Reviewing the Drama: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Ballet, Movies, and TV Reviews

Encores! Off-Center The Encores! Off-Center season, which celebrates rarely produced or under appreciated off-Broadway fare, has been announced. First up, July 12-15, is a production of Assassins , the Stephen Sondheim – John Weidman musical about the people who have attempted to assassinate US presidents. That will be directed by Anne Kauffman ( Marjorie Prime ). Next, Robert O'Hara ( Barbecue ) will direct Kirsten Childs 's Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin , which runs July 26 and 27. Closing out the season is the whimsical Really Rosie , written by Maurice Sendak (book and lyrics) and Carole King (music). The musical in which kids play pretend will run August 2-5. Theater Mania has more. Playwrights Horizons 2017-2018 Season The venerable off-Broadway company, which has produced works like the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Flick , has announced its 2017-2018 season, and it includes five world premieres, three plays by women, and one play by a person of c...

Jake Gyllenhaal Welcomes You to the Hudson Theatre Academy Award nominee (and emerging musical theatre sensation) Jake Gyllenhaal invited viewers into Sunday in the Park with George rehearsals backstage at the Hudson Theatre. The Hudson, which began operation in 1903 but has been out of use as a legit theatre since 1968, is set to reopen with this production, becoming the 41st active Broadway theatre. ( See photos from this week's ribbon-cutting ceremony .) In the video below, directed by Emmy winner Cary Joji Fukunaga ( True Detective ), Gyllenhaal walks through the Hudson while singing the show's signature song, "Finishing the Hat." The City Center production of the Stephen Sondheim – James Lapine musical, also starring Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford , begins previews February 11; opening night is set for February 23, and the strictly limited engagement will conclude April 23. Visit the Hudson Theatre website to purchase tickets. (A rush policy for previe...

As difficult as the week was, it wasn't all bad news. Here are some pieces of good news that you might have missed. Casting News Tony winner Cynthia Erivo ( The Color Purple ) and Tony winner Viola Davis ( Fences ) will star in the heist flick, Windows , written by Gillian Flynn ( Gone Girl ) and directed by Steve McQueen ( 12 Years a Slave ). Variety has more. Casting for the BBC adaptation of Mike Bartlett's future history play King Charles III has been announced. Reprising their roles from the stage version are Tim Pigott-Smith , Oliver Chris , Richard Goulding , and Margot Leicester . Deadline has details. Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon ( Shuffle Along or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed ) will appear in a recurring role in the Starz series, Power . Deadline has details. You can catch Dixon on stage as Aaron Burr in Hamilton . Tony nominee Alex Brightman ( School of Rock ) and Rosie O'Donnell have joined the ca...

Hamilton Mixtape Details Announced, Available for Pre-Order The highly-anticipated Hamilton Mixtape , which features covers and remixes of Hamilton songs, demos and cut songs, and original pieces inspired by the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning show, will be released December 2, and is now available for pre-order . You can view the full track and performer list on Broadway.com (and on Amazon , where you can place your order). Highlights include the cut song, "Congratulations," John Legend singing "History Has Its Eyes On You," Regina Spektor and Ben Folds 's take on "Dear Theodosia," Lin-Manual Miranda's demo of the slavery rap battle, and Busta Rhymes and friends on a "My Shot" remix. American Songbook The Lincoln Center American Songbook season has been announced. Featured artists include two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster ( Anything Goes ), Tony nominee Santino Fontana ( Cinderella , Act One ), recording artis...

Erivo and Henry Set for The Last Five Years Benefit Tony winner Cynthia Erivo  ( The Color Purple ) and two-time Tony nominee Joshua Henry  ( The Scottsboro Boys , Violet , Shuffle Along... ) will star in a one-night-only benefit concert of Jason Robert Brown's   The Last Five Years , which was last seen in New York in 2013 . Proceeds from the September 12 Town Hall concert will go to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence . (Brown has been a vocal support of gun safety measures.) Though Erivo and Henry are African-American performers, nothing about the show—dramaturgically speaking—will change. ( The Last Five Years  is specifically about a Jewish man, Jamie, and his shiksa goddess, Cathy.) Tickets go on sale Wednesday. Visit The New York Times  for more. Television Critics Association Awards Nominations The TCA Awards nominees have been announced. The Hollywood Reporter has the full list of nominees. Herein, some notable nominations: Rami Male...

Herein, the full list of Tony Award winners. Winners are notated in bold typeface and with an asterisk. Best Play Eclipsed , written by Danai Gurira The Father , written by Florian Zeller The Humans , written by Stephen Karam* King Charles III , written by Mike Bartlett Best Revival of a Play Blackbird The Crucible Long Day's Journey into Night Noises Off A View from the Bridge *   Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Gabriel Byrne, Long Day's Journey into Night Jeff Daniels, Blackbird Frank Langella, The Father* Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III Mark Strong, A View from the Bridge Best Performance by An Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey into Night * Laurie Metcalf, Misery Lupita Nyong'o, Eclipsed Sophie Okonedo, The Crucible Michelle Williams, Blackbird Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Reed Birney, The Humans * Bill Camp, The Crucible David...