Anika Larsen News

Just last night, Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) hosted the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). Big winners for the night included Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Jessie Mueller, and Neil Patrick Harris and Jefferson Mays- who tied for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Click here for a full list of winners. Check out photos of arrivals: Part 1 and Part 2.

Just last night, Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) hosted the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). Big winners for the night included Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Jessie Mueller, and Neil Patrick Harris and Jefferson Mays- who tied for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.

Look, we get it, whether due to budget or geography, you didn't see every show of the Broadway season, but that doesn't mean you can't be fully up-to-date for this Sunday's Tony Awards. To help get you prepared for theatre's biggest night, BroadwayWorld has put together the ultimate Tonys Crash Course. We've outlined all of the shows nominated in the Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical categories, and provided you 'study materials' as only BWW can, by mining our one-of-a-kind archives.

The award-winning Broadway at Birdland concert series and Jim Caruso's Cast Party have been constants on the New York scene for the past eleven years. Every week, performers from the Great White Way and beyond are showcased in the concert series, followed by the always-extreme open mic.

On Monday, June 2nd the Theater People Podcast welcomes Broadway star Eden Espinosa. Topics discussed include her humble beginnings as a Disney theme park performer, her breakthrough performance in the title role of the 2004 musical BROOKLYN, being Idina Menzel's standby in the original company of WICKED, and performing her dream role of Maureen Johnson in the closing company of RENT.

Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) will host the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards tonight, June 1, 2014 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). BroadwayWorld will be updating you with winners throughout the night. Check back later for the full list!

Check out husband and wife team Audra McDonald and Will Swenson, who donned aprons to lend their support to the worthy cause on Wednesday!

For people, like me, who sit in front of a computer for a living, or have long commutes each day, podcasts are an entertaining and educational way to pass the time. Last month I introduced you to the 20 Top Podcasts for theatre fans, and chief among them was the Theater People Podcast, hosted by Patrick Hinds. Recently, I spoke to Patrick about the his incredible Broadway friends, his research process, and why Laura Osnes made him sick to his stomach.

Schmackary's Cookies, The Official Cookie of Broadway, will hold its 2nd annual 'Broadway Bakes' fund raiser from May 26-31. Schmackary's is located in the heart of the Theatre District at 45th and 9th Ave. in Hell's Kitchen.

NEW DRAMATISTS, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, just honored five-time Tony Award winning director/choreographer Susan Stroman with their 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 65th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute. Among the Stroman collaborators offering tributes was Theatre World Award winning actor Jason Danieley (Next to Normal, Curtains, The Full Monty, Candide) and New York City Ballet's Tiler Peck performing a selection from Little Dancer, Taylor Mac performing a selection from The Last Two People on Earth, Tony nominee Marin Mazzie performing from Bullets Over Broadway; and Contact collaborator John Weidman, Karen Ziemba performing a selection from Crazy For You, and cast members from The Scottsboro Boys: John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon, Shavey Brown, Max Kumangai, James T. Lane, Deandre Leatherbury, J.C. Montgomery, Justin Prescott, Clinton Roane, and David Bazemore. The event co-chairs are Letty Aronson, Roy Furman, and Julian Schlossberg.

In conjunction with the album's physical release, the show's star, Jessie Mueller ('Carole King'), McGrath (Book) and Steve Sidwell (Orchestrations), discuss (and sing!) one of the show's most iconic tunes, "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." Click below for a behind-the-scenes video!

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical Beautiful -- The Carole King Musical has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Broadway Albums Chart, it was announced today.

Below you can check out photos of the female nominees in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In the Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon was held yesterday afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners were announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event was hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and below, you can check out the ladies in their arrival on the red carpet below!

The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon was held yesterday afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners were announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event was hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and below, you can check out the gentlemen in their arrival on the red carpet!

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical is now available for purchase in stores and online. The CD, produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, includes a 28-page color booklet with full lyrics, rare and never-before-seen archival and show photos, and liner notes by Beautiful book writer Douglas McGrath.

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2013-14 season in 24 categories.

Nominations for the 2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced last month at 54 Below. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a head to toe look at the nominees' fashion at the 2014 Drama Desk Nominees Reception!

Nominations for the 2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced last month at 54 Below. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the nominees as they arrive at the 2014 Drama Desk Nominees Reception!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a look at rehearsals for HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the Lucille Lortel Awards Red Carpet, and the upcoming West End production of THE LAST FIVE YEARS!