John McDaniel News

According to an Equity casting notice, Kathie Lee Gifford, David Friedman and David Pomeranz new musical, THE AIMEE PROJECT will open on Broadway sometime this fall at a theater to be announced. According to the notice, David Armstrong will helm, alongside Joel Fram as the musical director and Lorin Latarro as the choreographer. Rehearsals are listed as beginning in September of 2012.

The official opening night for Polly Draper in MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE, took place last Saturday night at Bay Street Theatre. Geraldine Aron, the playwright for this American Premiere attended the after party in the lobby along with other theatre veterans including Blythe Danner, TEd Hartley and Dina Merrill, John McDaniel, Terrence McNally, Joe Pintauro, Mercedes Ruehl, Sloan Shelton, and Harris Yulin. The show runs now through Sunday, June 24. The production is directed by Matt McGrath, one of Bay Street Theatre's Artistic Associates.

Yesterday, June 3, The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were held at The Town Hall, celebrating this year's big winners. The festivities were presided over by star of stage and screen Brooke Shields and Broadway favorite - and previous Drama Desk winner - Brian d'Arcy James. BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet for the starry arrivals and brings you Part 1 of the photo coverage below!

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference this morning by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards took place tonight, Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

This June, 54 BELOW, a new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife opens its doors to the public. The venue, located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway brightest talent.

Justin Brill and Methtacular, LLC previously announced the inclusion of Steven Strafford's METHTACULAR! in the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. The production runs at the Art Academy of Cincinnati at 1212 Jackson Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. Performances are scheduled for tonight, May 30th at 8:45 PM, Thursday, May 31st at 8:30 PM and Saturday, June 2nd at 9:00 PM. Tickets are currently on sale at www.cincyfringe.com/shows/performance. More information on the show can be found at www.methtacular.com.

Justin Brill and Methtacular, LLC today announced the inclusion of Steven Strafford's METHTACULAR! in the 2012 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.

Today we are kicking off the 2012 InDepth InterView Tony Awards Series with the director/choreographer of the hottest hit of the 2011-2012 theatrical season, NEWSIES, that was recently awarded with a boatload of Tony Award nominations, in addition to a short-running show that has a very vocal group of advocates and supporters that also received a handful of Tony noms, BONNIE & CLYDE - the passionate and visionary Jeff Calhoun. Discussing all aspects of his mega-hit with Disney's NEWSIES and his success d'estime with Frank Wildhorn's BONNIE & CLYDE, as well as all about his years spent developing both, Calhoun illustrates his process and sheds some light on many aspects of the creation of the wildly different vehicles, as well as his opinions on the theatrical environment of today. Additionally, Calhoun outlines his experiences working with NEWIES and BONNIE & CLYDE breakout stars Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes - both Tony nominees - as well as his many years spent as an associate choreographer for legendary Tony-winning master director Tommy Tune creating many remarkable musicals such as GRAND HOTEL and THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. Plus, Calhoun conveys his infectious enthusiasm for his craft and discusses what drives him to create while also sharing his humbled appreciation for the recognition of both his new musicals this season by the Tony Award committee and reflecting on his vast multitude of experiences in the theatre so far in his career - everything from starring in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS and MY ONE & ONLY on Broadway to choreographing THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and BUSKER ALLEY with Tommy Tune and transitioning into directing/choreographing with the hit revivals of GREASE, BIG RIVER, PIPPIN, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (with Graciele Daniele), BELLS ARE RINGING, as well as GREY GARDENS and the rest. All of that and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with one of Broadway's best!

Yesterday, May 21, the Actor's Fund held its annual gala at the New York Marriott Marquis, honoring Tony and Emmy Award winning artist and activist Harry Belafonte, acting duo Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, and real estate developer David Steiner. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photo coverage below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: FOLLIES travels to LA, Sumissions Only wraps Season 2, Drama Desk Nominees celebrate, and so much more!

Nominations for The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced on Friday, April 27, 2012 at Feinstein's at Loews Regency by Drama Desk Award winners Brian d'Arcy James and Donna Murphy, with Death Takes a Holiday, Follies and Nice Work If You Can Get It leading the pack. Yesterday, May 8, all of the nominees were celebrated at a special reception and BroadwayWorld was there to capture it all.

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite behind-the-scenes sitcom, wrapped its second season on April 27 with an all-star guest line-up lincluding Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nick Jonas, Harvey Fierstein, Kerry Butler, Jackie Hoffman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lea DeLaria, John McDaniel, Molly Ranson and cast members from Newsies. BroadwayWorld was on hand at the show's celebratory wrap party on Monday, May 7, to chat with the show's stars and creative team. Click below to go inside the party!

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite behind-the-scenes sitcom, wrapped its second season on April 27 with an all-star guest line-up like none before. View photos from the season two wrap party below!

Awards season is in full swing and to celebrate all of the 2011-2012 nominees, we've dug deep into our archives to bring you vintage photos of all of the talent during special moments in their careers. Check out the 2011-2012 Tony-nominated men below!

Erin Cummings, star of TV's 'Spartacus' and 'Pan Am,' attended SILENCE! The Musical at P.S. 122 this past Friday, April 27th, joining a long list of luminaries who have turned up in the audience at the hit show over the past few months including Jodie Foster, Neil Simon, James Earl Jones, Kelly Ripa, Josh Groban, Lisa Lampanelli, Jonathan Demme, Matt Bomer (twice!), Joan Rivers, Chita Rivera, Jeremy Jordan, Stephen Schwartz, John Kander, James Lapine, Jonathan Groff, Justin Kirk, Corbin Bleu, Mario Cantone, David LaChapelle, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, TR Knight, Willie Garson, Seth Rudetsky, Steven Pasquale, John Rando, Telly Leung, Christian Campbell, John McDaniel, Eden Espinosa, Charlotte d'Amboise, Carol Woods, Anika Larsen, and Anthony Heald.

Tony Award-winning director John Rando attended SILENCE! The Musical at P.S. 122 on April 19th, joining a long list of luminaries who have turned up in the audience at the hit show over the past few months including Jodie Foster, Neil Simon, James Earl Jones, Kelly Ripa, Josh Groban, Lisa Lampanelli, Jonathan Demme, Matt Bomer, Joan Rivers, Chita Rivera, Jeremy Jordan, Stephen Schwartz, John Kander, James Lapine, Jonathan Groff, Justin Kirk, Corbin Bleu, Mario Cantone, David LaChapelle, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, TR Knight, Willie Garson, Seth Rudetsky, Steven Pasquale, Telly Leung, Christian Campbell, John McDaniel, Eden Espinosa, Charlotte d'Amboise, Carol Woods, Anika Larsen, and Anthony Heald. See the photo below!

After hearing the outpouring of concern and support for the category, the Drama Desk Executive Board has announced that they will reinstate the category for this year's awards show on June 3 at The Town Hall.

Now, a change.org petition has launched to bring the category back, with 1545 signatures at press time including well known industry members like Lin-Manuel Miranda, George Stiles, Larry Hochman, Alex Lacamoire, Lea Salonga, Larry Blank, Ann Harada, Marc Shaiman, Celia-Keenan Bolger, Kate Shindle, Jerry Mitchell, Patti Murin, Liz Caplan, Ted Sperling, Rob Sher, Adam Pascal among many other artists, musicians and fans.

The 28th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E. presents ORIGINAL CAST 3, a musical celebration showcasing artists from theater, television and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions, tonight, April 28 at 7:30PM. This year, the annual event, which benefits AIDS Project Los Angeles, returns to the Saban Theatre Beverly Hills.