Ken Mandelbaum

Charles Kirsch's podcast, Backstage Babble, gives a behind the scenes look at Broadway shows and the theater industry. On Monday April 29th at 7 pm, Kirsch will be hosting a special event at 54 Below paying tribute to 14 shows on the iconic “flop wall” at Joe Allen Restaurant with shows including Merrily We Roll Along, Nick and Nora, and Kelly.

Broadway historian and self-proclaimed theatre nerd Jennifer Ashley Tepper is here to help with her new series, Broadway Deep Dive. This month, the reader question was: Have any Broadway musicals ever closed before they opened?

If there were a secondary title to the Columbus Immersive Theater’s production of CARRIE, it would be There Will Be Blood. Lots of blood, in fact.

Who's ready to chase some cookies?! Well, you better grab a net and start making a list of who's safe and who's sane because hosts Bobby and Kristina are back with a brand new episode of the new podcast My Favorite Flop and it's all about the 1964 Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical 'Anyone Can Whistle'!

Looking for something new to read while stuck inside, but still need your Broadway fix? We've rounded up 10 of our favorite theatre-themed history books to fill the void!

Eager, competent company members amply demonstrated their wares and polish. (I don't mean bringing shiny silverware from their place of employment.) a?oeWe don't just carry meatloaf!a?? remarked the gregarious host.

In his indispensable history of Broadway's less-successful musical ventures, 'Not Since Carrie,' Ken Mandelbaum famously wrote that bookwriter/lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer John Barry's effort to bring Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel 'Lolita' to the stage 'has the singular distinction of being both a complete mistake and a superb adaptation.'

Praising the bible of Musical Theatre geekdom, Where in the World is Ken Mandelbaum, the Beckettian podcast from last week, praising Yma Sumac (or, Amy Camus), what would go in a 'Not Since Carrie 2, and more!

The New York cabaret scene has found itself a new star, whether or not anyone was asking for it. Broadway album designer and social media demagog Robbie Rozelle, who has previously created solo shows for Melissa Errico and Kate Baldwin, decided it was finally Robbie's Turn and brought us SONGS FROM INSIDE MY LOCKER. When he regally ascended to the stage at Feinstein's/54 Below on June 9 as though he were the goddamn mayor's wife, it became immediately evident that this was a man set to lay it all out there for the enjoyment of the masses.

There is something noble about earnestly attempting to do good, despite the overwhelming evidence that what you are embarking upon is almost certainly doomed to disappoint. Not only is that sentiment at the center of CARRIE THE MUSICAL, which Clandestine Arts is premiering in Central Florida through August 30th at the ME Theatre, but it also accurately describes the undertaking of performing this infamous piece of musical theatre history. Like Carrie's senior prom, unless everything goes unbelievably perfectly, the musical is likely going to be a substantial let-down. While Clandestine has put together an impressively talented group of young performers, especially in the show's four leads, the uneven and sloppy production undermines whatever power the piece might otherwise have had.

Not since Carrie. A phrase that has haunted creators of musicals ever since Ken Mandelbaum's famous 1991 book that looks at 40 years of Broadway musical flops. The original Broadway production in 1988 was a disaster, partly due to the writing, but more to do with original director Terry Hands' disastrous approach and minimalist concept. Closing 5 performances after the official opening night, Carrie cleaned up its blood, but not its money and went on to become one of the most famous and financial flops (although a certain Bono-tuned superhero of recent memory has surpassed that).

Today we are talking to an accomplished and charismatic West End and Broadway star who originally made a name for herself as the title character in the infamous page-to-stage adaptation of Stephen King's CARRIE who has gone on to achieve acclaim for numerous starring roles in the UK ranging from JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT to CHICAGO as well as the original West End casts of THE SECRET GARDEN, MARY POPPINS, and, most recently, LONDON ROAD - Linzi Hateley. Shedding some light on her unforgettable West End and Broadway debut as well as bringing us all the way up to the present day commenting on her hotly anticipated return to New York later this month with her new cabaret show at 54 Below, titled SINCE CARRIE, Hateley grants a rare all access pass to her career onstage and onscreen. Besides all about SINCE CARRIE and CARRIE itself, Hateley also recounts her experiences participating in the original cast of a number of notable West End and UK productions, including THE SECRET GARDEN, MARY POPPINS and more. Also, Hateley shares first news of the forthcoming feature film adaptation of UK hit LONDON ROAD and how her stage role will be adapted to the big screen iteration. On the topic of screen roles, Hateley also offers the 411 on her participation in the smash hit cinematic version of international stage hit LES MISERABLES and voices her thoughts on the movie musical revolution in general. Besides all of that, Hateley reflects on her work in the Stephen Sondheim revue MOVING ON and offers opinions on some of her most cherished studio recordings. All of that, a look ahead to starring in Cameron Mackintosh's upcoming UK tour of BARNUM and much more in this wide-ranging chat with an astonishingly versatile and always engaging West End and Broadway leading lady.

From the heavy beating musical sound at the start, through the exciting powerful opening dance, to the exposition presented in the song, 'In,' through the compelling story filled with well designed twists and turns, to the startling conclusion, 'CARRIE: THE MUSICAL,' now on stage at Beck Center, captivates the imagination and compels attention.

Screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen outlines his process in adaptating Stephen King's celebrated horror tome CARRIE from novel to screenplay to full-fledged Broadway musical in a new book titled WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? CARRIE, FROM BOOK TO MOVIE TO MUSICAL.

A legendary flop gets a second chance, a fabled night spot closes as a new one opens and a mysterious investor supposedly dies of malaria. These were just a few of the stories and issues theatre lovers talked about in 2012.

September 25, 2012 is the launch of both the premiere cast recording and the licensing rights by R&H Theatricals of Carrie the Musical. On that Tuesday, the cast (along with the creators) will gather at Barnes and Noble on 86th Street in New York City at 5pm to perform songs from the musical and to autograph the album. Event details: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/77993

According to an audition notice, the musical revival of CARRIE will hold a development lab at MCC from May 25, 2011 through June 7, 2011. Stafford Arima will direct, Matt Williams will choreograph, and Mary Mitchell-Campell will musical direct.

According to an audition notice, the musical revival of CARRIE will hold a development lab at MCC from May 25, 2011 through June 7, 2011. Stafford Arima will direct, Matt Williams will choreograph, and Mary Mitchell-Campell will musical direct.

Listening to the popular theatre critic/journalist Peter Filichia talk about musicals can be twice as entertaining as half the shows on Broadway.  Ever hear his story about the audience reaction at the first preview of Bring Back Birdie?  Or the way he one-upped David Merrick after being tossed out of a preview of 42nd Street?  Or the exact moment he could tell, while watching an out-of-town tryout of Company, that Dean Jones would not be playing Bobby for long?

CARRIE is back, according to an Equity casting notice that was just released a few moments ago. A 29-Hour reading is scheduled for February. Exact dates will be determined based on actor's schedules once cast. The notice specifically calls for submission for the roles of Carrie and Sue Snell. Auditions will take place in mid-December.