Celebrate Life

Norbert Leo Butz, Tovah Feldshuh, Constantine Maroulis, Bernadette Peters, and Joan Rivers greet Will Chase and Malcolm Gets in The Story of My Life, while Lili Taylor and company celebrate the opening of Mourning Becomes Electra.

By Joseph Marzullo,Dan Bacalzo • Feb 20, 2009 • New York

The new Broadway musical, The Story of My Life opened at the Booth Theatre last night. From left to right are the show's creators Neil Bartram and Brian Hill with cast members Will Chase and Malcolm Gets and director Richard Maltby, Jr.

Among the opening night guests was Joan Rivers, who will be providing online commentary on Sunday night's Academy Awards.

Tovah Feldshuh will soon return to Broadway in Irena's Vow.

American Idol veteran Constantine Maroulis will star in the new Broadway jukebox musical, Rock of Ages.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz will be one of the many participants in MCC's annual Miscast benefit at the Hammerstein Ballroom on March 9.

Bernadette Peters can be seen on the small screen as a guest star on Ugly Betty on February 26.

Phyllis Newman will be one of the many participants in the star-studded Defying Inequality benefit on February 23 at the Gershwin Theatre.

Charles Strouse's new musical, Minsky's is currently playing the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with an eye to coming to Broadway in the fall.

The New Group's production of Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra also opened on Thursday night at Theatre Row. Here's stage and screen star Lili Taylor, who portrays matriarch Christine Mannon.

Jena Malone, who plays daughter Lavinia, cuddled up after the show with director Scott Elliott.

Stage veteran Mark Blum plays patriarch Ezra Mannon.

Joseph Cross, who plays the Mannon's son Orin, can also be seen on the big screen in Milk.

Film star Anson Mount portrays Adam Brant in the production.

Tony winner Katie Finneran was a welcome opening night guest.

Finally, here's Natasha Lyonne, perhaps best known for the American Pie films, who appeared in the New Group's Two Thousand Years last season.

For TheaterMania's review of The Story of My Life, click here.

For TheaterMania's review of Mourning Becomes Electra, click here.