The Little Mermaid Swims Away From Broadway Today

Disney's The Little Mermaid concludes its run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre today. The musical, based on the Disney animated film of the same name (which in turn was based off the Hans Christian Andersen tale), opened in January 2008 and has played over 700 performances. Although The Little Mermaid was one of Disney's most acclaimed and beloved animated movies, the stage musical version did not fare as well. Having run less than two years, The Little Mermaid is one of Disney on Broadway's least successful ventures so far, begging the question of whether or not the company is beginning to reach a saturation point. Nonetheless, Mary Poppins and especially The Lion King both continue to run strong on Broadway, so Disney fans still have more than one film-turned-stage-musical to choose from.

Jeremy Piven Wins Battle With Speed-the-Plow Producers

A decision has been announced by the arbitrator of the legal case that pitted the producers of the Broadway play Speed-the-Plow against actor Jeremy Piven and Actors' Equity Association, and he has ruled in favor of Piven and AEA. The trouble began late last year when Jeremy Piven suddenly departed from the Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow in which he was starring, reportedly due to high levels of mercury in his system from excessive sushi consumption (the Entourage actor has been plagued by fish jokes ever since). Not exactly convinced that Piven's sudden withdrawal from the show - which forced a scramble to replace him with another bankable star - was necessary, the Speed-the-Plow producers subsequently filed a grievance with Actors' Equity which later went into arbitration. Although the arbitrator has officially determined that Piven's decision to leave the show was reasonable, the incident did do some damage to the actor's reputation in terms of his reliability, and the sushi jokes are still going strong.

20at20 Off-Broadway Show Discounts Return

The popular Off-Broadway "20at20" program returns this September. From September 8th through the 20th, people can get tickets to numerous Off-Broadway musicals and plays for just $20. The catch is that these $20 tickets aren't sold until 20 minutes before showtime, and they are subject to availability (so if the show is already sold out for that night, you're out of luck). Off-Broadway shows seldom sell out, though, so it's worth a trip to the box office of whichever Off-Bway play or musical you're most interested in 20 minutes prior to curtain to see what is available. You should also keep an alternate show in mind so that you can run over to that box office if your first choice isn't available. The Off-Broadway shows participating in 20at20 this year include Altar Boyz, Awesome 80s Prom, Blind Lemon Blues, Fuerzabruta, In the Daylight, Magic and Zone, Puppetry of the Penis, Sessions, Stomp, The Columbine Project, The Fantasticks, The Gazillion Bubble Show, and The Toxic Avenger.

Maury Yeston Has Written Three New Songs For Nine Film

The forthcoming film version of the Broadway musical Nine will contain three brand new songs, written by the musical's composer, Maury Yeston. Variety has reported that one of them, "Guarda la Luna," is sung by Sophia Loren; the second, "Cinema Italiano," will be sung by Kate Hudson; and the third, "Take It All," is performed by Marion Cotillard. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine is about an Italian filmmaker and the many women in his life, including his mother, wife, and mistress. Also starring in the film, to be released in theaters this November, is Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz.

Burn the Floor Will Keep It Hot Through 2010

Originally set for a very limited run of just 12 weeks at the Longacre Theatre, Burn the Floor has now announced that it will be extending its stay through January 3, 2010. Burn the Floor features dozens of championship dancers doing what they do best - Latin and ballroom dance. Cha-Cha, Rumba, Mambo, Waltz, Swing, the Charleston, and the Tango are just a few of the amazing dances executed expertly by the talented cast. Directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, Burn the Floor already toured the world before arriving in New York City to heat up Broadway. When it first opened, the production was headlined by dancers from the ABC TV show Dancing With the Stars. Though they are no longer in the show, Burn the Floor's current stars are Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev from So You Think You Can Dance?

Passing Strange Now In Movie Theaters For A Limited Time

New Yorkers should hurry down to the IFC Center in Greenwich Village as soon as they can and catch the new stage-to-film version of one of last season's best Broadway musicals, the auto-biographical Passing Strange, starring writer/musician/performer Stew and actor Daniel Breaker (Shrek) playing his younger self. Currently that is the only movie theater in the city that is screening Passing Strange: The Movie, and so far it is only on the schedule through Tuesday, August 25. For those who won't have an opportunity to see it on the big screen, they can catch the film on cable through the On Demand feature starting later this month. Already receiving great reviews from sources such as the New York Times and Time Out New York, Passing Strange: The Movie was filmed live by director Spike Lee at the Belasco Theater during the musical's last weekend on Broadway.

A Steady Rain Tickets On Sale Today

There were lines at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre early this morning, as people arrived to buy seats for what is sure to be the new Broadway season's hottest ticket, A Steady Rain. Playwright Keith Huff's two-person drama is starring major international film stars Hugh Jackman (Wolverine, X-Men) and Daniel Craig (the James Bond series) as a pair of Chicago cops. The play will have only a limited engagement, from September 10 to December 6, as the actors have film commitments after that. Because the show's Broadway run is so short, the tickets are expected to go very fast, so anyone interested in seeing Jackman and Craig together on the Broadway stage should hurry to get them fast.

Michael Emerson, Eric Bogosian, and More To Join Revelation Reading Series

A great line-up of stage and screen actors are set to participate in Red Bull Theatre's upcoming Revelation Readings series during the 2009-2010 season. Michael Emerson (TV's Lost, Off-Broadway's Gross Indecency), playwright/monologuist Eric Bogosian, Richard Thomas (The Waltons), Michael Urie (TV's Ugly Betty, Off-Broadway's The Tempermentals), Michael Stuhlbarg (upcoming Coen Brothers' movie A Serious Man, Broadway's The Pillowman), and other talented performers will appear in readings of dramatic rarities by the likes of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as some new works. The reading series, which will take place at the Theater at St. Clement's, begins September 14 with Timon of Athens, featuring Richard Easton and Harris Yulin.

New York International Fringe Festival Now Through August 30

The NYC Fringe kicked off this weekend and is now in full swing. The annual festival is a massive undertaking, bringing over 200 productions to dozens of downtown New York City venues in a two and a half week period. The shows come from around the world and across the nation and they span every category possible - solo shows, plays, classics, musicals, revivals, experimental theater, dance shows, comedies, puppet theater, children's shows, and theatrical pieces too unique to be found in any other setting. There's truly something for everybody. Granted, the Fringe is a gamble - there is always some truly terrible theater in the festival - but it's really wonderful when you unearth that special theatrical gem. And the price is right at $15 per ticket. If you're a true theater explorer, pay $500 and see as many shows as you can cram in with an aptly named Lunatic Pass. FringeNYC runs through August 30.

Mary Stuart's Reign on Broadway Ends Today

The limited engagement of the play Mary Stuart, which began at the Donmar Warehouse in London, concluded its run on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre today. The acclaimed production starred British thespians Janet McTeer and Harriet Walker (both nominated for Tony Awards for their turns as Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I, respectively), alongside a cast of actors who frequently appear on Broadway, including John Benjamin Hickey, Robert Stanton, Chandler Williams, and Brian Murray. This production of the historical-political drama, written by German dramatist Friedrich Schiller over 200 years ago, featured an adaptation by Peter Oswald and direction by Mamma Mia helmer Phyllida Lloyd.

Turn On Your TV Tomorrow, Avenue Q Fans

As it goes into its final month on Broadway, the soon-to-be-closing musical comedy Avenue Q makes a few local appearances on New York City TV shows. The hilarious puppet musical will appear on the morning of August 13 on the Fox television program Good Day New York, with cast members Ann Harada and Jennifer Barnhart chatting with the hosts and performing "The More You Ruv Someone". Later that night, the Avenue Q cast will be on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon performing audience favorite "The Internet Is For Porn," marking the first time that the number has been done on national television. The long-running Avenue Q recently celebrated its sixth anniversary on Broadway, but unfortunately it will be ending its run at the John Golden Theatre on September 13, so get tickets to see it in person while you still can!

The Bacchae Begins Performances In Central Park Tonight

The Greek tragedy The Bacchae starts performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park this evening. The production, directed by Joanne Akalaitis and featuring music by Philip Glass, is the second and final installment of the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park summer season. The Bacchae will have a shorter run than the Public's previous production, the star-studded Twelfth Night, playing just under three weeks from August 11-30. The Euripides play stars Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening) as Dionysus and Anthony Mackie as Pentheus. Tickets to the production are absolutely free and are distributed each day at 1pm at the Delacorte. If you are unable to get out of work to join the line in the morning, there is also a cancellation line in the evening.

Troubles in Spider-Land as Production on U2 Musical Halts

Rumors about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark have been flying around New York City faster than the web-slinging hero himself. As production costs of the big-budget and technically complex Julie Taymor-directed musical, featuring a score by U2's Bono and The Edge, have skyrocketed, word on the street has been that the show may never open. The latest development is that production has halted, albeit temporarily, according to the musical's producers, due to cash flow troubles. They insist that Spiderman will still begin performances at the Hilton Theatre on Broadway in late February as planned. So far no one has been cast in the plum role of Peter Parker, but Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming are already set to co-star.

Jerry Springer To Join the Broadway Company of Chicago

Controversial talk show host Jerry Springer will soon be joining the cast of the Broadway production of the musical Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre for a limited time. Springer will be playing the role of slick lawyer Billy Flynn, a part that he previously played in the London production of the hit revival of the cynical, jazzy John Kander & Fred Ebb musical. He will be in the Broadway cast from August 18th to September 6th (though he will be absent from the August 24th and 31st performances of the show). Springer will go on to play Billy Flynn in productions of Chicago playing in Atlanta and Philadelphia later in September.

Barbra Streisand To Play Village Vanguard on September 26

Legendary singer Barbra Streisand has announced that she will be doing a one-night-only show at the Village Vanguard on September 26. The beloved diva, who has no problem selling out huge venues at top ticket prices, will be playing this very intimate New York City club as a special treat for her fans. The tickets are going to be free, distributed through her website www.barbrastreisand.com to people who register or pre-order her CD (visit the website for the details). The concert, which is in support of Streisand's new jazzy Love Is the Answer album, marks the singer's first return to the Village Vanguard since her last performance there in 1961, opening for jazz great Miles Davis.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Cast In Off-Broadway Play The Understudy

It has been announced that Mark-Paul Gosselaar will headline the new Theresa Rebeck play The Understudy, which begins performances at the Laura Pels Theatre this October. The former Saved By the Bell star, now appearing in TNT's dramatic series Raising the Bar, will play Jake in The Understudy, while Weeds star Justin Kirk plays the title role. As previously announced, the hilarious Julie White (The Little Dog Laughed) will also be in the cast. The Understudy, which premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2008, is the first entry in the Roundabout Theatre Company's Off-Broadway season. Playwright Rebeck's other recent works include Mauritius, Our House, Bad Dates, and Omnium Gatherum.

John Gallagher Jr. To Star in Green Day's New American Idiot Musical

Principal casting for the upcoming musical version of Green Day's hit album American Idiot has been announced. Talented Tony-winning actor John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening, Rabbit Hole) will star as Johnny, and he will be joined by Tony Vincent (Jesus Christ Superstar) as St. Jimmy, Michael Esper (A Man For All Seasons) as Will, Matt Caplan (Rent) as Tunny, Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange) as Whatsername, and Mary Faber (Avenue Q) as Heather, as well as a large ensemble of youthful performers. The production, which will open at the Berkeley Rep in September, will re-unite John Gallagher Jr. with his Spring Awakening director, Michael Mayer.

Melissa Gilbert To Head Little House on the Prairie Tour

Melissa Gilbert, former child star of the television series about late 19th century frontier America, Little House on the Prairie, is graduating from her role of little Laura to Ma in the new musical version of the beloved book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Little House on the Prairie musical had its first major production at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis with Gilbert in the cast, and she is continuing on in the part for the show's next production at the Paper Mill Playhouse this September. The Paper Mill production will be the kick-off in a national tour that will then take Little House on the Prairie to 30 cities across the nation.