English Lessons

The Broadway openings of The Philanthropist and The Norman Conquests bring out such stars as Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kevin Spacey, Gina Gershon, Alan Cumming, Debra Monk, and Ron Rifkin.

By Joseph Marzullo,Brian Scott Lipton • Apr 27, 2009 • New York

On Sunday night, The Roundabout Theatre Company celebrated the official opening of The Philanthropist. After the show, star Matthew Broderick partied with his celebrated wife, Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker. The couple just confimed they are expecting twin girls via a surrogate this summer.

The show's leading ladies, Anna Madeley, Samantha Soule, and Jennifer Mudge, all looked lovely at the party.

Jonathan Cake, who plays Braham in the show, sports a 1970s-style mustache.

American screen and stage star Steven Weber plays fellow professor Dan.

Here are the show's author and director, Christopher Hampton and David Grindley.

The wonderful Ron Rifkin currently stars on ABC's Brothers & Sisters on which Weber has a recurring role.

The fabulous Debra Monk will be part of the star-studded Come to the Cabaret benefit on May 4.

Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines -- who starred in Grindley's production of Journey's End -- came with wife Kathleeen McNenny.

On Thursday night, the Old Vic's production of Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests officially opened at Circle in the Square. Here is the show's sterling cast -- Amelia Bullmore, Ben Miles, Amanda Root, Stephen Mangan, Jessica Hynes, and Paul Ritter -- who have already earned special ensemble awards from the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle for their work.

Matthew Warchus, who is also represented on Broadway by God of Carnage, has earned Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations this year for helming The Norman Conquests.

Gina Gershon -- who starred in Warchus' hit revival of Boeing Boeing last season -- will return to Broadway this fall as Rose Alvarez in the Roundabout's revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

The multi-talented Alan Cumming will soon appear in Julie Taymor's film version of The Tempest.

Cote de Pablo, a star of the hit CBS series NCIS, was on hand for the opening.

The lovely Milena Govich, a former star of NBC's Law & Order, was another welcome first-nighter.

Finally, here's Oscar and Tony winner Kevin Spacey, the artistic director of the Old Vic.

For TheaterMania's review of The Philanthropist, click here.
For TheaterMania's review of The Norman Conquests, click here.