Broadway Openings, Extensions, and Transfers

There is lots of movement on Broadway this week. The Broadway revival of the musical Sunday in the Park with George has announced a second extension -- it is now set to finish its Broadway run on June 15. The London production of Macbeth starring Patrick Stewart, which is playing a limited engagement at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, is going to come to Broadway for a run in the Lyceum Theatre (where the Broadway play Is He Dead? currently lives) from March 28 through May 24. And the new Broadway musical Passing Strange officially opens at the Belasco Theatre tonight.

Is He Dead? To Close On Broadway March 9

The recently discovered Mark Twain play, Is He Dead?, which was adapted for Broadway by playwright David Ives, will close on Sunday, March 9. Featuring Broadway star Norbert Leo Butz as an artist who fakes his death, the farcical comedy will have played a total of 118 performances at the Lyceum Theatre when it has its final Broadway bow.

Broadway Triumphs on TV: A Raisin In The Sun Wins The Monday Ratings War For ABC

The new TV movie version of Lorraine Hansberry's beautiful play A Raisin in the Sun was a success in the ratings last night, ultimately "winning" the night for ABC with an overall average of nearly 13 million viewers. This television adaptation of the play starred the same leads as the 2004 Broadway revival cast, including Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad. The latter two are Tony-winning Broadway regulars, but A Raisin in the Sun was hip-hop mogul Sean "P Diddy" Combs's Broadway debut.

Dennis Letts, Star Of Son's Broadway Play August: Osage County, Passes Away

Actor Dennis Letts has passed away at the age of 73. Most recently he appeared as Beverly Weston in both the Chicago and Broadway runs of his son Tracy's acclaimed play August: Osage County. Mr. Letts was diagnosed with lung cancer late last year, but he did not let that stop him from making an indelible impression on Broadway as the wry, charming patriarch of the dysfunctional Weston clan in August.

The Color Purple Closes At The Broadway Theatre

The Broadway musical version of Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple had its final performance at the Broadway Theatre today. At over 900 performances on Broadway, the uplifting Oprah Winfrey-produced musical had a good run, but can now only be seen in its touring production.

Broadway Shows Reviewed in Latest EW

Broadway Fan Alert! The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (Feb. 29, with Will Ferrell on the cover) features a special "Stage" section, in which Broadway revivals Sunday in the Park with George and Come Back, Little Sheba, new Off-Broadway musical Next to Normal, and long-running Broadway tuner Spamalot (now starring American Idol's Clay Aiken) are reviewed. Check it out!

Sunday in the Park Extends Broadway Run

The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the musical Sunday in the Park with George was greeted with rave reviews after opening on Broadway last night. The hit production has now extended its Broadway run until June 1, so you better get your tickets now!

Sunday in the Park with George Opens on Broadway

The new Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Sunday in the Park with George opens at Studio 54 tonight. Starring English actors Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell, the production comes to Broadway hot off a successful run in London. The supporting cast of the Broadway version includes such Broadway regulars as Alexander Gemignani (Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd), Michael Cumpsty (42nd Street), and Jessica Molaskey (Parade).

Broadway Revival of Company On PBS Tonight

Tune into PBS tonight at 9PM Eastern/Standard time to see the TV broadcast of the recent Broadway revival of Company. The Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical, which was directed by John Doyle, stars Raul Esparza as a confirmed (but questioning) bachelor. If you don't see Company on your TV schedule tonight, check your local listings to see if your PBS affiliate is airing it on a different night.

$20 Off-Broadway Ticket Deal Is Back

The "20 at 20" ticket discount, which allows people to buy $20 tickets to any of 20 different Off-Broadway shows, has returned for a limited time from February 25 to March 9. The catch is that these discount tickets don't become available until 20 minutes before curtain and are subject to availability. For more information, and a list of participating Off-Broadway shows, see www.offbroadway.com.

August: Osage County Finds New Broadway Home

The highly acclaimed new play August: Osage County, which the Steppenwolf Theatre Company brought to Broadway after a hit run in Chicago, has found a new Broadway house to move into. On April 20, August will conclude its tenure at the Imperial Theatre (which will soon host Billy Elliot) and move to Broadway's Music Box Theatre (where the soon-to-close Farnsworth Invention currently lives).

Broadway Bears Auctioned For Charity

The eleventh annual Broadway Bears event was held this evening in New York City. Each year, teddy bears dressed as characters from Broadway shows are auctioned off, with the proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year, Broadway Bears was hosted by frequent Broadway performer Bryan Batt. To learn more about Broadway Bears, visit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS online at www.broadwaycares.org.

Encores, Off-Broadway Style

New York Theatre Workshop, the venerable downtown theater company that launched Broadway sensation Rent, has announced plans to create a new concert series that revives Off-Broadway musicals. Similar to the popular City Center series Encores!, which features lesser-known Broadway musicals of the past, the NYTW concerts would be minimally-staged productions that bring older Off-Broadway -- and probably Off-Off Broadway and regional -- shows to new audiences.

In The Heights Hits Broadway On V-Day

Happy Valentine's Day, musical theater lovers! Tonight at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, performances of the thrilling new Broadway show In the Heights begin. A musical love letter to the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights, In the Heights had a successful Off-Broadway run last season and has now transferred to the Great White Way. The show officially opens on Broadway on March 9.

Off-Broadway Musical Next To Normal Opens

The new Off-Broadway musical Next To Normal, written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, opens tonight at Second Stage Theatre in New York City. Alice Ripley and Brian d'Arcy James, both Broadway regulars, star in the production, which is directed by Michael Greif (most famous for helming Broadway's Rent). Composer Tom Kitt's most recent New York show was High Fidelity, which had a very short run on Broadway's Great White Way.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Starts Broadway Previews

The first-ever all African-American production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof to play Broadway starts preview performances tonight. James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Terrence Howard, Anika Noni Rose, and Giancarlo Esposito head the cast of this Tennesse Williams family drama, directed by Debbie Allen. Most of the venerable performers headlining the production are Broadway veterans, but film actor Howard (Hustle & Flow, Crash) is making his Broadway debut here. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will have its official Broadway opening at the Broadhurst Theatre on March 6, with a planned closing date of April 13.

Shrek Will Open At The Broadway Theatre On 12/14

The new Broadway musical version of Shrek has announced its official opening date and theater. Shrek will start preview performances at the Broadway Theatre (currently occupied by The Color Purple) on November 8, with a December 14 opening. So far, Young Frankenstein's Sutton Foster has been cast as princess Fiona and Broadway regular Christopher Sieber will be playing Lord Farquaad, but it is not yet known who will be playing Shrek himself.

Broadway's Spring Awakening Nabs The Grammy Award For Best Musical Show Album

The original Broadway cast recording of the smash Broadway musical Spring Awakening just won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Lyricist Steven Sater and composer Duncan Sheik accepted the award. The category's other nominees were the Broadway cast recordings for Grey Gardens, the revivals of A Chorus Line and Company, and West Side Story.

Passing Strange Begins Broadway Performances

Following a much-buzzed-about Off-Broadway run at the Public Theater, the new rock musical Passing Strange starts its Broadway preview period tonight. Writer/performer Stew narrates the semi-autobiographical tale of a young man from middle class L.A. who travels to Europe in search of himself. Passing Strange will have its official Broadway opening at the Belasco Theatre on February 28.

Farnsworth To Close On Broadway March 2nd

The Farnsworth Invention, the new play by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), will have its final Broadway performance on Sunday, March 2. Starring Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson, Farnsworth dramatizes the race to invent and patent television.

Stars of Broadway Play Revival The Homecoming Will Appear at Borders This Coming Friday

Ian McShane, Michael McKean, and Raul Esparza, all currently starring in the Broadway revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, will appear at a Borders bookstore in New York City for a panel and signing this coming Friday, February 8 at 5:30pm. The Borders is located on the second floor of the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.

Kids' Night On Broadway Begins

The annual Kids' Night On Broadway event kicks off this afternoon at Madame Tussauds in a celebration hosted by Broadway booster and sometime stage star Rosie O'Donnell (Grease, Seussical). Now in its 12th year, Kids' Night On Broadway allows children and teens 6-18 years of age attend a Broadway show for free when accompanied by a paying adult. To learn more, visit www.KidsNightOnBroadway.com.

Broadway Backwards Concert Tonight

Tonight at the American Airlines Theatre, tons of Broadway notables will be getting together for the third installment of Broadway Backwards. The Broadway Backwards concerts put a new spin on Broadway showtunes by letting men sing songs originally written for women, and by having women sing tunes traditionally sung by men. Among the Broadway performers on the bill tonight are Gary Beach, Cheyenne Jackson, Liz Callaway, Anthony Rapp, Len Cariou, Ann Harada, Brooks Ashmanskas, Sierra Boggess, Tituss Burgess, Charles Busch, Kerry Butler, Jenn Colella, Gavin Creel, Sandy Duncan, Malcolm Gets, Neil Patrick Harris, Jose Llana, and Lea Michele. Seth Rudetsky, who was recently featured in the Broadway revival of The Ritz, will host the event.

Broadway Actors Appear In New York Times' "TimesTalks" Series This Month

Several Broadway performers will be interviewed in the New York Times' renowned TimesTalks series this month. On February 4, beloved Broadway divas Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad, along with hip hop artist Sean Combs (who only recently made his Broadway debut), will discuss the new TV movie version of A Raisin in the Sun, which the trio starred in together on Broadway. Accomplished actors Deanna Dunagan and Ian McShane, currently starring on Broadway in August: Osage County and The Homecoming, respectively, will be a part of the series on February 25. TimesTalks is held at 6:30pm on varying nights in TheTimesCenter (242 W. 41st Street). Tickets are $25-$27 and can be ordered by calling 800-272-9533. For more schedule information, please visit www.thetimescenter.com.

Broadway-bound Female of the Species Postponed

Originally scheduled to open on Broadway in April, the Broadway engagement of The Female of the Species has now been postponed. It hasn't been determined yet when Joanna Murray-Smith's new play will hit Broadway, but it will not be this season. The Female of the Species was supposed to star Annette Bening as a feminist author encountering writer's block, but Bening dropped out in September and no replacement was ever announced.