Tony and Academy Award nominee Lynn Redgrave (yup - of those Redgraves) took the stage once again in New York last night. This time it was off-Broadway, with her new one-woman show Nightingale. Based on the life of her estranged grandmother, the performance is described as "about a promising woman stymied by society and all but erased by history, a touching personal tribute and a resounding song for all those people whose voices we've lost, or never known."

Nightingale is Redgrave's first production back in New York since her Tony-nominated turn in the 2005 revival of The Constant Wife. During the production, Ms. Redgrave will be reading from her script. In a statement on behalf of The Manhattan Theater Club, Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove said "Ms. Redgrave, a long-time cancer survivor, was diagnosed this week with a medical condition that requires immediate treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Side effects of the treatment necessitate that Ms. Redgrave rely on her script for the entire run of the play at MTC."

Aside from her recent nomination, Ms. Redgrave was also a Tony nominee in 1993 for "Best Actress In A Play" for Shakespeare For My Father and also in 1976 for Mrs. Warren's Profession. She is a two-time Academy Award nominee; in 1999 for "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" for Gods & Monsters, and in 1967 for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" for Georgy Girl.

The creative team includes Tobin Ost (scenic design), Alejo Vietti (costume design), Rui Rita (lighting design) and John Gromada (original music and sound design).

You can catch Nightingale at New York City Center - Stage I at 131 West 55th Street. Performances run Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.

Without a doubt, any opportunity to see Lynn Redgrave perform live is a wonderful opportunity. You can purchase your tickets here.

Tonight marks the U.S premiere of the hit play Red Sea Fish, direct from England. It's also hails the return of U.K. playwright Matt Wilkinson, whose 2004 play The Sun Is Shining opened at 59E59 to a rave review from The New York Times.

From the press release, "Ray, a retired thief, sees out his days on the top floor of a tower block on the South Coast. Confined during the day by a rare skin condition, he's cared for by his son Terry. Ray merrily fills the air with accounts of lost love, past misadventure and the daily observations of a bitter old man. When Terry invites a young runaway back to the flat, she ignites long forgotten passions in Ray. Red Sea Fish is a darkly funny and ultimately tender story about loss, identity and the folly of trying to control the world."

Red Sea Fish was praised by The Playwright's Studio, Scotland as “Utterly brilliant and fantastic… it reads like the demented bastard child of Steptoe & Son, re-imagined by Pinter and Potter and relocated to a coastal town.” 

59E59's production reunites cast members from the original production at The Pavilion Theatre in Brighton, England: Tim Blissett, Janna Fox, and Matt Houghton. Helming the production at director is artistic director of the Two Bins theater company, Franklyn McCabe. The production has set and costume design by Jess Weisner and lighting design by Pat Boxall.

Easily, this could be one of the must-have tickets of Off-Broadway. Why are you still reading this? Get you tickets here!

"A rollicking two-hander where half the fun is seeing if you can keep up," raved The New York Times. While the Associated Press added, "One of the funniest plays about a play that you will see. Both actors display an endless supply of comic flair."

Opening night is set for Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. and will run for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3, 2010 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Performance schedule: Mondays at 8:00 p.m., Wednesdays - Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m, Dark on Tuesdays.

Martin Hummel (Producer), in association with Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) and The StoryLine Project LLC (R.K. Greene, Executive Director), has announced the Off-Broadway transfer of the madcap comedy, Love Child, written and performed by Daniel Jenkins and Robert Stanton with direction by Carl Forsman and choreography by Tracy Bersley. The zany comedy received its New York premiere at Primary Stages last fall where it garnered rave reviews.

The Off-Broadway transfer also reunites the creative team that includes Neil Patel (Set), Candice Donnelly (Costumes), and Jeff Croiter & Grant Yeager (Lights). The Production Stage Manager is Joanne E. McInerney and the General Manager is CESA Entertainment.

Get tickets here: http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/love-child.html

We checked out the latest as Avenue Q opened Off Broadway last night. And the results are in.

He Liked It!

Read the NY Times review here: http://www.didhelikeit.com/shows/avenue-q-reviews.php

The musical concluded its six-year and over 2,500 show Broadway run at the Golden Theatre Sept. 13 with the announcement of the move to Off-Broadway. Previews began Oct. 9 at the complex's Stage 3 in midtown Manhattan's theatre district.

The cast features Anika Larsen (as Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut), Seth Rettberg (Princeton/Rod), Cullen Titmus (Nicky/Trekkie Monster), Danielle K. Thomas (Gary Coleman), Sala Iwamatsu (Christmas Eve), Nicholas Kohn (Brian) and Maggie Lakis (Mrs. Thistletwat/Bad Idea Bear).

The show follows the adventures of the residents of the fictitious New York City street which is populated by monsters (puppets) and people alike. Lessons about purpose, racism, internet porn and more fill the musical.

Jason Moore directed Avenue Q which features a Tony Award-winning score by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx with a Tony Award-winning book by Jeff Whitty. (The show also garnered the 2004 top Tony Award for Best Musical.)

Puppets are conceived and designed by Rick Lyon. The production features musical supervision by Stephen Oremus and choreography by Ken Roberson. The design team features Anna Louizos (scenic), Mirena Rada (costume), Howell Binkley (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners (sound).

The musical is produced at New World Stages by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, The Vineyard Theatre and The New Group.

Avenue Q originally played an Off-Broadway run at the Vineyard Theatre, then transferred to Broadway's Golden Theatre and opened July 31, 2003. The original cast included Jennifer Barnhart, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jordan Gelber, Ann Harada, Rick Lyon, John Tartaglia and Natalie Venetia Belcon. When it closed on Broadway, the puppet-friendly musical had played 22 previews and 2,534 performances.

For tickets to Avenue Q at New World Stages (50th Street and Eighth Avenue), visit AvenueQ.com.

"Good Bobby," written by Brian Lee Franklin, played at the Greenway Court Theatre in L.A. in late 2008 and early 2009. Today, it opens at the 59E59 Theaters in midtown Manhattan. "The Kennedys are a northeast institution, and I think that makes this more of an East Coast play," Franklin said on the phone from New York.

Franklin plays Bobby Kennedy starting in his days as a young politician through his run for the U.S. Senate. The play features 10 characters, including Joseph Kennedy, the clan's imperious paterfamilias.

The New York run came as the result of actor Stephen Mendillo, who plays the senior Kennedy, showing the script to the creative leaders of the 59E59 Theaters. They liked it enough to invite Franklin to Manhattan. No significant changes have been made to the play since its L.A. run, although some of the supporting cast has changed, according to Franklin. The cast now features Sile Bermingham, Joe Hindy, Dan Lauria, William Mahoney, Paul Marius, Barry Primus and Lisa Richards.

After the death of Edward Kennedy in August, the creative team considered removing a line from the play in which the late senator is unfavorably compared to his brother Bobby. But Franklin ultimately decided against it. "I disagreed. There's a danger of canonizing people just because they passed away," he said.

Franklin said he hopes eventually to take the play to Broadway: "It's an epic character arc. We cover six years in these characters' lives and it's a big subject matter. I think the scope of it is a Broadway show."

He added that he could possibly revise the play after its off-Broadway run, which is scheduled to end Nov. 8.

For tickets phone (212) 279-4200 or visit www.ticketcentral.com

The award-winning musical, which ended its six-year run at Broadway's Golden Theatre Sept. 13, will officially reopen Off-Broadway Oct. 21.

The cast boasts Larsen as Kate Monster, Rettberg as Princeton/Rod, Titmus as Nicky/Trekkie Monster, Thomas as Gary Coleman, Iwamatsu as Christmas Eve, Kohn as Brian and Lakis as Mrs. T/Bad Idea Bear.

At New World Stages, Q has a Rush Ticket: $26.50 for the front row of the orchestra seats on the day of the performance. Rush Tickets are available for all performances and can be purchased (subject to availability) during New World Stages box office hours. Tickets are limited two per person.

Avenue Q has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, and is directed by Jason Moore. Based on an original concept by Lopez and Marx, with puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon, the production features musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

After an acclaimed Off-Broadway run at the Vineyard Theatre, Avenue Q began previews at Broadway's Golden Theatre July 10, 2003, and officially opened July 31. The original cast included Jennifer Barnhart, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jordan Gelber, Ann Harada, Rick Lyon, John Tartaglia and Natalie Venetia Belcon. When it closed on Broadway, the puppet-friendly musical about young men, women and their furry friends searching for purpose while exploring the ups and downs of life had played 22 previews and 2,534 performances.

Show times are Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 and 8 PM and Sundays at 3 and 7:30 PM. Tickets range $86.50-$66.50 and are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.

New World Stages complex is located at 50th Street and Eighth Avenue.

Visit www.avenueq.com for more information.

AVENUE Q
The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about 20-something puppets and their human companions trying to find their way in the big bad city sets up new digs Off-Broadway. New World Stages. Previews begin October 9, opens October 21. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/avenue-q-off-broadway.html

BROKE-OLOGY
Lincoln Center Theater kicks off its 25th anniversary season with a stirring portrait about brothers who are called home to take care of their ailing father, and find themselves strangely at odds. Thomas Kail directs the world premiere of this new drama. Lincoln Center Theater/Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. Now in previews, opens October 5. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/broke-ology.html

CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION
When four lost New Englanders enrolled in Marty’s community center drama class experiment with harmless games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. The world premiere of Annie Gold’s comedy. Playwrights Horizons, Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. Now in previews, opens October 13. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/circlemirrortransformation.html

COUNTY OF KINGS: THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE
Brooklyn hip-hop artist Lemon Andersen stars in the true story of finding passion and purpose against all odds. A vivid portrait of his difficult and sometimes humorous experiences growing up during the most influential cultural movement of our time, the birth of hip-hop.The Culture Project at The Public Theater. Now in previews, opens October 12. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/county-of-kings.html

THE EMPEROR JONES
An African-American man sets himself up as emperor on a Caribbean island after fleeing the United States following a prison escape. Lortel Award-winner John Douglas Thompson (Othello) stars in Eugene O’Neill’s 1920 drama, directed by Ciarán O’Reilly. The Irish Repertory Theatre. Previews begin October 7, opens October 18.

THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS
Beloved newspaper columnist Ann Landers comes to life, as embodied by two-time Tony Award-winner Judith Ivey, in the New York premiere of David Rambo’s biographical play drawn from Landers’ letters. Cherry Lane Theatre. Previews begin October 7, opens October 14. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/lady-with-all-the-answers.html

LET ME DOWN EASY
Anna Deveare Smith (Twilight: Los Angeles 1992) applies her documentary theatre style to a diverse group of characters including Lance Armstrong and Ann Richards in a timely exploration of the healthcare world, from both a practitioner and patient perspective. Second Stage Theatre. Now in previews, opens October 7. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/let-me-down-easy.html

LOVE CHILD
It's opening night: the cast is unruly, the crowd is restless, and the play is obscure, but Joel has a larger worry: his mother is in the front row. A madcap comedy starring Daniel Jenkins and Robert Stanton. New World Stages. Previews begin October 23, opens October 31.

LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE
An intimate collection of stories by Nora and Delia Ephron, based on the bestselling book by Ilene Beckerman, featuring three rotating casts in four-week cycles of five stellar actresses. Scheduled performers include Samantha Bee, Kristin Chenoweth, Tyne Daly, Katie Finneran, Rosie O'Donnell, Mary Louise Wilson and Rita Wilson. The Westside Theatre Downstairs. Now in previews, opens October 1. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/love%20loss%20and%20what%20i%20wore.html

THE NIGHT WATCHER
Charlayne Woodard stars in the New York premiere of her new autobiographical play about mentoring young people and being childless only by biological standards, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Primary Stages. Now in previews, opens October 6.

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD
J. M. Synge’s comedy celebrates the grand poetry and reckless abandon of the Irish imagination, taking us to a hardscrabble corner of the world where murderers speak in earthy music, the underdog rules on high, feisty damsels are eager to be won, and it’s the tale well told that wins the day. The Pearl Theatre, New York City Center, Stage 2. Previews begin, October 2, opens October 11.

STILL LIFE
An internationally acclaimed photographer suddenly shuts down, but is interrupted by an unexpected romantic interest determined to help her move on even while facing his own uncertain future. Will Frears directs a funny, heartbreaking new play by Alexander Dinelaris, featuring Adriane Lenox, Sarah Paulson, Dominic Chianese, and Frederick Weller. MCC Theater at The Lucille Lortel Theatre. Now in previews, opens October 5. http://www.bestofoffbroadway.com/shows/still-life-off-broadway.html

13 features a score by Brown and a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The musical, which showcases 12-year-old Evan Goldman's "struggle between being popular and being himself," ran on Broadway from Sept. 16, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009. It is the first Broadway musical to have a cast and band entirely composed of teenagers.

A novel version of the musical, by Brown and Elish, is also now available. The young adult novel "remains faithful to the plot of the musical while opening up the world of the characters, giving fans of the show new insights, and exposing others to the story for the first time."

A new cast recording will hit the shelves soon, which will reflect the final version of the show (with all changes that had been incorporated throughout the Broadway run), later this fall. The new disc will also feature two demo recordings of cut songs sung by composer Brown and nine karaoke tracks. Sh-K-Boom Records will release the disc.

Ghostlight Records released the original cast album through digital services in September 2008 and was available in stores that November.