Ellen Greene News

The lyricist of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and was lost to AIDS at age 40.

Squeals of delight and blood-curdling screams of fright fill Cleveland Play House's Allen Theatre, and that's partially due to Joey Taranto. The Centennial Season continues with a humorous and heartfelt production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (now through February 7), led by Ari Butler (Seymour), Lauren Molina (Audrey), and Taranto as the dentist with a mean-streak, Orin, as well as other various roles.

As 2015 comes to a close, BroadwayWorld takes one last look at this season's brightest moments before the curtain comes down, showcasing what readers - and audiences - loved most. Below, check out the curtain call highlights on Broadway from 2015!

When Faith Prince and Jason Graae first performed their show The Prince and the Showboy at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in June, 2012, I wrote, '...there were enough sparks to set Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal on fire as Jason Graae and Tony Award winner Faith Prince seized the stage with the premiere of their new show The Prince and the Showboy to an adoring packed house. Graae's inimitable sarcasm and overdone delivery along with Prince's unique pauses and double takes made for a delicious evening of comedy through song as they focused on what makes them click as a team, namely the fun side of life'. Well, the show played 54 Below in New York and has returned to the Federal - December 27 and 28 for two nights only. It's now about 20 minutes longer, bringing it in at 90 minutes and allowing each of the stars to concentrate more fully on dramatic career transitions, especially for Prince.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash may have been the year's top theatre story, but 2015 was full of controversy and celebration.

Notre Dame's Department of Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT) announces LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, November 18-22 in the Decio Mainstage Theatre at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Directed and choreographed by guest artist Nathan Halvorson, who previously helmed FTT's production of Cabaret (2013), LITTLE SHOP will also feature puppets by special effects makeup artist and puppeteer RJ Haddy, who was a finalist on Season 2 of the Syfy channel's reality competition series FACE OFF.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Irving Berlin' arrives in town, and screenings of 'Little Shop' and 'Oklahoma!' light 'em up. Jess Godwin sang with Kristin Chenoweth, and a Thanksgiving musical prepares, as do 'Seussical,' 'The Merry Widow' and 'My Way.' And Broadway In Chicago and the Drury Lane Theatre announce lineups for 2016!

Let me start by saying, Dear Readers, that "Little Shop of Horrors" is one of my all time favorite shows. In fact I was fortunate enough to see the incredible Encore's version with Ellen Greene back in July. In my opinion, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's show is one of those near perfect musicals. So you'll understand when I say that I'm pretty picky about the show when people attempt to put it up. And that is why I'm thrilled to say that the current production from SecondStory Rep, filled with fantastic voices and tons of fun completely gets how the show needs to be done.

Broadway and TV actress/singer Megan Hilty performed a splashy show at Valley Performing Arts Center at CSUN, Northridge on Thursday, September 24 at 8 pm to a packed audience of her fans. Hilty is best remembered for playing Glinda in Wicked for four and a half years - she replaced Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway - and also for premiering the role of Doralee Rhodes, played in the film by Dolly Parton, in  the musical of 9 to 5 at the Ahmanson and on Broadway. She also starred in NBC's musical Smash as actress Ivy Lynn, who creates a Marilyn Monroe character for a fictional musical Bombshell, for two seasons on NBC to great acclaim.

Jake Gyllenhaal made a triumphant musical debut this summer co-starring opposite Ellen Greene in Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. In a recent interview with DP/30, Jake revealed how Jeanine Tesori convinced him to take on the project, what it was like sharing the stage with Greene, and so much more. Check out the full interview below!

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal revealed that a Broadway musical is on the top of his 'to do list'.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 30, 2015 - Sunday, August 30, 2015.

Suddenly, footage! BroadwayWorld has procured part of a recording from this summer's ENCORES! production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Below, watch stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Ellen Greene sing the sweet duet, 'Suddenly, Seymour.'

Just last month, Jake Gyllenhaal, Taran Killam, Eddie Cooper, and more took the stage with original Little Shop of Horrors star Ellen Greene to perform in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's classic musical. Below, check out a clip of Greene as she performs Audrey's classic Act 1 ballad, 'Somewhere That's Green.'

Though most of us think of Gyllenhaal as the kid from the 1999 film OCTOBER SKY who grew up to receive an Oscar nomination for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and has of late sported a rockin' beard, many people may not know that he has also graced both the London and Broadway stages. With these credits under his belt, might a Broadway musical be Gyllenhaal's next venture?

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance, presents its third and final developing musical reading on the University of Memphis mainstage with The Oliver Experiment by Jeremy Desmon and Jeff Thomson on August 15 at 7:00 pm.

Ellen Greene reflects on her recent success and her most memorable role!

Dick Scanlan directed the epic event and he shared (exclusively with BroadwayWorld) some behind the scenes photos from both the rehearsals and performances. Plus, read below to check out his 'gratitude list,' which reveals details about how the show was cast!