Michael Grandage News

Christina DeCicco, the "Eva" alternate in the new Broadway production of EVITA, will perform the title role for 14 performances, July 12-19 and August 11-18, while Elena Roger is on vacation. With the exception of Saturday, August 11, when Elena Roger will perform the matinee, Jessica Lea Patty will step into the role for the Wednesday evening and Saturday matinee performances during these periods, performing July 18 & August 15 at 8pm, and July 14 & August 18 at 2pm.

One of Broadway's most celebrated performers, Max von Essen, steps into the role of Che for six performances, starting tonight, July 2 - July 7, in the new Broadway production of EVITA while Ricky Martin is on vacation. Daniel Torres will play the role of Che for both the matinee and evening performance on July 8. Max von Essen originated the role of Magaldi in the current production of EVITA and will return to that role when Martin returns from vacation. The performance schedule for this week is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm.

As previously announced, Broadway veteran and GLEE star Jonathan Groff will star opposite original cast member Alfred Molina in the Los Angeles premiere of RED at the Mark Taper Forum. Groff will play Ken (orignally played by Tony winner Eddie Redmayne) in the play, alongside Molina who reprises his Tony-nominated role as Mark Rothko. The production will run August 1- September 9. Michael Grandage directs.

Check out this behind-the-scenes look at Ricky Martin and Elena Roger recording 'High Flying Adored' for the complete New Broadway Cast Recording of EVITA. The video will be released everywhere tomorrow, June 26, where you will then be able to watch it below. But to view it now, visit the AOL Music Blog (http://blog.music.aol.com/2012/06/25/ricky-martin-high-flying-adored-video-premiere-exclusive/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed)!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Broadway Bares earns big money, Meryl & Kevin reunite, Laura gets a solo show, and so much more!

One of Broadway's most celebrated performers, Max von Essen, steps into the role of Che for six performances, July 2 - July 7, in the new Broadway production of EVITA while Ricky Martin is on vacation. Daniel Torres will play the role of Che for both the matinee and evening performance on July 8. Max Von Essen originated the role of Magaldi in the current production of EVITA and will return to that role when Martin returns from vacation. The performance schedule for the week beginning July 2 is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm.

Masterworks Broadway will release the complete New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita, the first complete English language stage recording of the show since the original 1979 Broadway cast album. The two-CD set, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Nigel Wright, with Tim Rice as Executive Producer, is set for release June 26, 2012. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of Ricky Martin, Elena Roger, Michael Cerveris, Michael Grandage and the cast of EVITA in the recording studio!

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced that their production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open at the London Palladium in June 2013 after a preview period. The new stage musical will be directed by Sam Mendes, with a book by David Greig and new songs from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY will release the New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita on June 19. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The track-list for the album is as follows:

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, Michael Grandage is bringing together UK's cream of the crop for his fledgling West End theatre company's new season at Noel Coward Theatre, beginning Dec. 1.

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY will release the New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita, set be be available on June 19. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Go inside the recording studio with the cast of the musical in the video below!

Acclaimed director and choreographer Rob Ashford has joined The Old Vic as Associate Director.

A new commercial for EVITA, featuring scenes from the Broadway production starring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris has just been released. Check it out below!

Overflowing with enthusiasm and energy, the true star of the 2012 Tony Awards was unquestionably three-time host and affable Broadway spokesman extraordinaire Neil Patrick Harris, doing what he does best - namely, being the host with the most. Whether web-slinging behind Angela Lansbury and Ted Chapin or leading a spectacular production number with Patti LuPone and a lawnmower, Harris proved yet again why is he is the best in the biz at this sort of thing - well, right up there along with Hugh Jackman, at least. Speaking of whom, in addition to a goosebump-inducing trailer for the forthcoming Tom Hooper-directed film adaptation of the Broadway sensation LES MISERABLES, Hugh Jackman was featured on the Tony Awards telecast and personally on hand to receive a well-earned special Tony Award for his many fundraising successes over the course of his three-show Broadway career, as was crossover superstar Bernadette Peters who took home a special Tony Award for her BC/EFA and Broadway Barks efforts. Adding to the star quotient of the night was Broadway/Hollywood super direct Mike Nichols, giving one of the classiest (despite the CBS-sanction bleep; on the same word as during Danny Burstein's FOLLIES turn, "godammit", incidentlly) and most profound acceptance speeches on the Tony Awards in recent memory - breaking the current record with, now, six Best Director statuettes, by the way. As far as musical performances go, in addition to Harris's triptych of showstoppers throughout the show - without even mentioning the many biting and sassy remarks, jokes and offhand commets; staged and otherwise - there were some seriously strong showings from almost all new musicals and revivals currently running, and even one or two terrific turns from productions already shuttered. The musical highlights of the night were Josh Young and the cast of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in a spirited and divine take on the title song from the celebrated Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera, as well as good showings from new musical head-to-head, nail-bite-worthy competitors, ONCE and NEWSIES, plus one or two other swoon-worthy moments, too. The 2011-2012 Broadway season may not have been a record-breaker insofar as outstanding content and memorable modern classics - while NEWSIES is certainly a smash, last year's THE BOOK OF MORMON is the type of hit we only see once a decade or so, and, therefore, is a bit eclipsed; and, ONCE won Best Musical, anyway - but Harris and the team of this year's show made it an unusually entertaining and unique Tony telecast, even when compared to the finest shows on the past - particularly those from the rightly lauded Cohen era. ONCE may have dominated the wins, but the many musical numbers showed that there is a lot of room for enjoyment whether or not your personal favorite show took home the prizes. Most of all, Neil Patrick Harris proved he was once, twice, three times a Tony triumph.

On Saturday, Jun 23 at 1pm, the Warner Theatre will present Mozart's Don Giovanni an encore presentation from The Met: Live in HD.

Paul Taylor-Mills presents BASH, a new production of Neil LaBute's collection of three darkly brilliant one-act plays, at Barons?Court Theatre through Sunday 17 June. James Le Feuvre and Faye Winter, who both appeared in Michael Grandage's production of Hamlet with Jude Law both in the West End and on Broadway, star under director Olivia Rowe. Opening night is tonight, 6 June at 7.45pm.

Check out the new trailer for EVITA on Broadway, starring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris! Watch the video below.

The Minervae, directed by Stephen Kaliski, will be performed free to the public for all performances. Set in the dying days of the Roman Empire, The Minervae - combining both classic theatrical elements with a modern, humorous twist - tells the story of one mythological goddess who refuses to move over for the fashionable new "cult" of Christianity. Jilted, Minerva sets out to re-convert the converted. Standing in her way are the schemes of the other Olympians: bitter Vulcan, volatile Mars, ambitious Apollo, and the enigmatic Diana. The Astoria Free Theatre Project is a bi-annual theatre production produced by On The Square Productions. The aim of this project is to bring a free, professional piece of new writing to a found space in Astoria. Athens Square Park is located in Astoria, Queens at the intersection of 30th Ave and 30th St just off the 30th Avenue stop of the N/Q lines. Admission is first come, first serve.

Today we are talking to one of the entertainment industry's most celebrated Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars, who has gone from memorable cameo childhood roles on the big screen in hit properties such as NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION and FATAL ATTRACTION to big Broadway success with her stints in STARLIGHT EXPRESS and GRAND HOTEL later that decade, to small screen success with ALLY MCBEAL in the 90s all the way to Tony-winning and Olivier-winning glory with the sensational revival of NINE in 2003 on Broadway, directed by David Leveaux, and GUYS & DOLLS in the West End, directed by Michael Grandage - as well as three Emmy nominations for her seven-year stint on NBC's richly awarded and highly celebrated Tina Fey comedy 30 ROCK - the precocious, alluring and arousing Jane Krawkowski. Sharing the details about her upcoming concert performance at Town Hall on June 8, Krakowski opens up about the many lauded composers and creators she has collaborated with over the years - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Maury Yeston, Tommy Tune, Steven Spielberg and many more - and what we can expect from her brassy and bawdy solo show, in addition to shedding some light on her Broadway days; whether on roller skates in STARLIGHT EXPRESS and the workshop of XANADU or treading the boards in workshops and productions for master director Tommy Tune. Also, Krakowski clues us in on where her classic 30 ROCK character Jenna Maroney will end up in the final, seventh season of the show that begins shooting in August and reveals her affection for her 30 ROCK and DAMN YANKEES co-star Cheyenne Jackson and their experiences filming the recent live episode (and singing the theme song). Plus, potential future stage roles she would like to essay someday - KISS OF THR SPIDER WOMAN, perhaps? Or, maybe, a reprise of her Adelaide in GUYS & DOLLS? Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, even? - as well as Milliken Breakfast Show memories from the 1970s and much, much more!