Arts News

Playbill - California Shakespeare Theater announced on July 31 that Patty Gallagher will take over the role of Winnie, Samuel Beckett's eternal optimist, in Happy Days, directed by Cal Shakes artistic director Jonathan Moscone. She replaces Marsha Mason, who withdrew from the production during rehearsals because of personal reasons.

Playbill - The Old Globe's production of Charles Ludlam's gothic spoof The Mystery of Irma Vep begins performances in the Globe's Arena Stage at the San Diego Museum of Art's James S. Copley Auditorium July 31.

Playbill - They brood, they bend, they break, they bond - and they sing. These are the rituals of members of The First Wives Club - The Musical, opening in its world premiere July 31 in San Diego, CA.

Playbill - Barrington Stage Company confirmed casting for its new production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, to play Aug. 6-29. In addition to the previously announced Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie as Blanche and Christopher Innvar as Stanley, the cast now includes Kim Stauffer as Stella.

Playbill - The Actors Company Theatre/TACT, The critically-acclaimed company dedicated to presenting "neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit," will resurrect Sidney Howard's The Late Christopher Bean and T.S. Eliot's The Cocktail Party Off-Broadway in 2009-10.

Playbill - Catalina Sandino Moreno, the actress best known for her 2005 Academy Award-nominated performance in "Maria Full of Grace," will star opposite Matthew Broderick in The New Group's upcoming Off-Broadway world premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's The Starry Messenger.

Playbill - The recession must really be bad when even fictional working stiffs can't keep their jobs.

Playbill - The work of William David Brohn, 1998 Tony winner for Best Orchestrations for Ragtime and a nominee in 2002 and 2004 for Sweet Smell of Success and Wicked, respectively, is to be celebrated in a one-night gala, Broadway to West End - By Special Arrangement.