City Center News

The third annual summer season at Weill Hall + Lawn at the Green Music Center (GMC) begins tonight, July 4, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. with an all-American program featuring Broadway and television star Megan Hilty with the Santa Rosa Symphony, led by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Berkowitz.

Ellen Greene doesn't just reprise her iconic performances as Audrey, she deepens it.

White Plains Performing Arts Center STAGE 2 presents CHESS, the smash hit rock musical of the 1980s is back in a re-imaged production updated to today's explosive political climate between the United States and the Middle East.

Scrolling frantically through Little Shop of Horrors pictures? Getting ready to see some musicals for 4th of July? Didn't have time check in on all of the latest Broadway news? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ellen Greene, Taran Killam, Eddie Cooper, Joe Grifasi, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Marva Hicks and Ramona Keller star in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running for three performances, July 1-2, 2015 at New York City Center.

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ellen Greene, Taran Killam, Eddie Cooper, Joe Grifasi, Tracy Nicole Chapman,Marva Hicks and Ramona Keller star in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running for three performances, July 1-2, 2015 at New York City Center. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the openning night party below!

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ellen Greene, Taran Killam, Eddie Cooper, Joe Grifasi, Tracy Nicole Chapman,Marva Hicks and Ramona Keller star in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running for three performances, July 1-2, 2015 at New York City Center. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the first curtain call below!

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ellen Greene, Taran Killam, Eddie Cooper, Joe Grifasi, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Marva Hicks and Ramona Keller star in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running for three performances, July 1-2, 2015 at New York City Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below! 

The BroadwayWorld community is nothing if not vocal and yesterday's critical column revealing my top picks for the most important gay musicals of all time inspired many reactions in the feedback, on Facebook and on social media, ranging from 'I LOVE LOVE LOVE COCO' to 'No FUN HOME?' to 'Where's THE FAGGOT?' and far beyond. As with any list such as this, historical perspective is an essential element and a musical such as FUN HOME that has only been on Broadway mere months is obviously too new to truly assess insofar as its historical influence and impact on the overall legacy of gay musicals on Broadway in toto - going as far back as 1969's COCO and covering all the way up to 2013's KINKY BOOTS, as yesterday's list did. So, as a result, we are giving you more of what you asked for and sharing 10 more musicals that have been important to the gay movement, all of which cited in yesterday's column but not included on the actual top ten. What follows are my personal choices, so what are yours? Let us know and perhaps we will even need to do another list to shine a light on even more LGBT touchstones.

Following two sold-out engagements in both 2013 and 2014, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival presents tap sensation Dorrance Dance with famed singer/songwriter Toshi Reagon and her band BIGLovely in the return of The Blues Project, July 1-5 in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Founded in 2011 by Jacob's Pillow Dance Award recipient Michelle Dorrance, Dorrance Dance features some of today's best tap artists, performing alongside co-choreographers of The Blues Project Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards and Derick K. Grant. Award-winning musician and composer Toshi Reagon created the music for The Blues Project, which is performed live by Reagon and members of her band, BIGLovely, on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums and percussion, and violin.

Earlier this week, BroadwayWorld announced a new partnership with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Fallin previously drew for BroadwayWorld and our readers have long wanted his return, so it is with great pleasure that we welcome him back! Be sure to check back for more of Ken's exclusive art. Below, check out his illustration of Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn, Sydney Lucas, Emily Skeggs, and Beth Malone in Fun Home!

Eddie Cooper and Joe Grifasi join Ellen Greene, Jake Gyllenhaal and Taran Killam in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running for three performances, tonight, July 1, and tomorrow, July 2, 2015 at New York City Center.

Manhattan Theatre Club presents the New York premiere of Of Good Stock, the new play by Melissa Ross, directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. The limited engagement opens tonight, June 30, at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter, begins tonight, July 1, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Judy Blazer joins the cast of the Tony Award winning Best Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, in the role of 'Miss Shingle' tonight, June 30.

Manhattan Theatre Club presents the New York premiere of Of Good Stock, the new play by Melissa Ross, directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. The limited engagement began previews on June 4, for tonight's June 30 opening at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

This week's column salutes tonight's special concert event showcasing the New York return of a fan-favorite cult musical.

Ciara Renee and Kimiko Glenn have officially withdrawn from Encores! Off-Center's upcoming production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY due to scheduling conflicts, BroadwayWorld has confirmed. Joaquina Kalukango and Talene Monahon replace the pair, respectively.

The National Music Council is set to honor music legends Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride and Jim Lauderdale, along with music management icon Jim Halsey and country music producer/director Sherman Halsey