THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: October 1-7

Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo

Last weekend, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL Albert Hall celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The cast featured Hadley Fraser as ‘Raoul', Kiera Duffy as ‘Carlotta', Sergei Polunin as ‘Slave Master' and Daisy Maywood as ‘Meg Giry', Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom', Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine', together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Click here for additional photos from the big event.

Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia O'Neal & Andy Cohen. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

For two decades Friends In Deed has offered emotional and spiritual support for all those affected by life threatening illness, caregiving and grief. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Friends In Deed, Emmy Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker and Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick hosted "A Little Jurassic Treasure Hunt," a once-in-a-lifetime event on October 3, 2011. At this special benefit event, guests formed teams to trace clues through the American Museum of Natural History in a specially devised hunt created by legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Click here for more photos from the evening.

Stage and film cast of NEWSIES. Photo Credit: Jerry Dalia

Hundreds of Newsies fans (affectionately known as Fansies) attended the special Newsies Fan Day reception, talk-back and performance on October 2nd at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. Along with the entire stage cast, members of the original movie cast and creative team participated in the event including: Gabriel Damon (Spot Conlon), Luke Edwards (Les Jacobs), Shon Greenblatt (Oscar Delancy), Arvie Lowe Jr. (Boots), David Moscow(Davey), David Sheinkoph (Morris Delancy), David Sidoni (Pie Eater), Kevin Stey (Swifty), David Moscow (Davey) and more.

Ellen Barkin, Joe Mantello and John Benjamin Hickey. Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), just honored acclaimed director George C. Wolfe with the 2011 "Mr. Abbott" Award for his incredible breadth and depth of work in the American Theatre. The Award was presented at a gala tribute event at The Edison Ballroom 240 West 47th Street on October 3rd. The tribute to George was written by John Guare and directed by Jack O'Brien. It featured those who have worked with George over the years including, Bobby Cannavale, Ann Duquesnay, John Benjamin Hickey, Joe Mantello, Tonya Pinkins, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Charlayne Woodard, among others. For more photos from the ceremony, click here.

Cast of WICKED.

WICKED, the smash hit musical that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, just celebrated its landmark 5th birthday last week at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. WICKED has become one of the West End's most popular and successful musicals of all time, breaking countless Box Office records and winning multiple awards since its West End premiere in 2006. Click here for additional photos from the celebration!

Laura Osnes & Jeremy Jordan. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

BONNIE & CLYDE will play at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, beginning previews on Friday, November 4th and opening on Thursday, December 1st. The company met the press on October 4, and treated the audience to a sneak peek performance preview. Bonnie & Clyde stars Laura Osnes (2011 Drama Desk nominee, Anything Goes) and Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, West Side Story). They will be joined on stage by Melissa Van Der Schyff (Big River) as Blanche Barrow, Claybourne Elder (Road Show) as Buck Barrow, Joe Hart (The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public) as Sheriff Schmid and Louis Hobson (Next to Normal) as Ted Hinton. Click here for more photos from the festivities.

Pippa Pearthree and Patrick D. Kennedy. Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel

The national tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams kicked off September 15 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans. Joining Tony Award® nominee Douglas Sills as Gomez and Sara Gettelfinger as Morticia are Martin Vidnovic as Mal Beineke, Crista Moore as Alice Beineke, Blake Hammond as Uncle Fester, Pippa Pearthree as Grandma, Tom Corbeil as Lurch, Patrick D. Kennedy as Pugsley,Brian Justin Crum as Lucas Beineke and Cortney Wolfson as Wednesday. Click here for more production shots.

D.C. Anderson, Stanley Bahorek, Mary Testa, Tally Sessions, Theresa McCarthy & Julia Murney. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Transport Group's Queen of the Mist begins performances Tuesday, October 18 at The Gym at Judson Memorial Church in anticipation of a November 6 opening. Queen of the Mist stars D.C. Anderson, Stanley Bahorek, Theresa McCarthy, Julia Murney, Andrew Samonsky, Tally Sessions, and Mary Testa. The production was created by Michael John LaChiusa and directed by Jack Cummings III and choreographed by Scott Rink. Check out more photos from the performance preview here.

Sam Waterston and Bill Irwin. Photo Credit: Nella Vera

The Public Theater's KING LEAR, directed by James MacDonald, begins preview performances on Tuesday, October 18. Kristen Connolly (Cordelia), Bill Irwin (The Fool), and Frank Wood (Cornwall), Che Ayende (Duke of Burgundy/Knight/Servant), Craig Bockhorn (Doctor), Michael Crane(Oswald), Herb Foster (Old Man/Knight), Seth Gilliam (Edmund), Enid Graham (Goneril), Michael Izquierdo (King of France), Michael McKean (Gloucester), Arian Moayed (Edgar), Kelli O'Hara (Regan), John Douglas Thompson (Kent), Richard Topol (Albany) and Sam Waterston (Lear) will star in the production. KING LEAR will run through Sunday, November 20 in the Newman Theater with an official press opening on Tuesday, November 8. For more photos of the cast in rehearsal, click here.

L.R. Davidson, Robert Petkoff and Amanda Tanguay Photo Credit: Liz Lauren

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Follies began previews October 4, on Navy Pier. Starring in the Chicago production, directed by Gary Griffin, are Hollis Resnik as Carlotta, Brent Barrett as Benjamin, Caroline O'Connor as Phyllis, Robert Petkoff as Buddy and Susan Moniz as Sally. CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin continues the Theater's decade-long exploration of the Sondheim canon following his Laurence Olivier Award-winning CST production of Pacific Overtures at London's Donmar Warehouse and CST productions of A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George and Passion. Click here for more production shots!

Dick Latessa and Kate Jennings Grant. Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS is getting its world-premiere this fall with an official opening night October 11 at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.). THE LYONS -- Mr. Silver's seventh new play to premiere at The Vineyard -- is an outrageously funny and stirring work about a family grappling with the impending death of its patriarch. When Ben Lyons' wife, Rita, and their grown children gather to say goodbye, they learn that despite being a family, each of them is utterly isolated. Afraid of closeness and afraid of solitude, they are propelled into foreign territory - human connection. For more production shots, click here.