Claire Danes, whose "gamely impersonation" of Eliza Doolittle on the recent Broadway Pygmalion revival tanked among the critics, will join the cast of Me and Orson Welles, an adaptation of the period coming-of-age novel set in the late 1930s by Robert Kaplow. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Zac Efron (High School Musical's hearthrob for pre-teens) will play a high school student who stumbles upon the Mercury Theatre and gets discovered by its mercurial founder, Orson Welles (played by slim-resume'd Christian McKay). The kid lands a bit part in Julius Caesar, the production that catapulted Mr. Welles to the top, and "spends the next week learning about life and love." Ah how sweet. We're assuming Ms. Danes will be giving Mr. Efron some lessons in the latter, although that might be in the hands of British actress Imogen Poots, who was also recently recruited to the cast.

In all the discussion about the welcome if uneven revival of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, it seems to me that the genius of the play itself has been forgotten. Blame the musical.  read more »

The New York Times' Ben Brantley shares his thoughts on Claire Danes' "game, conscientious" portrayal of Eliza Doolittle and Jefferson Mays' version of Henry Higgins as a "squalling, solipsistic infant trapped inside a worldly man's body" in the Roundabout Theater Company's Pygmalion.

Perhaps the kindest way to think about David Grindley's misfired revival of ''Pygmalion,'' which opened last night at the American Airlines Theater, is that it was devised to soothe the restless spirit of the ever-contentious Shaw. For there is not a whisper of mutual attraction between this production's Eliza and Henry, played by Claire Danes and Jefferson Mays. As for the prospect of marriage: ''Not bloody likely,'' as Eliza would say. How can you imagine two people sharing a life when they don't even seem to share a stage?

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“There was a thought before we went into rehearsals, I was thinking, ‘Hmm, I wonder how she’s going to be in front of 750 people, eight nights a week,’” said Tony-award-winning stage actor Jefferson Mays, who was discussing working with doe-eyed My So-Called Life alum Claire Danes in her Broadway debut in Pygmalion, the Roundabout Theatre Company production at the American Airlines Theatre.  read more »

THEATER:

PYGMALION

Who: Claire Danes, Jefferson Mays

When: Oct. 18 – Dec. 16

Where: American Airlines Theatre

How: Check for tickets here.

Pygmalion, starring Claire Danes as the street urchin who will become a society lady thanks to the help of a professor, played by Jefferson Mays, will open at the American Airlines Theatre tonight. Tony nominee David Grindley will direct The Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of George Bernard Shaw’s play based on the Ovid tale.

CONCERTS:

Wise up to lit rock sweetheart Aimee Mann at the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on Dec. 14. [On Sale: Friday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.]

Manchester’s David Gray will perform his folk-rock, acoustic songs at the Beacon Threatre on Dec. 4. Bring tissues for his requisite performance of This Year’s Love. [On Sale: Friday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.]

New York’s Coheed and Cambria, whose new album No World For Tomorrow will be released next week, will unleash their high-pitched, prog rock anthems at the Roseland Ballroom on Nov. 29. [On Sale: Friday, Oct. 19 at noon.]

Remember when Brooklyn’s Nada Surf came out with that video for their song "Popular" in the mid-90’s and everyone lumped them into the “geek rock” realm along with Weezer? Well, they’re still around, making great music and looking just a scruffy/adorable as ever. They’ll be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Feb. 7 and the Bowery Ballroom on Feb. 8. [On Sale: Friday, Oct. 19 at noon.]

Hey hey, Neil Young will come to United Palace Theatre on Dec. 18 to keep rocking in the free world and whatnot. [On Sale: Monday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m.]  read more »

It’s a good time to be a theater queen—plenty of camp this fall!  read more »

Redgrave, Streep, Danes and Richardson navigate a choppy script co-written by Hours director Michael Cunningham.  read more »

Claire Danes, Chloë Sevigny, Parker Posey—They Were ‘It,’ But Congratulate Them! They’ve Had It With Clubs ’n’ Columns. Once-Flickering Starlets Aren’t Has-Beens—They’re Grown-Ups!  read more »

For anyone still sorting out their 90's teen angst, actress (and Soho native) Claire Danes resides just downstairs in this luxury condominium, which was formerly three 19th century cast-iron factory buildings. The 4,848-square-foot apartment includes three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. (However, there's an extensive description with the listing.)

There was one other thing that struck us: the listing mentions that it was designed by Dutch architect Winka Dubbeldam. Indeed, Ms. Dubbledam told The Real Esate that she designed the space for developer Jonathan Carroll--who have since moved out to Brooklyn. (A few years after designing the apartment, the two would later work together on a residential project). Using a variety of materials, Ms. Dubbledam conceived a "set of overlapping zones" for the Mr. Carroll's spacious loft.