Michelle Pfeiffer News

Singer/actress Nikki Blonsky truly embodies that notion of overnight success. Plucked from obscurity at age 17, then-newcomer Blonsky beat out hundreds of young girls from a nationwide open casting call to land the coveted lead role in the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical HAIRSPRAY. On July 15-16, she will be slipping back into familiar territory as she joins MEN ALIVE: The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus for their 10th Anniversary Concert 'GREASY HAIRSPRAY' at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres brings its audiences another new Main Stage show with contagiously delightful Broadway musical, HAIRSPRAY! Winner of eight Tony Awards (out of thirteen nominations) including Best Musical, HAIRSPRAY offers two weeks of preview performances from August 5 - 18, with the official Press Opening Night on Friday, August 19.

Culled from as A-list a list as you are ever likely to acquire - Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Michael Mayer, Theresa Rebeck and Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman onwards - SMASH is the adult answer to riveting dramatic musical entertainment coming with heart, laughs, unforgettable characters and some of the biggest twists this side of the starry stages on the Great White Way. Oh, yeah, and those hallowed Broadway halls, too. Plus, SMASH provides a great new opportunity to showcase the unbelievable talent on display on the stages of Broadway and Off-Broadway and beyond, particularly given the fact that it is shot in New York and it is being cast by the biggest casting director on Broadway, Bernie Telsey. Consider the theatre-centric casting LAW & ORDER times seventy six (trombones). All of New York is the talent pool from which the stage of SMASH shall be set. And, what exactly is SMASH about, anyway? Well, SMASH is all about Broadway and what makes a musical tick - from the very inception of the show's idea by the songwriters, through writing, rehearsals and the road; all the way to the big Broadway opening where dreams are made - and nightmares born - on one magnificent, momentous night. As viewers, we are taken inside the ticking clock of the show and we experience each and every one of the multitude of machinations enacted by everyone from the stars - Marilyn Monroe, and the actress playing her, Ivy; and, more importantly, her alternative, Karen - to the overworked director (Derek), harried songwriters Tom and Julia, and the speculative and cutthroat producer behind it all, Eileen.

Legends in their own time, ascending to the top ranks of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriting landscape, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have accomplished and climbed to heights most of what many film fans, Broadway babies and general entertainment junkies only dream of witnessing and ascending to. Marc Shaiman's work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT prompted Stephen Sondheim - as he told me himself - to cite it as one of the best musicals of the era. And, it is - as is their Tony-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY, based on the film by Pope of Trash John Waters. Featuring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and an all-around-amazing cast of triple-threats, the stunning Craig Zadan/Neil Meron-produced film version of HAIRSPRAY may be the greatest cinematic Shaiman and/or Wittman accomplishment so far. Then, there is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - one of the snappiest new scores on Broadway in a strangely strong season of original scores - boasting boss Sinatra blues and sizzling Shirelles riffs and everything else that's swingin' in between. Up next for the team - onstage and off - is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, in addition to what is perhaps the most exciting prospect on their impossibly cluttered horizon: the new Steven Speilberg/Craig Zadan/Neil Meron musical/comedy/drama series SMASH which has just been picked up for the Fall season on NBC! In this exclusive, extensive and exhaustive conversation we cover it all from HAIRSPRAY to CATCH ME to CHARLIE to all about SMASH and far, far beyond!

El musical llegará de la mano de la productora Videomedia. En la primera fase se buscarán actores, cantantes y bailarines de tez negra o mestiza para cubrir diversos papeles del reparto y el elenco.

Con motivo del 10º aniversario del Parque Warner Madrid, Hairspray, el musical de Marc Shaiman y Scott Wittman basado en la película de John Waters, se estrenará muy pronto en el Teatro Hollywood de este parque temático.

According to Deadline.com, Will Sasso has been cast as Curly in the upcoming film based on the world-famous slapstick TV series 'The Three Stooges.' Although casting is expected to officially be completed by the end of the week, Hank Azaria is a main contender to play Moe; James Marsden is being considered to play Larry.

Piedmont Players Theatre in Salisbury, NC announces open auditions for it's next Mainstage Production, Hairspray.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage is proud to present Scott Bryce and Jodi Stevens in 'Love Letters' by A.R. Gurney. One of the most beloved American plays of all time captures the romance of a lifetime as told through the couple's correspondence, and will be brought to life by celebrity couple and Connecticut residents Scott Bryce (Emmy nominee for ABC-TV's 'As the World Turns') and Jodi Stevens (Star of Broadway's 'Jekyll and Hyde' and 'Urban Cowboy'). Perfect for Valentine's Day, this limited engagement of 'Love Letters' will begin performances on February 4.

Piedmont Players Theatre in Salisbury, NC announces open auditions for it's next Mainstage Production, Hairspray.

First reported by BroadwayWorld.com back in December, the Hollywood Bowl has now officially confirmed that they have chosen their summer musical... Drum roll please... HAIRSPRAY! The Hollywood Bowl has been knocking these musicals out of the ballpark these last three years with LES MISERABLES, GUYS & DOLLS and RENT.

The cast of the upcoming all-star ensemble comedy New Year's Eve has been announced by The Hollywood Reporter. The movie follows the intertwining stories of a group of New Yorkers as they live through the drama and romance of New Year's Eve in Manhattan. Production is scheduled to begin in February.

Don't miss Broadway's musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, 'If life were everything it should be, it would be more like HAIRSPRAY. It's irresistible!'

Don't miss Broadway's musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight 2003 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, 'If life were everything it should be, it would be more like HAIRSPRAY. It's irresistible!'

The Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy (soon-to-be Fox Valley Rep Performing Arts Academy in January) is proud to partner with the largest regional stage combat workshop, the Winter Wonderland Workshop, to offer a special teens class on January 8, 2011 at Pheasant Run Resort (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; admin telephone 630-443-0438).

According to Variety, stage and screen star Sarah Jessica Parker is set to join New Line's NEW YEAR'S EVE. The film will be directed by Garry Marshall, and will include a cast of: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Abigail Breslin, Robert De Niro, Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Michelle Pfeiffer and Hilary Swank.

The Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy (soon-to-be Fox Valley Rep Performing Arts Academy in January) is proud to partner with the largest regional stage combat workshop, the Winter Wonderland Workshop, to offer a special teens class on January 8, 2011 at Pheasant Run Resort (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; admin telephone 630-443-0438).

We are hearing HUGE rumblings that the Hollywood Bowl has chosen their summer musical... Drum roll please... HAIRSPRAY! The Hollywood Bowl has been knocking these musicals out of the ballpark these last three years with LES MISERABLES, GUYS & DOLLS and RENT.

One of the most beloved and enduring characters in the history of American popular culture is aiming to finally make her way to the Broadway stage. Hazel - the saucy maid whose wry attitude, infallible wisdom and heart of gold has captured the hearts of millions for more than 60 years - will be in the spotlight again in an exciting new Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The veteran duo has acquired the rights to Hazel from the estate of creator Ted Key and are hoping to bring the show to the Great White Way in 2011.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is delighted to announce the cast selected to lead the award-winning production and TUTS debut of the Broadway smash hit, Hairspray, scheduled to play October 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.