Matt Alfano News

Swift advance sales have prompted the Stratford Festival to extend the runs of four productions, just as the box office has opened to the public. Performances of Carousel, The Alchemist, The Physicists and The Last Wife have been added to the schedule.

Fresh from her triumph with last season's hit musical, Fiddler on the Roof, acclaimed director and choreographer Donna Feore returns for her 20th Festival season with an exciting new production of Crazy for You specially conceived for the Festival Theatre's thrust stage. The new Gershwin musical begins previews tonight, April 21, marking the first performance of the 2014 season.

In a Canadian town like Stratford, Ontario that is known for formally presenting incredible live talent on a daily basis, it's always fun when some of those talented people involved (as well as their talented friends) come together for a less-formal celebration of all kinds of music (and even some dance). This is what current Stratford Festival performer Katrina Reynolds has put together for KAT'S CABARET; a series of cabarets that have taken place in Stratford this summer. Her more chilled, out, acoustic cabarets have been held at an intimate restaurant with a rustic feel (Montforte on Wellington), and for loud rock and roll themed cabarets, Molly Bloom's Irish Pub has been the venue of choice. The roster of performers is ever-changing and always impressive, allowing for a fun night out that no one should miss!

According to an inside source, Stephen Brian Patterson has taken over as 'Captain Walker' in TOMMY at the Stratford Festival. Jeremy Kushnier left the role on August 4. Patterson joins Robert Markus and Paul Nolan in Des McAnuff's new Stratford Festival rock musical, The Who's Tommy, at the Avon Theatre in Ontario through October 19.

Stratford Festival's production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF leaves very few human emotions un-experienced by its characters and the audience alike. It explores: human values, happiness in everyday life, newfound love, fear of changes-big and small, the agony and frustration that comes from ignorance and discrimination, and the internal conflict of trying to rectify what you believe with what that means for those you love. This musical is about tradition, joy, heartache, change, faith, family, and most of all…LIFE. FIDDLER is a beloved classic, and to say Director/Choreographer, Donna Feore's production does it justice, is an understatement. First class acting, singing, and dancing; beautiful music; clever set design, and…did I say DANCING? This timeless musical is sure to dazzle audiences of all ages.

Robert Markus, Paul Nolan and Jeremy Kushnier star in Des McAnuff's new Stratford Festival rock musical, The Who's Tommy, opening May 30 at the Avon Theatre in Ontario and running through October 19.

Following celebrated runs at the Toronto Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, and on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR takes its final Broadway bow tonight, July 1. Upon closing, the show will have played 116 regular performances and 24 preview performances. One of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most famous shows, the Stratford production undeniably had a great run and introduced some exciting new stars to the Great White Way, including Tony nominee Josh Young, Jesus himself Paul Nolan, and Chilina Kennedy. Below, BroadwayWorld revisits the journey of SUPERSTAR!

As BroadwayWorld reported last week the Broadway production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR announced that unless business improves, the musical will close at the Neil Simon Theatre on Sunday, July 1. Now according to the show's official website, the production will indeed take its final bow on July 1. As of that date, the show will have played 116 regular performances and 24 previews.

The producers of the Broadway production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR have announced that unless business improves, the musical will close at the Neil Simon Theatre on Sunday, July 1. As of that date, the show will have played 116 regular performances and 24 previews.

It's Saturday, and that means its time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up! See below for the first Saturday Intermission Pics of June 2012! Today's photos feature the casts of Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, GODSPELL, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, EVITA, SPIDER-MAN, NEWSIES, ONCE, WICKED, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, ANYTHING GOES, THE BOOK OF MORMON's Josh Gad in his last SIP, National Tour of JERSEY BOYS, Courtney Reed of Paper Mill Playhouse's ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, a photo from Theatre Sheridan's RENT in Toronto, Ben Davis and Jessica Grové in Studio Tenn Theatre Company's SOUND OF MUSIC, Jessica Hendy and the cast of Gateway Playhouse's CATS, and more!

Josh Young and the cast of the Tony nominated Broadway musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR performed 'Superstar' on ABC's THE VIEW today. Check out the electric performance below!

The cast of the Tony®-Nominated Broadway revival JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will perform on 'The View' today, May 24th at 11:00 am ET/PT on ABC.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that on May 25, Leo Ash Evens will replace Jonathan Winsby as Phillip in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, due to an injury. Evens will remain with the production through July 1.

The cast of the Tony®-Nominated Broadway revival JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will perform on 'The View' on Thursday, May 24th at 11:00 am ET/PT on ABC.

Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show, returned to the production on Friday evening, April 13th after successfully battling laryngitis. Audience members there for his return tell us that Young returned to the show feeling healthy and sounding great.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Earlier today, Paul Nolan performed 'God Bless America' at the Yankees home opener during the seventh-inning stretch. Click here to watch his performance!

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). In the video below, Chilina Kennedy, who plays Mary in the show, chats with NBC New York about making her Broadway debut in the show. Click below to hear what she had to say!

Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show, will be sidelined from the production again, this time for an undetermined period of time, as a bacteria infection which has caused him to miss several performances has worsened into laryngitis. Young, who has received rave reviews across the board for his performance, missed his first shows during previews just prior to opening night on March, 22. While he was back for the opening, he has been in and out of the show since March 29. His role has been played by Jeremy Kushnier and Nick Cartell in his absence.

Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR's composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice will be featured on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" tomorrow, Thursday, April 5.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on Broadway on Thursday, March 22. Check out a new montage with scenes and music from the show below!