Tony Shalhoub

Terrence McNally and director Joe Mantello

Wendy Hall, R.J. Voltz, Cassie Gorniewicz, Richard Lambert, and Kurt Guba

Now that the TV series Monk is over, its star Tony Shalhoub will return to Broadway in March in the revival of Lend Me a Tenor. Directed by Stanley Tucci, the revival will also star Shalhoub’s wife Brooke Adams, Anthony LaPaglia, and Jan Maxwell. Shalhoub made his Broadway debut in 1985 starring in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple—The Female Version opposite Rita Moreno and Sally Struthers.

Niagara University’s Armand Schultz will play Billy’s dad in the touring production of Billy Elliot The Musical which kicks off in March in Chicago. The part was originated on Broadway by Gregory Jbara who received a Tony award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

A.R. Gurney has yet another comedy in the works. In addition to Grand Manner, which is scheduled to open in May 2010 at Lincoln Center, Black Tie will open January 2011 at Primary Stages in New York. One of Gurney’s most recent works, A Light Lunch, is scheduled to open at Road Less Traveled in January, as part of the company’s three-year Gurney retrospective.

Playwright Terrence McNally and director Joe Mantello were honored a couple of weeks ago at a gala to benefit Off-Broadway’s Transport Group Theatre. McNally’s latest play, Golden Age, will open in Philadelphia in January. In March, the Kennedy Center will present several of his works, including Master Class starring Tyne Daly and The Lisbon Traviata starring John Glover.

The musical All Shook Up is the choice for Artpark’s 2010 season. Using the music of Elvis Presley, the show is based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It had a short Broadway run in 2005.

American Idol finalist Ace Young has just joined the touring production of Grease playing Danny. The production also stars American Idol winner Taylor Hicks as the Teen Angel. Grease will play Shea’s March 23-28.

TOY’s Head of Design Ken Shaw will be making his directorial debut with the upcoming production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe which plays January 29-February 14 at the Allendale. The show will star Kevin Craig, Bethany Sparacio, Justin Fiordaliso, and Danica Riddick.

Torn Space Theater’s production of Area, written and directed by Dan Shanahan, will be performed January 14 and 15 at the Bushwick Starr in Brooklyn, New York.

Wendy Hall, R.J. Voltz , Cassie Gorniewicz, Richard Lambert, and Kurt Guba will star in the American premiere of Brad Fraser’s True Love Lies which opens at BUA on January 8th, directed by Chris Kelly. The play was first produced in London last year, and in Toronto this past fall.