Lesli Margherita News

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at brand new highlights of the show below!

In the Music Circus production the role of Quasimodo is played by Deaf actor, John McGinty.

On Sunday, September 18th at 54 Below, join Susan Blackwell ([title of show], "Side By Side by Susan Blackwell") and Rory O'Malley (Hamilton, Book of Mormon) as they host an evening of fabulous performers sharing their most embarrassing moments onstage, and then redeeming themselves by recreating that moment.

Next week, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Disney musicals generate a lot of hype. The Lion King transformed the art of puppetry. Beauty and the Beast told a tale as old as time. And the upcoming Frozen… well, it's Frozen. But the company's stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame took a slight step to the side, never making the move to Broadway. Instead, after successful runs at La Jolla and Paper Mill playhouses, the musical was licensed to three regional theatres for 2016, including Sacramento's Music Circus. The announcement of Sacramento's engagement met much excitement, making Tuesday's less than full house opening a shocking surprise. But the excellent cast did receive a well-deserved standing ovation.

Today's big news: THE LAYOVER and CRASHLIGHT premiere Off-Broadway, the new musical MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS heads to Aspen, and Barbra Streisand & Alec Baldwin perform on THE TONIGHT SHOW!

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin). BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at highlights of the show below!

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin).  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

Kushnier made his Broadway debut in the lead role of Ren McCormack in the 1998 production of FOOTLOOSE. He went on to star on Broadway in RENT, JERSEY BOYS, and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. He was a part of the original New York company of SHEAR MADDNESS, and he can currently be seen in PARAMOUR, Cirque Du Soliel's first-ever Broadway production.

On Monday, August 15, the Theater People podcast welcomes three-time Tony-winning producer Kevin McCollum. Best known for producing Broadway mega-hits RENT, AVENUE Q, and, IN THE HEIGHTS, McCollum is also know for taking chances on smaller shows and shepherding them to Broadway. He brought THE DROWSY CHAPERONE to Broadway in 2006--it would go on to win five Tony Awards--and [TITLE OF SHOW] to Broadway in 2009.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced today the winners of the 2016 NYMF Awards for Excellence, which were awarded on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 42West NY (514 W. 42nd Street). Scroll down for the full list, plus photos from the event!

Today's big news: Samuel French kicks off its 2016 OOB Short Play Festival, Jenn Gambatese joins SCHOOL OF ROCK, and TROILUS AND CRESSIDA opens at Shakespeare in the Park!

Lesli Margherita, Broadway's original Mrs. Wormwood, returns to MATILDA THE MUSICAL at the Shubert Theatre beginning September 6, 2016.

After Lesli Margherita's sold-out “Broad” concert at Birdland last week, there was a wild, celebrity-filled, super-charged Cast Party! As usual, the weekly event, hosted by Jim Caruso (with Billy Stritch at the piano, Daniel Glass on drums and Steve Doyle on bass) took the words “open mic” to a new level. The entire cast of the Lincoln Center's Merchant of Venice showed up to cheer their stars Jonathan Pryce, Giles Terera and Stefan Adigbola in impromptu performances before heading to their run at Kennedy Center. Multi-million record-selling Victoria Shaw, her mother Carol Shaw, and daughter Ruby Locknar all performed. Soul Train Award winner Nicole Henry sang her heart out. World-class trumpet player Dominick Farinaccci dazzled the crowd. Folk-singing superstar Christine Lavin had the audience out of their seats and dancing. Hamilton Award-winning singer Avery Raquel showed off her jazz chops. And theater writer Phillip Boroff sang, then proposed marriage to his girlfriend. (She said yes!) Is it any wonder Cast Party is known as the “come what mayhem” of Manhattan showbiz events?

The 2016 Music Circus season concludes with the Northern California premiere of a new musical from the mind of Victor Hugo, inspired by one of the most epic stories ever told: The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This daring production sets the classic tale of love, vengeance, and compassion to one of the most sweeping scores ever written for the stage. It's the only stage collaboration between two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin).

Get ready Twitterverse--this week the Broadwaysted Crew sits down and drinks vodka with everyone's favorite 'Annoying Actor Friend' Andrew Briedis! The conversation flows as easily as the booze as we discuss Andrew's time in the production of The Boy Friend directed by Julie Andrews--and Andrew does his best Julie Andrews impression!

A fun video for high school and college productions who want to present post-show audience appeals.

The first-ever Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical, Cats, returned to Broadway just last night at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

'Broad: A term originated in the 1930s meaning woman. Less respectable than 'lady,' but much more respectable than 'bitch.' Broad: An independent, aggressive, assertive woman, usually in show business. Broads sing loud, are sarcastic, and are in your face. Broads are generally moderately attractive or better, never seen without their best dresses and perfect makeup, and they know how to compete and win in a man's world.' This is how Lesli Margherita began her one-woman show at Birdland Jazz on July 25, the second of a two-performance return engagement at the club. Reading from a music stand so as not to mince words, Margherita recited the dictionary definition of her show's eponymous moniker, because if nothing else, through Broad, Margherita wanted to make sure her audience understood one thing: Broads like her will never be deterred.

I'm a huge fan of Twitter and Broadway - and for me, as someone who doesn't live in NYC, those two go hand in hand. Using social media I've been able to stay connected with everything happening in the New York theatre community and make some great friends along the way.