Michael Crawford News

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that director Scott Faris has joined the production team of the Broadway-bound Wililam Shatner's SHATNER'S WORLD: WE JUST LIVE IN IT as director. The show will play from February 14 - March 4 at the Music Box Theater on Broadway, before embarking on a national tour.

The series launched last week week with LYSISTRATA JONES and this week celebrates the hit London production of THE WIZARD OF OZ with the original cast of Michael Crawford, Danielle Hope, Emily Tierney, Paul Keating, David Ganly, Edward Baker-Duly and Hannah Waddingham.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, December 25, 2011 - Sunday, December 25, 2011.

Today, as a well-earned holiday surprise for all of the millions of Broadway babies who read Broadway World all year long, we have a sneak preview of next year's upcoming InDepth InterView with leading lady stage superstar Sierra Boggess, best known to Broadway and West End audiences for her creation of the title role in THE LITTLE MERMAID, as well as originating the role of Christine in both PHANTOM VEGAS - the Las Vegas iteration of the international sensation THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by original helmer Hal Prince - and LOVE NEVER DIES, the recent Andrew Lloyd Webber-penned musical sequel to the original thriller/romance tuner, as well as her most recent essaying of the role in the absolutely phantastic 25th anniversary production THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, which will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the US in 2012. Before we get to all about PHANTOM 25 - lest we forget, Ms. Boggess was also generous enough to tell us all about the show when it was still in rehearsals (you can read that chat here) - Boggess shares her affection for another recent InDepth InterView participant who shared the stage with her at the thrilling encore for PHANTOM 25 - the one and only Phantom of legend himself, Michael Crawford, as well as all about her participation in the yearly ASTEP charity concert CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK CITY and the cast recording of it featuring herself along with Raul Esparza, Andy Karl, Orfeh, Constantine Maroulis and many more! Plus, insight into her preparations for her next Broadway role, that of Rebecca in the lavish stage spectacular REBECCA and much, much more!

Contra Costa County's only professional orchestra, California Symphony, presents its first annual Holiday Pops Spectacular, featuring soprano Tina Lloyd Meals and Voices of Musica Sacra Chorus.

The Broadway production of GODSPELL will host a special performance to benefit The Actors Fund on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 8pm. The Actors Fund will also be on hand to celebrate THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA's 10,000th Broadway performance on Saturday, February 11 at 2pm.

It's December at last, and BroadwayWorld is celebrating the season with ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas'- a special countdown which will include our favorite holiday-themed Broadway performances. Composed of Christmas songs from the very best performers of the Great White Way, this feature will get you into the holiday spirit just in time for December 25th.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a concert featuring a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some special guest appearances by original cast members including Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman and Phantom alumni from Colm Wilkinson to Anthony Warlow. Andrew Lloyd Webber chatted with Australia's Nine News about what made the long-running show so successful, and you can watch the full video here.

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. Click below to check out a holiday message from the cast and crew!

It's December at last, and BroadwayWorld is celebrating the season with ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas'- a special countdown which will include our favorite holiday-themed Broadway performances. Composed of Christmas songs from the very best performers of the Great White Way, this feature will get you into the holiday spirit just in time for December 25th . Don't forget to check back daily to find out what made the list! Featured today is Broadway favorite Michael Crawford singing Christmas classic 'O Holy Night.' Click below to check it out!

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Andrew Lloyd Webber will introduce a unique performance of the title number from the musical at this year's Royal Variety Performance. Starring four acclaimed ‘Phantoms' - Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter, Ramin Karimloo and John Owen-Jones, the performance will also feature international pop-star Nicole Scherzinger as ‘Christine'. The gala evening was recorded on 5 December at The Lowry in Salford in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and will be screened on ITV this Wednesday evening.

Sergei Polunin (Slave Master) and The Ballet Chorus of the Opera Populaire perform the ballet from Hannibal, as seen in Cameron Mackintosh's staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Andrew Lloyd Webber will introduce a unique performance of the title number from the musical at this year's Royal Variety Performance. Starring four acclaimed 'Phantoms' - Simon Bowman, Earl Carpenter, Ramin Karimloo and John Owen-Jones, the performance will also feature international pop-star Nicole Scherzinger as 'Christine'.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-ray™ - with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Today we have a super-special triple-focus Flash Friday dedicated not only to two of the top-tier talents in the entertainment history ever - Judy Garland and Michael Crawford - but, also, to the ever-lasting entity through which they are now, forever, inextricably linked - THE WIZARD OF OZ. Of course, Judy Garland famously starred in the original 1939 film adaptation of the L. Frank Baum children's classic, but, just this past year, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Jeremy Sams adapted the classic film for the stage to much success and added a number of significant new songs to the Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg score. Be sure to catch my exclusive InDepth InterView with Michael Crawford that went live earlier this evening to read all about the new stage spectacular, as well as his affection for Judy Garland in the original film and some of his own favorite Christmas and holiday songs. Additionally, next Tuesday GLEE will be paying tribute to Judy Garland in the form of a mid-1960s-style TV Christmas special homage, so now is certainly as good a time as any to look back at the unparalleled performance of Garland in THE WIZARD OF OZ - for which she won a juvenile Academy Award - as well as her 1963 Christmas special which featured guest performances by Mel Torme, Liza Minnelli and more! So, make this a truly Mikey & Judy holiday season - as opposed to Mickey & Judy one - with this spotlight on Michael Crawford and Judy Garland and both their OZ-ian and Christmas connections - and a GLEE-ful surprise or two, too. After all, 'tis the season!

If only for originating the title role in the longest-running and most successful musical in world history - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - which is merely one of the many impossibly impressive moments in a fifty-year career that truly defies description - Michael Crawford is known and loved the world over. From the Broadway and West End stage to the concert stage; the recording studio to the movie studio; performing everywhere imaginable - he has conquered it all. In a resume-spanning conversation that takes us from Broadway to Hollywood and to the stage of the London Palladium where he is now starring as the eponymous WIZARD OF OZ in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new theatrical adaptation of the classic film, Crawford and I take a look back at his many notable stage roles - among them, BILLY, BARNUM, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and, most recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WOMAN IN WHITE - and he also generously shares stories and recollections of the esteemed figures he has collaborated with over the years, including Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, Oliver Reed, David Foster, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Sarah Brightman and many more! Additionally, Crawford shares his insightful opinions on the state of theatre today and how it has changed over the course of his decades spent in show business, as well as looks ahead to returning to the concert stage following his departure from THE WIZARD OF OZ in the West End in February. So, catch Crawford while you can - and your little dog, too!

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders have announced additional casting and the creative team for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA, opening April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). Previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012. Joining the previously announced stars of EVITA - world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Peron and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Peron - are Max Von Essen as Magaldi, Rachel Potter as the Mistress, and Christina DeCicco as the alternate/standby for Eva Peron. Alternate performances to be announced.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-rayTM - with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. On October 2, 2011, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh marked the 25th anniversary of their beloved musical extravaganza, "The Phantom of the Opera," with a lavishly staged production at London's legendary Royal Albert Hall that was beamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe.The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall marks the first time a live performance of the blockbuster musical has been made available for home viewing, making it a must-have anniversary release for fans everywhere.

After yesterday's announcements of the 2011 BWW:UK Award winners, there are celebrations across theatreland!