About Theater

Broadway Discounts: Theatre Development Fund

2009-07-02T10:23:34Z

Broadway tickets for less than half price.

OK, have I got your attention? I thought so. Most people know of the TKTS booths that operate in Times Square and two other New York locations. They're great for "day-of" discount tickets for Broadway and off-Broadway theater and for concerts and events in New York. But who is behind TKTS?

It's the Theatre Development Fund, a non-profit organization founded in 1968 that sells otherwise unused tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway productions then funnels the money back into theater. The cost to join is only $30 a year and you get access to their web listing of available shows. Even if you're from out of town but come yearly to New York, it could be worth it.

The catch, you have to be a member of certain groups or organizations, but it is a far-ranging list, from entertainment professionals to civil servants.

Check it out. If you qualify, you could save a bundle on theater tickets and be helping the theater community.

Karl Malden Dies at 97

2009-07-01T16:17:46Z

Karl Malden, an Academy Award-winning actor best known for movie and TV roles, but who also acted in 20 Broadway productions, died today at age 97

He interpreted characters created by some of America's best-known writers, including Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. He was in the original Broadway productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Fathers and Sons, which had a Broadway revival just last year.

He starred in the movie version of Streetcar as well, but became known to the television generation with the police drama The Streets of San Francisco.

Photo by Frasier Harrison/Getty Images.

'The Little Mermaid' to Close Aug. 30

2009-07-01T09:50:07Z

Disney Theatricals' The Little Mermaid will close August 30 after playing 735 performances since opening in January 2008 at the Lunt-Fontaine Theatre on Broadway, according to published reports.

Mermaid brought the hit animated movie and Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale to life with book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater.

No word yet on what show will take the Disney musical's place.

Photo by Joan Marcus

T.R. Knight to 'Lend' Talent to Broadway

2009-06-30T16:10:26Z

Grey's Anatomy star, or former star, T.R. Knight will star in the 2010 Broadway revival of Lend Me A Tenor, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Tenor is a good, old-fashioned farce and will be directed by Stanley Tucci. It's slated for a February 2010 opening.

Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Street Closing: Avenue Q Shutting Down

2009-06-29T12:00:44Z

With over six years at Broadway's Golden Theatre, the Tony Best Musical Avenue Q will close September 13 after 2,534 performances, Playbill.com reported.

The show started at The Vineyard Theatre off-Broadway and transferred to the Golden in 2003. The Vineyard is among the hit's producers along with Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller and The New Group.

For the last few months, beginning July 6, original cast member Ann Harada will reprise her role as Christmas Eve.

Michael Jackson Still a 'Thriller' in London

2009-06-26T09:41:28Z

It's not so well known in the United States, but Michael Jackson has a strong connection to theater in Europe.

As fans and entertainers around the world react to Jackson's death, his music continues to wow audiences in London. Many on this side of the ocean are unaware that Thriller Live, a stage show based on both Jackson's solo career and The Jackson 5, has been very successful in England.

The show, which features many of Jackson's hits plus the electric dancing that helped make him a cultural icon, posted three successful national tours in England and toured the Continent before settling down at the West End's Lyric Stage. After his death was announced, fans gathered in front of the Lyric to remember him.

And there may be a U.S. connection to theater for Jackson. We blogged in January about the Nederlander organization grabbing rights for a stage version of Jackson's 14-minuted Thriller video.

Broadway Sales and Attendance Up

2009-06-23T17:48:09Z

If you like Broadway (and, really, who doesn�t? I don�t want to know that person), then you�ll be cheered by the most recent weekly sales figures and percents of capacity released by The Broadway League. Like the temperatures are about to be, most everything is up, up, up.

For the week ending June 21, 15 of 28 Broadway shows posted more than 90 percent of seats sold. The long-running The 39 Steps, which is a really enjoyable play, jumped almost 9 percent in attendance, according to Playbill.com, and Shrek the Musical climbed above 80 percent after coming out of the gate slowly.

The bottom line is summer crowds are good, Tony ratings were up, sales are up, attendance is up and that is good, good, good, good.

Richard Leaving Second Stage

2009-06-19T15:48:22Z

The woman who ushered off-Broadway nonprofit Second Stage Theatre onto Broadway with the purchase of the Helen Hayes Theatre is ushering herself out of Second Stage.

Ellen Richard will step down as executive director of Second Stage on June 30, according to published reports. Richard joined the company three years ago after working at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Under her leadership, Second Stage not only agreed to acquire the Helen Hayes, but it was the launch pad for the musical Next to Normal, which just won Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations.

No word yet on why she is leaving or where she's headed.

Early Discount Alert!

2009-06-18T17:23:42Z

This is way early, but just in case you can make it, on August 10, Roundabout Theatre Company will sell $10 tickets for the September 10 first preview of its revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

Birdie will be the first show in the new Henry Miller Theatre, which is in the Bank of America tower, which straddles 42nd and 43rd streets between Sixth and Seventh avenues.

Bank of America is underwriting the deal to celebrate its new building and the new theater. The tickets will be available starting at noon, Monday, August 10, at the Miller box office at 124 West 43rd Street. There's a two-ticket per person limit.

Bret Michaels - A Stand-Up Guy

2009-06-18T16:43:06Z

It's not often you can prove yourself to be a stand-up guy by falling down.

Poison lead singer and reality TV star Bret Michaels was knocked to the floor, split his lip and broke his nose at the 2009 Tony Awards when he turned to walk upstage and collided with a one-ton piece of descending scenery.

According to People magazine, Michaels said he was honored to be on the broadcast and has no intention of suing or any other such nonsense.

And to that, I say, "Rock on, Bret."