Anika Larsen News

Broadway and NYC performing artists once again will donate their time and talents as teaching artists at the 8th Annual Dare to Go Beyond (D2GB) Children's Performing Arts Camp, hosted by R.Evolucion Latina (RL).

Broadway star Chilina Kennedy stopped by News 4 New York over the weekend to talk about her role in the musical, BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL.

If ever a show has become part of the 'fabric' of New York and pop culture, it's the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q, with its colorful -- in costume and in language -- cast of humans and puppets. The ground-breaking musical hits a new landmark today, July 31, when it celebrates its 12th anniversary at New World Stages (340 W. 50 St.), where AVENUE Q has performed for the past six years, following its triumphant six-year run on Broadway. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through some of the show's best moments over the years!

On Thursday, July 16, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Broadway vet and ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK star Lea Delaria. On the episode, DeLaria shares stories from her nearly 35-year career as a stand-up comic, jazz musician, Broadway leading lady, and film and television actor.

Broadway Records releases THE VISIT Original Broadway Cast Recording digitally and in stores, including most major retailers, such as iTunes and Amazon, today, July 10.

THE VISIT cast album, out tomorrow, is a joint release of two labels: Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label, and is co-executive produced by Hunter Arnold, Carl Daikelerand Sandi Moran. Tonight, July 9 (7PM), the company will reunite at Barnes and Noble (150 East 86th Street) for a CD signing and performance.

On Monday, June 6th the Theater People Podcast welcomes two-time Tony winner Michael Cerveris. The star of stage and screen won his second Tony Award last month for his turn as Bruce Bechdel in FUN HOME. Cerveris shares stories of his over two-year journey with the show, which won this year's Tony for Best New Musical. He discusses his decision not to read the graphic memoir on which the show is based, and his experience of visiting the real life Bechdel home where most of the show takes place. 

Broadway Records announced today the official digital download release of The Visit available tomorrow, June 30th.

On Monday June 22, 2015 Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony nominee Kerry Butler. Currently starring as Hillary Clinton in CLINTON THE MUSICAL at New World Stages, Butler made her Broadway debut in BLOOD BROTHERS before replacing as Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

Kurt Elling, the preeminent male vocalist in jazz, released Passion World - his fifth album from Concord Records - yesterday, June 9. For his most ambitious project yet, Elling casts his net far and wide around the globe, using songs rooted in Iceland (Bjork's 'Who Is It') to Ireland (U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name'), France (Edith Piaf's 'La Vie En Rose') to Brazil (Dorival Caymmi's 'Voce Ja Foi a Bahia?') and beyond, to explore the passionate forces that shake our souls. Elling - a Grammy Award winner and 10-time Grammy Award nominee - will launch Passion World with a weeklong engagement at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street in Manhattan) this week, June 10-13. Visit BirdlandJazz.com for more information.

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, was held earlier today, May 27th in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets. Hosted by HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH's Darren Criss, Broadway's best turned out for the annual performance - including Beautiful's Chilina Kennedy who performed the show's title number- check it out below!

On Monday, May 25th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori. In the interview, she talks of the five-year journey that she took alongside lyricist and book writer Lisa Kron adapting Alison Bechdel's celebrated graphic memior. After a ground breaking Off-Broadway run, the musical is now Tony-nominated and playing at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater. Tesori and Kron have been nominated together for this year's Best Original Score award; should they win, the pair would become the first all-female writing team in Tony history to take home that the prize.

On Monday, May 18th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU star Lisa Howard. Lisa made her Broadway debut as Rona Lisa Peretti in the 2006 Tony nominated production of 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. From there she has been seen on Broadway in SOUTH PACIFIC, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and 9 TO 5. In IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Howard has received glowing notices and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her turn as Jenny, older sister of the Bride who's gone out of her way to plan the perfect wedding. Despite acting alongside Broadway favorites like Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, and Sierra Boggess, much has been made of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU being a star making vehicle for Howard. 

On Monday, May 11 the Theater People podcast welcomes 2015 Tony-nominee, Tony Yazbeck. Currently starring in the critically acclaimed and Tony nominated Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, Tony opens up about how the role first came to him for the 2008 Encores production, his experience with the pre-Broadway run at Barrington Stage, and how, as a true triple threat, he was particularly suited to play the role on Broadway.

On Monday, May 4, Theater People podcast welcomes 'The First Lady of British Musical Theater,' Olivier Award-winner Elaine Paige. For the episode, Paige discusses her farewell tour, and what exactly she means by 'farewell.' She also talks about the upcoming theatrical release of her recent concert which was filmed at Royal Albert Hall in London. Paige, perhaps best know for originating the roles of Eva Peron in EVITA and Grizabella in CATS, shares her remembrances of how those roles came to her and how they changed her life and career. Paige made her Broadway debut in 1995 as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD Sunset Boulevard. She returned to Broadway in the critically acclaimed and Tony award winning 2012 revival of FOLLIES. In the role of Carlotta Campion, Paige received terrific notices for her performance of the showstopping song 'I'm Still Here.'

After 18 months of successful broadcasting, the popular Theater People Podcast has launched a KickStarter campaign to help fund their new season. Having interviewed Broadway greats from Lin-Manuel Miranda to Laura Osnes (twice) to Celia Keenan-Bolger, the Theater People Podcast is one of the most influential and inspiring connections that many theatre fans have with their idols. The podcast has become a valuable resource for students, individuals working to build a career in the performing arts, and theater lovers across the world.

On Tuesday, April 28th the Theater People Podcast welcomes three-time Tony-nominee Martha Plimpton. Perhaps best know for her TV and film work (RAISING HOPE, THE GOONIES, PARENTHOOD, 200 CIGARETTES), she is also a reproductive rights activist and beloved theater star. On the episode she discusses 'Broadway Acts for Women,' taking place Sunday, May 3rd at 54 Below. The event, benefiting A is For..., an organization co-founded by Plimpton in 2012, will feature Patti LuPone, Lena Hall, and Jessie Tyler Ferguson among other Broadway A-Listers. Information and tickets can be found at www.54below.com.

Kurt Elling, the preeminent male vocalist in jazz, will release Passion World - his fifth album from Concord Records - on June 9. For his most ambitious project yet, Elling casts his net far and wide around the globe, using songs rooted in Iceland (Bjork's 'Who Is It') to Ireland (U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name'), France (Edith Piaf's 'La Vie En Rose') to Brazil (Dorival Caymmi's 'Voce Ja Foi a Bahia?') and beyond, to explore the passionate forces that shake our souls. Elling - a Grammy Award winner and 10-time Grammy Award nominee - will launch Passion World with a weeklong engagement at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street in Manhattan) from June 10-13.

It was announced today that The Visit, which will open tonight, Thursday, April 23rd as the final musical of the 2014-2015 Broadway season, will record its cast album. The Visit is the final musical ever written by legendary Oscar Award®, Grammy Award® and Tony Award®-winning composer John Kander and his writing partner lyricist Fred Ebb, before Mr. Ebb passed away.