awaited opening night of the Broadway musical Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark may happen without its director and co-author. The New York Times reports that producers are in talks with Tony Award winner Julie Taymor to work with an expanded creative team or to possibly have Taymor make her exit from the troubled production.

Sources indicated that if Taymor is not responsive to enlisting creative aid, she may be replaced altogether. Word of major creative team overhauls for Spider-Man began circulating early Monday morning. The musical is now the record holder for the longest preview period of any Broadway production.

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Kate Baldwin, the 2010 Tony Award nominee for Finian's Rainbow, returns to Feinstein's March 8-12 for a tribute show called She Loves Him, celebrating the work of lyricist (and sometimes composer) Sheldon Harnick. The master himself, at age 86, will appear as a special guest to share memories and sing several songs.

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“Law & Order: Los Angeles,” starring Alfred Molina, returns on April 11.

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The 2011 Lincoln Center Festival schedule (July 5-Aug. 14) has been announced:

Among the events will be Peter Brook's A Magic Flute, based on Mozart's opera, to be performed by two actors and alternating casts of seven singers, with a pianist; the Kanagawa Arts Theatre production of The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, based on the novel by Yukio Mishima; Druid Theatre Company's production of Sean O'Casey's The Silver Tassle, directed by Tony Award winner Garry Hynes; and the Royal Danish Opera's production of Poul Ruders' Selma Ježková.

The Royal Shakespeare Company will have a six-week residency, July 6-Aug. 14, at the Park Avenue Armory. Productions will include Lucy Bailey's production of Julius Caesar; As You Like It, directed by Michael Boyd; Romeo and Juliet, directed by Rupert Goold; King Lear, directed by David Farr; and The Winter's Tale, directed by David Farr.

The acting company includes Charles Aitken, Joseph Arkley, Adam Burton, David Carr, Brian Doherty, Darrell D'Silva, Noma Dumezweni, Dyfan Dwyfor, Phillip Edgerley, Christine Entwisle, Geoffrey Freshwater, James Gale, Mariah Gale, Gruffudd Glyn, Paul Hamilton, Greg Hicks, James Howard, Kathryn Hunter, Kelly Hunter, Ansu Kabia, Tunji Kasim, Richard Katz, Debbie Korley, John Mackay, Forbes Masson, Sandy Neilson, Jonjo O'Neill, Dharmesh Patel, Peter Peverley, Patrick Romer, David Rubin, Sophie Russell, Oliver Ryan, Simone Saunders, Peter Shorey, Clarence Smith, Katy Stephens, James Traherne, Sam Troughton, James Tucker, Larrington Walker, Kirsty Woodward, Hannah Young, and Samantha Young. Designers will include Jon Bausor, Jean Chan, Tom Piper, Tom Scutt, and Michael Vale.

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Rupert Everett will reprise his performance as Henry Higgins when the Chichester Festival's 2010 revival of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, transfers to the West End's Garrick Theatre, to run May 12 - Sept. 3. Philip Prowse will once again direct the production.

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Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre will kick off its 40th season by presenting the Off-Broadway premiere of Bill Harris' Cool Blues at their home at Henry Street Settlement’s Abrons Arts Center/Recital Hall (466 Grand Street). Performances begin Thursday March 10, opening night is set for Sunday, March 20, and the run continues to April 3.

Ed Smith directs a cast that features Ezra Barnes, Stephanie Berry, Terria Joseph, Marcus Naylor, Maria Silverman and Jay Ward.

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Broadway Bears XIV, which was held March 6 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, raised a total of $103,905 for BC/EFA. The cumulative fundraising total for all 14 Broadway Bears auctions is $1,843,977.

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The Royal Court will premiere the second play of Anya Reiss, The Acid Test, will begin performances in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs May 13, prior to an official opening May 23, for a run through June 11. Directed by Simon Godwin.

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GRACE NOTES - Monday, March 7, 2011

2011-03-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* ‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Night Catechism 3 opens at Pasadena Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre.

* Arts and Crafts: A New Musical, by Sandra Bernhard and Justin Vivian, at 7 and 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub.

* Things to Ruin: The Songs of Joe Iconis, at 6:30 PM at Le Poisson Rouge.

* Starry The 24-Hour Musicals presented at 8 PM at the Grammercy Theatre. 24hourplays.com/

* The Picture of Dorian Gray reading, at 8 PM at The Network NYC (242 W. 36th St., 3rd fl.). Industry only: jackie@onthesquareproductions.com

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Reviews for That Championship Season:

NY Times (Ben Brantley): “That Championship Season, Jason Miller’s portrait of morally bankrupt men remembering their glory days as a high-school basketball team, was never what you would call a shy play. Like its liquored-up, confession-prone characters, this award-laden 1972 drama states its intentions loudly, repeatedly and often embarrassingly.” Full review

NJ Newsroom (Michael Sommers): “For all of their at times strenuous emoting, the actors cannot shout down the drama’s heavy creaking. Give That Championship Season another few decades to, well, season, and perhaps it will improve with further age. Unfortunately for now, it’s a former winner that should have stayed in retirement.” Full review

Hollywood Reporter (David Rooney): “If they lack the cohesion and mutual understanding of an ideal ensemble, the actors do nail their characters. It's just that their characters are not very interesting. With all their self-pity about unfulfilled lives in a world that's no longer theirs for the taking, these Nixon-era bigots just come across as tedious whiners.” Full review

Associated Press (Jocelyn Noveck): “Though the play may disturb some with its stark expressions of racism and anti-Semitism, the action is absorbing and well-paced, directed with an expert hand by Gregory Mosher.” Full review

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Reviews for Little Miss Sunshine (La Jolla Playhouse):

LA Times (Charles McNulty): “This new version of Little Miss Sunshine, written by the Tony-winning team of James Lapine and William Finn (whose collaborations include Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), doesn’t always seem convinced that it should be a musical. And the narrative journey of Michael Arndt’s Oscar-winning screenplay isn’t so much rediscovered as reiterated. But it’s hard not to want a show with such a charming plot to succeed, even though it’s clear early on that the odds of this happening are about the same as Olive’s chances of taking the crown in the kiddie contest.” Full review

BroadwayWorld (Jay Irwin): “With a book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by William Finn, you'd think this quietly charming story would be a no brainer. The problem is that the winning moments, while lovely, are surrounded by moments that tend to wallow in the subtlety of the piece. The opening number, for example, should have got all of us on board with this family, but instead we were regaled by Richard's mediocre life steps. It was a song that really didn't grab us or tell us what we were in for and failed to kick off the story as it should. That tone of mediocrity kept going throughout right up to the unfortunate final moment where they inexplicably felt it necessary to sing the title of the show. Like I said, there were moments that shown through but not consistently enough.” Full review

SanDiego.com (Welton Jones): “Lapine, a frequent collaborator of Finn’s, has set up this book deftly to hold both the songs and their singers without strain, while offering much wry wit. (There’s even a gag about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.) And Lapine’s staging, or somebody’s, is just clever enough to be fun without becoming tedious.” Full review

Theatermania (Rob Stevens): “The yellow VW bus! That's what many people will come out humming from Little Miss Sunshine, the wonderful new James Lapine-William Finn musical version of the Oscar-winning film, currently having its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse. Fortunately, the scenery -- by the brilliant David Korins -- is not the only thing worth humming. The show's creators -- aided by a star-studded cast -- have made dysfunction entertaining, endearing, and oh so much fun.” Full review.

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A March 8 private industry reading of Extremities will star Katie Holmes, America Ferrera, Pablo Schreiber and Kimberly Elise. The production could arrive on Broadway as early as next season, with Kenny Leon likely to direct.

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The Institute of the American Musical in Los Angeles is home to footage collected by one of the earliest pirates —Ray Knight of Jacksonville, Fla. Between 1931 and 1973, Knight would make trips up to Broadway and sneak a 16 mm camera into theaters. He eventually collected footage of over 175 musicals.

Knight's family gifted the films — which, in many cases, are the only visual record of many of the earliest musicals — to the Institute of the American Musical when Knight died. But, there's a problem. The institute is a one-person operation that has been housed in a Los Angeles duplex for the past 30 years. The tiny nonprofit is having a hard time finding a way to preserve the Knight films — and the rest of its archives.

Audio: Listen to the NPR story here.

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Wonderland will get a cast album from Masterworks Broadway. The score by composer Frank Wildhorn and lyricist Jack Murphy was recorded March 6 for a release in May. Previews for Wonderland begin March 21 at the Marquis Theatre. It opens April 17.

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Interesting -- A history of star turns in La Cage: http://nyp.st/fzXjSB

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Pasadena Playhouse will present George Gershwin Alone, created by and starring Hershey Felder, beginning April 12, with an opening scheduled for April 17. The production will continue to May 8. A global live radio broadcast of the production on the WFMT Radio Network will take place on May 2nd.

The Playhouse will also present the popular Hershey Felder’s Great American Songbook Sing-Along, which is scheduled for April 25 and May 9.

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The Lion King will make its Spanish-language debut Oct. 21 at Lope de Vega Theatre on Madrid's Gran Via. The musical will be presented in Madrid by Disney Theatrical Productions.

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The new Court Theatre production of George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward's folk music Porgy and Bess has its title lovers. The all-Chicago cast will be headed by Alexis Rogers (The Piano Lesson) as Bess and Todd M. Kryger (The Lion King, Ragtime, Show Boat) as Porgy. The musical will run in Chicago May 12-June 19, with an opening of May 21.

This new intimate, 15-person cast also includes Karla Beard (Serena), Bear Bellinger (Peter), Sean Blake (Sportin' Life), James Earl Jones II (Crown), Brian-Alwyn Newland (Robbins), Harriet Nzinga Plumpp (Clara), Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Jim), Bethany Thomas (Maria), Travis Turner (Mingo), Adrienne Walker (Annie), Byron Glenn Willis (Jake), Matt Holzfeind (Ensemble) and Joelle Lamarre (Ensemble).

Porgy and Bess is directed by artistic director Charles Newell, with artistic consultant Ron OJ Parson and musical direction by Doug Peck.

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Video: Transport Group’s Hello, Again stars talk love, sex and LaChiusa:

Elizabeth Stanley: http://bit.ly/dGeGOG
Alexandra Silber: http://bit.ly/i1Oiaw
Nikka Graff Lanzarone: http://bit.ly/gplqbf
Robert Lenzi: http://bit.ly/f5KV62

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The Spidey Project: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility sold out its first show in under one minute. Due to such high demand for this event, a second show has now been announced by brain-child Justin Moran. "You've been such great supporters so far," Moran says to his fans, "and we want to get you in to see this show." The second performance is set for March 14 at 10 PM at The Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT), 123 East 24th Street.

Tickets for the second show, which are free, will be available here and here on Monday March 7 at exactly 12 PM (Noon). Each person may reserve up to two tickets. Tickets must be claimed Fifteen Minutes Prior to curtain at will call or they will be given away. If you are unable to obtain a reservation online, approximately 35 tickets will be made available at the door Fifteen Minutes Prior to curtain. thespideyproject.blogspot.com/

The cast features Liz Bachman, Michael Lutton, Ryan Nelson, Claire Neumann, Travis Nilan, Louie Pearlman, Robin Rothman and Jon Roufaeal.

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Patti LuPone will perform her concert, The Gypsy in My Soul, at Boston's Symphony Hall on Sunday, April 3 at 5 PM.

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Daniel Radcliffe will make a quick trip from the World Wide Wicket Company to the world of wizards this summer. The Broadway revival of How to Succeed will be dark for three performances in July (July 7 and 8 evening performance and July 9 matinee), representatives for the production have stated.

Radcliffe has a bit more magic to do with the release of the final installment of the "Harry Potter" film franchise and will be attending previously scheduled press commitments for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which will arrive in theatres July 15.

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The 25th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition — benefiting BC/EFA — will be presented at the Minskoff Theatre, currently the home of The Lion King. The two-day spectacular will be held April 25 at 4:30 PM and April 26 at 2 PM.

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The Group Rep presents Wait Until Dark, directed by David Colwell, April 1 - May 8 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre (10900 Burbank Boulevard in North Hollywood). The cast features Liza de Weerd, Bert Emmett, Robert Gallo, Kaylena Mann, Leo Weltman, & Christopher Winfield.

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued three safety violations to the producers of Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark for violating workplace safety standards for four incidents that resulted in injuries to the cast last year, according to the Associated Press.

The citations for the injuries, which were incurred Sept. 25, Oct. 19, Nov. 28 and Dec. 20, 2010, carry $12,600 in proposed fines, according to AP.

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Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, former artistic director of the Public Theater, will assist fellow Tony winner Joel Grey in the direction of the Broadway debut of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. The acclaimed drama will make its Broadway debut this spring, using elements from a starry reading that was seen in October.

The New York Times reports that Grey, who will soon be seen in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, has asked Wolfe to help out with the direction since Grey will also be busy with the revival of the Cole Porter classic. Wolfe will go unbilled in the production credits. Wolfe will help supervise through opening night, which is scheduled for April 27.

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Kathy Griffin has added two additional performances to the schedule for her upcoming limited engagement at Broadway's Belasco Theatre.

As previously reported, Griffin will play the Broadway venue March 11-12 at 8 PM, March 13 at 3 PM, March 15 at 7 PM and March 16-19 at 8 PM in a show titled Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony. Additional shows have been added for March 14 at 8 PM and March 19 at 2 PM.

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Writer-musician Kyle Jarrow's new play with rock music, Hypochondria, will debut in April at Columbia University. Jarrow, who penned the musical Whisper House with Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik, wrote and composed the dark pulp comedy, which will receive a limited staging April 8-10 at Columbia's Shapiro Theatre (605 West 115 Street). More information here.

Jimmy Maize will direct a cast including Peter Balcke, Lauren Cipoletti, Will Dagger, Logan Hall, Leon Ingulsrud, Erika Rolfsrud and Margo Seibert.

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Colin Quinn Long Story Short will debut April 9 on HBO at 10 PM ET.

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Obie Award winner Eve Ensler will stage her theatre piece Swimming Upstream, about women in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as a one-night-only benefit March 21 at 7:30 PM at the Alley Theatre in Houston.

The writers include Carol Bebelle, Troi Bechet, Reverend Lois Dejean, Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Anne-Liese Juge Fox, Adella Gautier, Briceshanay Gresham, Herreast Harrison, Karen-kaia Livers, Tommye Myrick, Charice Harrison Nelson, Kathy Randels, Dollie Rivas, Dina Roudeze, Karel Sloane-Boekbinder and Carol Sutton.

Performing in the Houston engagement will be Fox, Livers, Ecclesiastes, Troi Bechet, Susan Wentz and singers Michaela Harrison and Leslie Blackshear Smith.

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Dallas Theatre Center’s 2011-12 season:

* The Tempest, Sept. 9-Oct. 9
* To Kill a Mockingbird, Oct. 21-Nov. 20
* A Christmas Carol, Nov. 25-Dec. 24
* Giant, Jan. 18 – Feb. 19, 2012
* Tigers Be Still, March 2-April 15, 2012
* God of Carnage, April 17-20, 2012
* Next Fall, April 26-May 20, 2012

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Brielle Silvestri and Ray DeJohn will present Love Me Like This: The Parachute Plays, an evening of theatre in support of of LGBTQ youth, March 14 at 7:30 PM at St. Luke’s Theatre. The evening, which will consist of original LGBTQ-themed works, will benefit The Trevor Project.

Audiences can expect short plays penned by Ian August, Ken Urban, J.T. Michael Taylor, Kevin R. Free, Joshua Conkel and Clay McLeod Chapman. Directors include Gretchen Ferris, Darren Katz, Scott Ebersold, Christopher Burris and Moritz von Stuelpnagel.

Among those actors who will bring these plays to life are Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal, Peter and the Starcatcher), Andrew Kober (Hair) and three of Les Cagelles from La Cage aux Folles (Sean Patrick Doyle, Nicholas Cunningham and Logan Kesler) as well as Bobby Moreno, Andy Phelan, Romy Nordlinger, Christopher Stokes, Michael Sutherland, Logan Ford, Stacy Ayn Price, Erin Mallon, John-Andrew Morrison, Shydel James and Tracey Lee.

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Video: Seth Rudetsky is obsessed with Farah Alvin: http://bit.ly/gW2Ent

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Colt Coeur's Play Hotel reading series will continue March 7 at 7 PM with a staged reading of Molly Goforth's (Don't) Look at Me at the CoCo Studio in NYC. RSVP here for the free reading.

Directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (Seven Minutes in Heaven), the cast will feature Katya Campbell, Curzon Dobell, Erin Felgar (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Meredith Holzman (After the Revolution), Eric Loescheider and Kate Roberts (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson).

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Tony Award winner Liliane Montevecchi will appear in a reading of John Meyer's Zazou, which is billed as a "comedy-thriller with songs," March 10 at 2 PM at the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios. A limited number of seats are available by contacting Mr. Meyer at jmeyr@earthlink.net.

Directed by John Znidarsic, the cast will also feature Robert Cuccioli, Christianne Tisdale, Roger Grunwald and Bruce Barton. Tex Arnold is the musical director.

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David Hyde Pierce will perform at the The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center's Center Dinner 2011, to be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on Monday, March 21, beginning at 6:30 PM. Tickets here.

The evening will honor Tom Kirdahy, who has produced on Broadway and is husband to playwright Terrence McNally. Five-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury and U.S. Representative Barney Frank will present the award to Kirdahy, who has been a Center board member since 2005.

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Fascinating article! Sheldon Harnick reflects on his life in musicals: http://bit.ly/gDDgLW

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John Doyle, who staged the Broadway revivals of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company, will take on the composer-lyricist's short-lived musical Merrily We Roll Along at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in March 2012. Doyle will again incorporate his directorial signature, the actor-musician conceit, into his staging of Merrily. Casting TBA.

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Hugh Jackman, Kristin Chenoweth and Andrea Martin recently took part in a reading of the award-winning musical On the Twentieth Century (book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman) for the Roundabout, according to Variety.

The industry paper also reports that Roundabout recently financed a reading of Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story, starring Jon Hamm, John Krasinski ("The Office") and Scarlett Johansson.

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Tovah Feldshuh will be the host and Rachel Dratch, Carson Kressley, and Bruce Vilanch will be the judges for the 5th annual Broadway Beauty Pageant!, to be held on Monday, March 21 at 8 PM at Symphony Space. Conceived by Jeffery Self and directed by Ryan J. Davis, the show will be musically directed by Christopher Denny.

Participants in this year's competition will be Matt Anctil (La Cage aux Folles), Mikey Cusamano (Chicago), Ray Lee (Anything Goes) Brandon Rubendall (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), and James Tabeek (Mary Poppins).

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Christopher Jackson, Morgan James, Mykal Kilgore, Kevin Massey, and Antuan Raimone will perform at The Bridge: Where Hope and Respect Come Together, to be offered at New World Stages on Monday, April 11 at 8 PM. Wayne Barker will serve as the musical director of the event, which will benefit the Crime Victims Treatment Center (CVTC) at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center.

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Betty Buckley will offer a one-night-only performance of For the Love of Broadway at Municipal Auditorium Music Hall in Kansas City, Missouri at 8 PM on April 2. Seth Rudetsky will serve as the accompanist for the performance.

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Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard has been named the recipient of the sixth annual Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera.

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Ann Harada and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell will star in a staged reading of Christine Toy Johnson's Internal Bleeding, to be held on the second floor of Actors' Equity Association (165 West 46 Street), on Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 PM. Robert McQueen will direct.

The reading will be the culmination of a short workshop exploring casting an actor with a disability (Mitchell) in a role that is written as both disabled and non-disabled. Afterwards, there will be a panel discussion about the results of the workshop.

The play will also feature Eddie Aldrich, Helen Farmer, Jaygee Macapugay and Ariel Estrada.

Admission is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. RSVP to Pearl Brady: 212-869-8530, ext. 346.

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Details from an email from the Spider-Man's producers, Michael Cohl and Jere Harris, that went out to the cast and crew on Friday. The email thanked the cast for their patience, support and dedication during 'trying times' and notes that they are aware they're at a pivotal moment in the show's history and will be 'making some very difficult choices,' the results of which will be 'revealed by the middle of next week'.

After five delays, the show is currently scheduled to open on March 15, but rumors have said that the show will likely be delayed again, possibly to June of 2011. A delay past April 28 would make it inelligible for this year's Tony Awards.

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GRACE NOTES - Friday, March 4, 2011

2011-03-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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This weekend’s highlights:

Friday, March 4

* Little Miss Sunshine opens at La Jolla Playhouse.

* Prometheus Bound, starring Gavin Creel and Lea DeLaria, opens at Cambridge’s A.R.T.

* reasons to be pretty opens at Boston’s Speakeasy Stage.

* The Legend of Buster Neal opens at Brooklyn's Billie Holiday Theatre.

* Starry Hello, Again begins performances at the Transport Group.

* Flare Path, starring Sienna Miller, begins previews at London's Theatre Royal, Haymarket.

* Hello Out There reading, starring Andrew Keenan Bolger and Ann Harada, at 2 PM at Playwrights Horizons. Industry only: HelloReadingMarch@gmail.com

* PaleyFest2011 begins at Beverly Hills Saban Theatre.

Saturday, March 5

* Treasure Island, starring Tom Hewitt, opens at Brooklyn's Irondale Center.

* God of Carnage begins previews at the Goodman Theatre.

* Ordinary Days closes at West End's Trafalgar 2 Studios.

Sunday, March 6

* That Championship Season opens on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

* Broadway Bares XIV at 6 PM at BB Kings.

* The 25th anniversary concert of Les Miz airs at 7 PM on PBS (check local listings).

* 33 Variations, starring Jane Fonda, closes at the Ahmanson.

* Avenue Q closes at the Pantages.

* Jane Austen's Emma, a romantic musical comedy, closes at The Old Globe.

* A Perfect Future closes at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

* Amadeus closes at Walnut Street Theatre.

* Carapace, directed by Judth Ivey, closes at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

* Mary closes at the Goodman.

* Moonlight and Magnolias closes at Burbank's Colony Theatre.

* She Loves Me closes at Civic Light Opera South Bay Cities.

* Cymbeline closes at DC's Shakespeare Theatre.

* Master Harold and the Boys closes at Ventura's Rubicon Theatre.

* Mlle. God closes at Ensemble Studio Theatre LA.

* My Scandalous Life closes at Irish Rep.

* The Catholic Girl's Guide to Losing Your Virginity closes at Burbank’s Falcon Theatre.

* The Subject Was Roses closes at George St. Playhouse.

* Thinner Than Water closes at the LABrynth Theatre.

* Three Sisters closes at Classic Stage.

* Break of Noon closes at the Geffen.

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The Old Globe has announced the presentation of a developmental workshop of Allegiance – A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo (music, lyrics and book) and Lorenzo Thione (book), the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II.

Directed by Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime) with musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company) and choreography by Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), the industry-only workshop will take place in New York City on July 27 and 28. allegiancemusical.com/

Lea Salonga, George Takei and Telly Leung are expected to recreate their roles.

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Adam Rapp’s The Hallway Trilogy has extended at Rattlestick Theater, now through March 27.

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Angela Lansbury and Friends, an all-star salute to Terrence McNally that will benefit The Acting Company, will be presented March 28 at the Longacre Theatre at 7 PM. The evening will be written and directed by John Doyle. Mary-Mitchell Campell serves as musical director.

Audra McDonald, Alan Cumming, Tyne Daly, Edie Falco, Roger Rees and Raul Esparza will sing, share memories and re-create scenes from dozens of McNally hits. John Glover, Marin Mazzie, Joyce DiDonato, Malcolm Gets, Emily Skinner, Alexandra Silber, Bobby Steggert, Jason Danieley and Stephen Bogardus will round out the evening.

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On March 16, Manhattan's Apollo Theater will host the first-ever Amateur Night: Broadway!

The Lion King Tony nominee Tsidii Le Loka and The Color Purple's Chaz Shepherd will co-host the amateur singing competition, which will begin at 7:30 PM. Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk's Jason Samuels Smith will be the evening's special guest performer.

"Aspiring singers, dancers and actors will hit the legendary Apollo stage attempting to impress the notoriously tough Amateur Night audience with their version of Broadway classics," according to press notes.

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Video: Kristin Chenoweth, Chita Rivera, Max von Essen, Barrett Foa guest star on Episode 4 of "Submissions Only": http://bit.ly/g2cu94

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Kevin Spacey will star in and executive produce the drama pilot "House of Cards.” The pilot is based on the novel and British miniseries of the same name, which depict political intrigue on Wall Street. No network is attached to the pilot, which will be executive-produced by Spacey, Eric Roth, Josh Donen and Dana Brunetti.

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Twyla Tharp will be presented with the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Spotlight Award June 2. The Movin' Out and Come Fly Away creator will also conceive a new piece for the company's 2011-2012 season.

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The world premiere of Charles Smith's The Gospel According to James will star Broadway's André De Shields in the title role at Indiana Rep, March 22-April 10. Chuck Smith will direct the production.

The cast will also feature Kelsey Brennan (Mary), Keith Gallagher (Claude), Marcus Hendricks (Tommy), Linda Kimbrough (Marie), Diane Kondrat (Bea), Christopher Jon Martin (Hoot), Anthony Peeples (Apples) and Tyler Jacob Rollinson (Abe).

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Video: Highlights from The Cripple of Inishman, coming to the Ahmanson April 5 : http://bit.ly/eUbsWA

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Jason Alexander and Gina Hecht will star in the El Portal’s production of The Prisoner of Second Avenue April 21-May 15 (opening night is set for April 23). Directed by Glenn Casale.

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Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas will climb into his family tree for the staged concert The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in the Yiddish Theater, with the New York Philharmonic April 5-6 at 7 PM at Avery Fisher Hall. Broadway's Judy Blazer and Shuler Hensley will appear as stage stars Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, Tilson Thomas' grandparents.

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Lesser America, a new theatre company formed by Daniel Abeles, Jonathan Blitstein, Nate Miller and Laura Ramadei, has been granted a residency by Theater For the New City. The residency, the first of its kind at the theatre, will afford the burgeoning company three full-scale productions in its inaugural year.

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Video: Highlights from A.R.T’s Prometheus Bound, starring Gavin Creel: http://bit.ly/eDP2RA

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The U.S. premiere of Scottish playwright Douglas Maxwell’s The Promise, about a troubled retired teacher who finds a connection with an unlikely pupil, will be staged at 59E59 Theaters, starring Joanna Tope. The comedic thriller toured to acclaim and will make its American debut March 29 for a limited run through April 17 under the direction of Johnny McKnight. An official opening has been set for April 3.

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Lonette McKee, who portrayed Julie in both the 1983 and 1994 Broadway revivals of Show Boat, will go it solo at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room April 5-30, directed by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Show times will be Tuesday-Thursday at 8:30 PM and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 PM and 11 PM. (212) 419-9331

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Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn will be among the participants Good Housekeeping's Shine On benefit, to be presented at Radio City Music Hall, on Tuesday, April 12. Rebecca Romijn will host.

This original 90-minute show will benefit the National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C., which is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contributions of women.

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Rock of Ages will begin previews at the West End's Shaftesbury Theatre on Aug. 31. An opening date as well as casting for the production will be announced in the near future.

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Video: Nick Adam’s Priscilla blog: http://bit.ly/h3bHPi

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Robert Newman will sleuth out some show tunes in the Theatre Under the Stars production of the Kander and Ebb musical Curtains in Houston this spring.

Known for his role on "Guiding Light," Newman will star as Lieutenant Frank Cioffi opposite fellow "Guiding Light" veteran and Emmy winner Kim Zimmer as producer Carmen Bernstein. Mark S. Hoebee will direct the valentine to Broadway that will run March 29-April 10 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

The cast will also include Ed Dixon, Amanda Rose, Kevin Kern, Helen Anker, David Elder and Broadway Daniel Marcus, along with Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Rye Mullis, Anne Horak, Monique Alhaddad, Ashley Arcemont, Joshua James Campbell, Lauren DeCierdo, Mathew DeGuzman, Taurean Everett, Becca Kloha, Mary Ann Lamb, Ian Liberto, Patrick O’Neill, Happy McPartlin, Alex Michael Stoll, Molly Tynes, Kyle Vaughn and Dana Winkle. 

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Unsubstantiated: Daniel Radcliffe is in talks for a How to Succeed film. The Daily Mail says "He mentioned in passing that there has been talk between him and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron about doing a big-screen version of How To Succeed."

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Also unsubstantiated: Might Kelsey Grammer return to La Cage, replacing Christopher Sieber, before Seiber opens?

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Video: Hannah Waddington sings "Red Shoes Blues," a new song from The Wizard of Oz: http://bit.ly/fAV3Td

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Stephen Sondheim will be the recipient of the Olivier Special Award at this year's Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony, to be held March 13 at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The ceremony, to be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 with additional live on-demand coverage on BBC TV, will include a tribute to the composer with a cast that includes Adrian Lester, who played Bobby in the last West End revival of Company that transferred to the Albery Theatre (now the Coward) from the Donmar Warehouse. More information here.

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The Ladies of D.I.V.A., Incorporated, The Society for Women in the Arts present a staged reading of Katori Hall's Saturday Night/Sunday Morning March 4 at 7:30 PM at the Riverside Church in Washington, DC. (212) 569-4618

"Set in a Memphis beauty shop/boarding house during the final days of WWII," Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, according to press notes, "tells the story of a group of African-American women struggling with the heartbreak of losing their men to the war and with the uncertainty of what the future may hold when, and if, their soldiers return."

A fundraiser for The Howard University Department of Theatre Arts, the reading is directed by Lynda Gravatt. The cast features Gravatt (Miss Mary), Harriett D. Foy (Dot), Gavin Lawrence (Buzz), Araba Brown (Gladys), Candace Hale (Taffy), Jabari A.K. Holder (Bobby), Lydia John (Mabel), Jamil Jude (Radio Announcer/Stage Directions), Chantal Nchako (Leanne), Carla Faye Pardo (Jackie) and Zurin Villanueva (Curlin' Curlin').

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A private reading of the new play Mother Justice by Michael Dice, Jr. will be presented March 4 at the Shepard Studio in Hollywood. Directed by Brian Nitzkin, the cast includes Melinda Augustina, Donnie Smith, Enrico Natale, Peter DeLuca, Max Bogner, Jonathan Salisbury, Mike Disch, Alan Aymie, Evan Cuthbert, Tania Verafield, Leslie Connelly, and Damian Pelliccione.

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GRACE NOTES - Thursday, March 3, 2011

2011-03-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* The Good People opens at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

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

* Comedy of Errors opens at Glendale’s A Noise Within.

* ‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Night Catechism 3 begins previews at Pasadena Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre.

* In a Forest Dark and Deep previews at London's Vaudeville Theatre.

* Steven Brinberg’s Simply Barbra (also on March 4) at 8 PM at LA’s MBar.

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Tony Yazbeck will play love-struck aviator Captain Billy Buck Chandler in Goodspeed's new production of My One and Only, playing April 15-June 25 (opening night is May 11.). Gabrielle Ruiz, who appeared in Broadway's In the Heights, will play Edythe Herbert. The production will be directed by Ray Roderick and choreographed by Kelli Barclay.

Additional casting: Prince Nicolai will be played by Khris Lewin; Mickey will be played by Kirsten Wyatt (Elf); Reverend J.D. Montgomery will be played by Trent Armand Kendall (Into the Woods); Mr. Magix will be played by Alde Lewis, Jr. (Big Deal and My One and Only); The New Rhythm Boys will be played by Victor J. Wisehart and Michael Ramey; the New Rhythm Girl will be Vasthy E. Mompoint (Mary Poppins, Hot Feet and Good Vibrations).

The ensemble will include Nancy Renee Braun, Brian Davis, Deanna Glover, Joe Grandy, Matthew Kilgore, Drew King, Lea Kohl, Jarran Muse, Kristyn Pope, Allison Kaye Rihn, and Kristen J. Smith. The swings will be Dan Gleason and Laurie Veldheer.

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GN quote of the week: “I made mistakes in drama. I thought drama was when actors cried. But drama is when the audience cries.” ~ Frank Capra

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Steppenwolf’s upcoming season:

* Clybourne Park, Sept. 8-Nov. 6
* Penelope, Dec. 1, 2011-Feb. 5, 2012
* Time Stands Still, Jan. 19-May 13, 2012
* The March, April 5-June 10, 2012
* Three Sisters, June 28-Aug. 26, 2012

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Rinne Groff's Compulsion and the Broadway-aimed Lisa D’Amour play Detroit are among the finalists for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award. Also selected are The Good Counselor by Kathryn Grant; The History of Invulnerability by David Bar Katz; Nine Circles by Bill Cain; and Splinters by Emily Schwend.

A committee of 13 theatre critics selected the six finalists, which were narrowed down from a group of 27 eligible scripts. The three top honors will be presented April 2 at Actors Theatre of Louisville during the Humana Festival of New American Plays.

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The American Theatre Wing’s original interview series, “Downstage Center” continues with an exclusive conversation with composer Stephen Schwartz. Interviewed at the keyboard, Schwartz chronicles his career from college to Wicked and beyond, dropping colorful details along the way such as how writing for animated films such as "Pocahontas" and "Prince of Egypt" is like working on a Broadway show; how he began seeking to option Wicked even before he'd read the book; recounting his involvement as a producer on the musical The Blue Flower, written by others, at American Repertory Theater - and why he won't be producing again; and talking about what he's learned about writing for the musical theatre from his 15 years running the ASCAP Musical Theater Workshop.

In addition to this lively, music-filled hour with Schwartz, all-new interviews with legendary playwright Alan Ayckbourn, Tony Award-winning Lighting Designer Natasha Katz, Director George C. Wolfe (A Free Man of Color), Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and actors Stockard Channing (Other Desert Cities), Fiona Shaw (John Gabriel Borkman) and Everett Quinton (The Witch of Edmonton) are now available online by visiting americantheatrewing.org/downstagecenter/.

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Video: Inside Priscilla’s Priscilla: http://bit.ly/eOFOCF

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Center Theatre Group has announced that American Idiot will play the Ahmanson Theatre March 14 - April 22, 2012, with the opening set for March 16.

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Casting is complete for LA’s The Blank Theatre’s final production of its 20th anniversary season, the West Coast premiere of The Temperamentals at 2nd Stage Theatre, 6500 Santa Monica Blvd. Directed by Michael Matthews, The Temperamentals will begin preview performances on Saturday, April 9 and is set to open on Saturday, April 16 at 8PM. The engagement will run through Sunday, May 22.

The cast features Erich Bergen, Dennis Christopher, Patrick Scott Lewis, Mark Shunock, John Tartaglia and Michael Matthews.

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Another Spider-Man musical has entered the mix: From the creators of Fat Camp and Perez Hilton Saves the Universe! comes Spidermusical, running March 15-21 at the Mint Theater. Book by Randy Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker, music by Matt roi Berger and lyrics by Blair. spidermusical.com/

Directed by Timothy Michael Drucker with choreography by Connor Gallagher and music direction by Kristen Lee Rosenfeld, the Equity-approved showcase will feature the talents of Alex Brightman (Wicked), Sara Chase (Toxic Avenger, First Wives Club), Randy Blair (Adding Machine), Steven Booth (Avenue Q, Glory Days), Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde, Spelling Bee), Katie Thompson (Giant, RRRed), Dana Steingold (Spelling Bee), Max Jenkins (The Last Goodbye), Sam Tedaldi and Jason Veasey (The Lion King).

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A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for Wicked, which will be performing from March 9 – April 3 at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Each day, 2½ hours prior to show time, people who present themselves at the Segerstrom Center Box Office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then 30 minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the Box Office, with a limit of two tickets per person.

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Theatermania interviews Dame Judi Dench about her new memoir and more: http://bit.ly/hyxGYO

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Jason Robert Brown and Georgia Stitt will be honored at the CAP21 Spring Gala on April 11 at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College to benefit CAP21: America’s Musical Theatre Conservatory & Theatre Company. Show time for the benefit concert is 7:30 PM.

Directed by Daisy Prince, the evening of songs by the husband-wife composers, will feature Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara, Christopher Jackson, Saycon Sengbloh, Jessica Molaskey, Brian d’Arcy James and more. The concert will also feature performances by Jason Robert Brown, Georgia Stitt, accompanied by a 9-piece band and a 30-voice chorus, under the musical direction of Thomas Murray. The evening will also include a special video appearance by Matthew Morrison, recipient of the CAP21 Distinguished Alumni Award.

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The Stephen Joseph Theatre, playwright Alan Ayckbourn's longtime artistic home in Scarborough, England, will produce the world-premiere productions of his plays Dear Uncle and Neighbourhood Watch in the 2011 summer season.

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Washington State's Village Theatre, which aided in the development of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, will debut two new musicals as part of its 2011-2012 season.

The first production will be Take Me America, by William Nabel (book and lyrics) and Bob Christianson (music), running Sept. 14-Oct. 13 in Issaquah and Oct. 28-Nov. 20 in Everett. The Richard Rodgers Award-winning work, inspired by true stories, was presented as part of the 2009 Village Originals Festival of New Musicals. The musical asks the question: “What happens when your life is at stake, and the only chance you have at survival lies in the hands of a complete stranger?”

Annie Get Your Gun will run Nov. 9-Dec. 31 in Issaquah and Jan. 26-29, 2012, in Everett. The Odd Couple will run Jan. 18-Feb. 26, 2012, in Issaquah and March 2-25, 2012, in Everett.

It Shoulda Been You, developed during the 2010 Village Originals Festival, will run March 14-April 22, 2012, in Issaquah and April 27-May 20, 2012, in Everett. It has book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove and music by Barbara Anselmi. The musical is described as…"wedding bells aren’t ringing, they’re clanging at the union of a Jewish bride and Catholic groom!"

The final production of the season will be The Producers, running May 9-July 1, 2012, in Issaquah and July 6-29, 2012, in Everett.

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Video: Sister Act’s Patina Miller sings “Fabulous, Baby”: http://bit.ly/gCFFJF

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New Jersey’s Surflight Theatre’s 2011 mainstage season:

* Rent, May 28-June 19
* Grease, June 22-July 10
* Love Letters, July 14-17, with Dawn Wells, Peter Marshall
* Art, July 19-31, with Judd Hirsch
* The Female Odd Couple, Aug. 4-21, with Cindy Williams, JoAnne Worley
* I Do! I Do!, Aug. 24-Sept. 4
* Plaid Tidings — A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid, Nov. 25-Dec. 23

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In a year marking the 100th anniversary of Tennessee Williams’ birth, A Noise Within presents Eccentricities of a Nightingale March 12-May 28 (opening night is March 19).

Directed by Dámaso Rodriguez, the cast features Deborah Puette, Jason Dechert, Jill Hill and Mitchell Edmonds, Christopher Callen, Darby Bricker, Dave Kirkpatrick, David LM McIntyre, Henry Todd Ostendorf, Jacque Lynn Colton, Karla Menjivar, Stefanie Demetriades and Tameé Seidling.

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Oberon, the American Repertory Theater’s destination for theater and nightlife on the fringe of Harvard Square, has announced their upcoming schedule:

* SPARKS! An evening of Robotics, Music and more, March 6, 7 PM
* The Last Butch Standing, with Lea DeLaria, March 13, 7:30 PM
* Billions of Bucks: A Cyberpunk Review, March 20, 7:30 PM
* An Evening with Robert Pinsky, March 27, 7 PM
* The Big Quiz Thing. The Ultimate Multimedia Trivia Experience, April 5, 7:30 PM

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The PS Classics CD "Love on a Summer Afternoon: Songs of Sam Davis" will come to life in an all-star performance at New York City's Birdland on March 21 at 7 PM.

Scheduled to appear are Kate Baldwin, Heidi Blickenstaff, Danny Burstein, Philip Chaffin, Will Chase, Sarah Corey, Santino Fontana, Jessica Herschberg, Edward Hibbert, Lauren Kennedy, Andy Mientus, David Hyde Pierce, Michele Ragusa, Daniel Reichard, Matthew Scott, Christopher Sieber, Bobby Steggert, Will Swenson and Betsy Wolfe.

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Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, FL, is reviving Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge March 3-20. Artistic director Kristen Coury directs.

Larry Bull (Broadway's The Coast of Utopia) plays Eddie Carbone, Gayton Scott (Broadway's The Women, Gypsy with Bernadette Peters) plays his strained wife Beatrice and recent NYU/Tisch School of the Arts graduate Kira McCarthy plays Catherine, their 17-year-old niece. Joseph R. Sicari (Off-Broadway's orginal Dames at Sea, Second Stage's Loose Ends) plays the sagacious neighborhood lawyer and narrator, Alfieri. The cast also includes Michael Serratore as Louis, Nick Duckart as Marco, Christian Pedersen as Rodolpho and Valerian Kuffel as the Immigration Officer.

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If It Only Even Runs a Minute 6, featuring "rare and inspiring songs, anecdotes, and photos from Broadway musicals that may not have been fully appreciated the first time around," will be presented March 28 at Le Poisson Rouge. Created and produced by Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Kevin Michael Murphy, the 7 PM performance will feature musical direction by Caleb Hoyer.

Currently scheduled to perform are Alexis Field, Alexis Fishman, Andrew Hollenbeck, Andrew Sotomayor, Anthony Rapp, Anne Bobby, Brian Gari, Courtney Balan, Debbie Gravitte, Jenny Donoghue, Jeremy Morse, Jill Eikenberry, Jim Stanek, Kara Guy, Kilty Reidy, Laura Jordan, Lauren Marcus, Mary Testa, Megan Kane, Michael Morch, Molly McCarthy-Egan and Tracy Weiler.

The concert will feature songs from and stories about Actor Lawyer Indian Chief, Brownstone, In My Life, In Trousers, Late Nite Comic, The Little Prince and the Aviator, Onward Victoria, Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don’t You Ever Forget It, Smile, So Long 174th Street, Story of My Life, Two on the Aisle and Zorba.

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Tony Award nominee Brian Murray has joined the cast of the Westport Country Playhouse reading of the 1941 Broadway thriller Angel Street, which will take place March 14.

Playhouse artistic advisor Anne Keefe will stage the one-night-only 7 PM presentation of Patrick Hamilton's London-set play that will also feature Mia Dillon, Molly Ephraim, Andrea Maulella and Mark Shanahan.

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Barbra Streisand, Barbara Cook, Bette Midler, Melissa Manchester, Lily Tomlin, and Reba McEntire are among the artists who will be featured alongside Barry Manilow on the new CD "Duets," to be released by Arista/Legacy on May 3.

The 15-track disc will feature one previously unreleased track, "You've Got a Friend," which Manilow and Manchester perform. Also on the disc are renditions of "Look to the Rainbow," sung with Cook; "I Won't Be the Last One to Let Go," which Manilow and Streisand perform; and "The Last Duet," delivered by Manilow and Tomlin.

Among the other artists featured on the recording will be Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan, Dionne Warwick, Sheena Easton, Kid Creole, and The Association, among others. Other tracks will feature such songs as "Hey Mambo," "Big City Blues," "Run to Me," "Summertime," and "Blue."

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Robert Cuccioli, Suzzane Douglas, Christine Marie Heath, Garth Kravits, Rob Richardson, Joel Robertson, David Sabella-Mills, Matthew Shepard, Julie Waldman and Susan Speidel will perform in the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum's The Best of Times: A Star-Studded Salute to the Tony Awards, to be held on April 9 at 8 PM. Stephen Kantrowitz will direct the event, which will have musical direction by Joe Elefante and will raise funds for the theater's ongoing work.

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Tracie Thoms will appear in the March 5 performance of For the Record: Baz Luhrmann, running at LA's Show at Barre. Directed by Shane Scheel and featuring musical direction by Chris Bratten, the production will continue through April 30.

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A staged reading of Martin Moran's solo show Analphabet will be offered on Monday, March 28 at LA's The Hayworth Theatre. The performance, to be directed by Seth Barrish, will benefit BC/EFA.

The play tells the dual stories of what happens when a middle aged actor meets an African refugee--a survivor of torture who is seeking asylum, and of a bewildered tourist's discovery at The Cradle of Human Kind on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

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In Trousers, the first of composer William Finn's Marvin trilogy, which also includes March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland, will play a limited engagement at the Duplex in Greenwich Village March 25, 26 and 28 at 9:30 PM. Samantha Saltzman directs with music direction by Eric K. Johnston.

The cast will feature Josh Scheer (national tour of Camelot; Singin' in the Rain at North Shore Music Theatre) as Marvin with Kate Erin Gibson, Chrysten Peddie and Nikki Van Cassele.

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GRACE NOTES - Wednesday, March 2, 2011

2011-03-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES - Tuesday, March 1, 2011

2011-03-01T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz opens at the London Palladium.

* Avenue Q previews at the Pantages.

* Linda Eder's new album, "Now", released on Sony Masterworks.

* The 1977 broadcast of The Norman Conquests released on DVD.

* "The Motown Sound", recorded at the White House, airs at 8 PM on PBS (check local listings).

* Harry Connick, Jr. In Concert on Broadway released on Blu-ray.

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Producers of Sister Act have announced what Broadway insiders have been whispering about for months: Tony Award-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane has signed on to revise the book for the Broadway production of the musical that first bowed in London in 2009.

When producers announced casting for the Broadway production Feb. 1, many of the characters were different than those listed in the London production, indicating that structural changes to the script were in store.

A Feb. 28 announcement states that Beane has authored "additional material" and will be working alongside the Steinkellners. While it will maintain the original West End score penned by Academy Award winner Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, Sister Act will get fresh directorial perspective from Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks. Peter Schneider staged the original West End premiere.

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One Night With Fanny Brice, a new musical play written, arranged, and directed by Chip Deffaa, and starring Farah Alvin, will make its Off-Broadway debut beginning March 16 at St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 West 46th Street (between Eighth & Ninth Aves). Opening night is set for Sunday, April 3 at 7PM.

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Full casting has been announced for the City Center Encores! production of Where's Charley? (book by George Abbott and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser), to run March 17-20. The production will be directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, with choreography by Alex Sanchez and musical direction by Rob Berman.

The principal cast will feature Sebastian Arcelus (Jack Chesney), Jeff Brooks (Brassett), Rebecca Luker (Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez), Dakin Matthews (Spettigue), Rob McClure (Charley Wykeham), Howard McGillin (Sir Francis Chesney), Jill Paice (Kitty Verdun), and Lauren Worsham (Amy Spettigue).

The company will include Dan Callaway, Meggie Cansler, Hannah Chin, Nick Cosgrove, Desiree Davar, Ashlee Dupre, Leah Edwards, Drew Frankin, Arlo Hill, Leah Horowitz, Jordan Hunt, Amy Justman, Max Kumangai, Analisa Leaming, Colby Lindeman, Angelina Mullins, Patricia Noonan, Weston Wells Olson, Lainie Sakakura, Tommy Scrivens, Kendall Sparks, Brendan Stimson and Amos Wolff.

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The Druid and Atlantic Theater Company production of The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh will open Wednesday, April 6, with one preview scheduled for April 5 at LA’s Kirk Douglas Theatre. Garry Hynes directs the production, which continues performances through May 1.

The cast includes Liam Carney, Nancy E. Carroll, Ingrid Craigie, Dermot Crowley, Clare Dunne, Laurence Kinlan, Dearbhla Molloy, Tadhg Murphy and Paul Vincent O’Connor.

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The Ojai Playwrights Conference launches its 14th season with its annual Benefit Gala themed Substance of Desire – a celebration of love, lust and laughter in the plays of Jon Robin Baitz. Scheduled for Saturday, March 26, the Benefit begins at 5:30 PM at Matilija Auditorium with a dramatic event created especially for this evening.

The all- star cast includes David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Kaczmarek, Stacy Keach, Ron Rifkin, Steven Weber, Noah Wyle and others to be announced.

Following the show, the festivities continue at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall with music, martinis, a gourmet dinner prepared by celebrity chef Michael Hollingsworth, the 2011 OPC Awards, and a live auction featuring fabulous trips and entertainment packages.

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The Pantages has announced its 2011-12 season:

* Come Fly Away, Oct. 19-30
* Wicked, Nov. 30, 2011-Jan. 22, 2012
* Mama Mia, March 27-April 8, 2012
* Billy Elliot The Musical, April 12-June 2, 2012
* The Addams Family, June 5-17
* Million Dollar Quartet, June 19-July 1, 2012
* La Cage aux Folles, July 10-29, 2012
* Memphis, July 31 – Aug. 12, 2012
* Riverdance, Nov. 15-20, 2012

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Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the world premiere of Roger Bean’s groovy new musical Summer of Love at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Summer of Love previews April 1 opens April 2 and continues through April 17. The show’s creator, Roger Bean, directs the production which also includes musical director/arranger Michael Borth, choreography by Lee Martino and musical direction by Michael Paternostro. Casting TBA.

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Casting has been announced for Project's Shaw's staged reading of George Bernard Shaw's Great Catherine and Annaajanska, The Wild Grand Duchess, to be offered at 7 PM on Monday, March 28 at the Players Club. David Staller will direct the performance and Jesse Green will be the evening's host.

The cast will feature Hannah Cabell, Rufus Collins, Richard Easton, Jayne Houdyshell, Charlotte Parry, A.J. Shively, Marilyn Sokol, Evan Thompson, and Diane Stilwell Weinberg.

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The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that their annual fund-raiser entitled Premiere Gala: “Opening Night” will be held at The Pasadena Playhouse on Friday, April 1 at 7 PM. The theatre’s auditorium will transform into a spectacular Grand Ballroom for the special event, complete with festivities that will include cocktails, dinner, dancing, merriment and live entertainment. Information and tickets: 626-921-1156 or blewis@pasadenaplayhouse.org

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Virginia’s Signature Theatre, through its groundbreaking American Musical Voices Project (AMVP), announces the world premiere of the musical comedy And the Curtain Rises (formerly known as Wheatley’s Folly), directed by Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages). Written by Joseph Thalken (music), Michael Slade (book) and Mark Campbell (lyrics), the musical begins performances on Thursday, March 17 and continues to April 10.

Inspired by true events, And the Curtain Rises tells the outrageous and funny story of how the first American musical – 1866’s legendary The Black Crook – was born.

The cast features Nick Dalton (William Wheatley), Rebecca Watson (Millicent Cavendish), Kevin Carolan (C.H. Morton), Jennifer Smith (Rose Morton), Sean Thompson (Charles Barras), Alma Cuervo (Mme. Grimaud), Anna Kate Bocknek (Marie Bonfant), Erick Devine (Jeremiah Burnett), Brian Sutherland (Roman Korda), Erik Altemus (George C. Boniface), William Diggle (James Timoney), and a host of ballerinas.

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Video: Get to know Gavin Lee: http://bit.ly/g8uZz4

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MCC Theater has announced that Associate Artistic Director Will Cantler has been promoted to the position of Artistic Director, effective immediately. Cantler will assume the role alongside existing MCC Artistic Directors and co-founders Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey.

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The West Coast premiere of Daddy (by Dan Via) has extended for a second time, now through April 10 at Hollywood’s Hudson Mainstage.

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The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway, which was taped live at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre New York in January, will debut March 19 on HBO at 10 PM.

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New York City Center has announced the launch of an iPhone app that allows theatregoers to purchase tickets for all City Center performances, including Encores! and Manhattan Theatre Club productions, directly from their mobile device.

The free app includes up-to-date performance schedules, cast biographies and photos, as well as videos, behind-the-scenes interviews and special ticket offers. In the near future it will also allow for City Center employees to scan tickets directly from the iPhone screen when theatregoers purchase tickets with the app.

Tickets are available for City Center performances of Encores!, MTC, the Pearl Theatre Company, the Fall for Dance Festival, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre and Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Download and test the app for free here.

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David Garrison completes the cast of Lynn Nottage's new play, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, which gets its world premiere by Second Stage Theatre this spring. The comedy also features the previously announced Stephanie J. Block, Daniel Breaker, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Kevin Isola, Sanaa Lathan and Karen Olivo.

Directed by Jo Bonney, the production will begin preview performances on April 6 and officially open on May 9 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theater (305 West 43rd Street).

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British stage star Connie Fisher will play Ruth Sherwood in a revival of the musical comedy, Wonderful Town at the Lowry, March 31-April 14, directed by Royal Exchange artistic director Braham Murray.

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Video: Billy Crudup, Raul Esparza, Grace Gummer, David Leveaux and the cast of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia discuss the show's new Broadway revival: http://bit.ly/e5pxem

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Charles Busch, currently starring Off-Broadway in The Divine Sister, will make a special guest appearance at a cabaret benefit for the theater company TOSOS (The Other Side of Silence), to be held at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Wednesday, March 16 at 9:30 PM. The evening will celebrate Doric Wilson's 50 years as a playwright. Mark Finley will direct, with musical direction by Steve Ross. 212-695-6909

Performers at the benefit will include Joanne Beretta, Alex Bond, Christopher Borg, J.Stephen Brantley, Morry Campbell, Lodi Carr, Jamie Heinlein, Robert Locke, Michael Lynch, Susan Marie Pierson, Scott Ross, Zachary Stains, Karen Stanion, KT Sullivan, Aaron Tone, and Chris Weikel.

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Casting has been announced for Berkeley Rep's production of Sarah Ruhl's adaptation of: Anton Chekhov's The Three Sisters, to run April 8- May 22. The production will be directed by Les Waters.

The cast features David Abrams (Fedotik), James Carpenter (Chebutykin), Richard Farrell (Ferapont), Cobe Gordon (Rode), Emily Kitchens (Natasha), Bruce McKenzie (Vershinin), Alex Moggridge (Andrei), Barbara Oliver (Anfisa), Natalia Payne (Masha), Keith Reddin (Kulygin), Thomas Jay Ryan (Tuzenbach), Wendy Rich Stetson (Olga), Heather Wood (Irina), and Sam Breslin Wright (Solyony).

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Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang will narrate a concert version of the new musical, Great Wall, his collaboration with composer Kevin So and writer/director Kevin Merritt, at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, March 29 at Joe’s Pub. Francis Jue and Christopher Yee will star in the presentation.

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Audio: Matthew Morrison released his first single, "Summer Rain," which will appear on his forthcoming solo album, due out later this year. Listen to the song here.

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Cybill Shepherd will star as Dolly Gallagher Levi in North Carolina Theatre's production of the musical Hello, Dolly!, May 7-15 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Casey Hudson will direct the production. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

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Hollywood’s Mutineer Theatre Company presents a world premiere play, The Woodpecker, written by Samuel Brett Williams and directed by Jon Cohn. The production will preview on Friday, March 4 and will open on Saturday, March 5 and run through Sunday, April 3 at the Studio/Stage Theatre, 520 N. Western Blvd. in Los Angeles.

It's Jimmy's last day before going to war, he's addicted to glue, his mom is seeing visions in the sweet potato casserole, and his wheelchair-bound dad can kick his ass. Battered by his father’s impossible expectations, his mother’s delusional addiction, and the sweltering heat of the Arkansas summer, Jimmy turns to the only friend he has and pleads for help. God answers him with the rare and elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.

The cast features: Ryan Nealy, Brian Norris, Andrew Price, Mark Withers and Tamara Zook.

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Andrew Lloyd Webber talks Wizard of Oz, Evita, Love Never Dies, his health, his next show and more: http://bit.ly/eZ4TIA

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Nominations for the 2011 Helen Hayes Awards, representing excellence in the Washington, DC-area theatre community, have been announced:

Mixed in with the respected and talented resident artists who may not have a national profile are more widely known theatre people, including Phylicia Rashad (every tongue confess), Marc Kudisch (Sycamore Trees), Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood) and Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins), costume designer William Ivey Long (Henry VIII), songwriters Ricky Ian Gordon (Sycamore Trees), Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler (Snow White, Rose Red (and Fred)), playwright David Ives (The Liar), scenic designer Eugene Lee (Oklahoma!) and director Mary Zimmerman (Candide), among others.

The awards will be presented at 8 PM on April 25 at The Warner Theatre and JW Marriott Hotel. For a complete list of nominees, click here.

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After exploring the idea of extending its sold-out and acclaimed production of Three Sisters, the leaders of Off-Broadway's Classic Stage will rest on their success. The run will end as scheduled on March 6.

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RIP: Screen siren and stage veteran Jane Russell died at her home in Santa Maria, California on Monday, Feb. 28 of respiratory failure. She was 89. Russell appeared on Broadway in the original production of Company, replacing Elaine Stritch in the role of Joanne.

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Have you ever found love in unexpected places? Tell us your story of finding love and romance and you could win the ultimate Cactus Flower prize pack: 2 tickets to see the show, a $100 gift certificate for dinner at Elsewhere restaurant, and essie's new spring collection of nail colors. Celebrate the arrival of Spring with Cactus Flower, now playing at The Westside Theatre.

The contest ends March 11. Click here to enter.

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Betty Buckley will offer a one-night-only performance of Broadway By Request as the centerpiece of the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts' annual gala, to be held on April 9 at 8 PM at the Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College .

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Elton John will host the April 2 episode of "Saturday Night Live."

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The Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific will next premiere in the UK at the Barbican Theatre from Aug. 12-Oct.1. Casting TBA.

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Stephen Fry, who made his own contribution to British musical theatre history when he did the book revisions to the hit 1980s West End and Broadway revival of Me and My Girl, will host The Great British Musical, a one-night celebration of the past and future of the genre to be held at the West End's Criterion Theatre April 10. The performance is being held to benefit Perfect Pitch Musicals.

The company will also feature Peter Polycarpou, Michael Xavier and Emma Williams (all recently seen in Howard Goodall's new musical Love Story), Hadley Fraser, Paul Keating, Julie Atherton, Steven Webb, Sophia Ragavelas, Jack Shalloo, Dougal Irvine, Jodie Jacobs, John Addison and Stuart Matthew Price.

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Kwame Kwei-Armah has been named artistic director of Centerstage in Baltimore. He replaces Irene Lewis, who will become the theater's Artistic Director Emeritus on July 1.

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An updated list of participating artists has been announced for The 24 Hour Musicals, to be held at Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan, on March 7. Ted Sperling will serve as creative director. Information and tickets here.

Participants will now include America Ferrera, Anthony Rapp, Daniel Goldstein, Debby Boone, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Julian Fleisher, Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk, Kristoffer Diaz, Mandy Gonzalez, Marc Kudisch, Nat Wolff, Nellie McKay, and Richard Kind.

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GRACE NOTES - Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

2011-02-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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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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GRACE NOTES - Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

2011-02-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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This weekend’s highlights:

Friday, Feb. 25

* Circle Mirror Transformation opens at Kansas City Rep.

* The Adventures of Pinocchio opens at LA's Deaf West Theatre.

* First Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival opens at LA's Circle X Theatre.

* Love Sucks opens at West Hollywood's Coast Playhouse.

* Prometheus Bound, starring Gavin Creel and Lea DeLaria, begins performances at ART.

* Kin begins previews at Playwrights Horizons.

* The Dream of the Burning Boy begins previews at Roundabout Underground.

* Yellowman begins previews at Trinity Rep.

* Lin-Manuel Miranda joins Freestyle Love Supreme at 7 PM at Irving Plaza.

* Being Harold Pinter reading, starring James Cromwell and Ed Harris, at 7:30 PM at LA Theatre Center.

* Dear Edwina closes at DR2 Theatre.

Saturday, Feb. 26

* A House Not Meant to Stand opens at LA's Fountain Theatre.

* How to Succeed... begins previews on Broadway at the Al Hirshfeld Theatre.

* Arcadia begins previews on Broadway at the Barrymore Theatre.

* Lost in Yonkers, starring Judy Kaye, begins performances at Arizona Theatre Company.

* Comedy of Errors begins previews at Glendale’s A Noise Within.

* Having It All, directed by Richard Israel, begins previews at NoHo Arts Center.

* Atlantic Theatre's A New York Idea closes at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

* Baby Wants Comedy, improvised musical, closes at SoHo Playhouse.

* Flora the Red Menace closes at Texas' Lyric Stage.

* LCT3's When I Come to Die closes Off-Broadway at the Duke on 42nd St.

Sunday, Feb. 27

* The Academy Awards at 8 PM (ET) on ABC. Print a ballot here.

* Songs from the Michael Cerveris-produced Nine Lives at 6 PM at Symphony Space.

* Where The Bison Run reading at 7 PM at Ars Nova. Reservations: rsvp@arsnovanyc.com.

* Gigi, starring Millicent Martin, Matt Cavenaugh and Jason Graae, closes at Reprise.

* Death of a Salesman begins previews at The Old Globe.

* Interviewing the Audience closes at the Vineyard.

* The Road to Qatar closes at the York Theatre.

* A Trip to Bountiful closes at Cleveland Playhouse.

* Cats closes at Long Beach's Musical Theatre West.

* Lucky Dick closes at South Coast Rep.

* Mistakes Were Made closes at Barrow Street Theatre.

* Rogue Machine's Dirt closes at LA's Theatre/Theater.

* The Author closes at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

* The Drowsy Chaperone closes at Fullerton's Plummer Auditorium.

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Victory at the Motion Picture Theatre Fund hospital – a true Hollywood David and Goliath story: http://bit.ly/fZCDbn

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The world premiere of The Next Fairy Tale will be presented by LA’s Celebration Theatre. Previews begin March 2, with an opening set for March 11.

The Next Faily Tale (Book, Music and Lyrics by Brian Pugach) will be directed by Michael Shepperd, with Music Direction and Vocal Arrangements by Wayne Moore and choreography by Jeffrey Polk. The cast features Rachel Genevieve, Christopher Maikish, Gina Torrecilla, Kendra Munger, Patrick Gomez, Charls Sedgwick Hall, Stephanie Fredricks, Nell Teare, Vash Bodie and Ben Caron.

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The Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Avenue), in its forthcoming exhibition Joel Grey / A New York Life, examines the enduring impact that legendary actor Joel Grey and his adopted city have made on each other. Through rare artifacts from his stage and screen career, objects from his personal collection, and his own photography, MCNY offers a unique look at New York through Grey’s eyes as well as a visual retrospective of his career.

The exhibition’s opening night reception will take place on the evening of Monday, April 11, which is also Grey’s 79th birthday. It will open to the public the following day, and remain on display through Monday, Aug. 8.

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Things To Ruin: The Songs of Joe Iconis is returning to le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleeker St.) for four performances (Feb. 28 at 10 PM, March 7 at 7:30 PM, March 20 at 10:30 PM and March 28 at 10:30 PM). The show will celebrate the recent release of the "Things To Ruin" cast album by Sh-K-Boom/ Ghostlight Records (order here), and will feature many of the original cast members.

Things To Ruin is an incendiary collection of songs by Kleban and Larson Award Winner Joe Iconis (The Black Suits, ReWrite, Plant That Ate Dirty Socks, The Rock and Roll Jamboree, Bloodsong of Love). It is a theatrical rock concert about human beings who are messy, emotional, drugged up, knocked down, inspired, electric and who don't have nearly enough time to cause the kind of commotion they so desperately need to. Performed by a cast of viciously talented young singers and a highly flammable four-piece band led by Joe himself, Things To Ruin rocks with an occasionally profane and always heartfelt explosion of music and high drama.

The show features Nick Blaemire, Carrie Manolakos, Eric William Morris, Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams, Starr Busby and Katrina Rose Dideriksen (Hairpsray). Things To Ruin is directed by John Simpkins, with musical supervision by Matt Hinkley and choreography by Jennifer Werner.

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The Off-Broadway production of the provocative new play, A Perfect Future, by David Hay, will give its final performance on Sunday evening, March 6 at 7 PM at the Cherry Lane Theater (38 Commerce Street).

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Gayfest NYC, the country’s premier arts organization devoted to the discovery, development and production of new LGBT-themed plays, has announced its Annual Gala, Spring At Last!, benefitting the students of Harvey Milk High School. The event will be held Monday, March 21 at Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue) with special guest appearances by Wanda Sykes, Michael Urie and Lance Horne.

The evening’s activities will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, celebrity entertainment and silent & live auctions. Information and tickets: 212-352-3101

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The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards, which will feature musical numbers from the nominated New York stage productions, will be held May 23 at 8 PM at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center, located at 34th Street and 8th Avenue.

There will be a gala sit-down dinner, prepared by celebrity chefs, during which the awards will be presented to outstanding productions and creative talent for the 2010-2011 season.

The Drama Desk Awards ceremony, which will be directed by Jeff Kalpak, will be filmed in HD for a television special that will be given two primetime airings plus four additional national broadcasts on Ovation between June 2 and June 15.

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Tony Award winner James Earl Jones has been “elected” to play the former President of the United States in the upcoming Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man in the spring of 2012.

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RIP. Max Wilk, a novelist, a nonfiction chronicler of show business subjects, playwright, screenwriter — and a dramaturg for the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center for more tham 25 years — died Feb. 19 at his home in Westport, CT, the O'Neill Festival reported. Mr. Wilk was 90.

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The Broadway revival of Chicago will welcome back two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber next month, who will again step into the role of Billy Flynn (replacing Brent Barrett) for a limited engagement beginning March 8 and continuing through March 25. Barrett will rejoin the show March 26.

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Video: How to Succeed… director-choreographer Rob Ashford in conversation with star Daniel Radcliffe: http://bit.ly/gYWsBG

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A by-invitation-only reading of the musical Hello Out There will be presented March 4 at 2 PM at Playwrights Horizons. Hello Out There has book and lyrics by Eric Price and music by Frank Terry. Industry only: HelloReadingMarch@gmail.com.

Benjamin Endsley Klein will direct a cast that features Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Ann Harada, Etai BenShlomo, Dana Steingold, Erik Liberman, Emily Shoolin and Jim Poulos.

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Casting has been announced for Liberty Smith, the musical comedy about a fictional patriot's encounters with figures from the American Revolution. Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, will produce the show March 23-May 21.

The musical — previously seen in developmental presentations in New York City — is based on an original story by Marc Madnick and Eric R. Cohen, with music by Michael Weiner, lyrics by Adam Abraham and book by Madnick, Cohen and Abraham.

Matt August will direct a cast that includes Kelly Karbacz as Betsy Ross' niece Emily Andrews, Gregory Maheu as George Washington, Christopher Bloch as Benjamin Franklin, Donna Migliaccio as Betsy Ross and Richard Pelzman as Paul Revere, plus Matthew A. Anderson, Michael Bunce, Drew Eshelman, James Konicek, Gia Mora, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Bobby Smith, Lauren Williams and Harry A. Winter.

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Malcom Gets chats about Little Miss Sunshine at La Jolla Playhouse: http://bit.ly/fV0c9R

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Mark Linn-Baker, Jimmy Ray Bennett, Pamela Bob, Steven Booth, Kate Fisher, Julian Fleisher, Christa Justus, Richard Maltby, Jr., Cassie Wooley, and Karen Ziemba will be among the performers in Say We Flew: The Andrew Gerle Songbook Release Concert, to be presented at Joe's Pub on Sunday, March 27 at 7 PM.

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People's Improv Theatre will offer a one-night only performance of the new show, The Spidey Project, at People's Improv Theatre on Monday, March 14 at 8 PM. The performance will be offered free-of-charge and tickets will be available at the company's website (thepit-nyc.com) beginning March 4 at 12:01 AM.

As previously reported, this Spider-Man Smackdown was conceived by humorist and writer Justin Moran, working with writer Jon Roufaeal and composers Adam Podd and Doug Katsaros, who are writing, rehearsing, and performing a fully realized musical based on the character Spiderman in under 30 days with a budget of $0.

Video: First rehearsal: http://bit.ly/dJ8Fgf

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According to the New York Times, a third Spider-Man show will be making its New York debut this March. The Tank (W. 45th Street) will welcome Seattle import Spiderman (created by John Osebold) on March 13 for three performances. News of this third Spidey show comes just days after The Spidey Project was announced for a run at People's Improv Theatre on March 14. There is still no word if Broadway's Spider-Man will open as scheduled or if the show will see yet another delay.

Read the full NY Times article here.

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Berkshire Theatre Festival's summer/fall season:

* Songs From the Great American Songbook, June 2.
* Moonchildren, June 28-July 16, directed by Karen Allen
* The Who's Tommy, July 7-16, starring Randy Harrison, directed by Eric Hill.
* Sylvia, July 12-30
* Dutch Masters, July 19-Aug. 6
* In The Mood, Aug. 2-13
* Finian’s Rainbow, Aug. 9-27, directed by Kyle Fabel
* Tommy Tune in Steps In Time: A Broadway Biography In Song And Dance, Aug. 11
* Proof, Aug. 16-Sept. 3
* Birthday Boy (world premiere), Aug. 30-Sept. 3 & Sept. 29-Oct. 16.
* New York Times columnist Frank Rich, Oct. 9
* David Sedaris, Oct. 19
* Arlo Guthrie: Boys Night Out, Nov. 19

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The Red Bull Theater's "In the Raw" workshop of Margaret, A Tyger's Heart, exploring the role of the French Queen throughout Shakespeare's history plays, begins public performances Feb. 25 at the Theater at St. Clement's.

Michael Sexton directs the work, which has been adapted from Shakespeare's Richard III and Henry VI. Performances will run through Feb. 27.

The cast includes Randy Harrison, Kate Forbes, Craig Baldwin, Jacob Fishel, Jason Butler Harner, Robert Stanton, Michael Stewart Allen and David Townsend.

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A new Off-Broadway production of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent will begin an open-ended run at New World Stage on July 14, according to The New York Times. It will open officially on Aug. 11 and will be directed by Michael Greif, who helmed the show's original production. Auditions will be held in March.

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Tony Award winner Julie White has joined the cast of the ABC comedy pilot "Smothered," which focuses on a young couple who find themselves smothered by their two very different sets of parents. White is scheduled to play the woman's scrappy mom. The show will also feature Kyle Howard.

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Andrea McArdle and her real-life daughter, Alexis Kalehoff, will play mother and daughter in TheatreZone's upcoming production of Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers. The production, directed by Mark Danni, will play ten performances at the Naples, FL, venue March 10-20.

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Tony Award winners Katie Finneran and Dan Fogler have both been cast in television pilots.

Finneran will be one of the leads in Fox's comedy "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," which centers on two women who have daughters just like the girls who picked on them in high school.

Fogler has been cast as one of the leads in the ABC comedy "Man Up." Written by Chris Moynihan, the project centers on Will, a happily married father of two, his brother-in-law Kenny (to be played by Fogler) and Will's lovelorn pal Craig.

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GRACE NOTES - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011

2011-02-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* Divine Rivalry opens at Hartford Stage.

* Nursing, Part III of Adam Rapp’s The Hallway Trilogy, opens at Rattlestick.

* Book of Mormon begins previews at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre.

* Cactus Flower, starring Maxwell Caulfield, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Westside Theatre Upstairs.

* Free SCFTA’s Rock of Ages mini-concert at 1 PM at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza.

* Thurgood, starring Laurence Fishburne, debuts at 9 PM on HBO.

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The cast of Broadway's extended production of The Importance of Being Earnest will welcome Brian Murray, Jayne Houdyshell and Jessie Austrian to the American Airlines Theatre on March 22. They will replace Paxton Whitehead, Dana Ivey and Sara Topham, respectively, in the roles of Rev. Chasuble, Miss Prism and Gwendolen Fairfax.

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Laughing Literally: This Ain’t No Tea Party, a new evening of comedy with music and multi-media presentations, will make its Off-Broadway debut beginning March 14 at the Midtown Theatre, 163 West 46th Street. Opening night is set for Thursday, March 24 at 7 PM. This strictly limited engagement is set to run through May 22 only.

Justin Krebs directs a rotating cast that includes John Fugelsang, Jim David, Dean Obeidallah, Baratunde Thurston, Negin Farsad, Lee Camp, Katie Halper, and Elon James White.

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Pacific Resident Theatre offers the first reading in their Gala Reading Series, celebrating the theatre’s 25th anniversary. Featuring original New York cast members Christine Lahti and Ron Rifkin, Three Hotels, by John Robin Baitz, will be presented Sunday, March 13 at 7 PM.

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Pasadena Playhouse has announced the extension of Dangerous Beauty, due to popular demand. The production will now close one week later, on March 13.

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GN quote of the week: “The best research for playing a drunk is being a British actor for 20 years.” ~ Michael Caine

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Are you an Idiot?

An American Idiot national tour will be launched this fall. They're looking for newcomers to star.

The tour's start date and city were not announced. An open casting call for all roles will be held in Los Angeles March 5, Toronto March 26, Boston April 9 and Chicago April 23 this spring.

Locations and times for the open-call auditions in Toronto, Boston and Chicago will be announced soon at facebook.com/americanidiotbroadway.

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Video: Sutton Foster and Joel Grey chat about Anything Goes: http://bit.ly/gO4kNG

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The National Theatre has announced complete casting for its production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, which begins previews on March 10 in the company's Olivier Theatre.

Alongside the previously reported Zoe Wanamaker, playing Ranyevskaya, the company will feature Claudie Blakley (as Varya), Mark Bonnar (Trofimov), Pip Carter (Yepihodov), Kenneth Cranham (Firs), Paul Dodds, Craige Els, Mark Fleischmann, Colin Haigh, Conleth Hill (Lopakhin), Gerald Kyd (Yasha), James Laurenson (Gaev), Tim McMullan (Simyonov-Pischik), Jessica Regan, Tim Samuels, Emily Taaffe (Dunyasha), Stephanie Thomas, Joseph Thompson, Rosie Thomson, Ellie Turner, Charity Wakefield (Anya) and Sarah Woodward (Charlotta). Howard Davies will direct the production, which will be designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Neil Austin, music by Dominic Muldowney and sound by Paul Groothuis. More information here.

The National has also announced full casting for the musical London Road, which, directed by Rufus Norris, will begin previews on April 7 in the Cottesloe Theatre in anticipation of an official opening on April 14. With book and lyrics by Alecky Blythe, music and lyrics by Adam Cork, the piece focuses how the everyday life of the rural town of Ipswich was shattered by the discovery of the bodies of five women and the subsequent investigation of the murder.

For this show, Clare Burt, Hal Fowler, Howard Ward and Duncan Wisbey will join Rosalie Craig, Kate Fleetwood, Nick Holder, Claire Moore, Michael Shaeffer, Nicola Sloane, and Paul Thornley. More information here.

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Ruby Dee, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, George Faison, Woodie King, Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Tamara Tunie, Jeffrey Wright, Irene Gandy, Donna Walker- Kuhne, Patricia Cruz, and Howard Dodson, along with The Shubert Organization will be honored by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, The Harlem Arts Alliance and The Broadway League in a ceremony to be held at Gran Piatto d'Oro on Feb. 28. In addition, playwright August Wilson will receive a posthumous honor from the organizations.

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Second Stage Theatre has announced the two world premiere comedies it will present as part of its 2011 Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series, at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre.

In Michael Mitnick's Sex Lives of Our Parents (June 7 - July 3), Virginia is getting married. As her wedding day approaches, unwanted ghosts of her mother's past appear, unearthing a shocking past she never knew -- nor wanted to. Davis McCallum will direct.

Anna Kerrigan's The Talls (Aug. 1-27), directed by Carolyn Cantor, centers on 17-year-old Isabelle Clarke, who must negotiate Catholicism, politics and virginity in the 1970's.

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Video: Guess That Show #2: http://bit.ly/en8ty5

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The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival will honor four women for their exceptional career and life achievements at its Opening Night Gala on March 24 at The Electric Lodge in Venice:

Suzanna Guzman
Velina Hasu Houston
Charmaine Jefferson
Joan Benedict Steiger

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The Billie Holiday Theatre continues its 39th season with the world premiere of The Legend of Buster Neal, written and directed by Jackie Alexander. The new play began previews Feb. 18 and will open March 4, running through March 27 at the 200-seat Billie Holiday Theatre, Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The Legend of Buster Neal is the story of five generations of African-American men and their challenges. Charles Anthony Burks, Sidiki Fofana, Stephen Hill, Dennis Johnson, Patrick Mitchell, and Nathan Purdee star.

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Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart will make its Broadway debut this spring, using elements from a starry reading that was seen in October. Joel Grey, who will be seen in the upcoming revival of Anything Goes, will again direct.

Performances will begin at the Golden on April 19 with an official opening scheduled for April 27 (The play will share its opening night with Baby It's You!, which is also scheduled to open April 27, at the Broadhurst).

As he did in the earlier reading, Tony winner Joe Mantello will star as Ned Weeks, along with John Benjamin Hickey as Ned's lover, Felix Turner; and Ellen Barkin, in her Broadway debut, as Dr. Emma Brookner. The NY Times reports that Cheyenne Jackson is currently in negotiations to be part of the cast. Read the full NY Times article here.

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The Tony Award-winning Chicago Shakespeare Theater will open its 2011-12 season this fall with Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's musical Follies, directed by Gary Griffin, who will use the same approved Follies script as the upcoming spring revival by the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The Chicago production will be staged in CST's Courtyard Theater Oct. 4-Nov. 6.

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The short-lived Broadway musical Glory Days (book by James Gardiner, score by Nick Blaemire), about a group of high school friends who reunite after their first year away at college, will bow in Los Angeles March 17 at the Lillian Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, part of the Elephant Theatre complex). Calvin Remsberg will direct the 90-minute musical that will officially open March 19 for a run through May 8. James May will serve as music director.

The Los Angeles cast will include Alex Robert Holmes as Skip, Derek Klena as Will, Matthew Koehler as Andy, Ian Littleworth as Jack and understudies Jeffrey Scott Parsons and Alex Martinez Wallace.

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Kate Baldwin, Tituss Burgess, and Lauren Kennedy will perform at an event celebrating the release of Thirteen Stories Down: The Songs of Jonathan Reid-Gealt, to be held on Wednesday, March 30 at 5 PM at the Barnes & Noble at 150 E 86th Street.

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Mandy Gonzalez, America Ferrera, Julian Fleisher, Richard Kind, Marc Kudisch, Nellie McKay, Anthony Rapp, and Nat Wolff will be among the participating artists in The 24 Hour Musicals, to be held at Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan, on March 7 at 8 PM. Ted Sperling will serve as creative director. 24hourplays.com/

The program will feature four brand new musicals, written, cast, rehearsed and performed in a single day, featuring an star-studded line up of Broadway performers, composers, writers, directors, choreographers and musical directors. Additional artists will be announced at a later date.

Following the performance, a VIP reception will take place at The National Arts Club. Proceeds from The 24 Hour Musicals benefit the Exchange, a NYC not-for-profit that develops new theatre work through productions and its development center for innovative theatre companies and artists in the Catskills, the Orchard Project.

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SpeakEasy Stage (539 Tremont Street in Boston) presents the New England Premiere of Neil LaBute’s provocative drama reasons to be pretty March 4-April 2. Paul Malone directs a cast that includes Burt Grinstead, Andy MacDonald, Danielle Muehlen and Angie Jepson.

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The National Entertainment Fund for the Cultural Arts have announced participating artists for the 7th Annual Broadway Purim Shpiel, to be held on Monday, March 14 at 7 PM at the Hudson Theatre. Proceeds will benefit The Birthright Israel Foundation, an organization dedicated to sending young Jews from across the world to Israel.

Playwright David Mamet will open the proceedings with a personal message, and there will be a screening of a new short film by the award-winning playwright and director.

Performers will include Dave Attell, Kevin Earley, Curtis Holbrook, Garrett Long, Anne L. Nathan, and cast members from The Addams Family, Mamma Mia!, and other shows.

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Video: Oscar promo - Anne Hathaway's "Don't Cry for Me Argentina": http://bit.ly/dNW1hJ

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Simon Callow has won the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography for "My Life in Pieces." The £2,000 prize, established in 2008, is given for the best biography, autobiography or diary in theater or show business from the preceding year in honor of biographer Sheridan Morley.

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The 2011 edition of Broadway Bears will be held on Sunday, March 6 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, beginning at 6 PM. Bryan Batt will host the event, which benefits BC/EFA.

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GRACE NOTES - Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011

2011-02-23T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* The Dream of the Burning Boy opens at Roundabout Underground.

* Paraffin, Part II of Adam Rapp’s The Hallway Trilogy, opens at Rattlestick.

* August: Osage County, starring Josie de Guzman, opens at Houston's Alley Theatre.

* In Mother Words opens at the Geffen.

* Private Lives begins performances at London's Manchester Royal Exchange.

* A House Not Meant to Stand begins previews at LA's Fountain Theatre.

* The Idealist reading, starring Tony Roberts, Martin Vidnovic and Alison Pill, at 8 PM at The Times Center. Attend in person or watch online: http://bit.ly/hZEMam

* Starship, the Musical, with music and lyrics by Darin Criss, closes at Chicago's Hooper-Leppen Theatre.

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Complete casting has been announced for the Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming production of the new Broadway musical The People in the Picture, which will star two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy.

The cast of the production, which begins performances at Studio 54 April 1 toward an opening April 28, will also feature Alexander Gemignani (Moishe), Christopher Innvar (Chaim), Nicole Parker (Red), Rachel Resheff (Jenny), Hal Robinson (Doovie, Rabbi Velvel), Lewis J. Stadlen (Avram Krinsky), Joyce Van Patten (Chayesel), Chip Zien (Yossie Pinsker), Brad Bradley, Rachel Bress, Jeremy Davis, Emilee Dupre, Maya Goldman, Louis Hobson, Shannon Lewis, Jessica Lea Patty, Andie Mechanic, Megan Reinking, Jeffrey Schecter and Paul Anthony Stewart.

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The Off-Broadway revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America has extended for a fourth time at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre. The Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning work will spread its wings through April 24.

It has also been announced that Tony nominee Jonathan Hadary will succeed Tony Award winner Frank Wood as Roy Cohn beginning March 29.

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Ashley Brown will return to the title role in Broadway’s Mary Poppins on March 8.

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A by-invitation-only backers' audition of Treasure Island, A New Musical, a reverent adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel, will be held Feb. 28 in Manhattan. The new musical features a book by director Smock and Carla Vitale, who is also the dramaturg, with a score by Corinne Aquilina. Industry only: info@treasureislandthemusical.com.

Directed by Brett Smock, the cast will feature Matthew Gumley (Jim Hawkins), Jamie Jackson (Long John Silver), Zachary James (Israel Hands), Nick Dalton (George Merry), Kevin McGuire (Squire Trelawney), Howard Kaye (Captain Smollett), Erik Liberman (Ben Gunn/O’Brien), Daniel C. Levine (Abraham Gray), Eric Anderson (Billy Bones/Redruth), Don Burroughs (Pew/Thomas Morgan), Mike Masters (Dr. Livesey), Bruce Warren (Black Dog/Job), Matthew Farcher (Dick) and Trisha Rapier (Mother). treasureislandthemusical.com/main.php

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Video: Priscilla’s anti-bullying “It Gets Better”: http://bit.ly/gB7PLD

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Larry King has announced that he will play a series of one-night-only engagements with Larry King: Standing Up beginning April 14 in Torrington, CT.

Additional stops will include the Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre (April 15); the Theatre at Westbury (April 16); the Hippodrome in Baltimore (May 13); the Music Box in Atlantic City, (May 14); the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno (June 10); and the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas (June 11). Additional dates and cities will be announced shortly.

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The White Plains Performing Arts Center will present a three-week limited engagement of Andrew Gerle's Renovations beginning March 17. Based on the book "Renovations: A Father and Son Rebuild a House and Rediscover Each Other" by John Marchese, performances will continue through April 3.

Directed by Mikhael Tara Garver, the cast will feature Todd Cerveris (South Pacific) as John Marchese, Lenny Wolpe (Wicked) as Tully Marchese, Ken Forman (Wilder, Wilder, Wilder) and Liz Larsen (Hairspray).

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La Mirada Theatre presents ArtsPower’s Madeline and the Bad Hat, the national touring musical based on the children’s book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Performances are Sunday, March 13 at 1:30 and 3:30 PM. Madeline and the Bad Hat was adapted for the stage by ArtsPower’s Artistic Director Greg Gunning, who also wrote the lyrics and directed the production. Composer/Orchestrator Richard DeRosa created the original Broadway-style score.

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Casting has been announced for The Old Globe’s production of Groundswell, which plays March 12-April 17, with an opening set for March 17. Set in a beachfront resort on the jagged edge of west South Africa, two men plot to convince their lone guest to invest in their diamond mining scheme. The three men find themselves caught in a power struggle fueled by greed and desperation and will go to any length to secure a chance at a better life.

Kyle Donnelly directs a cast that includes Antony Hagopian (Johan), Mfundo Morrison (Thami) and Ned Schmidtke (Smith).

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TimeOut NY chats with Harvey Fierstein about La Cage then (1983) and now: http://bit.ly/hD4yGV

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Nancy Opel and John Jellison will join the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis in March, replacing original cast members Cass Morgan and Michael McGrath, who will depart the production March 13.

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Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Heather Alicia Simms and Crystal A. Dickinson will lead the cast of debbie tucker green's [sic] Olivier Award-winning play about young woman searching for the truth of her past, Born Bad, which will receive its U.S. premiere this spring at Soho Rep.

Previews for the production, which will be directed by Leah C. Gardiner, will begin March 31 towards an April 7 official opening. The production will run through April 24. The cast also includes LeRoy McClain, Michael Rogers and Elaine R. Graham.

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Characters from the Broadway musical The Addams Family will be recreated in a series of dolls by Madame Alexander. The doll editions of the titular family's matriarch, Morticia, as well as children Pugsley and Wednesday, will be available in June. The Addams family patriarch, Gomez, will be released in September. Take a look at the dolls here.

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Patch Darragh, Matt Dellapina, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Pemberton, Darren Pettie, Brian Smith, and Greg Stuhr will participate in a reading of Victor Lewnieski's Where Bison Run, to be offered at Ars Nova on Feb. 28 at 7 PM as part of the theater's Out Loud series. Evan Cabnet will direct the performance. Reservations: rsvp@arsnovanyc.com.

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Daytime drama stars Kristen Alderson, Ellen Dolan, Marnie Schulenberg, and Brittany Underwood will join Daytime Emmy Award nominee Ilene Kristen in Anthony Wilkinson's My Big Gay Italian Wedding, playing at St. Luke's Theatre, March 17-19. Kristen is playing the role of Aunt Toniann in the show through March 26.

The production also features Anthony J. Wilkinson, Marty Thomas, Erik Ransom, Eric Carpenter, Brett Douglas, Liz Gerecitano, Leah Gerstel, Randi Kaplan, Chad Kessler, Marissa Rosen, Meagan Robar, Joe Scanio, Joey Murray, Billy Yoder and Adam Zelasko. biggayitalianwedding.com/

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Vote for the BroadwayWorld San Francisco Awards before the March 31 deadline: http://bit.ly/hGnBcl

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Nominations for the 2011 Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards have been announced (complete list here):

Acting nominees include Leigh Barrett (Trailer Park Musical), Noah Bean (Bus Stop), D. B. Bonds (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Jennifer Cody (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Thomas Derrah (Cabaret), Todd Gearhart (Sunset Blvd.), Daniel Jenkins (The Blue Flower), Lucas Kavner (The Blue Flower), Will Lyman (All My Sons), Karen MacDonald (All My Sons), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower), Brendon McNabb (The Adding Machine), Burke Moses (Johnny Baseball), Marissa Perry (Hairspray), Stephanie Powers (Suset Blvd.), Martin Rayner (Freud's Last Session), Nikkole Salter (Stick Fly), Anne Scurria (Absurd Person Singular), Teal Wicks (The Blue Flower), Stephanie Umoh (Johnny Baseball), and Rachel York (Into the Woods).

Among the solo performance nominees are Jacqui Parker for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Karen MacDonald for The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, and Leslie Uggams for Uptown/Downtown.

Seth Rudetsky's Deconstructing B'Way is among the nominees for Visiting Production, while Visiting Performer nominees include Jackie Burns (Wicked), Estelle Parsons (August: Osage County), Scott Shepherd (Gatz), and Doug Elkins (Fraulein Maria).

Among the directing nominees are Larry Coen (Gold Dust Orphans' Phantom of the Oprah), Peter DuBois (Becky Shaw), David Esbjornson (All My Sons), Kenny Leon (Stick Fly), Nicholas Martin (Bus Stop), Diane Paulus (Johnny Baseball), and Charles Towers (Four Places).

Nominees in the New Play (Large) category include Lydia R. Diamond's Stick Fly; the Robert and Willie Reale/Richard Dresser musical Johnny Baseball; Bob Glaudini's Vengeance Is the Lord's; Jim and Ruth Bauer's The Blue Flower; Moises Kaufman & Co's The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later; and Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen's Aftermath.

Among the other notable nominees are playwright Melinda Lopez for From Orchids to Octopi; choreographer Casey Nicolaw for Spamalot; set designer Eugene Lee for Vengeance is the Lord's; set designer David Gallo for Stick Fly; and lighting designer Christopher Akerlind for All My Sons.

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Paramount Theatre (23 E Galena Blvd. in Aurora, Ill.) is thrilled to bring Michael Ingersoll and the recent leading cast members of the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys back to Aurora, with their new show Under the Streetlamp, as an encore to their sold-out performance last winter. Under the Streetlamp will play for one performance only Saturday, March 19 at 8 PM.

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Video: Sneak peek at Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein: http://bit.ly/eSApq2

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Manhattan Theatre Club’s Good People, the latest work from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, has extended its Broadway engagement an additional two weeks, now through May 8, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

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In honor of Tennessee Williams’ 100th birthday, Aurora Theatre Company (2081 Addison Street in Berkeley, CA) presents the playwright’s haunting drama The Eccentricities of a Nightingale April 1-May 8. Directed by Artistic Director Tom Ross, the cast features Beth Wilmurt, Charles Dean, Marcia Pizzo, and Thomas Gorrebeeck, along with Amy Crumpacker, Ryan Tasker, Leanne Borghesi, and Beth Deitchman.

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The world premiere of Lookingglass Theatre's Ethan Frome, Laura Eason's adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel, begins Feb. 23 in Chicago. Opening night is March 5. Performances play to April 17 at Lookingglass Theatre Company's home inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

Eason directs the production, featuring Lookingglass company members Philip R. Smith, Andrew White, Louise Lamson and Lisa Tejero, with Erik Lochtefeld.

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Actress and singer Lorna Luft, daughter of late entertainment icon Judy Garland, will be part of the March 11 Carnegie Hall concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of her mother's triumphant performance at the New York venue.

Luft will join Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, Tony winner Heather Headley and original Broadway Mary Poppins star Ashley Brown for the 8 PM concert, which will boast the original line-up and arrangements from Garland's 1961 concert.

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Video: Sneak peek at Pee Wee Herman’s HBO show: http://bit.ly/eXgV0P

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Mike Birbiglia, Aya Cash, John Lithgow, and David Rakoff will perform in the March 2 installment of Selected Shorts, to be held at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at 7 PM.

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Colleen Ballinger, Alex Brightman, Catherine Brookman, Allison Case, Kate Morgan Chadwick, Brian Justin Crum, Jeanna de Waal, Meghann Fahy, F. Michael Haynie, Greg Hildreth, Morgan Karr, Rachel Potter, Anthony Rapp, Kate Shindle, Sarah Stiles, Teal Wicks, and Courtney Wolfson are set to perform at a NewMusicalTheatre.com concert, to be offered on Feb. 28 at 8:30 PM at The Canal Room (285 W. Broadway). David Ruttura will direct the event, which will have music direction by Matt Hinkley.

The concert will feature a new song by Michael Friedman, as well as works by Gaby Alter, Sam Carner & Derek Gregor, Bobby Cronin, Drew Gasparini, Jonathan Reid Gealt, Paul Gordon, Michael Kooman & Christopher Dimond, Joshua Salzman & Ryan Cunningham, Jeff Thomson & Jordan Mann, and Will Van Dyke.

The concert will be preceded by a performance at 7:30 PM by Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk as one of their You Made This Tour engagements.

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After months of speculation, “Rock of Ages” film director Adam Shankman has confirmed that Tom Cruise has officially begun work as Stacee Jaxx. He tells the Toronto Sun: "I think we're going to see him every drop the rock'n'roll god. He's pouring himself in this part in a way I've never had an actor do. It's pretty intense. Between the voice lessons, the incredible study... researching the period, it's like 1987, just going there!"

Cruise will perform Styx's 'Renegade' and Bon Jovi's 'Wanted Dead Or Alive'. Alec Baldwin is also in talks for the film, as is Anne Hathaway, who would share a duet of Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is" with Cruise. Gwyneth Paltrow had hoped to sign on, but is unavailable, according to Shankman.

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Placebo, a new musical written by Danny Abosch and Joshua Borths, premiered in November 2010 at the University of Michigan, and was also workshopped in February 2011 at Oklahoma City University. The Original Concept Cast Recording is available through iTunes, or for purchase as a physical disc at placebothemusical.com/castalbum (the recording is also being offered as a promotional free download for a short time at this link).

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RIP. Playwright James McLure has died from cancer, according to a report in The New York Times. He was 59.

McLure's double bill of one act plays Lone Star and Pvt. Wars were seen on Broadway in 1979 after debuting at the Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theater of Louisville. Among his other works are Laundry and Bourbon, The Day They Shot John Lennon, Max and Maxie, and Wild Oats, as well as a full-length version of Pvt. Wars.

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If you're a theatre geek, you may want to check out the new board game, Be a Broadway Star: beabroadwaystar.com/

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Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas, who made such a big impression starring as Jean Valjean and Thénardier, respectively, in the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 last October, will reprise those roles in the West End production at the Queen's Theatre. They will begin performances June 23, with Boe starring through Nov. 26 and Lucas through Sept. 10. Hadley Fraser also joins the company to star as Javert. www.lesmis.com/home

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Casting has been announced for Two River Theater's production of Candida, to run March 22-April 10. David Staller will direct.

The production will star Sue Cremin as Candida, Steven Skybell as Morell, and Will Bradley as Marchbanks, along with Andrew Boyer as Burgess, Jordan Coughtry as Lexy, and Elizabeth Morton as Prossy.

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Although London's The Sun recently reported Tony and Emmy winner Glenn Close would play Susan Boyle in a film about Boyle's life, that information is incorrect. A spokesperson for the award-winning actress told Playbill.com, "This was a completely off-the-wall rumor from a tabloid paper in the UK [and is] not remotely true."

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Clear-Water, a concert presentation of two new musicals, will be presented March 11 at The Bushwick Starr (207 Starr Street) in Brooklyn. The 8 PM concert (doors open at 7:30 PM) will feature performances of the new musicals The Water Dream and Clear.

Water Dream (thewaterdream.com) features book, music and lyrics by by Shawn Cody. The cast will include Anthony Rapp, Karmine Alers, Shawn Cody, Emily Otto, Adam Kern, Cheo Bourne and Doug Chapman with Catherine Hesse, Alisa Ledyard, Alana Rader, Lauren Champlin and Jonathan Gregg. The new musical "featuring whale puppets and an aquarium of real water [is] the story of an overly critical mythologist who, through facing loss and falling in love, becomes an artist: the author of an awe-inspiring myth," according to press notes.

Clear (clearthemusical.com) features book, music and lyrics by Paul Oakley Stovall with additional music by Stew, Ryan Link, Christo Willis and Irv Johnson. The new musical, which "is based on Paul Oakley Stovall's real-life transition from an actor and retail clerk to a member of a President Obama's Advance Team," will feature the talents of Ryan Link, Brad Simmons, John Patrick Walker, Celisse Henderson and Alexis Hightower.

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GRACE NOTES - Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

2011-02-22T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* Frankenstein, directed by Danny Boyle, opens at London's Olivier Theatre.

* Rose, Part I of Adam Rapp’s Hallway Trilogy, opens at Rattlestick.

* Harmony, Kansas private industry reading at 3:30 PM. Information: harmonyksreading@gmail.com

* Socks free reading at 3 PM at York Theatre. (212) 935-5824 ext. 24

* The Oct. 3, 2010 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miz released on DVD/Blu-ray.

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The commercial producers of SCKBSTD are prepping the next steps for the musical by Bruce Hornsby following a popular world-premiere run by Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, VA, where the show broke sales records at VSC's Wells Theatre.

The collaborators are already working on a new draft of the script, including a new song. The creators and producers are looking to change the title to clarify the message of the show, which is not raunchy and R-rated (as the "sick bastard" vanity license-plate title suggests) but rather about families growing closer. Stay tuned for more updates as they arise.

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Kyle Fabel and Aaron Roman Weiner will star in TheatreWorks Hartford's production of Keith Huff's A Steady Rain, March 25-May 8. Tazewell Thompson will direct the production. 860-527-7838

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Sasha Regan's critically acclaimed all-male version of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe will play London’s Wilton's Music Hall, March 30-May 7. The production stars Shaun McCourt, Alex Weatherhill, Louis Maskell, Alan Richardson Christopher Finn, Matthew James Willis, Luke Fredericks, Reuben Kaye, Adam Lewis Ford, Raymond Tait, Kingsley Hall, Robin Rayner, Matthew McLoughlin, Shane Lindley, Joseph Davenport, and Patrick George.

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The eight-week Chicago run of White Noise, the new rock musical about a pop sister act that performs White Supremacy-laced songs, will feature Broadway's Luba Mason, Rodney Hicks, MacKenzie Mauzy, John Hickok and more. whitenoisebroadway.com/

The musical, co-produced by Whoopi Goldberg, will be directed and choreographed by Broadway's Sergio Trujillo. It will play the Royal George Theatre starting April 1 toward an opening of April 9.

White Noise features a book by Matte O'Brien and music and lyrics by Robert Morris, Steven Morris and Joe Shane. White Noise was originally conceived by Ryan J. Davis with a story and characters by Joe Drymala.

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SoHo Think Tank, the company that ran the Ohio Theater at 66 Wooster Street for almost 20 years, will open the Ohio West in the Archive Building at 666 Greenwich Street this fall. The company will now have 73-seat theater and will have a subsidized 10-year lease. No programming has been announced.

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Video: Highlights from Upright Cabaret’s Mighty Mississippi concert in Thousand Oaks, featuring Ty Taylor: http://bit.ly/hfu9UJ

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New casting has been announced for the London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, currently running at the West End's Adelphi Theatre. As of March 7, the cast will feature Ramin Karimloo (The Phantom), Celia Graham (Christine). Liz Robertson (Madame Giry), Haley Flaherty (Meg Giry), David Thaxton (Raoul), Adam Pearce (Squelch),Tracey Penn (Fleck), and Charles Brunton (Gangle).

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Neil Goldberg's new show Cirque Dreams Broadway, featuring Broadway stars Linda Eder and Marc Kudisch, will be seen on Thursday, March 24 at 8 PM in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

The show, which will include tributes to The Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Cats. Hairspray, Chicago, La Cage Aux Folles and over a dozen more Broadway sensations, will feature artists from Cirque Dreams as well as local South Floridians engaged through a talent search and a South Florida marching band.

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Allison Janney will duet with five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor on the March 16 episode of the new ABC sitcom “Mr. Sunshine.” The pop singer will play Billy, the ex-husband of Janney's character, and the pair will sing Leon Russell's "A Song For You."

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Video: Sondheim’s influence on Catch Me If You Can: http://bit.ly/hM9XlY

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Irish Rep's acclaimed revival of Brian Friel's Molly Sweeney has been extended, now to April 10.

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Book of Mormon, which begins previews this Thursday, Feb. 24 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, has announced its lottery policy:

A limited number of tickets for each performance will be sold through the lottery. Entries will be accepted at the box office beginning two and a half hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided.

Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $32 each. Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets may be purchased in cash or with a valid credit card. Tickets are subject to availability. Lottery will not be available on March 24.

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The New York Times reported yesterday that what is possibly a move getting the show one step closer to Broadway, the Arena Stage production of Oklahoma! will get an encore run at the DC theater from July 8 – Oct. 9 on its Fichandler Stage. The show initially ran at Arena from Oct. 22 – Dec. 26, 2010. A transfer to Broadway was thought to have been likely as early as this fall. Read the complete NY Times article here.

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Spider-Man update:

* The producers have officially denied rumors that a new co-director is being sought.

* Paul Bogaev, a 2004 Tony Award nominee for Best Orchestrations for Bombay Dreams, has been hired by the producers "as a consultant to help improve the performance, vocal and orchestration arrangements, and sound quality of the songs and numbers."

* Unsubstantiated: Word has also been coming from multiple sources that it's expected that the production will officially announce another delay later in the week (its sixth) that might push the official opening as far forward as AFTER this year's Tony Awards.

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Another Spider-Man musical? Which will open first???

Veteran humorist and playwright, Justin Moran, launches Spiderman Smackdown, a guerilla theatre project to write, rehearse, and perform a fully realized musical based on the character Spiderman in under 30 days with a budget of $0. Set to open one day before the $65 Million Broadway musical Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Moran's musical will be the first Spiderman Musical to officially open in New York City.

Moran has launched a blog (thespideyproject.blogspot.com) and YouTube page to promote the project and to enlist a troupe of volunteer writers, designers and actors. "How important is $65 Million in making good theatre?" jokes Moran. "We're going to develop a story, write a complete musical score and script, design sets and costumes, cast, rehearse, advertise and ultimately mount the production on March 14 at the The People's Improv Theatre in NYC."

Moran is collaborating with writer Jon Roufaeal on the story and book, based on the origin story from "the Amazing Spiderman" comic books, and has brought on composers Adam Podd (Pope the Musical, ImgineOcean) and Doug Katsaros (Broadway's Aida; Grammy nominated "Footloose;" TV's "The Tick") to write and arrange the score. "The outpouring of volunteers in these first 4 days has been overwhelming," says Moran, "and I am extremely confident in the level of talent that is going into creating this completely original Spiderman Musical."

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Video: Highlights of BAM's The Diary of a Madman, starring Geoffrey Rush: http://bit.ly/fj1Fn8

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Theater for the New City (155 First Ave.) is proud to present, back by popular demand, Only Love Will Do – A GayStraigt RomCom, written by Walt Stepp (Lightin’ Out—A Mark Twain Musical, Why We Shot Jack—The Conspirators’ Drama), April 14 - May 1. Lissa Moira once again directs this Freudian Fandango of gay/straight romantic dramedy/sexploration. The cast features Danny Ashkenasi, Louisa Bradshaw, Jason Collins, Robert Homeyer and Richard O’Brien.

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Complete casting has been announced for the West End production of Shrek The Musical, directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford. Performances begin at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 6, with an opening scheduled for June 13.

The production will star Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad and Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona.

The company will also include Delroy Atkinson, Amy Beadel, Stephanie Bron, Dean Chisnall, Jon-Scott Clark, Ste Clough, Lee William-Davis, Ross Dawes, Lucie Downer, Alice Fearn, Michelle Francis, Ashley E Hale, Rosanna Hyland, Bradley Jaden, Aaron Lee Lambert, Emma Lindars, Grant Murphy, Spencer O'Brien, Landi Oshinowo, Damien Poole, Stuart Matthew Price, Jacqui Sanchez, Jonathan Stewart, Leigh-Anne Stone, Lucy Tapp, Karli Vale and Michael Watson. The roles of Young Shrek and Young Fiona will be shared by actors Samantha Allison, Chorlène Biron-Monnier, Lauren Dawes, Madeleine Hill, Emilia Jones and Sophie Wythe.

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"Desperate Housewives" star James Denton and Emmy-nominated writer Dwayne McDuffie discuss the animated original movie "All-Star Superman": http://bit.ly/gtW9UU

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GRACE NOTES - Monday, Feb. 21, 2011

2011-02-21T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opens at London's Donmar Warehouse.

* White People opens at NYC's Ensemble Studio Theatre.

* Ghetto Klown, John Leguizamo's solo show, begins previews on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre.

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

* Betty Buckley's Broadway By Request benefit concert for Reprise, with Seth Rudetsky, at 8 PM at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse.

* Curse of the Starving Class free reading, starring Chris Cooper, at 7 PM at the Boston Center for the Arts. No reservation required.

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Reviews for Gigi at Reprise:

Hollywood Reporter (Myron Meisel): "Reprise's production style (bare suggestions of sets, limited choreography) may actually suit the material rather better than a fuller mounting, which would only have exaggerated the intrinsic vulgarity of the material. Everything is consistently executed with great professionalism." Full review.

LA Times (Daryl H. Miller): "Undeterred, the musical-revival specialists of Reprise are poking around this dubious property. They approach the material with enthusiasm and, as they've been doing lately, they've found another underseen but captivating female lead. To Alexandra Silber in Carousel and Stephanie J. Block in They're Playing Our Song they add, as Gigi, Lisa O'Hare. Still, the results are wan. A faint glow of nostalgia gets smothered in an overall atmosphere of 'eh.'" Full review

Backstage (Les Spindle): "Especially captivating are the bubbly trio number 'The Night They Invented Champagne' and Cavenaugh's hilariously biting 'She Is Not Thinking of Me' and his soaring delivery of the title song. Peggy Hickey's exuberant choreography is a major plus, as is the terrific music direction of Steve Orich." Full review

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A Liza Minnelli concert, "Liza Minnelli: Live in New Orleans," filmed at the Theatre of Performing Arts in New Orleans in November 1979 will be released on DVD Feb. 21, according to the Dress Circle website.

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Imelda Staunton, Lucy Cohu and Tim Pigott-Smith will join the previously announced Penelope Wilton in the forthcoming revival of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance at London's Almeida Theatre.

The production, which begins performances May 5 prior to an official opening May 12 for a run through July 2, will also feature Diana Hardcastle and Ian McElhinney under the direction of James Macdonald.

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Michael Sgouros, owner of The Players Theatre, 115 Mac Dougal Street at Minetta Lane in Greenwich Village, announced a special discount offer for the theatres newly-renovated rehearsal studios through the end of March. The clean, affordable studios are available for rehearsals, auditions or classes. All the Players Theatre studios are sound-insulated and equipped with Air Conditioning and Heating. Located half a block from the West 4th Street subway station, the theatre is easily accessible in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Through March 31, Mr. Sgouros is offering studio renters the first hour free, with a 20% discount for the rest of the rental. There is a minimum 3 hour studio rental required. For more information, call Michael at (212) 475-1449

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Eileen Galindo has joined the cast of the world premiere play, Girls Talk, written and directed by Roger Kumble (turnaround, d girl) and also starring Andréa Bendewald, Leslie Bibb, Brooke Shields and Constance Zimmer. Girls Talk will preview March 15-17 and will open on Friday, March 18 at 8 PM and run through Sunday, April 24 at the Lee Strasberg Theatre, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. 800-595-4849

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Video: Varla Jean Verman reveals how she got her name: http://bit.ly/eYzjFs

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Play Dates, written by Sam Wolfson (Jewtopia) and directed by Jennifer Chambers, has extended its run, now to April 17, at Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. The cast features Elizabeth Bond, Krystal Marshall, Brian Monahan and Rob Nagle.

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Mark-Anthony Turnage and Richard Thomas' new opera Anna Nicole has officially opened at London's Royal Opera House. Directed by Richard Jones and featuring music direction by Antonio Pappano, the piece will continue in the company's repertoire through March 4.

The opera charts the real-life story of the title character from her humble origins to her arrival as a global media celebrity through her tragic death. The company features Eva-Maria Westbroek in the title role, as well as Alan Oke, Gerald Finley, Susan Bickley, Loré Lixenberg, Peter Hoare, Rebecca de Pont Davies, Dominic Rowntree, Allison Cook, Andrew Rees, Grant Doyle, Wynne Evans, ZhengZhong Zhou§, Jeremy White, Dominic Peckham, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, and Damian Thantrey, as well as Yvonne Barclay, Amy Catt, Amanda Floyd, Katy Batho, Kiera Lyness, Marianne Cotterill, Louise Armit, Andrea Hazell, John Parricelli, John Paul Jones, and Peter Erskine.

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Michael Kuchwara, the respected late theatre critic for the Associated Press, will be celebrated by Broadway showfolk that he wrote about in a benefit on Feb. 28 at 7 PM, which would have been his 64th birthday. Julie Halston will host the evening at Birdland Jazz Club. Proceeds will go to The Michael Kuchwara Fund benefiting Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (donate here: does not include a ticket to the event). Tickets: kuchwaraevent@gmail.com.

A Benefit Evening Honoring Michael Kuchwara will feature Kevin Chamberlin, Alison Fraser, Montego Glover, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Ralph Howard, Leslie Kritzer, Sally Mayes, Michael McCormick, Lindsay Mendez, Noah Racey, Sherie Rene Scott, Mary Testa, Betsy Wolfe and surprise guests. The benefit is directed by Carl Andress with musical direction by Patrick Vaccariello, musical preparation by Ed Windels. The show is written by D. Michael Dvorchak and Julie Halston.

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Video: The new Broadway commercial for Priscilla Queen of the Desert: http://bit.ly/eclpCC

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The Broadway Green Alliance will present its next E-Waste Collection Event on Wednesday, Feb. 23 in the walkway of the Minskoff Theatre (45th & Broadway) from 11 AM - 1 PM.

Consumers are urged to bring unwanted desktop and laptop computers, keyboards, computer speakers and mice, printers, home and cell phones, PDAs, DVDs, VCRs, TVs, LCD and Flat Panel and CRT monitors, and any dry cell batteries to be recycled, to the event.

Those planning to drop off more than one hamper full of equipment should contact bgaproduction@broadway.org by Feb. 21.

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Andrew C. Call, Kendra Kassebaum, and Kyle Dean Massey will be among the performers for Footnotes, a joint showcase of Missouri State University graduating students and alumni, to be held at Joe's Pub on Sunday, March 6 at 9:30 PM. Nathan Tysen will direct.

Performers will also include Jeffrey James Binney, Dale Hensley, Hollie Howard, Antuan Raimone, and Nicole Van Giesen. The evening will also feature a selection from the revue Broadway Bombs, conceived and performed by MSU alums Jessica Ryan, Avery Ragsdale, and Jermaine Blackwell.

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Video: Highlights from Wonderland: http://bit.ly/fK7W2L

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RIP. Actress Evelyn Page died of natural causes in New York City, on Sunday, Feb. 6, according to a report in Variety. She was 90. Page's Broadway credits include Tattle Tale, Hold Your Horses, Wonderful Town, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and Canterbury Tales.

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Alyson Reed will reprise her performance as drama teacher Ms. Darbus on the Disney Channel pilot with the working title "Madison High." Production on the pilot, which has been written by Lester Lewis and will be directed by Paul Hoen, is scheduled to begin in March.

The new music and dance-driven series will focus on a troupe of multitalented theater students, who are challenged by Reed's character, who will have relocated to the school from the one featured in the "High School Musical" television and film series, to create an original musical production based on their lives. The show is expected to feature original songs penned by such writers as Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Jamie Houston, James Dean Hicks, David Lawrence, Faye Greenberg, Kara DioGuardi, and J.D. Salbego.

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Paper Mill Playhouse presents A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum March 16 – April 10.

Directed by Mark Waldrop, with choreography by Vince Pesce, the cast stars Paul Vogt, Stephen Berger, Justin Bowen, Stephen Buntrock, Chet Carlin, Chelsea Krombach, John Scherer and Greg Vinkler, along with Kristine Bendul, Nicole Benoit, Krisitine Covillo, Ryan Dietz, Michael Timothy Howell, Anthony Johnson, Liz McKendry, Anne Otto, Chondra L. Profit, Lara Seibert and Bret Shuford.

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Irish playwright Conor McPherson’s The Weir—an atmospheric drama that finds four hard-drinking Irishmen telling ghost stories in a pub one stormy night—hits South Coast Rep March 13 – April 3, with an opening night of March 18.

Warner Shook directs a cast that includes Richard Doyle, James Lancaster, Daniel Reichert, Tony Ward and Kirsten Potter.

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Video: Chris Rock, Bobby Cannavale and more talk The Motherf**ker with the Hat: http://bit.ly/eWO4QU

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L.A. Theatreworks presents Death of a Salesman, starring Stacy Keach and Jane Kaczmarek, March 16-20 at LA’s Skirball Center. Eric Simonson directs. Additional casting TBA.
Five performances will be recorded for future radio broadcast; L.A. Theatre Works’ nationally syndicated radio theater series airs locally in Southern California on KPCC 89.3 every Saturday from 10 PM -midnight and can be streamed on demand at latw.org.

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Video: Moises Kaufman, Zach Grenier and Dr. William Kinderman talk 33 Variations at the Ahmanson: http://bit.ly/fDlNZI

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Musical Theatre West offers a staged reading of Sugar on Monday, March 6 at 7 PM at the University Theater on the CSU Long Beach campus at the 7th Street entrance.James W. Gruessing, Jr. directs. Tickets: 562-856-1999, x4

The cast features Nick Santa Maria, Larry Raben, Bets Malone, Tracy Lore, Robert Pieranunzi and Robert Towers.

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Patrick Wilson has landed a lead role in a new pilot for CBS. Jonathan Demme, who is is executive producing the series, will also direct the pilot.

The Hollywood Reporter says that actor-singer Wilson will play a character named Michael in the untitled Susannah Grant pilot for CBS. The series, according to the industry paper, concerns a "surgeon with a direct line to the afterlife via his ex-wife."

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Video: John Leguizamo and Fisher Stevens discuss bringing Ghetto Klown to Broadway: http://bit.ly/e0pXmI

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Kathy Griffin and Loretta Devine will guest star in an upcoming episode of "Glee," as judges for the series "Regionals" competition.

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Dominic West, last seen on the London stage in Life is a Dream at the Donmar Warehouse but best known for his starring role in the U.S. TV series "The Wire," will play the title role in a new production of Simon Gray's Butley. It will begin performances at the West End's Duchess Theatre June 1, prior to an official opening June 6, and is booking for a run through Aug. 27. The cast also includes Penny Downie and Paul McGann.

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Last week it was reported that playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa had been approached about tweaking the book of the new musical Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, which is currently in previews at the Foxwoods Theatre. The New York Post is now reporting that producers of the $65 million production are also looking to hire a co-director.

The Post says that Spider producers have reached out to director Philip William McKinley, whose sole Broadway credit is the Hugh Jackman musical The Boy from Oz. McKinley has also directed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. However, the producers have officially denied that they are bringing a co-director to work with director Julie Taymor.

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The RRAZZ Room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco will host their 3rd Annual RRAZZiversary Gala Celebration & Benefit For St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Thursday, March 17 at 8 PM.

Performers will include Sarah Dash, Joyce DeWitt, Sally Kellerman, Florence LaRue, Gloria Loring, Deana Martin, Melba Moore, Kim Nalley, CeCe Peniston, Martha Reeves, Paula West, Edna Wright & Honey Come, and Pia Zadora.

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London’s WhatsOnStage Awards winners (complete list of winners at http://bit.ly/eGM64w):

Legally Blonde won four awards, including Best New Musical, Best Choreography for Jerry Mitchell, and Best Actress and Supporting Actress Awards for Sheridan Smith and Jill Halfpenny.

Les Misérables was named Best Musical Revival, with the show's special' 25th anniversary concert at the O2 took home Theatre Event of the Year and Best Ensemble Performance.

Love Never Dies stars Ramin Karimloo and Joseph Millson were named Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker were named Best Actor and Actress in a Play for All My Sons and Jonathan Groff was named Newcomer of the Year for his work in Deathtrap.

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Video: Anything Goes in rehearsal - "It's De-Lovely, " "You're the Top," "Friendship" and the title number: http://bit.ly/gt6ZuB

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Upcoming at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in March:

Joan Rivers will return to the club on March 3, 8, 23, and 30 at 8 PM. Charles Busch will be among the artists appearing in Proud to Know You: A Celebration of Doric Wilson's 50 Years as a Playwright on Wednesday, March 16 at 9:30 PM.

Nancy Giles and Cynthia Kaplan will bring The New Jack Paar Show to the club on Friday, March 18 at 7 PM. The latest edition of Sondheim Unplugged will take place on Monday, March 28 at 7 PM, and Tony Award winner Daisy Eagan will present her cabaret show, Still Daisy After All These Years on Monday, March 28 at 9:30 PM.

Other performers will include Shannon Darin, Delilah Dix, Steven Fales, and Kim Smith.

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GRACE NOTES - Friday, Feb. 18, 2011

2011-02-18T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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This weekend’s highlights:

Friday, Feb. 18

* August: Osage County, starring Josie de Guzman, begins previews at Houston's Alley Theatre.

* Peter and the Starcatcher begins previews at NY Theatre Workshop.

* Circle Mirror Transformation begins previews at Kansas City Rep.

* The Adventures of Pinocchio begins performances at LA’s Deaf West Theatre.

* An Evening with Ben Vereen at 8 PM at Town Hall.

* Can't Complain reading at 3 PM at Irish Rep.

Saturday, Feb. 19

* She Loves Me opens at Civic Light Opera South Bay Cities.

* A House Not Meant to Stand begins previews at LA's Fountain Theatre.

* Music of the Night: An Evening with Davis Gaines at 8 PM at Glendale’s Alex Theatre.

* Kate Baldwin, in American Songbook, at 8:30 PM at Lincoln Center's Allen Room.

* Blood from a Stone, starring Ethan Hawke and Daphne Rubin-Vega, closes Off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre.

* The Piano Lesson closes at Yale Rep.

* Take Me Out closes at LA’s Celebration Theatre.

Sunday, Feb. 20

* Celebrity Autobiography, featuring Florence Henderson, Jennifer Tilly, Lainie Kazan and Laraine Newman, at 7 and 9 PM at Santa Monica's Broad Stage.

* The Merchant of Venice closes on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre.

* The Arabian Nights closes at Arena Stage.

* A Midsummer Night's Dream closes at South Coast Rep.

* Bring it On closes at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

* Camelot closes at Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

* The Misanthrope closes at Off-Broadway's Pearl Theatre.

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High-flying original musical comedy Bring It On: The Musical launches its national tour with a six-week engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre from Nov. 1-Dec. 11, with an opening night set for Nov. 11.

The musical features libretto by Tony Award-winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity). The production is directed and choreographed by Tony Award -winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights).

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The cast of the Off-Broadway production of the new true musical comedy, The Road to Qatar!, featuring book and lyrics by Stephen Cole and music by David Krane, heads into the recording studio to lay down tracks for Jay Records on March 7. No release date has been announced.

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Glory Days (Music and Lyrics by Nick Blaemire, Book by James Gardiner) will make its Los Angeles premiere March 17-April 24 (opening night is set for March 19) at the Lillian Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles). Directed by Calvin Remsberg with musical direction by James May. For more information and tickets, click here.

Glory Days concerns four high school friends, who, after a year away at college, reunite on their high school football field.

The cast features Alex Robert Holmes, Derek Klena, Matthew Koehler, and Ian Littleworth, with Jeffrey Scott Parsons and Alex Martinez Wallace.

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Video: Highlights from Compulsion at the Public: http://bit.ly/i6k31M

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Executive Producer/Creator Tom Diggs is pleased to announce Alex Wyse (Mrs. Sharpe, Bored to Death), Alex Brightman (Wicked), Allison Strong (Bye, Bye Birdie), Paul Cereghino (Tony and Tina’s Wedding) and Arden Myrin (“Chelsea Lately,” “Mad TV”) will join the cast of The Perks of Writing A Musical, a new scripted musical web series to be launched this spring on blip.tv and YouTube on May 15. Directed by Bill Oliver. theperksofwritingamusical.com/

The Perks of Writing A Musical is the big-hearted story of Josh, a tech-savvy gamer, in love with the beautiful Courtney, but too shy to tell her how he feels. With his nerd-herd/tech posse and Darwin, his gay and most fun friend ever, they secretly write Courtney a musical based on her favorite book, "The Perks of Being A Wallflower." It’s the story of young love, the importance of friendship, and the responsibility of going after your heart’s desire.

Drawing from the talents of the Broadway community, The Perks of Writing A Musical will feature irresistible songs by Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon, South Pacific, BMI) and Mishaela Faucher (BMI), including “She Doesn’t Know My Name (Absolutely Hell)” soon to be available on iTunes.

The Perks of Writing a Musical is partially funded by the generous grassroots support at Kickstarter.com

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Nathan Gunn will share another side of his multifaceted passion for music during his debut at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center for Arts on March 24–27 in the Samueli Theater. For his appearance in the Center’s popular Cabaret Series, Gunn has selected ballads and romantic tunes that are featured on his CD, “Just Before Sunrise,” which includes favorites from the Great American Songbook along with songs by contemporary composers.

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Complete casting for Jerusalem has been announced. The production, directed by Ian Rickson, will open April 21 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Previews begin April 2. The production will play a limited 16-week engagement.

John Gallagher, Jr. and Mark Rylance star, along with Mackenzie Crook, Max Baker, Geraldine Hughes, Molly Ranson and seven members of the original Royal Court and West End company: Alan David, Aimeé-Ffion Edwards, Danny Kirrane, Charlotte Mills, Sarah Moyle, Harvey Robinson and Barry Sloane as Troy Whitworth. Aiden Eyrick and Mark Page alternate in the role of Marky.

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Video: Inside Emma at the Old Globe: http://bit.ly/gu60rB

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Magic/Bird is the new play by Oscar winner, Steppenwolf Theater Company member and Lombardi playwright Eric Simonson. Press notes state, "...chronicles the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson." The play, with a six-character cast, is scheduled to debut on Broadway in 2012.

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Complete casting has been announced for the McCarter Theatre's new production of Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart, which will begin previews March 8 prior to an official opening March 11. Performances will continue through March 27.

Directed by Liesl Tommy, the cast will feature Mary Bacon (Lenny MaGrath), Molly Camp (Babe Botrelle), Georgia Cohen (Meg MaGrath), Dustin Ingram (Barnette Lloyd), Lucas Van Engen (Doc Porter) and Brenda Withers (Chick Boyle).

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Sierra Boggess, Hugh Panaro and Carolee Carmello will head the cast of a March 18 industry reading of the Broadway-bound musical Rebecca in New York. The reading will be directed by Tony Award winner Michael Blakemore and Francesca Zambello. The musical features original book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, English book adaptation by two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Hampton (Sunset Boulevard) and English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze.

The cast for the reading will also include James Barbour, Anastasia Barzee, Don Stephenson, William Youmans and John Horton.

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Get to know How to Succeed’s Tammy Blanchard (Hedy La Rue): http://bit.ly/eSIzh2

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Ron Bohmer and Annie Purcell will co-star in the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis production of Sarah Ruhl's Tony Award-nominated play In the Next Room or the vibrator play in March 9-27. The poignant comedy will be directed by Stuart Carden.

The cast will also include Emily Dorsch, Amy Landon, Krystel Lucas, Michael James Reed and David Christopher Wells.

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CA’s TheatreWorks has announced its 2011-12 season:

Fly By Night (July 13-Aug. 13), Sense and Sensibility (Aug. 24-Sept. 18), Clementine in the Lower 9 (Oct. 5-30), The Secret Garden (Nov. 30-Dec. 31), The Pitmen Painters (Jan. 18-Feb. 12, 2012), Now Circa Then (March 7-April 1, 2012), Of Mice and Men (April 4-29, 2012) and Wheelhouse (June 6-July 1, 2012).

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The Public Theater has announced casting for the world premiere of Mona Mansour's Urge for Going, to be presented as a Public LAB production, March 25-April 17, with an opening on April 10. Hal Brooks will direct. Tala Ashe will star as Jamila, with the cast also including Omid Abtahi, Jacqueline Antaramian, Ramsey Faragallah, Laith Nakli, and Ted Sod.

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Video: Anything Goes in rehearsal: http://bit.ly/i4Qjer

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New York Pops Music Director Steven Reineke will conduct the world premiere of his new piece for concert band as part of the The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Symphonic Band's concert, Once Upon a Musical Time, at Symphony Space, on Saturday, April 30 at 8 PM.

Reineke will also join LGBAC's artistic director Brian Worsdale for a special pre-concert discussion at 7:15 PM hosted by NY1 Producer Frank DiLella. Reineke's piece, inspired by the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, is currently untitled.

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Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Ruby Dee, James Earl Jones, Garrison Keillor, Terence Stamp, and Meryl Streep will be featured as poetry readers on the album "Words For You," to be released from Mighty Village/Universal/UMe on April 12.

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Casting has been announced for Tod Machover and Robert Pinsky's Death and the Powers: The Robots' Opera, to run March 18-25 at Boston’s Cutler Majestic Theatre.

Diane Paulus will direct the production, which will have choreography by Karole Armitage and be conducted by Gil Rose. After the piece's Boston engagement, it will be seen at Chicago's Harris Theatre, running April 2-10. The cast features James Maddalena, Emily Albrink, Sara Heaton and Hal Cazalet. For more information, click here.

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Tony Award nominee Michael Stuhlbarg will host The Public Theater's forum, Imagination and Memory, to be held on Monday, March 7 at 8 PM. The evening will explore Anne Frank's legacy and Holocaust literature today, and is being presented in conjunction with the Public's production of Rinne Groff's Compulsion, which is inspired by Meyer Levin, the journalist and screenwriter who helped publicize the existence of Anne Frank's diary.

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Steve Martin will perform with The Steep Canyon Rangers in An Evening of Bluegrass & Banjo at Joe's Pub, March 15-17 at 7 PM. He will be celebrating the release of his second full length bluegrass album "Rare Bird Alert," which will be released March 15.

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RIP. Composer and sound editor John Strauss has died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 90. On Broadway, Strauss provided orchestrations, as well as additional lyrics and music, to the 1956 show The Littlest Revue, and wrote a song for the 1965 musical Pickwick. In addition, he provided arrangements for the 1955 album Songs I Taught My Mother, which featured Charlotte Rae.

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Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik will collaborate on the music for Carson McCullers Talks About Love, which will be written and performed by Suzanne Vega. Kay Matschullat will direct the production, which will play Rattlestick Theatre, April 20-June 4, with an opening on April 28.

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J. Bernard Calloway, Victor Trent Cooke, Robert Fowler, Andre Garner, Beth Glover, Alix Korey, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Tim Jerome, Michael Mandell, Patricia Noonan, and Destan Owens will join Tony Award winner Lillias White in a special benefit concert performance of William Finn's musical Romance in Hard Times, to be presented at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, on April 4 at 7 PM. Michael Bush will direct, with musical direction by Matt Castle.

The evening is being held in support of Amas Theatre and Educational Programs and in celebration of Rosetta LeNoire's 100th birthday.

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Unsubstantiated: Colin Firth and Carey Mulligan may star in the film remake of “My Fair Lady.”

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Kiefer Sutherland is mulling a return to primetime with another Fox drama. The 24 star is in negotiations to topline drama pilot "Touch," from "Heroes" creator Tim Kring.

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Judges have been announced for the 5th Smash Year of The Broadway Beauty Pageant: Bruce Vilanch, Carson Cressley and Rachel Dratch.

The event, held on March 21 at 8 PM, is a benefit for the Ali Forney Center and will take place at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St.

This year's contestants are Matt Anctil (La Cage aux Folles), Michael Cusamano (Chicago), Raymond J. Lee (Anything Goes), Brandon Rubendall (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) and James Tabeek (Mary Poppins).

Conceived by Jeffery Self and directed by Ryan J. Davis, The Broadway Beauty Pageant is musically directed by Christopher Denny. The evening is produced by Wil Fisher, Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self and Matthew Oberstein.

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Santa Monica Playhouse presents Locked and Loaded, Feb. 18-April 16. Directed by Chris DeCarlo, the cast features Paul Linke, Andrew Parks, Tarina Pouncy, Terasa Sciortino and Sandra Thigpen.

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Nicholas Hytner's production of Hamlet, starring Rory Kinnear in the title role that was a sell-out success in the Olivier Theatre last year, will return for a season to the South Bank, beginning performances April 13 for a run of 12 performances to April 23. This time, however, it will be staged in the Lyttelton Theatre.

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GRACE NOTES - Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011

2011-02-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today’s highlights:

* Compulson, starring Mandy Patinkin, opens at the Public Theater.

* The Author opens at Culver City's Kirk Douglas Theatre.

* A Perfect Future opens at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

* The Adventures of Pinocchio begins previews at LA’s Deaf West Theatre.

* Jim Caruso's Cast Party, starring Liza Minelli and Chita Rivera, at 8 PM at Town Hall.

* The Family Fiorelli and How They Stayed One reading, starring Michele Ragusa, at 3 PM at York Theatre.

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Stephen Sondheim's second book, a follow up to his "Finishing The Hat, is now available for pre-order. Entitled, "Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Wafflings, Diversions and Anecdotes," the book is scheduled for release on Oct. 25.

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Reprise Theatre Company has announced two of its three productions to be presented during its 2011-2012 season:

The season will begin with the musical Cabaret (Sept. 13-25), featuring music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and book by Joe Masteroff. Next up will be the Stephen Schwartz-Joseph Stein musical The Baker's Wife (Feb. 14-26). A third production, to run April 17-29 will be announced at a later date, as will cast and creative team information.

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The City Center Encores! series, which presents great American musicals in concert format, will boast an expanded performance schedule when it returns for its new season in the fall.

The acclaimed series, which currently offers five performances over one weekend (Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 6:30 PM), will now feature two additional performances: Wednesday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM.

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Alice Ripley appears in an exclusive one-night-only engagement of Daily Practice: The Acoustic Sessions on May 2 at the newly revamped Stage 773 Theatre (1225 W. Belmont in Chicago). The performance will mark Ripley’s Midwest concert debut.

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Video: Highlights from Compulsion, starring Mandy Patinkin: http://bit.ly/greWav

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Roundabout has made an initial announcement as to its 2011-12 season. Additional details are forthcoming:

* Bob Fosse's Dancin', directed by Graciela Daniele (with creative consultation provided by Bob Fosse's daughter, Nicole Fosse)
* Sons of the Prophet
* Look Back in Anger

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Snapshots, a long-aborning show billed as a "musical scrapbook" that borrows songs by Wicked, Pippin and Godspell composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz, will play Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL, Sept. 16-Oct. 23.

With a book by David Stern ("Geppetto"), music and lyrics by Schwartz, direction by Ken Sawyer (Lovelace: A Rock Opera), musical staging by Karl Christian and musical supervision and arrangements by Steve Orich (Tony-nominated orchestrator of Jersey Boys).

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Michael Riedel has reported in the New York Post that Love Never Dies star Sierra Boggess will headline the 16 million production of Rebecca, The Musical, based on the eponymous Daphne du Maurier novel. Boggess also lead a recent industry reading of the show. Book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, English book adaptation by Christopher Hampton (Sunset Boulevard) and English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze.

The production was intended to play the Shaftesbury Theatre, but technical difficulties involving a water stream under the theatre has prevented a production of the show there. The show will now head straight to Broadway sometime next season, likely in the fall, and will directed by Michael Blakemore.

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Michael Riedel also reports: “On the strength of terrific reviews last week for her per formance in The Children's Hour in London, the lovely Keira Knightley is likely to be the leading box-office draw on Broadway in the fall.”

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Video: Robin Williams and The Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo: http://bit.ly/fmDJi3

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Orlagh Cassidy, Kelley Greene, Andy Paris and Mary Beth Peil will take part in a reading of Christine Evans' Can't Complain, to be presented by Irish Rep as part of its New Works Reading Series, on Friday, Feb. 18 at 3 PM. The play centers on a woman who has suffered a small stroke and the elaborate plot she hatches to escape from the hospital where she's been placed by her daughter.

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Leaders of Surflight Theatre, the Beach Haven, NJ, theatre with 60 years of Jersey shore theatre under its belt, announced on Feb. 15 that they have filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

Surflight's goal is to reorganize through Chapter 11 by "restructuring its finances and stabilizing and rebuilding its future." The new season is being prepared, despite the burden of a $4 million debt.

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…And Then I Wrote a Song About It, the solo musical starring Nick Cearley, which debuted at Luna Stage in late 2010, will play San Diego's Diversionary Theatre March 25-April 10.

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Reprise Theatre Company will present a series of benefit concerts this spring, beginning with a performance by Tony Award winner Betty Buckley on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 8 PM at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

As previously announced, the company will present Barry Manilow in Concert as its annual gala performance, to be held at UCLA's Royce Hall on Tuesday, March 22 at 8 PM. Reprise will also honor Manilow with a special award for his contributions to the field of musical theatre.

Tony winner Barbara Cook will offer a one-night only performance of Barbara Cook in Concert for Reprise Theatre Company on Monday, May 16 at 8 PM at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

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Linda Eder reunites with Frank Wildhorn on her new album, which will be released on March 01. Pre-order here.

Video: “No Finer Man” from the album: http://bit.ly/fG0RIZ

Tune in to BroadwayWorld.com Radio to hear a special preview of the new album between Feb. 21 - 28 at 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, 7 PM and 9 PM EST.

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YouTube your way to the stage of NYC’s Canal Room on Feb. 28 with The Future of NewMusicalTheatre Contest. All entries must be received by Feb. 20 and one winner will chosen to perform their song at the NewMusicalTheatre.com concert (note: transportation and lodging will not be provided)

To enter, choose any available song on newmusicaltheatre.com, record and upload a video of your fabulous performance and post it on facebook.com/newmusicaltheatre or tweet it to @nmtsongs.

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Kritzerland at the Gardenia presents Unsung Irving Berlin Wednesday, March 2 from 9-11 PM at The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles. Dinner reservations begin at 7 PM.

Starring Dan Callaway, Juliana Hansen, Jane Noseworthy, Kevin Symons, Jessica Keenan Wynn and Melody Hollis, with special guest Jonelle Allen.

Dinner reservations guarantee you a table. When you reserve for dinner, you will get a telephone confirmation. If you wish to attend show only, please reserve as well, with your phone number (they had to turn people away last time). All reservations must be made by midnight, March 1. (323) 467-7444

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Jamie Foxx, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Jordin Sparks will celebrate Black History Month with "The Motown Sound," a special Feb. 24 concert at the White House. PBS will record the event for a March 1 (8 PM) television special.

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Daisy Eagan will bring Still Daisy After All These Years to New York's Laurie Beechman Theatre March 28 at 9:30 PM. The show promises “everything you ever wanted to know about Daisy Eagan but were afraid to ask.” The cabaret will cover the ups and downs of her life onstage and off.

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A staged reading of the new musical Becoming Tennessee will be presented March 2 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. The new musical features book and lyrics by Michael Aman and music by Clint Edwards. Reservations: directorscompany@gmail.com.

Directed by Michael Parva, the cast will include Bryan Batt, Jerry Dixon, Harriet D. Foy and Brian Charles Rooney.

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The New York Philharmonic has postponed Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario, which was to have been offered on Monday, April 11 at 7:30 PM at Avery Fisher Hall. A replacement program, to be conducted by Alan Gilbert, will be announced shortly. The delay has been necessitated by a change in Christopher Plummer's availability as he films "Barrymore."

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Borders, the 40-year-old bookstore chain, has filed for bankruptcy protection, according to a report in The New York Times. The company currently operates more than 650 stores, many of which, in cities such as New York, are the sites for popular CD and book-signing events.

As part of its bankruptcy process, Borders will close 200 stores nationwide. In New York, the company plans to shutter its Wall Street operations at 100 Broadway, its 451 Park Avenue store and the Borders in Kips Bay at 576 Second Avenue. The company has also indicated that during its bankruptcy, its rewards program would remain in effect.

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Illeana Douglas, Florence Henderson, Jennifer Tilly, Lainie Kazan, Laraine Newman, Bob Oedenkirk, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Jonathan Silverman, and Julian Sands will perform in Celebrity Autobiography, which will play the Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Feb. 20 at 7 and 9 PM.

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Unsubstantiated: Bartlett Sher will be directing a revival of The King and I next season at Lincoln Center.

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According to a report by Deadline.com, producers of Spider-Man have asked Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to rewrite the book to the show. The original book was a collaboration between Julie Taymor and Glen Berger. This time around, the show will be reworked by a Spidey expert, as Aguirra-Sacasa has written “Spider-Man” comics for Marvel in the past. Additionally, he penned the book for Dallas Theatre Center's It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman.

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Michael Learned and Granville Van Dusen find unexpected love in Kathleen Clark’s perceptively witty and poignant play, Southern Comforts, directed by Jules Aaron. The four-week run opens March 18 and run to April 10 (ow-priced previews March 15-17) at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.

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Mary McDonnell and Jon Tenney read Tony Abatemarco's new play, Beautified, Feb 19 at 8 PM and Feb 20 at 11 AM at the Skylight Theatre (1816 N Vermont Ave in Los Angeles) for the INKubator series at the Katselas Theatre. Presented in association with Susan Dietz; Bart DeLorenzo directs.

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Marc Masterson has stepped down as artistic director of Actors Theatre of Louisville after 11 years, and will join South Coast Repertory in April as its new artistic director A search is now on for a new artistic director in Louisville.

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Pilot news:

Laura Benanti is set to star in NBC's drama pilot “Playboy.” The project is set at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1963. Benanti will play Carol-Lynne, a 30-year-old bombshell and an established star at the Playboy Club who knows that her days as a Bunny are numbered.

Laura Bell Bundy has landed a new TBS pilot. "Hound Dogs" centers on a fictional Nashville team whose players and general manager have plenty of personal issues to contend with off the field. It features a bartender (Bundy) who is seeking a singing career. Rob Mayes ("Cold Case") takes on the role of a rookie pitcher and her love interest.

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The Chichester Festival has announced its 2011 season:

* She Loves Me (May 9-June 18)
* Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (May 20-June 11)
* Top Girls (June 23-July 16)
* Singin' in the Rain (June 27-Sept. 10)
* The Syndicate, starring Sir Ian McKellen (July 21-Aug. 20)
* The Deep Blue Sea (July 13-Sept. 2)
* Nijinksy (Sept. 2-Oct. 8)
* The Browning Version and South Downs in rep (Sept. 2-Oct. 8)
* Sweeney Todd, starring Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton (Sept. 24-Nov. 5)

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Beatles Tribute Band Paperback Writer and Michael Sherman as Ed Sullivan will be performing in The Celebrity Series Fundraiser For the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Huntington Hospital at Capistrano's Embassy Suites in Arcadia, CA on Sunday, Feb. 20. (626) 441-1465

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GRACE NOTES - Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

2011-02-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

GRACE NOTES is the most effective place to reach a world-wide audience of theatre professionals. For more information about promoting your next event, please contact sgrace1122@gmail.com.

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Today's highlights:

* Ajax opens at Boston's ART.

* Diary of a Madman, starring Geoffrey Rush, opens at BAM.

* Gigi, starring Millicent Martin, Matt Cavenaugh and Jason Graae, opens at Reprise.

* Carapace, directed by Judith Ivey, opens at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.

* She Loves Me begins previews at Civic Light Opera South Bay Cities.

* White People begins previews at NYC's Ensemble Studio Theatre.

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Casting is now complete for the Kennedy Center's May 7-June 19 production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies. Signature Theatre artistic director Eric Schaeffer will direct the classic musical with choreography by Warren Carlyle.

The starry company will be headed by two-time Tony winner Bernadette Peters as Sally Durant Plummer, multiple Tony nominee Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone, two-time Tony nominee Danny Burstein as Buddy Plummer, Ron Raines as Benjamin Stone and Olivier Award winner Elaine Paige as Carlotta Campion.

The production will also star Terrence Currier as Theodore Whitman, Christian Delcroix as Young Buddy, Rosalind Elias as Heidi Schiller, Colleen Fitzpatrick as Dee Dee West, Lora Lee Gayer as Young Sally, Michael Hayes as Roscoe, Florence Lacey as Sandra Crane, Linda Lavin as Hattie Walker, Régine as Solange LaFitte, David Sabin as Dimitri Weismann, Kirsten Scott as Young Phyllis, Frederick Strother as Max Deems, Nick Verina as Young Ben, Susan Watson as Emily Whitman and Terri White as Stella Deems.

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Gore Vidal's The Best Man, the 1960 play about presidential candidates, will return to Broadway in spring 2012.

The play ran on Broadway in fall 2000 starring Elizabeth Ashley, Charles Durning, Christine Ebersole, Spalding Gray, Michael Learned, Chris Noth, Mark Blum, Jonathan Hadary, and Jordan Lage. The production was honored with the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Revival of a Play.

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Jared Mason will succeed Tony Award winner Levi Kreis as rock pianist Jerry Lee Lewis in the Broadway production of Million Dollar Quartet beginning March 15 at the Nederlander Theatre

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Video: A Priscilla preview: http://bit.ly/eL4y2A

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S.T.A.G.E. — the annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event — will be presented April 2 at 7:30 PM at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the campus of California State Los Angeles. This year, rather than salute the work of a composer, the annual AIDS benefit will feature artists from theatre, TV and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions. David Galligan will direct the evening, which will feature musical direction by Mary Ekler and choreography by Lee Martino and Dan Mojica.

The upcoming evening will also pay tribute to the late musical-comedy star and long-time event co-chair Betty Garrett, who died Feb. 12 at the age of 91.

The concert, titled Original Cast 2, will boast the talents of Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Robert Morse, Jonelle Allen, Liz Callaway, Philip Casnoff, Patrick Cassidy, Mary Jo Catlett, Carole Cook, Barbara Deutsch, Willy Falk, Danny Gurwin, Bill Hutton, Jane Kean, Dale Kristien, Sean McDermott, Patricia Morison, Pamela Myers, Stephen Nathan, Jennifer Paz, Valarie Pettiford, Charlotte Rae and Lee Roy Reams.

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GN quote of the week: “I'm a skilled professional actor. Whether or not I've any talent is beside the point.” ~ Michael Caine

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Westchester Broadway Theatre’s production of I Do! I Do!, starring Mark Zimmerman and Lauri Landry, continues through March 20. Directed and Choreographed by Richard Sabellico.

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Harmony, Kansas, the new musical about a gay men's chorus that forms in rural Kansas, will get an invitation-only Manhattan reading Feb. 22 at 3:30 PM. Jonathan Rayson, Zak Resnick, Chris Hoch, Howie Michael Smith and Nick Cearley are among its players. Information: harmonyksreading@gmail.com.

The original musical has music by Anna K. Jacobs (POP!) and book and lyrics by Bill Nelson (Bill Nelson's All-Male Revue). The reading will be directed by Richard Biever, artistic director of Singing OnStage Productions, the group that produced a reading of Marvin Harmlisch and Howard Ashman's Smile in fall 2010.

The cast will feature Zak Resnick, Doug Kreeger, Howie Michael Smith as Wiley, Bruce Warren, Jonathan Rayson, Chris Hoch, Nick Reynolds, Nick Cearley and Bryan Scott Johnson.

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Video: Opening night and clips of the show at Pasadena Playhouse’s Dangerous Beauty: http://bit.ly/gxiXdg

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The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre presents A Number, Caryl Churchill's acclaimed play about human cloning and identity, starring OBIE Award-winner James Saito and Joel de la Fuente, with previews set to begin March 12 prior to it official press opening March 17 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Maureen Payne-Hahner directs.

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Circle X Theatre’s First Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival is generated from the Circle X writers’ group, nine short plays about Sex / Love or Love / Sex. The group provides an opportunity for playwrights currently working in film and television to develop and complete unfinished plays with Circle X’s group of actors, directors, designers and artists as collaborators.

The Ten-Minute Play Festival is the first public presentation of work generated from within the group. The production runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Feb. 25 – March 26.

Writers: Lee Blessing, James Duff, Fielding Edlow, Leo Geter, Jim Leonard, Melanie Marnich, Timothy Mason, Mike O’Malley, Meredith Stiehm.

Directors: Jim Anzide, Matt Bretz, Heath Cullens, Tom Elliott, Leo Geter, Matt McCray, Kiff Scholl, Jonathan Westerberg, Tim Wright

Actors: Larry Clarke, Lisa Dring, Fielding Edlow, Suzy Jane Hunt, Jen Kays, Robert Manning, Jr., Johanna McKay, Bill Salyers, Jennifer A. Skinner, Doug Sutherland, Tim Wright.

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Michelle Clunie (“Queer as Folk”) and Vs. Theatre Company artistic director Johnny Clark star in the Los Angeles premiere of The Mercy Seat, Neil LaBute’s caustically funny examination of opportunism in the wake of tragedy. Ron Klier directs a six-week run, opening March 19 at LA’s [Inside] the Ford. Pay-what-you-can previews take place on March 17 and 18.

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The Falcon Theatre presents, in association with Rita Wilson, the international hit comedy Jamaica, Farewell, written and performed by NAACP award-winner Debra Ehrhardt and directed by Joel Zwick ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), the fifth and final production in its 2010-2011 Subscription Season.

Previews begin March 16, with an opening set for March 25, and the run continues to April 17.

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Jeff Talbott, an unproduced New York City playwright, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Laurents-Hatcher Award, which comes with a $50,000 prize for the writer and $100,000 for a producing organization. His aptly-titled work, The Submission — about a frustrated playwright who makes a bold, life-changing move — will be presented by Off-Broadway's MCC Theater next season.

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Additional performers have been announced for the Café Carlyle's 2011 winter/spring season:

* Douglas Hodge, March 15-26
* Nathan Gunn, March 29-April 16
* Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, May 10-21
* Bettye LaVette, May 24-June 3
* Lea Salonga, June 7-25
* Woody Allen & The Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band continues Monday evenings through June. 7

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Argyle Road Productions presents The Birthday Present 2050 by Tania Wisbar, directed by Jonathan Sanger. The production runs March 19 - April 17 at The Skylight Theatre (1816 ½ N. Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles).

The cast features James Black, Juan Carlos Cantu, Antonio Charity, Elyssa Davalos, Lelia Goldoni, Demetrius Grosse, Cheyenne Haynes, Jossara Jinaro, Katrina Lenk… and Bud Cort as Guy.

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The acting company of the world-premiere production of And the Curtain Rises, the musical about the creation of a new American form called musical comedy, has been announced by Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. Performances will play March 17-April 10 at Signature's MAX Theatre in Arlington, VA.

With book my Michael Slade (And a Child Shall Lead, ten shows by Theatreworks/USA), lyrics by Mark Campbell (Songs From an Unmade Bed) and music by Joseph Thalken (Was, Harold & Maude), the show is inspired by the true story of the seminal 19th-century musical The Black Crook.

Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Kristin Hanggi (Broadway's Rock of Ages, Off-Broadway's bare), the cast includes Erik Altemus, Anna Kate Bocknek, Kristen Calgaro, Kevin Carolan, Alma Cuervo, Nick Dalton, Suzanne Darling, Erick Devine, William Diggle, Greer Gisy, Laura Keller, Rachel Schur, Jennifer Smith, Brian Sutherland, Sean Thompson and Rebecca Watson.

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Two women from Kansas City, MO, who attended the Nov. 23, 2009, performance of Billy Elliot have filed a $4 million lawsuit over injuries sustained while watching the hit musical, according to the New York Post.

While sitting in the front row at the Imperial Theatre, Elaine Rosen and Cynthia Noblit were hit in the face by a prop that flew off the stage during a production number prior to the end of the musical's first act. Both were taken to a hospital following the incident. Fifty-four year-old Rosen now has a "permanent scar" on her face, according to her lawyer Steven Halperin, while 60-year-old Noblit suffered a concussion.

The lawyer told the Post that the production had invited both women to return to the musical; the staging of the first act production number has also been modified to avoid any future incidents.

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The Red Bull Theater's "In the Raw" workshop of Margaret, A Tyger's Heart, which explores the role of the French Queen throughout Shakespeare's history plays, will be presented beginning Feb. 25. Michael Sexton will direct his work, which has been adapted from Shakespeare's Richard III and Henry VI. Performances will take place Feb. 25-27 at the Theatre at St. Clement's.

The cast will include Randy Harrison (Wicked, "Queer As Folk"), as well as Kate Forbes (Othello), Craig Baldwin, Jacob Fishel, Jason Butler Harner, Robert Stanton, Michael Stewart Allen and David Townsend.

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Download the TKTS iPhone app for free through March 1. Download the Android app for free until May 15.

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Polly Draper and Maggie Siff will star in Emmy Award winning playwright Jane Anderson's world premiere of The Escort, at the Geffen Playhouse, April 6-May 8. Lisa Peterson will direct.

The play follows the relationship between Charlotte (Siff), a high-class call girl and Rhona (Draper), her upper West side female gynecologist. The cast will also include James Eckhouse and Gabriel Sunday.

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Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for the 1954 film version of "Anything Goes," starring Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman. The film will be released on DVD on March 11. Order here.

GRACE NOTES Amazon.com tip: If you need to add a little more to any order to qualify for free shipping, visit superfiller.com and the site will offer you a large variety of products to make up the difference.

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The Laguna Playhouse is pleased to present Noël Coward's celebrated comedy, Private Lives, March 15 - April 10. The play is directed by Andrew Barnicle. Casting will be announced soon.

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Benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues will take place Feb. 18-20 at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre (4800 Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles). The cast features Alison Arngrim, Diane Amos, Kate Linder and Tippi Hedren. The performances are part of V Day and Eve's Lime Productions week long benefit to raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls.

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The world premiere of the pre-Broadway musical Like Water for Chocolate will be among productions on the 2011-12 schedule at Arena Stage. The musical, running Sept. 9-Oct. 30, will be co-directed by Tony Award winner Ted Sperling and Jonathan Butterell. The libretto is by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Quiara Alegría Hudes (In the Heights, Elliot – A Soldier's Fugue) with music and lyrics by Lila Downs and Paul Cohen.

The season will also include The Book Club Play (Oct. 7-Nov. 6), Equivocation (Nov. 18-Jan. 1), You, Nero (Nov. 25-Jan. 1), The Elephant Room (Jan. 20-Feb. 26, 2012), Red (Jan. 20-March 11, 2012), Ah, Wilderness! (March 9–April 8, 2012), Long Day's Journey into Night (March 30–May 13, 2012), The Music Man (May 11–July 22, 2012), Mary T. & Lizzie K. (June 1–July 22, 2012) and Trouble in Mind (June 8–July 22, 2012).

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Nominations for Florida's 35th annual Carbonell Awards:

COMBINED (plays and musicals)

Best New Work: Peter Colley, Robert Creighton and Christopher McGovern, Cagney, Florida Stage; Mario Diament, A Report on the Banality of Love, The Promethean Theatre; Terry Lawrence, Speaking Elephant, The Women’s Theatre Project; Carter W. Lewis, The Storytelling Ability of a Boy, Florida Stage; Susan Draus, Everett Bradley, Michael Heitzman and Ilene Reid, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company

Best Ensemble Production: Bombshells! A Musical Explosion of Life, Love and Telling It All!, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Broadsword, Mad Cat Theatre Company; Farragut North, GableStage; Some Kind of Wonderful, Florida Stage; Viva Bourgeois!, Mad Cat Theatre Company

PLAYS

Best Production of a Play: Broadsword, Mad Cat Theatre Company; Copenhagen, Palm Beach Dramaworks; Speed-the-Plow, GableStage; The Whipping Man, Caldwell Theatre Company; Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them, Mosaic Theatre

Best Director: Joseph Adler, Farragut North, GableStage; Joseph Adler, Speed-the-Plow, GableStage; J. Barry Lewis, Copenhagen, Palm Beach Dramaworks; Richard Jay Simon, Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them, Mosaic Theatre; Paul Tei, Broadsword, Mad Cat Theatre Company

Best Actor: John Archie, The Whipping Man, Caldwell Theatre Company; Todd Allen Durkin, At Home at the Zoo, Palm Beach Dramaworks; Paul Tei, Speed-the-Plow, GableStage; Ricky Waugh, Reasons to be Pretty, GableStage; Gregg Weiner, Dumb Show, The Promethean Theatre

Best Actress: Linda Bernhard, Playhouse Creatures , The Women’s Theatre Project; Barbara Bradshaw, Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them, Mosaic Theatre; Lela Elam, No Child, GableStage; Angie Radosh, Speaking Elephant, The Women’s Theatre Project; Laura Turnbull, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mosaic Theatre

Best Supporting Actor: Dennis Creaghan, The Voysey Inheritance, Caldwell Theatre Company; Todd Allen Durkin, Reasons to be Pretty, GableStage; Erik Fabregat, Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them, Mosaic Theatre; Gregg Weiner, A Doll’s House, Palm Beach Dramaworks; Gregg Weiner, Farragut North, GableStage

Best Supporting Actress: Elena Maria Garcia, Summer Shorts: Signature Shorts, City Theatre; Patti Gardner, Defiance, GableStage; Erin Joy Schmidt , Viva Bourgeois!, Mad Cat Theatre Company; Deborah L. Sherman, Dumb Show, The Promethean Theatre; Miriam Wiener, In a Dark, Dark House, Mosaic Theatre

MUSICALS

Best Production of a Musical: Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Cagney, Florida Stage; Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; A Little Night Music, Broward Stage Door; Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company

Best Director of a Musical: David Arisco, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Bill Castellino, Cagney, Florida Stage; Clive Cholerton, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company; Gordon Greenberg, Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Margaret M. Ledford, Cannibal! The Musical, The Promethean Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical: Matthew William Chizever, Cannibal! The Musical, The Promethean Theatre; Robert Creighton, Cagney, Florida Stage; David Michael Felty, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Mark A. Harmon, A Little Night Music, Broward Stage Door; Brad Oscar, Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company; Misty Cotton, Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Jodie Langel, Evita, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Kimberley Xavier Martins, A Little Night Music, Broward Stage Door; Holly Shunkey, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Darrin Baker, Cagney, Florida Stage; Marcus Bellamy, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company; Nathanial Braga, Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Gary Marachek, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Rudy Martinez, Evita, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Katherine Amadeo, Cannibal! The Musical, The Promethean Theatre; Miki Edelman, A Little Night Music, Broward Stage Door; Gwen Hollander, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Melissa Minyard, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Margot Moreland, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Musical Direction: Eric Alsford, Les Miserables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre; Helen Gregory, Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Helen Gregory, Evita, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Christopher McGovern, Cagney, Florida Stage; Jon Rose, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company

Best Choreography: Chrissi Ardito, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Broward Stage Door; Chrissi Ardito, Cannibal! The Musical, The Promethean Theatre; AC Ciulla, Vices: A Love Story, Caldwell Theatre Company; Joshua Rhodes, Barnum, Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Jeff Shade, Cagney, Florida Stage

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Trinity Rep's 2011-12 season:

* His Girl Friday, Sept. 9-Oct. 9
* Clybourne Park, Oct. 14-Nov. 13
* A Christmas Carol, Nov. 18-Dec. 30
* It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Dec. 9-31
* The Merchant of Venice, Feb. 3-March 4, 2012
* Boeing, Boeing, April 13-May 13, 2012
* Three by Three in Rep: Sparrow Grass, Love Alone and The Mourner's Bench, Feb. 16-May27, 2012

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GRACE NOTES - Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011

2011-02-15T06:55:00.000-08:00