TStar: Judge sides with Mirvish in dispute over theatres

Judge sides with Mirvish in dispute over theatres

August 20, 2008
Bruce DeMara
Entertainment Reporter

An Ontario Superior Court judge has rejected an injunction Dancap Productions sought to block the sale of two downtown theatres, paving the way for their sale to rival Mirvish Productions.

Mr. Justice Geoffrey Morawetz issued his much-awaited decision yesterday following a hearing in June in which Dancap argued the Canon and Panasonic theatres on Yonge St. should not be sold by U.S.-based Key Brand Entertainment to Mirvish Productions.

"The important thing is that this (ruling) establishes Key Brand's right to sell us the theatres and it establishes our right to buy," said theatre impresario David Mirvish.

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Playbill: Alice Ripley Will Reprise Role in Arena Stage's Next to Normal

Alice Ripley Will Reprise Role in Arena Stage's Next to Normal

By Andrew Gans
August 20, 2008

Broadway singer-actress Alice Ripley, who scored some of the best reviews of her career as well as a Drama Desk nomination for her work in the recent Off-Broadway production of Next to Normal, will her reprise her role as a bipolar mom in Arena Stage's upcoming production of that acclaimed musical.

The Washington Post reports that Ripley will join the previously announced J. Robert Spencer in Arena's Michael Greif-directed production of Next to Normal, about a family affected by a mother's mental illness and grief. Spencer will play the dad, Dan, the role created Off-Broadway by Shrek's Brian d'Arcy James. No other casting has been announced.

Next to Normal will play Nov. 21, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009 at Arena's temporary home in Crystal City, VA.

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Playbill: Speed-the-Plow Will Now Play the Barrymore Theatre

Speed-the-Plow Will Now Play the Barrymore Theatre

By Andrew Gans
August 19, 2008

The revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow, which had been announced to play the Belasco Theatre, will instead make its home at the Ethel Barrymore, which had been scheduled to house the now-postponed revival of Godspell.

The 20th anniversary Broadway revival of the Mamet work will begin previews at the Barrymore Oct. 3 with a new official opening set for Oct. 23 at 7 PM.

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Playbill: Sh-K-Boom Series at Joe's Pub Will Launch with RIPLEY; Pritchard and TASTiSKANK Follow

Sh-K-Boom Series at Joe's Pub Will Launch with RIPLEY; Pritchard and TASTiSKANK Follow

By Andrew Gans
August 20, 2008

The Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight concert series at Joe's Pub, which will present a mix of Broadway performers and composers Mondays at 11:30 PM, will kick off Sept. 8 with RIPLEY.

The rock band RIPLEY comprises songwriter/guitarist/lead singer Alice Ripley (Side Show, Next to Normal), drummer Shannon Ford and keyboard player Christopher Schelling. RIPLEY can be heard on the CD "Outtasite."

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