Charles Nelson Reilly News

THEATER TALK celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Hello, Dolly! with a trio of guests, each with a different association with the long-running show. Actress Sondra Lee was the production's original Minnie Fay; Lee Roy Reams was Cornelius in the 1978 revival and directed the second revival in 1995; and dancer Marge Champion, married to the show's director-choreographer Gower Champion, was present at the show's creation. The 1964 mega-hit was a musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, with a book by Michael Stewart, score by 26-year-old Jerry Herman and produced by the notorious David Merrick. The show's original cast included: Carol Channing, David Burns, Charles Nelson Reilly, Eileen Brennan and Ms. Lee. It ran for a record-breaking 2,844 performances from Jan. 15, 1964 to Dec. 27, 1970 and won 10 Tony Awards, a record it held for 35 years.

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT - Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown) will present Phillip Hayes Dean's (Drama Desk-winner for The Sty of the Blind Pig) powerful and moving play PAUL ROBESON. Dean will also stage the ERT production, which will mark his Los Angeles directorial debut. Two-time Emmy Award-winner Keith David (Fox's new series Enlisted) will star in this one-man play accompanied by pianist/musical director Byron J. Smith (working with numerous artists including Wynton Marsalis, Barbra Streisand, Bebe Winnans). Performances will run March 12 - 30, 2014 with an official press opening on March 14 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles.

On Saturday evening, March 1st at 7:30pm Pace University will present American Showstoppers, with the 13 piece Fred Barton Orchestra, AN EVENING OF JERRY HERMAN. The evening is directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson and produced, orchestrated and hosted by Fred Barton.

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold another in its Sunday Seminars series, focused on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway this Sunday, January 12th.

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT - Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown) announced today that they will present Phillip Hayes Dean's (Drama Desk-winner for The Sty of the Blind Pig) powerful and moving play PAUL ROBESON. Dean will also stage the ERT production, which will mark his Los Angeles directorial debut. Mr. Brown further announced that two-time Emmy Award-winner Keith David (Fox's upcoming new series Enlisted) will star in this one-man play, with music. Performances will run March 12 - 30, 2014 with an official press opening on March 14 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles.

The writer who gave television some of its favorite moments in entertainment with 'Flamingo Road,' 'Dallas,' 'Falcon Crest,' 'The Colbys,' 'General Hospital,' and 'Dynasty,' Frank V. Furino, has brought Marilyn Monroe back to life ... on stage in 'Marylin ... MADNESS & Me,' which is based on an original concept by Didier Bloch, under the direction of Joe Leonardo. Opening in the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre on Sept 26th for a limited run, the overwhelming response from the public and press alike, has resulted in the production's extension through October 20th, 2013, at which point the destiny of the show, with an eye on Broadway's Great White Way, will be determined. Scroll down for photos from the show!

Jim Brochu's 'Character Man' gives audiences a rare close-up view of the many theatrical 'greats' that Brochu has known in his impressive career.

Popular actor/playwright Jim Brochu returns to Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, with a lively and affectionate tribute to Broadway musical stars past and present.

VALUE NIGHT at the Meroney Theater, tonight, July 31st at 7:30pm.

One of the funniest plays ever written, this extraordinarily inventive, side-splitting comedy was first presented by the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, then produced in Great Britain, then went on to Broadway. The action centers on the hilarious dilemma of a young architect who is visited by a man he's never met but who saved his life in Vietnam-the visitor turning out to be an incredibly inept, hopelessly stupid 'nerd' who outstays his welcome with a vengeance.

Imagine you are eternally indebted to someone who saved your life. How much could you tolerate if that person tested you in every way? The Wagon Wheel Theatre proudly presents that hilarious scenario with the Broadway play, The Nerd July 31-August 10.

One of the funniest plays ever written, this extraordinarily inventive, side-splitting comedy was first presented by the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, then produced in Great Britain, then went on to Broadway. The action centers on the hilarious dilemma of a young architect who is visited by a man he's never met but who saved his life in Vietnam-the visitor turning out to be an incredibly inept, hopelessly stupid 'nerd' who outstays his welcome with a vengeance.

About halfway through Jim Brochu's Saturday, June 29 performance at the Metropolitan Room of his new show Character Man, I realized I was witnessing what was probably the best cabaret show I'd seen this year, and perhaps was one of the best in my almost three years of reviewing cabaret. By the time the show ended, I had changed my mind. Not because the show fell apart in the second half, but because what Jim Brochu had created (and is opening tonight at the Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs, Florida, where it will be performed until August 11) was more than a cabaret show. Character Man is a delightful, extremely well-crafted Off-Broadway theater piece that is destined for a run that might rival his critically-acclaimed one-man Zero Mostel tribute show, Zero Hour, which played throughout the country between 2006-2012 and earned Brochu 2010 Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Awards.

Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Award winner Jim Brochu ('Zero Hour,' 'The Big Voice: God or Merman?') just debuted his new solo show 'Character Man' at the Metropolitan Room. Check out photos from the concert below!

Edward Whitney will lead the cast as Willum Cubbert, with Emily Schuttenberg as Tansy McGinnis, Josh Wainright as Axel Hammond, Andy Ambramson as Rick Steadman, Barnett Sherman as Warnock Waldgrave, Lori Van Wallandael as Clelia Waldgrave, and Miles Abramson as Thor.

The Geffen Playhouse announces the remaining production in its 2013/2014 season will feature acclaimed actress Annette Bening performing a selection of monologues created and first performed by Ruth Draper. A pioneer in 20th century drama, Ruth Draper was described as, "the greatest individual performer that America has ever given."

GSN announced today a host of new acquisitions of classic game shows and episodes, including the GSN premiere of SALE OF THE CENTURY, featuring 65 episodes that originally aired on NBC in 1988-89 with host Jim Perry. In addition, the network will debut 57 new-to-GSN episodes of PRESS YOUR LUCK from 1983-84 with host Peter Tomarken. SALE OF THE CENTURY and the new episodes of PRESS YOUR LUCK will premiere on GSN on April 1, 2013. New episodes of PRESS YOUR LUCK will premiere at 9:00am ET and SALE OF THE CENTURY will premiere at 9:30am ET.

This Christmas, GSN will honor the 50th anniversary of one of the most enduring and memorable classic shows, MATCH GAME, by airing a marathon on Tuesday, December 25th from 8:00am ET to 5:00pm ET that includes two episodes that have never been seen on television.

Back by popular demand, Carson McCullers' rarely performed gem of a play, The Square Root of Wonderful, directed by Steve Jarrard, produced by Collaborative Artists Ensemble, tells the story of a man who lives in the shadows of a former triumph and his domineering mother; an architect who has fallen in love-and the woman caught between them.

Back by popular demand, Carson McCullers' rarely performed gem of a play, The Square Root of Wonderful, directed by Steve Jarrard, produced by Collaborative Artists Ensemble, tells the story of a man who lives in the shadows of a former triumph and his domineering mother; an architect who has fallen in love-and the woman caught between them.