Michael Mayer News

Based on a concept album by the punk rock band Green Day, American Idiot, like Rent before it, revolutionizes musicals as it is one of a chosen few to combine genuine rock music with a narrative. It is big, bold and uninhibited in structure and style, and with next to no dialogue whatsoever, is able to convey the rage and joy experienced by its trio of male pals and their women. At the Ahmanson until April 22, the Tony nominated musical may not be everyone's cup of tea, but its roar should be acknowledged and appreciated on its own terms. Green Day's frenetic score certainly matches the glaring videos and images projected onto multiple screens all over the set that illustrate just how excruciatingly unpleasant life can be.

Last night on SMASH, everything came to a head as Eileen (Anjelica Huston), Derek (Jack Davenport) and the team presented 'Marilyn The Musical' to would-be investors. Ivy (Megan Hilty) was under pressure to perform, while her mother, Broadway star Leigh Conroy (special guest Bernadette Peters), undermined her at every turn. Karen (Katharine McPhee) had to decide between the workshop and a meeting with a big-time music producer. Julia (Debra Messing) and Michael (guest star Will Chase) had to face up to the consequences of their actions. Miss the episode? Catch up below.

Next week on SMASH, the team deals with the aftermath of the workshop. Ivy (Megan Hilty) remains in the dark about her fate, while Derek (Jack Davenport) recruits Karen (Katharine McPhee) to help him steal the musical from Tom and Julia (Christian Borle and Debra Messing). Eileen (Anjelica Huston) must face up to her ex-husband, Jerry (guest star Michael Cristofer), when their daughter Katie (guest star Grace Gummer) pays a surprise visit from India. Check out a sneak peek of the upcoming episode below!

On April 28, Berkeley Repertory Theatre presents its ONSTAGE gala! Actress Rita Moreno hosts an evening at the Four Seasons San Francisco, featuring a gourmet dinner, wines and spirits, and an opportunity to bid on getaways and culinary adventures.

American Idiot, Green Day's explosive Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by the New York Times, will play the Straz Center in Tampa from May 17-19, 2013. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.strazcenter.org or call 1.813.229.STAR.

Tonight on SMASH, everything comes to a head as Eileen (Anjelica Huston), Derek (Jack Davenport) and the team present 'Marilyn The Musical' to would-be investors. Ivy (Megan Hilty) is under pressure to perform, while her mother, Broadway star Leigh Conroy (special guest Bernadette Peters), undermines her at every turn. Karen (Katharine McPhee) must decide between the workshop and a meeting with a big-time music producer. Julia (Debra Messing) and Michael (guest star Will Chase) must face up to the consequences of their actions. In the video below, special guest star Bernadette Peters visits 'The Today Show,' where she chats about her upcoming appearance. Click below to check it out!

Broadway veteran Brian d'Arcy James stopped by NBC's New York Live to discuss SMASH. Find out what he has to say about what's to come this season and about his upcoming films in the interview below!

Next week on SMASH, Everything comes to a head as Eileen (Anjelica Huston), Derek (Jack Davenport) and the team present 'Marilyn The Musical' to would-be investors. Ivy (Megan Hilty) is under pressure to perform, while her mother, Broadway star Leigh Conroy (special guest Bernadette Peters), undermines her at every turn. Karen (Katharine McPhee) must decide between the workshop and a meeting with a big-time music producer. Julia (Debra Messing) and Michael (guest star Will Chase) must face up to the consequences of their actions. Check out a sneak peek of Peters singing 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' from the episode below!

Next week on SMASH, Everything comes to a head as Eileen (Anjelica Huston), Derek (Jack Davenport) and the team present 'Marilyn The Musical' to would-be investors. Ivy (Megan Hilty) is under pressure to perform, while her mother, Broadway star Leigh Conroy (special guest Bernadette Peters), undermines her at every turn. Karen (Katharine McPhee) must decide between the workshop and a meeting with a big-time music producer. Julia (Debra Messing) and Michael (guest star Will Chase) must face up to the consequences of their actions. In the video below, Peters chats about her upcoming guest spot. Click below to hear what she has to say!

Joshua Bergasse, choreographer of NBC's musical drama SMASH, has found an outlet for the sort of work inspired by the old MGM musicals he grew up watching. "Those old shows used dance as part of the story,' he said, 'and I try to make the dance sequences part of the SMASH story."

Next week on SMASH, Everything comes to a head as Eileen (Anjelica Huston), Derek (Jack Davenport) and the team present 'Marilyn The Musical' to would-be investors. Ivy (Megan Hilty) is under pressure to perform, while her mother, Broadway star Leigh Conroy (special guest Bernadette Peters), undermines her at every turn. Karen (Katharine McPhee) must decide between the workshop and a meeting with a big-time music producer. Julia (Debra Messing) and Michael (guest star Will Chase) must face up to the consequences of their actions. Check out photos from the episode below!

According to published reports, NBC's SMASH, which aired its fourth episode last night, got a slight ratings boost with almost 6.9 million viewers. Last week's audience was 4% smaller at 6.5 million viewers. The series premiere earned the show a whopping 11.5 million tuning in on February 6.

On last night's episode of the NBC musical drama series SMASH entitled 'Chemistry', Ivy (Megan Hilty) faced major problems as her voice began to fail her. Julia (Debra Messing) struggled to avoid Michael (guest star Will Chase) - but she couldn't. Eileen (Anjelica Huston) explored her inner hipster at a downtown dive bar with her new pal Ellis (Jaime Cepero), while Karen (Katharine McPhee) was an even bigger fish out of water, as she booked a side gig at a bar mitzvah on Long Island. Miss the episode? catch up below!

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) and Broadway in Columbus (BIC) today announced the 2012-13 Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series season. Four of the productions on the five-show subscription series have never before been seen in Columbus, including Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Million Dollar Quartet, Green Day's American Idiot, and War Horse, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play. Disney's Beauty and the Beast, presented by NETworks, will also return to Columbus to kick off the new season. In addition to the five-show season package, season specials will include the return of Les Miserables and Wicked.

Katherine McPhee's character Karen on the NBC hit 'Smash' Karen sings to a group of pre-teens at a bar mitzvah in a clip form the March 12 episode. Check out the sneak peek video here!

On the March 12th episode of the NBC musical drama series SMASH entitled 'Chemistry', Ivy (Megan Hilty) faces major problems as her voice begins to fail her. Julia (Debra Messing) struggles to avoid Michael (guest star Will Chase) - but she can't. Eileen (Anjelica Huston) explores her inner hipster at a downtown dive bar with her new pAl Ellis (Jaime Cepero), while Karen (Katharine McPhee) is an even bigger fish out of water, as she books a side gig at a bar mitzvah on Long Island. Jack Davenport, Christian Borle, Raza Jaffrey and Brian d'Arcy James also star. Will Chase guest stars. The episode airs at 10:00 pm/ET on the NBC network. Check out a clip from the episode below!

Three 2011 Tony® Award-winning productions take the Cultural District stages this season, alongside popular specials and beloved classics.

SISTER ACT's Marla Mindelle has posted a parody of the show on YouTube - watch it below!

Turning on the TV or reading the news can be depressing these days. Sometimes a person wants to leave behind the serious issues of the day and see something that is just nice - and nice is the perfect description of Olney Theater Center's season opener, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.