Theater News

Photo File

TM is on hand for this week’s Broadway openings, a reception for the Outer Critics Circle Award nominees, and Jim Caruso’s Cast Party.

New York City

It’s uncategorical! The Broadway production of the stage musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, based on the popular 1968 film, opened last night at the Hilton Theatre (formerly the Ford Center for the Center for the Performing Arts and, prior to that, the Lyric and Apollo theaters) on 42nd Street. A party to celebrate the event was held afterwards at the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue at 53rd Street. Pictured here are the Potts family — Raúl Esparza, Henry Hodges, and Ellen Marlow — with the Truly Scrumptious Erin Dilly.

Here is Chip Zien, who plays Goran, being embraced by Marc Kudisch, who plays Baron Bomburst…

…and here’s Kudisch again with Jan Maxwell, who plays the Baroness.

Among those who turned out for the opening of Chitty were Sally Ann Howes, Heather Ripley, and Adrian Hall, who respectively played Truly Scrumptious, Jemima Potts, and Jeremy Potts in the movie.

On Tuesday, April 26, the latest Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire opened at Studio 54. Pictured here after the show is Natasha Richardson, who plays Blanche DuBois…

…and here’s John C. Reilly, who plays her nemesis, Stanley Kowalski.

Here are Chris Bauer and Amy Ryan, a.k.a. Mitch and Stella in Streetcar…

….and here’s Richardson with her husband, Liam Neeson.

Also on Tuesday, a reception for this year’s Outer Critics Circle Award nominees was held at Nino’s Tuscany Restaurant. Among the attendees: Sara Ramirez and Tim Curry, both nominated for the performances in Monty Python’s Spamalot…

…Billy Crystal (center), a nominee for his solo show 700 Sundays, with Cheyenne Jackson and Jennifer Gambatese, nominated for their performances in All Shook Up…

…Michael Berresse, Kelli O’Hara, and Mark Harelik, all three nominated for their work in The Light in the Piazza…

…Joanna Gleason, Norbert Leo Butz, and Sherie Rene Scott, all three nominated for their work in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

We leave you with two photos from the Monday, April 25 edition of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party at Birdland. Here’s Caruso having a high old time with his pal Linda Lavin…

…and here’s Lavin again with San Diego singing sensation Devlin.