Washington, July 04(ANI): Former ‘Sopranos’ star James Gandolfini recently threw out a member of the audience during the performance of his Broadway play ‘God Of Carnage’.

The actor shoved the intruder after he came up on stage, and occupied his seat during intermission, Contactmusic reports.

The man said that he was just a fan, and wanted to meet his idol.

However, that did not stop Gandolfini from tossing the man into the wings, where a security guard ejected him from New York’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, reports the National Enquirer.

Before the curtains were up, the actor known for his role as Tony Soprano in the Sopranos regained composure. (ANI)

New York, June 8 (ANI): Newly married star Bebe Neuwirth is working on a play based on ‘The Addams Family’.

According to reports, her new play will be a spooky project.

“I hope it will come to Broadway next year,” the New York Daily News quoted her as saying at On 3 Production’s Lipton Gift Lounge.

Bebe is best known for her portrayal of Dr. Lilith Sternin, Dr. Frasier Crane’s ex-wife both on the popular TV sitcom Cheers and its spin-off Fraier.

She made her Broadway debut in the role of Sheila in A Chorus Line in 1980.

She has been featured in revivals of Little Me (1982) Sweet Charity (1986), for which she received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and Damn Yankees (1994). (ANi)

New York, June 2 (ANI): The Obama effect was once again visible when just a day after the U.S. First Couple saw ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ in New York, patrons flocked to watch the Broadway show on Sunday.

While an average of just 65 per cent of seats at the show were filled were filled a week ago, there were just a few balcony seats remaining for Sunday’s matinee.

The line for tickets stretched out the door an hour before the 3 p.m. performance.

“I really respect him (Obama). I think he’s got good instincts. If he likes it, I’m going to like it,” the New York Daily News quoted one Roz McCarthy, 59, of Norwalk, Conn., as saying.

Some theatregoers wished they were not a day late to catch a glimpse of Barack and Michelle.

“I said, ‘Shoot, I should have got Saturday night tickets,’” said one Gayle Jones, 54, of Somerset, N.J.

Down in Greenwich Village, tables started filling up early in the evening at Blue Hill, the restaurant where the President and First Lady had enjoyed their pre-theatre meal. (ANI)

New York, June 2 (ANI): New York’s billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg has claimed that a dinner and Broadway undertaken by Barack Obama and his wife Michelle is a celebration of New York’s affordable night life.
 
“I can’t think of anything that is better as an advertisement for our tourism industry, for Broadway, for our restaurants, for saying that this is a safe city and an affordable city,” Bloomberg said Monday.

“The President doesn’t get paid that much. He’s on a budget, too,” he added.
 
For the record, the President earns 400,000 dollars a year – plus a few perks like free housing and a private jet – and raked in 2.5 million dollars in book royalties last year.
 
Forget, too, that the President and First Lady dined at Blue Hill restaurant, where entrees are in the 30 to 40 dollars range. Ignore the fact that the cheapest available tickets to “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” on Broadway, which the Obamas enjoyed, went for 51.50 each.
 
Don’t mention the cost of the Secret Service, the motorcade and the entourage.

“We’re ecstatic to have the Obamas come here,” he said.
 
“The fact that the Obamas are out there, sharing in what’s wonderful about America – the theater, Broadway, freedom of travel, meeting people – I think is just great, so I would love to have the Obamas come back here as much as they want,” Bloomberg said. (ANI)

New York, May 30 (ANI): US President Barack Obama, who makes his first trip to the Big Apple as the commander in chief today, will enjoy a date night on Broadway with First Lady Michelle Obama.

The New York Daily News has learnt that the Obamas plan to take in “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” at the Belasco Theater.

The August Wilson drama chronicles the struggles of African-Americans in the early 20th century.

Instead of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, the First Couple will be travelling on one of the smaller planes in the Air Force VIP fleet.

The White House declined for security reasons to give any specific details about plans surrounding the Obamas’ date in Manhattan beyond simply confirming that they will take in a little New York nightlife.

Obama spokesman Josh Earnest would only say, “The President and First Lady will make a personal visit to New York City.”

The president lived in New York briefly during the 1980s as a student at Columbia and made frequent visits to the city for fundraisers and other political events during the campaign. (ANI)

London, May 28 (ANI): Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has been given two top theatre gongs.

The talented actor was given the honour for his role in the Broadway play Equus, reports The Daily Star.

It was in this show Radcliffe stripped naked on stage.

The 19-year-old scooped Favourite Actor and Breakthrough Performance in the 2009 Broadway.com Audience Awards.

The gongs were chosen by theatregoers. (ANI)

London, May 28 (ANI): Daniel Craig is set to make his Broadway debut alongside seasoned theatre star Hugh Jackman, according to reports.

According to the New York Post, the two are teaming up to hit the New York stage for a new drama ‘A Steady Rain’, written by Keith Huff and produced by James Bond’s Barbara Broccoli.

It follows two cops from Chicago, Illinois whose close friendship is pushed to its limits after becoming involved in a domestic dispute in a poor neighbourhood, reports the Daily Express.

Before breaking into Hollywood, the 007 star performed small roles on the London stage, while the X-Men star won a Tony Award in 2004 for his turn in Broadway musical ‘The Boy From Oz’.

A Steady Rain is slated to open this autumn (09). (ANI)

London, May 13 (ANI): The much-loved TV series ‘The Addams Family’ would soon be turned into a Broadway musical starring Nathan Lane, announced the show’s producers.

The ‘Producers’ star will play Gomez Addams in the show, with ‘Cheers’ star Bebe Neuwirth, who will appear as his wife Morticia.

The plot will mainly focus on daughter Wednesday Addams, and how she deals with turning 18 and getting a boyfriend, reports the BBC.

Firstly, the musical will open in Chicago in November for two months, and would eventually move to Broadway in April next year.

Based on the creations of cartoonist Charles Addams, the original ‘Addams Family’ television show ran in the 1960s, and was later spawned into animated series in the mid-’70s before being adapted into two movies in the 1990s. (ANI)

London, April 16 (ANI): Sir Elton John, actress Angela Lansbury and Tony-winning playwright Arthur Laurents are to be honoured at the 75th Annual Drama League Awards next month for their contributions to Broadway.

The trio will receive special recognition at the ceremony, hosted by Jeremy Irons and Cynthia Nixon, reports the Daily Express.

Drama League honours stars’ achievements in theatre, musical theatre and directing in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

John, who wrote the music for New York productions of Billy Elliot and The Lion King, will be honoured for his achievements in musical theatre.

Lansbury, currently appearing in the Broadway revival of Blithe Spirit, will be awarded for her unique contribution to theatre.

Writer/director Laurents, the man behind the recent revivals of West Side Story and Gypsy, will be honoured with the Julia Hansen Award for directing.

The gongs will be handed out at the Annual Awards Luncheon in New York on 15 May (09). (ANI)