David Rockwell News

Producers Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig and David Mirvish announced today that original Broadway cast member Kyle Taylor Parker will join the Toronto company as 'Lola' in the Tony Award-winning musical KINKY BOOTS at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Parker, who played 'Lola' on Broadway and on tour, will take over the role in Toronto, beginning March 15, 2016.

Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig announced today that Alan Mingo Jr. will play 'Lola' in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street), beginning March 29, 2016. Mingo, who comes to Broadway straight from the Toronto production of Kinky Boots, succeeds Emmy Award-winner Wayne Brady in the role. Brady, who took over the coveted part of 'Lola' from Tony Award-winner (and original star) Billy Porter in November 2015, plays his final performance on March 27, 2016.

Toronto audiences refuse to let KINKY BOOTS end at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The show, which had its Canadian debut on June 16, 2015, was originally booked for a 12-week run. The demand from audiences was so strong, it has already been extended three times. In fact, GASLIGHT, which was supposed to play at the Royal Alex was moved to a reconfigured Ed Mirvish Theatre, so that KINKY BOOTS could be extended.

Laura Benanti (Amalia), Zachary Levi (Georg), Gavin Creel (Kodaly), Michael McGrath (Sipos), Jane Krakowski (Ilona) and Byron Jennings (Maraczek) will star in Roundabout's new Broadway production of SHE LOVES ME, directed by Scott Ellis, choreographed by Warren Carlyle with musical direction by Paul Gemignani. This classic musical comedy features a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock. The company met the press today, and BroadwayWorld brings you a sneak peek at the stars below!

Second Stage Theatre's 37th Anniversary Gala celebration will honor Producer DAVID STONE, celebrating his ongoing 12 year relationship with the Off-Broadway Company.  The evening's Honorary Chair is James M. Nederlander and the Co-Chairs are Marc Platt, Patrick Catullo, and Nancy Coyne.  The gala evening, which will be directed by James Lapine, will be held on Monday, May 2, 2016 at Cipriani 42nd Street.  The evening's entertainment, which will feature stars who have appeared in Stone's productions over the years, will be announced at a later date.  This is the first time Second Stage's annual gala will be honoring a Broadway producer.

The Pen Parentis Literary Salon opens its fifteenth season with its annual Winter Poetry night tonight, January 12, 2016. Four notable poets -- Ravi Shankar, Lydia Cortez, Karen Skolfield and Amy Dryansky -- will read from new works and discuss how they balance a career in poetry with an active young family at home.

PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas recently launched a new multi-platform advertising and branding campaign entitled 'Why Do We Vacation' which is showcased throughout television, digital and social mediums. In conjunction with the award-winning creative agency GoConvergence (GOCO), the family-friendly ocean-themed luxury resort created, developed, and produced the innovative concept that taps into consumers' emotions and helps them answer an important question they may not have considered in the past. The campaign is designed to create bite-sized pieces of content that resonate in a world where consumers are overwhelmed with content and have limited attention spans. The goal was to create content that breaks through the clutter and makes all consumers pause and recognize the importance of taking a vacation something we can all lose sight of in today's world.

Back by popular demand, Kinky Boots, the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Best Score for Kinky Boots), will return to DPAC September 13-18 as part of the Encore Broadway at DPAC series.

Just in!  BroadwayWorld brings you brand new photos from the National Tour of Kinky Boots! Take a look at the new cast below! ? 

The KINKY BOOTS tour just celebrated its 500th performance on Saturday, January 2, 2016 in Charlotte NC. Scroll down for photos of the cast with a festive cake to mark the occasion!

SYLVIA, the Broadway revival of the play by two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominee A.R. Gurney (The Dining Room, Love Letters) will end its limited-engagement today, Sunday, January 3, 2016.

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance officially opened in Chicago on December 28, and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside opening night below!

Let's check out what the critics had to say...

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE officially opens tonight, December 28, and will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016.

Producers Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke have announced that Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, has extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016.

? Producers James L. Nederlander, Estefan Enterprises, Inc and Bernie Yuman have announced the launch of an online ticket lottery, powered by Broadway Direct, for ON YOUR FEET!, the new hit musical based on the lives and music of Emilio & Gloria Estefan. Launching tomorrow, Tuesday, December 15, the lottery will open at 9:00AM each day for entries to win a limited number of $40 same-day tickets to that evening's performance at www.onyourfeetmusical.com/tickets, and will remain open until 2:00PM when winners are drawn. Winners, notified by email immediately upon the 2:00PM drawing, will have 60 minutes to claim their tickets by paying with credit card, and can pick up the tickets at the Marquis Theatre Box Office (46th Street between Broadway & 8th Avenue) 30 minutes prior to showtime. Photo ID is required for pickup, seat locations and number of tickets awarded by the lottery are subject to availability.

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE, the new Broadway-bound musical about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, begins performances today, December 13, 2015 at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago). GOTTA DANCE runs through January 10, 2016.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Gotta Dance! which announced previously that it was aiming for Broadway in 2016 and targeting the Spring, has now shifted plans to the Fall of 2016, due to theatre availability. 

KINKY BOOTS, the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Best Score for KINKY BOOTS), opens at the Fox Theatre March 29 - April 3, 2015 as part of the 2015/2016 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta series. Tickets go on sale January 10.

How the Tony-winner trained to perfect the realistic physicality needed to play Matthew Broderick's four-legged friend.