Theater News

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King Lear opens at Lincoln Center, the American Theatre Wing hosts a cocktail reception at Planet Hollywood, and celebs attend the AMPAS Oscar party at Le Cirque.

New York City

According to the critics, Christopher Plummer’s performance in the title role of King Lear is one for the ages. The Lincoln Center Theater production of Shakespeare’s soul-searing tragedy opened last night at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and was followed by a celebration at Avery Fisher Hall. Here’s a solo shot of Plummer at the party…

…and here he is again with daughter Amanda Plummer, who is NOT co-starring in the current hit Off-Broadway production of Tracy Letts’s Bug but will hopefully turn up on stage in something soon.


Earlier last evening, the American Theatre Wing held a cocktail reception at Planet Hollywood (45th and Broadway) to kick-off the Wing’s annual honors luncheon. Among those in attendance: Stephanie D’Abruzzo (Kate Monster and Lucy T. Slut in Avenue Q) and Kerry Butler (Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors)…

…Rent alums Neil Patrick Harris and Daphne Rubin-Vega (he’s now in rehearsal for the Roundabout’s Assassins and she’s prepping for MTC’s Between Us)…

…Denis O’Hare (Charles Guiteau in Assassins) and John Tartaglia (Princeton and Rod in Avenue Q)…

…Priscilla Lopez (recently seen with Daphne Rubin-Vega in Anna in the Tropics) and philanthropist Celso Gonzalez-Falla…

…and the three stars of Wonderful Town (Gregg Edelman, Donna Murphy, and Jennifer Westfeldt) with the fabulous Harvey Fierstein (a.k.a. Edna Turnblad in Hairspray).



Lord knows that scads of Oscar parties were held throughout NYC on Sunday, February 29. One of the most glittery of them was the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ official New York bash, held at Le Cirque. Among the celebrity attendees: the lovely Celeste Holm, a 1948 Oscar winner for her role in Gentleman’s Agreement…

…Cliff Robertson, a 1969 Oscar winner for his role in Charly…

…and producer Martin Richards, a 2003 Oscar winner for the enormously successful film version of Chicago.