Theater News

Come Together!

Anthony Anderson, Norbert Leo Butz, Brian d’Arcy James, Edie Falco, Samuel L. Jackson, Camryn Manheim, S. Epatha Merkerson, Julianne Moore, Debra Winger, and Marissa Jaret Winokur attend this week’s Broadway openings.

New York City

On Thursday night, Lincoln Center Theatre officially opened its revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Belasco Theatre. Film superstar Samuel L. Jackson was on hand to support his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, who plays the role of boarding house owner Bertha Holly.

Film and television favorite Ernie Hudson plays Jackson’s husband, Seth, in the show.

Three-time Oscar nominee Debra Winger celebrated after the show with husband Arliss Howard, who co-stars in the play as “people finder” Rutherford Selig.

Hudson’s fellow Oz alumnus Edie Falco — whose new Showtime series Nurse Jackie debuts this summer — was among the opening night guests.

The great actress Julianne Moore — who co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the film Freedomland — came with her husband, director Bart Freundlich.

Law & Order co-stars S. Epatha Merkerson — who starred in the Broadway production of Wilson’s The Piano Lesson — and Anthony Anderson were happy to be at the show.

Tamara Tunie, another member of the Law & Order family, starred in the Broadway production of Wilson’s Radio Golf and the Kennedy Center’s production of Wilson’s Fences.

The always lovely Lynn Whitfield is a welcome addition to any opening night.

Here is another famous first-nighter: talk show host and author Star Jones.

On Wednesday night, the musical Next to Normal made its long-awaited Broadway bow at the Booth Theatre. Here is the show’s cast: Adam Chanler-Berat, J. Robert Spencer, Jennifer Damiano, Alice Ripley, Aaron Tveit, and Louis Hobson.

It was no surprise to see Brian d’Arcy James on his night off from Shrek since he played the role of husband Dan (now portrayed by Spencer) in the musical’s prior Off-Broadway production at Second Stage.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz — who will co-star with Tveit in the new musical Catch Me If You Can — attended with wife Michele Federer.

Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur was there to applaud fellow Hairspray star Tveit.

Former Legally Blonde star Nikki Snelson, who is prominently featured in the new documentary Every Little Step, was another Normal first-nighter.

Finally, here are Emmy Award winner Camryn Manheim and actor Kevin Geer.

For TheaterMania’s review of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, click here.

For TheaterMania’s review of Next to Normal, click here.