Neil Meron News

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced today that producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, will be honored for their work in bringing musical theatre to a worldwide, pop-culture audience at the Eighth Annual Season Awards Gala taking place on Sunday, November 6th at The Hudson Theatre (145 W. 44th Street) beginning at 6:00pm. Neil and Craig are currently represented on Broadway with How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying are currently producing the new NBC television drama 'SMASH' about the behind-the-scenes creation of a Broadway musical. 'SMASH' premieres on NBC on February 6th.

The new film Footloose will be expanded into a 'full-blown movie musical' from the earlier film with songs. In addition to starring a young Kevin Bacon as Ren, Footloose also starred Lori Singer as Ariel. It was originally written by Dean Pitchford. A Broadway musical version of Footloose was previously staged in 1998. The remake will be released in theatres on October 14.

According to published reports, Nick Jonas, who will soon return to Broadway in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, has joined the long list of theatre stars who will guest star on NBC's upcoming SMASH series.

The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that they will be teaming up with THE TREVOR PROJECT for a special benefit performance tonight at 7pm. A portion of every ticket sold for the October 6 performance will go directly to THE TREVOR PROJECT. The evening will also feature a post-show talkback with Daniel Radcliffe and the cast, as well as a post-show auction featuring autographed HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING merchandise, with all proceeds from the auction going to THE TREVOR PROJECT. Tickets for this one-night only event are available by visiting Telecharge.

Wesley Taylor (Rock of Ages, The Addams Family, Tales of the City) is rumored to play a recurring role in the Broadway-centric NBC mid-season replacement, SMASH, exec. produced by Steven Spielberg, according to a post on Facebook. Also rumored to play a recurring role is Savannah Wise (Ragtime, Rock of Ages). According to varied sources, Taylor and Wise are rumored to play dancers in the chorus who become friends with Katharine McPhee's character.

The soundtrack to the highly anticipated NBC drama series SMASH on Columbia Records will include an original song by SMASH leading lady and American Idol alum Katharine McPhee titled, 'Let Me Be Your Star'. The duet features SMASH co-star Megan Hilty.

Tonight's the night! Just in time for the season finale of DROP DEAD DIVA on Lifetime at 9 PM, we have an exclusive, extensive conversation with the show's stupendous star, Brooke Elliott, in which we talk all about the first three seasons of the hit Lifetime dramedy as well as what we can expect from tonight's highly-anticipated finale and the just-announced fourth season of the show coming in 2012, in addition to casting a look back at her favorite moments so far, backstage stories and guest star dish. Plus, Brooke shares reminiscences of her time starring in the Broadway production of TABOO and working with Rosie O'Donnell and Raul Esparza on it and some of her aspirations for the future as well as much, much more!

Lifetime has renewed its hit scripted series Drop Dead Diva for a fourth season, to premiere in 2012, with a 13 episode order. The announcement was made today by Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager of Lifetime Networks.

According to the New York Times, Michael Riedel Joins SMASH series as himself.

As previously reported, the Footloose remake, starring Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald will be released in theaters on October 14, 2011. The new film Footloose will be expanded into a 'full-blown movie musical' from the earlier film with songs. In addition to starring a young Kevin Bacon as Ren, Footloose also starred Lori Singer as Ariel. It was originally written by Dean Pitchford. A Broadway musical version of Footloose was previously staged in 1998.

Today, BroadwayWorld has the distinct privilege of premiering an exclusive world premiere clip from the Season Three finale of Liftime's hit original dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA. Click below to check out Brooke Eliott as the titular lady in action and legal eagle in charge breaking down the classic Rosemary Clooney rouser "Mambo Italiano", penned by the theatre's own Bob Merrill (of FUNNY GIRL and CARNIVAL fame) - with some generous assistance from Thunder Down Under, no less - and bringing down the house with her big, bright Broadway belt. As is clear to see in this clip and in the rest of the musical numbers on the show, DROP DEAD DIVA delivers the goods for Broadway babies and perhaps that is because DROP DEAD DIVA boasts the same executive producers as CHICAGO, HAIRSPRAY, the forthcoming FOOTLOOSE remake, as well as a string of hit television musical theatre adaptations (such as ANNIE, THE MUSIC MAN, GYPSY and LIZA'S AT THE PALACE) - the esteemed Craig Zadan and Neil Meron - so, the production values are truly top-most and they deserve a huge tip of the top hat for their continued excellence in bringing theatre-themed entertainment to an international audience time and time again.

The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that they will be teaming up with THE TREVOR PROJECT for a special benefit performance on Thursday, October 6 at 7pm. A portion of every ticket sold for the October 6 performance will go directly to THE TREVOR PROJECT. The evening will also feature a post-show talkback with Daniel Radcliffe and the cast, as well as a post-show auction featuring autographed HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING merchandise, with all proceeds from the auction going to THE TREVOR PROJECT. Tickets for this one-night only event are available by visiting Telecharge.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers. BroadwayBeat was on hand for the press conference earlier today and chatted with Jonas about taking on the leading role! Click below to check it out!

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers.

Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers.

Just as iconic as the original roles is the title song, which was covered by country singer and 'The Voice' judge Blake Shelton for the movie's October 14 release. Listen to the song below!

Today we are kicking off the male-centric portion of our ongoing series of interviews with the stars of Lifetime's DROP DEAD DIVA with the heartthrob of the show and Jane's former fiancee in her past life, legal eagle Grayson, played by the dashing and suave Jackson Hurst. In addition to talking all about Season 3 of DROP DEAD DIVA and the future for Jane and Grayson - as well as the hiccups and roadblocks in his relationship with Deb, before, and, now, Jane, that have cropped up so precipitously along the way - we also analyze the various guest stars on the show over the seasons - everyone from Kathy Griffin to Samuel L. Jackson to Elliot Gould to Liza Minnelli and more! In addition, Hurst and I also discuss his past and future stage and screen roles and his experiences on sets and backstage - including a thorough discussion of working with director Terrence Malick on THE TREE OF LIFE and his starring role in the forthcoming September release, A BIRD OF THE AIR, by CHINATOWN scribe Robert Towne - as well as Hurst's own favorite films and ultimate career aspirations - plus much, much more!

Will Chase, most recently seen on Broadway in Billy Elliot, has joined the myriad of stage stars who will be seen in the upcoming NBC series SMASH.

Queen Latifah, winner of Grammy, Golden Globe and SAG awards, has partnered with leading multichannel retailer HSN for the exclusive launch of the Queen Collection, her first-ever lifestyle brand.