Javier (left) pictured with Valerie Harper (right)

The fabulous Valerie Harper is on her way back to Broadway with Michael Lombardo’s new play Looped in which she portrays legendary stage and film actress Tallulah Bankhead. The play had its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse last July and is currently in West Palm Beach before heading to D.C. and New York. Best known for her TV show Rhoda, Harper made her Broadway debut in 1959 in Take Me Along, the musical version of Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness! (now playing at the Irish Classical Theatre through February 15th).

The Irish Classical Theatre will hold its annual benefit The Wake at a different time and location this year. The event will take place on February 27 at 7 p.m. at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum located at 453 Porter Avenue. The company’s season will then continue with Hedda Gabler (March 6-April 5), directed by Derek Campbell and starring Catherine Eaton, Christian Brandjes, Jeanne Cairns, Kristen Tripp Kelly, and Vincent O’Neill as Judge Brack. Ibsen’s classic is also now being revived on Broadway with Mary Louise Parker in the title role.

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) continues its new play reading series on January 26th at 7:30 with Blogfodder by Melody Von Smith, directed by Kyle LoConti. Von Smith was nominated for an Artie Award for Bonegrinders. Reminder, the company’s fund raising special event, An Evening with Alec Baldwin, will be held on February 28th at Rockwell Hall.

MusicalFare will kick off its first Actors to A T(ea) on Monday, January 26th at 7 p.m. with actor John Fredo who stars in American Rhapsody. Arriving patrons will be treated to tea (or coffee) and dessert and Fredo will speak and answer questions from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.00, call 839-8540.

Both RLTP and MusicalFare will be hosting benefits in memory of the dearly departed Tim White. On January 27th at 8 p.m., MusicalFare will present American Rhapsody. All of the evening’s proceeds and half of the concession money will go to White’s family ($32.00 recommended donation). On January 22nd at 7:30, RLTP will present Twice Around. All proceeds go to the Tim White Funeral Expense Fund; tickets are $10.00

Kurt Schneiderman with newly born son Lev Davidovitch Bronstein Schneiderman

Up next for American Repertory Theater, Love the ART in You, an evening of one act plays by local playwrights, running March 19th through April 12th at TheaterLoft. The plays include Matthew LaChiusa’s dark comedy Angel in Black, Mark Humphries’ Mechanics, and Michael Votta’s Dirty Laundry.

Peter Palmisano will star opposite Lorna C. Hill’s Claire in Durrenmatt’s The Visit which Ujima will present starting February 6th. Last year, the musical version of The Visit written by Kander and Ebb and Terrence McNally was performed at the Signature Theatre in Virginia and made Time magazine’s top 10 plays of the year. Claire was played by Chita Rivera who turns 76 on Friday.

It’s that time of the year again, O’Connell & Company will present A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters on February 14th and 15th at the Riviera. Mary Kate O’Connell and Neil Garvey will star.

Subversive Theater Collective’s artistic director Kurt Schneiderman with newly born son Lev Davidovitch Bronstein Schneiderman. Mom Jeanette is doing fine. The company’s next production, OUROBOROS A Physical Poem of Joy and Suffering, opens this week at the Manny Fried Playhouse.