Barry Weisler

This summer, NYMF will be on quest to save Paradise one Scrabble tile at a time. The new musical, The Last Word will be presented at the Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 W 42nd St) . The Last Word is written by Brett Sullivan (Billy Elliot Live Film Director) and will be directed by Michael Bello (Doctor Zhivago), choreography by Nick Kenkel (Gotta Dance, Legally Blonde) and Musical Supervisor is Conrad Helfrich (Dirty Dancing).  It will begin performances on July 22 and will run through July 29, 2016. Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased by visiting NYMF.org.

The first revival of Pippin is in previews now, set to open on April 25, so producer Barry Weisler guided a tour to show off all the chaos of the pre-performance backstage at the Music Box Theatre. In this video, Weisler takes a look at the costume department, hair department, and even the orchestra.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES with George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber is coming to Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Belk Theater, May 29 - June 3, 2012. Winner of three Tony Awards® including the award for Best Musical Revival. Tickets are now on sale at the Blumenthal Box Office: 704-372-1000 Two time, Tony Award ® nominee, Christopher Sieber, who plays Albin was in his hotel room in San Antonio, Texas doing one press interview after another, when I caught up with him. He's funny, hyper and fun to talk to. He says his success in the entertainment industry is based on luck, but I think it's his talent, personality and his ability to be a team player.

According to the Tokyo Graph, actress Yonekura Ryoko will join the hit revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO this July. She is set to star as Roxy Hart, making her the first Japanese woman to star on Broadway since the 1958 production of Flower Drum Song starring Nancy Umeki. Ryoko will also be the first Japanese performer to portray a lead American character in a long-running Broadway musical.

The occasion: FAN DAY on Broadway, on which the producers of Chicago gave away every single seat in the theatre for free. The idea was to reward those people who had supported the show throughout its 15 years, and to show them reciprocal appreciation. Not only was were the tickets free, but all of the fans in line got t-shirts to memorialize their attendance, along with plastic versions of the iconic Chicago bowler hats. Midtown was a sea of black and red, with strains of Kander & Ebb playing through multiple speakers and headphones, as excitement grew.

On Sunday, May 23, the Drama Desk Association hosted the 55th Annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. Former Drama Desk Award winner Patti LuPone hosted the ceremony, which honored the best of Broadway and off in the 2009-2010 season. BroadwayWorld.com provided live coverage on the site throughout the ceremony and was also present in the audience to capture the best of the evening.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell S. Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) have awarded Adam Gwon the fourth annual Fred Ebb Award. The invitation only award presentation and cocktail reception took place on Monday, December 1, 2008 at The American Airlines Theatre's Penthouse Lobby (227 West 42nd Street).

On Monday, December 10 at 7PM, The New School for Drama hosted a cocktail reception celebrating the residency of visiting artist and award-winning director Doug Hughes, hosted by New School President Bob Kerrey and Director Robert LuPone.