Chita Rivera News

As we approach the middle of the season, and the new musicals and plays start previews in preparation for Tony Award considerations, Broadway Enthusiast and fellow Theater Ambassador, William Cortez-Statham, joins me to talk about the music that is available so far this season: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE BAND'S VISIT, and ONCE ON THE ISLAND.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Frozen have partnered with The Actors Fund to celebrate International Women's Day with two special events: "Women's Day on Broadway: Celebrating Stories By, For & About Women," a free symposium that will take place at The St. James Theatre and a special performance of Frozen to benefit The Actors Fund and its Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. The events aim to highlight the importance of a continued investment in the encouragement and mentorship of women that is crucial to establishing and maintaining gender equality in the Broadway community.

What do Jay-Z, Kobe Bryant, Archie Bunker, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ed Koch, Bart Simpson, Bruce Campbell, Bonnie and Clyde, and J-Lo have in common?  The answer: Charles Strouse (and his hit songs)!

Broadway Dance Lab (BDL), a non-profit choreography incubator supporting new works of dance-driven theatre, has announced that former New York City Ballet principal dancer, and Tony Award nominee, Robert Fairchild, will join Loni Landon and Ray Mercer as guest choreographers for the company's Spring 2018 Cycle. The Lab is set to begin on Feb. 26, and will culminate with a Gala performance on April 2 at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

FROZEN had its first preview last night, February 22 at the St. James Theater! Starring Patti Murin and Caissie Levy as beloved Disney heroines Anna and Elsa, the musical is set for a March 22 opening. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Record-breaking 6-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald has thrilled audiences in starring roles on Broadway in 'The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess,' Carousel' and 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill,' on television in 'The Good Wife' and NBC's live telecast of 'The Sound of Music,' and on concert stages around the world. On Sunday, March 11, 2018, this bonafide living legend will perform one night only for the acclaimed Broadway concert series at the Broward Center's Au-Rene Theater.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey.

The 2nd annual Chita Rivera Awards (www.ChitaRiveraAwards.com) will take place on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place off of Washington Square Park), it was announced today by Nikki Feirt Atkins, Founder and Producing Artistic Director of American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (www.ADM21.org) and Joe Lanteri, Founder and Executive Director of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation (www.NYCDAFoundation.net). ADM21 has joined forces with the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation to present this year's Awards. Atkins, Lanteri along with Patricia Watt are the Executive Producers of the Chita Rivera Awards.

Known as the 'power couple' of the Portuguese Musical Theatre industry for several years, Sissi Martins and Ruben Madureira open up about their memories, insecurities, hopes and dreams... And remind us that 'Love is love is love...'

Conhecidos como o 'power couple' do Teatro Musical em Portugal, Sissi Martins e Ruben Madureira revelam as suas insegurancas, memorias, esperancas e sonhos... E vem lembrar-nos de que 'Love is Love is Love...' ('Amor e sempre Amor...')

February 19, 2018 - Based on Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award-winning production, Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) CABARET will play The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington for eight performances, March 13-19. This is the first time the Broadway revival has toured the historic Wilmington theater.

Town Stages and Yael Silver present Home Enough To Me: The Songs of Rachel Dean and David Brush, a benefit for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 7pm at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC, featuring: Tony award-winning Cady Huffman (The Producers),Jessica Vosk (Wicked), Max Crumm (Grease), Jamison Scott(Memphis), Nick Adams (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, A Chorus Line), Lauren Elder (Sideshow),George Psomas (Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific), Law Terrell Dunford (Waitress), Tally Sessions (War Paint, Falsettos), Kristin Stokes (The Lightning Thief) Rebecca Spigelman, Noah Hinsdale (Fun Home). Tickets are $65 ($100 for VIP admission) and are available at https://homeenoughtome.splashthat.com/.

How did some of your favorite songs come to be? BroadwayWorld is getting the story behind the song in exclusive interviews from your favorite Broadway composers. Below, watch as Lynn Ahrens, currently represented on Broadway with Once on This Island and Anastasia, explains how she and collaborator Stephen Flaherty came to write an Act 2 anthem from Ragtime, 'Back to Before.'

In this episode: Broadway's Shannon Lewis grew up in a rural Canadian suburb and at age 19 was hand picked by Susan Stroman to make her Broadway debut, after a "Crazy for You" casting director saw her in a Toronto theme park show. The essence of this podcast is having integrity, the importance of the respect of your peers, and to have your talent and drive ready, so that when someone opens a door for you, you can walk right in. With an impeccable work ethic that takes every opportunity seriously; whether in the ensemble, as a deputy, or as a principle; as well as having Gwen Verdon as a champion, the real Shannon Lewis is coming out of hiding. @realshanlew 

How did some of your favorite songs come to be? BroadwayWorld is getting the story behind the song in exclusive interviews from your favorite Broadway composers. Below, watch as Stephen Flaherty, currently represented on Broadway with Once on This Island and Anastasia, explains how he and collaborator Lynn Ahrens came to write one of the most beloved songs from Ragtime, 'Make Them Hear You.'

Deadline has reported that Tony nominee, Andy Karl, has been cast in a new drama pilot for ABC.

Vanessa Williams, multi-faceted star of Broadway, film, music videos and television, brings her award-winning talents to Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, April 7, at 8 p.m.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that Broadway legend Maurice Hines will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and international touring artist and global humanitarian Mary McBride will headline the 2018 Arena Stage Gala honoring Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). As previously announced, the Gala features the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and will recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick.

International theatre and TV star John Barrowman MBE returns to perform in London in Seth Rudetsky's Broadway @ Leicester Square Theatre concert series for 3 intimate performances produced by Mark Cortale, on April 13 & 14. John Barrowman is best know in the U.S. for his role of Malcolm Merlyn (aka The Dark Archer) in the hit TV series "Arrow" based on the Green Arrow comic books, and in the UK as Captain Jack Harkness, in "Dr Who" and "Torchwood." Seth Rudetsky most recently starred in London in a charity gala of his Broadway musical "Disaster!" in 2016 at Charing Cross Theatre. Broadway @ Leicester Square Theatre began in 2013 with Patti LuPone and returned with Audra McDonald and Will Swenson last year.