THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: December 3-9

Yo-Yo Ma, Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond. Front row, Sonny Rollins, Barbara Cook. Photo Credit: Rex Photos/Rex USA

On Sunday night, The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts honored its 2011 recipients of their prestigious prize. The 2011 honorees include Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins & Meryl Streep. The gala will be broadcast on CBS on December 27, 2011 at 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT. Click here for more photos from the celebration!

Kelli O'Hara and Jane Krakowski. Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia

On December 5, the Roundabout Theatre Company presented a one night only benefit performance of SHE LOVES ME at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The romantic musical comedy features a book by Joe Masteroff (Cabaret), music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick(Fiddler on the Roof). The benefit starred Gavin Creel as “Steven Kodaly”, Tony Award® winner Jane Krakowski as “Ilona Ritter”, three-time Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara as “Amalia Balas”, Josh Radnor as “Georg”, Peter Bartlett as “Headwaiter”, Tony nominee Michael McGrath as “Ladislav Sipos”, Tony nominee Rory O’Malley as “Arpad Laszlo” and four-time Tony nominee Victor Garber as “Mr. Maraczek”. Click here for more photos from the special performance!

Cast of CHICAGO. Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 6 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers. Last year, Gypsy of the Year raised $3,776,720, pushing the competition's 22-year total to $44,136,720. This year's grand total reached a whopping $4,895,253! Click here for more photos from the festivities!

The Cast of GREASE with Tom Moore and Patricia Birch. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

The opening number for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year featured the original Broadway cast of Grease reuniting for a special 40-year anniversary tribute. Among the stars returning to the stage from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history are Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino) and Walter Bobbie (Roger). For more photos from the big reunion, click here.

David Alan Grier, Director Diane Paulus, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald & Phillip Boykin. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS comes to Broadway in a stirring new staging, featuring such legendary songs as "Summertime," "It Ain't Necessarily So," and "I Got Plenty Of Nothing," plus a remarkable cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, "Private Practice"), Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, "In Living Color"). The company met the press this week, and you can check out more photos from the event here.

Darren Criss, Chris Colfer. Photo Credit: Adam Rose/FOX

This week on GLEE, the New Directions faced off with the Troubletones at Sectionals, bringing home the first place title with a tribute to the Jacksons. On next week's episode, the New Directions celebrate the holidays while trying to attend two events scheduled for the same time. Check out photos from the episode here!

Glen Hansard, Cristin Milioti, Steve Kazee, Marketa Irglova. Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski

Even before the show opened this week Off-Broadway, producers Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, and Executive Producer Robert Cole announced today that ONCE, the new musical based on the 2007 Academy Award-winning film, will play Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre this spring. Previews will begin Tuesday, February 28, 2012 with opening night set for Sunday, March 18, 2012. BroadwayWorld was there for the off-Broadway opening this week and you can check out full photo coverage here.

Michael Chernus, David Hyde Pierce. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

The Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere of CLOSE UP SPACE, by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Leigh Silverman began previews Thursday, December 1 and opens Monday, December 19 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).The limited engagement features Obie Award winner Michael Chernus, Jessica Digiovanni, Colby Minifie, Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Rosie Perez and Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce. For more production shots, click here.

Tad Wilson with Laura Osnes, Melissa van Der Schyff, Claybourne Elder. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, the latest recipient was BONNIE & CLYDE cast member Tad Wilson at the Schoenberg Theatre in New York City. For more photos from the celebration, click here!

Josh Segarra and Patti Murin.

Lysistrata Jones began preview performances Saturday, November 12th at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W 48th Street) and will officially open on December 14, 2011. Written by Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn, Lysistrata Jones is directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Dan Knechtges. In this boisterous new musical comedy, Lyssie J. and her girl-power posse give Aristophanes' classic comedy a sexy, modern twist and take student activism to a whole new level. Click here for additional production shots!

Rosie Benton, Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Dulé Hill and Condola Rashad. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys presents and writes original music for the Broadway premiere of Lydia R. Diamond's critically-acclaimed play STICK FLY, directed by Kenny Leon. In STICK FLY, it was a relaxing weekend on Martha's Vineyard ... until the baggage got unpacked. Meet the LeVays. When two adult sons independently choose to introduce their girlfriends to the parents on the same weekend, sibling rivalries flare, opinions clash, class distinctions divide and family secrets unravel. The production officially opened at the Cort Theatre last night, and you can click here for full photo coverage!