Clarke Thorell News

It was a Hollywood who's who from music, film, television, and social media last night at the world famous Dolby Theater for the 20th Anniversary Tour opening night of HAIRSPRAY starring Andrew Levitt aka Nina West.

Tonight, NBC will air its sixth live musical production. Following in the footsteps of The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Wiz, Hairspray, and Jesus Christ Superstar, the peacock network will be presenting Annie. Based on Harold Gray's comic strip titled Little Orphan Annie, this musical tells the story of a little orphan with equal measures of pluck and positivity who charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in New York City in the year 1933.

Is This A Room, conceived and directed by Obie Award winner Tina Satter, just celebrated its opening night at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre (149 W 45th Street, New York, NY), where it will play on a rotating schedule with Dana H., by Obie Award winner Lucas Hnath and directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters.

Hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced today that they will host a special Game Night with members of the original Broadway cast of “Hairspray,” in a special episode of “Stars In The House” featuring the Broadway cast of “Hairspray,” on Tuesday, September 14th to benefit The Actors Fund.

In our new series, 'Where Are They Now?' we're taking a look back at some of our favorite original Broadway casts, and catching up with their careers! Next up, the original cast of Hairspray!

Birdland's Jim Caruso reflects on a 15-year-old chat he had with legendary Liza Minnelli on another milestone birthday celebration!

A treasure herself, Jamie has pulled some treasures from the vault.

There's no doubt Billy Stritch can put on an excellent performance! Check out some of his past gigs before this week's Birdland concert!

New Jersey's Jesse Walker, host of the online celebrity show 'The Jesse Walker Show,' to help raise funds for The Heifer Project, has gathered Broadway veterans and New Jersey's best to present a special livestream event of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, The Radio Play, adapted by and with music by Tony Palermo.

Today we rewind to 2012, when the second Broadway revival of Annie opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 487 performances. Annie features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, with all three authors receiving 1977 Tony Awards for their work.

New Jersey's Jesse Walker, host of the online celebrity show 'The Jesse Walker Show,' to help raise funds for The Heifer Project, has gathered Broadway veterans and New Jersey's best to present a special livestream event of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol, The Radio Play, adapted by and with music by Tony Palermo.

In this time of social distancing and remaining responsibly indoors, we are all looking for ways to brighten our days and get moving any way we can! In the spirit of celebrating theater and providing motivation to get up and get shakin', we're taking a look back and paying tribute to some of the greatest dance numbers in musical theater history! Today's number, You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, City Center cancelled the remainder of its season due to the current health crisis. One production that was cancelled, was Love Life, which was set to run March 18 - 22, starring Kate Baldwin and Brian Stokes Mitchell. However, Jack Viertel, Encores! Artistic Director, has some promising news.

It's a new day and there's a new Pandemic Playlist to keep readers preoccupied during the self-isolation!

BroadwayWorld was saddened to report that Broadway veteran Merwin Foard recently passed away at 59 years old. Born September 16, 1960 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Foard was last seen on Broadway in Aladdin as a standby for Jafar/Sultan.

Today's top stories: select Broadway shows (To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story, The Lehman Trilogy, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and The Book of Mormon) will be just $50 through March 29!

Rehearsals are underway for the New York City Center production of Love Life starring Kate Baldwin, Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Edwards, Sara Jean Ford, Isabella Houston, Owen Tabaka and Clarke Thorell. See a video of Kate Baldwin & Brian Stokes Mitchell

Next up at New York City Center  Encores! is Love Life, which runs for seven performances at New York City Center from March 18 - 22. Watch as the cast gives a very special sneak peek of 'Economics' and 'I Remember It Well' and tells us even more about what to expect from the show!

New York City Center today announced complete casting for the Encores! production of Love Life. Joining previously announced cast members Kate Baldwin (Susan Cooper) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Sam Cooper) are John Edwards (Hobo), Sara Jean Ford (Miss Ideal Man), Isabella Houston (Elizabeth Cooper), Owen Tabaka (Johnny Cooper), and Clarke Thorell (Bill/Mr. Cynic).

Take a look at opening night arrivals for Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of Bella Bella, written and performed by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Casa Valentina, Torch Song, Hairspray) and directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced, The Niceties).