Paul Rudnick News

The trailer for HBO's Coastal Elites has been released! This brand-new special tells stories of breaking down and breaking through in the summer of 2020 that are funny, searing, poignant and now.

While Broadway is shut down, many theater fans are itching to see their favorite stars perform. Luckily, there are many new television shows premiering that feature your favorite stage performers.

Today's top stories: Oakland Theater Project will present The Waste Land, the first live professional in-person theater production on the West Coast since COVID!

From playwright and screenwriter Paul Rudnick and directed by Jay Roach, HBOa??s socially distanced comedy Coastal Elites debuts Saturday, September 12 (8:00-9:30 P.m. ET/PT).

Out Front Theatre Company presents Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays by Mo Gaffney, Jordan Harrison, Moisés Kaufman, Neil LaBute, Wendy MacLeod, José Rivera, Paul Rudnick, and Doug Wright, conceived by Brian Shnipper.

HBO will present Paul Rudnick's comic satire COASTAL ELITES, featuring an all-star cast playing characters from New York to Los Angeles coping with politics and the pandemic.

Broadway and television icon Linda Lavin and award-winning pianist Billy Stritch come together once again to present 'May Day,' their sixth online concert this Friday, May 1 at 3pm EDT.

NAATCO (National Asian American Theatre Company) founder and Artistic Producing Director Mia Katigbak today announced the creation of The NAATCO National Partnership Project (NNPP), a national theater initiative that will ingrain the inclusion of Asian American theatre artists, technicians, administrators, and community members in the American theater.

Enjoy Broadway in your backyard with the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's 2020/21 season! With just the ticket for everyone, the award-winning regional theatre's upcoming season will begin with I Hate Hamlet (October 25 - November 8), Paul Rudnick's hilarious comedy in which rising star Andrew Rally is visited by the ghost of a legendary actor who is determined to convince the young artist to pursue a life on the stage.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced the final two productions for its 2020/2021 season: the world premieres of to the yellow house, by Kimber Lee (tokyo fish story), directed by former Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Neel Keller (School for Wives, Light Up the Sky), running July 14 - August 9; and Guilty Pleasure, by Paul Rudnick (Jeffrey; screenplays for Sister Act, In & Out), directed by Christopher Ashley (Come From Away, Diana), the Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse. Produced in association with Diversionary Theatre, Guilty Pleasure will run November 8 - December 6.

BroadwayWorld was deeply saddened this morning to report the passing of the legendary Carol Channing. The Broadway community took to social media to share memories and condolences.

Producer Mark Cortale's 2019-20 Broadway @ NOCCA series is set to take a superstar leap into the New Year with Liz Callaway, Tony nominee for Baby and star of Cats and Miss Saigon on Broadway as well as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's animated Aladdin series of films, on Saturday, January 11 at 8:00 PM. She makes her NOLA series debut joined by music director and host Seth Rudetsky and special guest, New Orlean's own Bryan Batt.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) (Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker) announced today performers, presenters and the host for the NYTW 2020 Gala, honoring NYTW Usual Suspect & Tony Award-winning director Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Three Pianos at NYTW) and Tony Award-winning producer Jordan Roth (Producer of Hadestown; President of Jujamcyn Theaters). The Gala will be held on Monday, February 3 at Capitale (130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013).

Kristin Chenoweth is set to star in the half-hour comedy The Biggest Star In Appleton at Disney+, according to Deadline.

Tony Award-winner Beth Leavel will play the iconic Miranda Priestly in the new musical, The Devil Wears Prada and the role of the wide-eyed assistant, Andy Sachs, will be played by Taylor Iman Jones (Groundhog Day, Head Over Heels). The Pre-Broadway World Premiere of the new musical will open at Broadway In Chicago's CIBC Theatre from July 13-August 15, 2021 for a limited run prior to a Broadway engagement. The production had previously been announced to play in Chicago next year at a different venue.

Actor-singer-dancer-choreographer Adam Fleming became a part of Broadway history originating the roles of Sketch in Hairspray and Lucas in Bare. In 2005, he starred in David Brind and Adam Salky's acclaimed short film, Dare, about two teenage boys' tense, spark-filled encounter in a pool following high school play practice. Dare gained a cult following as part of Strand Releasing's 'Boys Life' series and ultimately achieved worldwide popularity via more than 12 Million views on Youtube. The fan fervor (and fan fiction!) eventually inspired a sequel, ten years later. The original and the sequel are now being presented together as The Dare Project and attracting new legions of fans.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce its next season will go on sale to the public Sunday, Oct. 6.  The season includes:  the Pre-Broadway World Premiere of the new musical THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, MY FAIR LADY, SIX and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

BroadwayWorld has learned The Devil Wears Prada will have its Pre-Broadway World Premiere at Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph) from July 14, 2020 through August 16, 2020 prior to a Broadway engagement.

We've just learned that an NYC reading is taking place this week, led by Emily Skinner as Miranda Priestly, Krystina Alabado as Andy Sachs, Helene Yorke as Emily, Mario Cantone as Nigel, Etai Benson as Nate, Jo Lampert as Lily and Nicholas Christopher as Christian. The reading also stars: Sydney Charles, Britney Coleman, Dayna Dantzler, Tyrone Davis Jr., Henry Gottfried, Molly Hager, Katie Lee Hill, Anne Hollister, Jessie Hooker-Bailey, Liana Hunt, Christopher Innvar, Blaine Krauss, and Nikka Graff Lanzarone.

She NYC Arts will present a limited engagement of Jen Rudin's BEAUTIFUL PASADENA, directed by Jamie Richards as part of the fourth annual She NYC Arts Summer Theater Festival at The Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street, New York, NY 10009). Performances will be on Wednesday, June 26 at 7 pm and Saturday, June 29 at 3:30pm. Tickets ($20) are available for advance purchase at www.shenycarts.org.