Elaine Paige News

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced today the official opening night and first preview dates as well as the public on-sale date for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA. The show will open on Broadway Thursday, April 5, 2012 at The Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway), previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012 and tickets go on sale this Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM via www.ticketmaster.com / 1-800-745-3000.

PS Classics is set to release the new cast recording for the revival of FOLLIES on November 29. To pre-order the double-disc album online at $14.95, visit www.psclassics.com. According to PS Classics.com, the album will feature 33-34 songs with some dialogue lead-ins, scenes, and speeches.

Welcome to BroadwayWorld's new feature, and first-ever talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE. Follow Richard as he visits Broadway's best and brightest in their Broadway dressing rooms and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. You've seen Richard chat with Spidey lovebirds Reeve Carney and Jennifer Damiano, visit with UK's First Lady of musical Theatre, Elaine Paige, and go downtown to chat with Jonathan Groff about all things GLEE, Lea Michele and The Submission. Today, Richard is back in Times Square at the Marquis Theatre for some quality time with fan favorite Jan Maxwell, currently starring as 'Phyllis' in Follies. During the talk, Jan speaks candidly about being a young struggling actress in New York, her shortcomings (cooking!), and how she almost left the city for good before she even got going...until she found 'Angels.'

JASON GRAAE, the L.A. DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD winner and Broadway and cabaret star, opened his acclaimed tribute to Jerry Herman, 'PERFECT HERMANY' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 PM. Performances continue through tonight, October 25th at 9:30 PM. There is a $20 cover and two drink minimum. Reservations: (212) 695-6909. The cast of Broadway's FOLLIES recently visited his show, and you can check out photos of Graae with his visitors below!

According to published reports, stage veterans Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Elaine Paige, Janie Dee, Maria Friedman and Marvin Hamlisch will perform in a Kander & Ebb gala tribute on April 24. The event, which will take place at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, will feature songs from some of their best-know shows, including Chicago, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and Cabaret.

Michael Riedel reports in today's New York Post that producers of FOLLIES on Broadway had been trying to convince the Nederlanders to allow the show to extend past its current January 22, 2012 closing date at the Marquis Theater. Doing this, Riedel reports would require forcing the upcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA starring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris to move theatres, which they were unwilling to do.

Cast members of Follies turned out yesterday as Serendipity 3 (225 E 60th Street btwn. 2nd and 3rd) revealed a special Follies sundae. The 'Live, Laugh, Love Sundae' will be on sale at the popular midtown restaurant through the end of October. The sundae is a 'Big Apple Pie' with cinnamon ice cream, caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream, red heart candy, large pink whimsical hearts and a twisted swirl lollipop on top. Check out photos from the big event below!

Star of the current Broadway revival of FOLLIES, Bernadette Peters stopped by 'The View' today where she chatted about the show and her upcoming appearance on NBC's SMASH. Click below watch Peters' full interview!

Star of the current Broadway revival of FOLLIES, Bernadette Peters stopped by 'The View' today where she chatted about the show and her uping appearance on NBC's SMASH. Click below to go backstage with Ms. Peters, and check back later to watch her full interview!

The Broadway cast of FOLLIES will be heading to the recording studio this week, and PS Classics is set to release the new cast recording for the revival on November 29. To pre-order the double-disc album online at $14.95, visit www.psclassics.com.

Welcome to BroadwayWorld's newest feature, and first-ever talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE. Follow Richard as he visits Broadway's best and brightest in their Broadway dressing rooms to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. You've seen Richard chat with Sipdey lovebirds Reeve Carney and Jennifer Damiano, and visit with UK's First Lady of musical Theatre, Elaine Paige. Today, Richard takes you downtown to the beloved West Village staple, the smokey Lucille Lortel Theatre, where he met up with everyone's favorite leading man, Jonathan Groff. Currently starring in MCC's THE SUBMISSION, Groff opens up about his BFF Lea Michele, getting comfortable in his role as working actor and 'pseudo' celebrity, playing a jerk, and why you REALLY should go see THE SUBMISSION.

The American Theatre Wing raised more than $550,000 at their annual Gala last night. All of the proceeds will go towards The Wing's education and outreach programs. The event was held at New York's legendary Plaza Hotel in honor of Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation and longtime American Theatre Wing Board Member), and included a special tribute to Douglas B. Leeds (Former President and dear friend of The Wing).

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) raised more than $550,000 at their annual Gala last night. All of the proceeds will go towards The Wing's education and outreach programs. The event was held at New York's legendary Plaza Hotel in honor of Sir Howard Stringer (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation and longtime American Theatre Wing Board Member), and included a special tribute to Douglas B. Leeds (Former President and dear friend of The Wing).

The Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed revival of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece FOLLIES joined the million dollar club, grossing $1,122,778 million in the week ending September 25th. This is also the highest weekly gross for any Broadway musical production featuring both music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The production, which opened to rave reviews on September 12, 2011, is currently playing a limited engagement through January 22, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and an all-star line-up of performers, including Angela Lansbury, James Naughton, Kelli O'Hara, Elaine Paige, Colin Donnell, Marilu Henner, Gala Co-Chairmen Theodore S. Chapin & Marva A. Smalls and more honored Sir Howard Stringer with the American Theatre Wing last night, September 26. Celebrity guests included Samuel L. Jackson & LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Judith Light, Lucie Arnaz, Nora Ephron & Nick Pileggi, Jane & Morley Safer, Jim Dale, William Ivey Long, Susan Fales-Hill, Mario Buatta, Ted Hartley & Dina Merrill, Melissa & Chappy Morris and Susan Patricoff. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below!

Performances began on Sunday, August 7th for James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES, directed by Eric Schaeffer, with choreography by Warren Carlyle and music direction by James Moore.

While the 182 previews, numerous postponements and drastic changes in the creative team experienced by the current tenant of the Foxwoods Theatre might serve as some indication that musical theatre ain't easy, the real proof of the art form's difficulty can now be observed in its rapturously imperfect glory at the Marquis.

Welcome back to BroadwayWorld's newest feature, and first-ever talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE. Follow Richard as he visits Broadway's best and brightest in their Broadway dressing rooms to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In this week's installment, Richard sits with the UK's First Lady of Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige - still here and still going strong. Paige is back on Broadway for the second time in her career as the fearless Carlotta Campion in FOLLIES at the Marquis Theatre.