James Lapine Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

A new stage musical based on the classic Nancy Drew adventure book series is in the works from Little Mermaid composer Alan Menken, Legally Blonde lyricist Nell Benjamin, book by two-time Oscar winner Sarah Kernochan and direction by frequent Stephen Sondheim collaborator James Lapine.

Falsettos (★★★☆☆).Having provided DMV theatergoers — and the region’s working talent — an adventurous, LGBTQ-led arts and entertainment outpost in Howard County these many years, Rep Stage goes out with a show conveying the galvanizing point that everyone walks through this world both on their own and inextricably connected to whatever circle of love enfolds them.In Falsettos, that circle includes family and community. And the larger point of connection applies not just to the characters who sing us through two trying years in the lives of Marvin, Whizzer, Trina, Jason, Mendel, Charlotte, and Cordelia.But the company of performers, each on their own landing somewhere between fine to fantastic with their portrayals, together create a compelling makeshift family of gay Jewish dad Marvin (Jake Loewenthal), his ex Trina (Sarah Corey), lover Whizzer (Davon Williams), son Jason (Grayden Goldman), and Trina’s new guy Mendel (Michael Perrie, Jr.).Where any falter, their castmates lift them up, as might the audience should any miss a note (or a few notes) of Finn’s pithy, sung-through score.Never missing a note, in her charismatic solo numbers, nor in the tricky characterization of a woman blindsided by her husband’s coming out, circa 1979, Corey’s Trina gets her story across with clarity and engaging humor.

EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired North American rights to In the Company of Rose, a feature documentary about poet Rose Styron, widow of Sophie’s Choice novelist William Styron.

Hurricane Diane at Avant Bard, a staging of Tony Kushner’s extraordinary Angels in America, Part 1 at Arena, featuring Ed Gero as Roy Cohn in a role that seems custom-made for the powerhouse actor, and a production of 1776 at the Kennedy Center that includes a cast replete with performers who identify as female, non-binary, and trans. Founding fathers, indeed!The sad news, however, is that after 29 years, Rep Stage is shutting its doors. The theater, on the campus of Howard Community College in Maryland, is being closed by the university.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic As a critic, I’m always looking for a fresh challenge, which is one reason I took up writing about theater: It still has the capacity to scare me. I’ve reviewed nearly 1,700 movies in my time at Variety, but how to weigh in with authority on stage productions of William Shakespeare or Samuel Beckett when I haven’t seen most of their work performed, but know it only by reputation? Last year, I was nervous going in to a fresh revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse, as I had only the Mike Nichols movie as a reference point. How to judge Calista Flockhart’s performance, and what might I compare it to, not having seen Uta Hagen play Martha on Broadway? (I did manage to track down a vinyl recording of that show, but still…

The Broadway hit musical revival of Into The Woods will be extended one final time, through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, producers announced today.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and Media“Into the Woods,” the acclaimed New York City Center Encores! production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical, will extend performances through Oct. 16 with a largely new ensemble.Joining the production are Stephanie J. Block as the Baker’s Wife (replacing Sara Bareilles), Sebastian Arcelus as the Baker (replacing Brian d’Arcy James), Krysta Rodriguez as Cinderella (replacing Phillipa Soo), Katy Geraghty as Little Red Ridinghood (replacing Julia Lester), Jim Stanek as the Steward (replacing David Turner).

Following its sold-out Off Broadway Encores! run this past spring, the revival of Into The Woods continued drawing audiences in the first performances of its Broadway transfer, filling 94% of seats at the St. James Theatre and grossing a big $1,380,760.

is returning to the Great White Way this summer with another star-studded cast. Sara Bareilles will reprise her off-Broadway role as the Baker’s Wife and Gavin Creel will again star as the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince. However, Neil Patrick Harris and Tony winner Heather Headley will not be back for this run of the show.

One of the spring’s hottest Off Broadway tickets will make the move to Broadway this summer: The acclaimed, sold-out Encores! production of the James Lapine-Stephen Sondheim classic Into The Wood will transfer to Broadway’s St. James Theatre on June 28 for a strictly limited eight-week engagement.

Into the Woods is currently lighting up the stage at Virginia’s ArtSpace Falls Church.Creative Cauldron’s production is the latest overseen by Helen Hayes Award-winning director Matt Conner (Beauty and the Beast), whom the company celebrates for his adeptness at “creating intricate worlds in Cauldron’s intimate space without losing spectacle.”In Conner’s production, the story springs to life from the ruins of an old castle wall, where multiple protagonists eventually learn the thorny consequences of getting exactly what they wish for. Happily ever after this is not.The large cast is led by Susan Derry as The Witch, John Loughney as The Baker, and Erin Granfield as The Baker’s Wife, Brett Klock as Jack, and Brooke Bloomquist as Cinderella.The creative team includes Elisa Rossman as music director, Margie Jervis as scenic and costume designer — incorporating her sculpture and puppetry background in the elements of this production — and Lyn Joslin as lighting designer.Through May 29.

Michael Appler Three or four times a year, something special happens in New York City: A rare opportunity—and precious luxury in theater these days—to pay $35 for the hottest ticket in town (if you can get one). The bill is “Encores!,” New York City Center’s yearly programming of musical theater.Once an obscure incubator to resurrect little known or passed-over productions—the current Broadway revival of “Chicago,” which has run for 25 years, began as an “Encores!” show in 1996— New York City Center’s two-week only productions are now a staple of New York theater, sought after for their pared-down musicals packed with big stars.On Wednesday evening, “Encores!” opened its final show for the 2021-2022 season: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into The Woods,” directed by Lear deBessonet and starring Neil Patrick Harris, Sara Bareilles, Heather Headley, Denée Benton and Gavin Creel.“When they call you, you come,” Headley, who stars as the Witch, told Variety after the opening performance on Wednesday.

Hillary Rodham Clinton to tackle Sondheim? Well, in a way. The former First Lady will voice an off-stage role for an upcoming Arkansas Repertory Theatre production of the musical Into The Woods.

EXCLUSIVE: WME has signed Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom for representation. The globally recognized actor has been a part of two of the largest film franchises of all time was recently starred in the independent feature, Retaliation for which he received critical acclaim for his performance.

Marilyn Stasio Theater CriticIn the midst of the deadly dull 1950s, Hollywood celebs Cary Grant, Claire Booth Luce and Aldous Huxley escape their ennui by dropping acid. No serious sex is involved and no one rushes out on a frantic candy run but much witty chitchat ensues in “Flying Over Sunset,” a stylish new Broadway musical by James Lapine (book), Tom Kitt (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics).Nowadays, people may do psychedelic drugs to celebrate a birthday.

WME has inked stage director, playwright, screenwriter and librettist James Lapine in all areas.

Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday in the Park with George, to be published on the day of the digital livestream, Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m.Christine Baranski, who starred in the original Off Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George, will moderate the conversation between the two living theater legends and creative partners who were also behind Into the Woods and Passion.

Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticEncores!, the acclaimed series of concert-style theatrical productions founded to rediscover overlooked Broadway gems of years past, announced plans to stage Into The Woods, the beloved Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical that is anything but overlooked.Into The Woods, which has been staged, revived and filmed many times over (including the 2014 feature film starring Meryl Streep and James Corden), will be the first of a new Encores! mission to

Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticWith Broadway’s shut down at least until June, some producers who had been hoping to open shows this spring are re-setting their sights on fall or even 2022, while others have announced no plans whatsoever.The latest to announce a new schedule is Lincoln Center Theater’s much anticipated production of Flying Over Sunset, a new musical with book and direction by James Lapine, music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Michael Korie, and choreography by Michelle

Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticLincoln Center Theater will postpone until Spring 2021 two productions it had planned for this Fall, including the James Lapine-directed Broadway musical Flying Over Sunset, due to the ongoing COVID-19 shutdown.The postponements come as Broadway insiders tell Deadline they expect an imminent extension of the shutdown through Jan. 3, 2021.

Is Jake Gyllenhaal ready to settle down? It kind of sounds like it from his latest interview!

By Greg Evans

Talk about pressure! Tony Yazbeck’s feeling it. It’s not easy playing Cary Grant, the man he calls “the greatest movie star of all time.”