This week brought three major Off-Broadway openings, including Thursday night’s premiere of Edward Albee’s Occupant at Signature. Here’s the playwright with Oscar and Tony winner Mercedes Ruehl, who plays the late sculptor Louise Nevelson in the play.
Daytime Emmy winner and Broadway veteran Larry Bryggman co-stars as Nevelson’s mysterious interviewer.
Opening night guests included two actors who have performed in Albee’s plays, Dallas Roberts (left) and Ty Burrell, along with playwright Lanford Wilson.
Signature’s recent playwright-in-residence Charles Mee and actress-wife Michi Barall were also among the first night crowd.
On Wednesday night, the Atlantic Theatre Company celebrated the opening of Body Awareness at its Stage 2 home, with stars Peter Friedman, JoBeth Williams, Mary McCann, and Jonathan Clem.
2008 Tony Award nominee David Pittu and former Tony nominee Johanna Day were on hand for the opening.
Monday night saw MCC Theater’s opening of Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The four-person cast, Piper Perabo, Alison Pill, Pablo Schreiber, and Thomas Sadoski, celebrated after the show.
Pill’s boyfriend, Bobby Cannavale — who will co-star in MCC’s reading of LaBute’s Fat Pig on June 9 — was there for support.
Television and stage star Timothy Busfield, best known for The West Wing and thirtysomething, was also in the house.
The Virgin Megastore in Times Square hosted two big CD signings this week. On Wednesday, it celebrated the release of the special 30th anniversary edition of Annie. Here’s lyricist-director Martin Charnin with his wife, actress Shelly Burch, and young stars Amanda Balon and Marissa O’Donnell, all of whom can be heard on the two-CD set.
Kathie Lee Gifford, who played the villainous Miss Hannigan in 2006, and Andrea McArdle, the original Broadway Annie, also participated in the recording.
Composer Charles Strouse, who’s celebrating his 80th birthday this year, and librettist Thomas Meehan were on hand to meet the fans.
On Thursday, the store hosted the stars of the Tony-nominated In the Heights — including Priscilla Lopez and Olga Merediz, who shine on the recently released 2-CD recording.
Finally, the big stars keep coming backstage to Passing Strange. Here’s Alec Baldwin, a star of the hit NBC series 30 Rock.
Oscar winner and Broadway veteran Denzel Washington and his lovely wife Paulette also stopped by after seeing the award-winning musical.
For TheaterMania’s review of Edward Albee’s Occupant, click here.
For TheaterMania’s review of Body Awareness, click here.
For TheaterMania’s review of reasons to be pretty, click here.
