By Andrew Gans
14 Mar 2008

DIVA TIDBITS
A one-night-only concert staging of the new musical The People vs. Mona will be presented at the York Theatre Company March 30 at 7:30 PM. The new "Musical Mystery Screwball Comedy" by Patricia Miller and Jim Wann will boast a cast that includes Marc Kudisch, Christiane Noll, Ron Raines and Natalie Toro. Rob Milulski will be the musical director. (This same group will preserve the score for JAY Records.) The York Theatre Company plays Saint Peter's Theatre, which is located on 54th Street just east of Lexington Avenue. For tickets, priced $35-$40, visit www.yorktheatre.org or call (212) 935-5820.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced its 2008-2009 season earlier this week. In addition to a new production of Ragtime, the season will also feature the return of Barbara Cook's Spotlight, the concert series curated by Tony Award-winning singer Cook. Cook will shine her spotlight on Tony winner Betty Buckley (who will offer concerts Oct. 3-4 in the Terrace Theater), Rebecca Luker (Nov. 8), Tony winner Victoria Clark (Dec. 6), Liz Callaway (Jan. 9, 2009) and Jason Danieley and Marin Mazzie (Feb. 14, 2009). Also of interest is Broadway: Three Generations, starry concerts in the Eisenhower Theater that pay tribute to all generations of theatre composers. Those concerts — directed by Eric Schaeffer and choreographed by Warren Carlyle — will include George and Ira Gershwin's Girl Crazy (celebrating Broadway's first generation of composers and featuring Max von Essen as Danny Churchill and Tony winner Randy Graff as Kate Fothergill); Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Stein's Fiddler on the Roof (celebrating Broadway's second generation of composers with Mark Jacoby as Tevye and Tony winner Graff as Golde); and Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show (celebrating Broadway's third generation; no casting has been announced). For more information visit www.kennedy-center.org.

Amanda Watkins and Michele Ragusa have been cast in the Paper Mill Playhouse's upcoming production of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate. Watkins will play Lois Lane/Bianca with Ragusa as Lilli Vanessi/Kate. Kiss Me, Kate will play the Paper Mill April 16-May 18. James Brennan will direct the classic musical with choreography by Patti Colombo. The Paper Mill Playhouse is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ. For more information or to purchase tickets call (973) 376-4343 or visit www.papermill.org.

Jamie deRoy & Friends, the MAC Award-winning variety show, will be presented monthly at the Metropolitan Room beginning April 1. The 7:30 PM performance, hosted by deRoy, will feature the talents of singer-actress Nancy Anderson, violinist Heather Bixler, MAC Award winner Natalie Douglas, Broadway veteran Teri Ralston, stand-up comic Michael Somerville and the cast of Rendezvous…An Evening with Piaf, Brel, Aznavour & Friends. Barry Kleinbort will direct the evening with musical direction by Shelly Markham. DeRoy & Friends will also play the intimate cabaret May 14 and June 11. The Metropolitan Room is located in Manhattan at 34 West 22nd Street. There is a $25 cover charge and a $15 minimum; call (212) 206-0440 for reservations.

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, who recently released her new solo recording "I Stand," will launch a limited concert tour April 1 at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ. The singing actress, according to her official website, will also play April 3 at the Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, MA; April 5 at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY; April 6 and 8 at Stage One in Fairfield, CT; and April 10 and 11 at The Baby Grand in Wilmington, DE. More cities and dates will be announced shortly. For ticket information visit www.georgestplayhouse.org (April 1), www.barringtonstageco.org (April 3), www.emelin.org (April 5), www.fairfieldtheatre.org (April 6 and 8) and www.grandopera.org (April 10 and 11). For more information visit www.idinamenzel.com.

Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.