Nick Jonas News

On this morning's GOOD MORNING AMERICA, 'How to Succeed in Business' star Nick Jonas helped the ABC crew pull a fast one over on the show's news reader Josh Elliot.

Nick Jonas - the popular singer/songwriter who is currently starring in the Tony-nominated How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - will serve as master of ceremonies as hundreds of students from middle and intermediate New York City Public Schools in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan make their Broadway debut on stage at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44 St.) on Tuesday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m., the culminating event of the 7th annual Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway JR. Student Program. The students will perform a song from their school's production of a student version of a Broadway musical, including Annie JR., Once on this Island JR., Disney's Aladdin JR., Guys and Dolls JR., Bugsy Malone JR., Meredith Willson's The Music Man JR., Dear Edwina JR., Fame JR., Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR., and Thoroughly Modern Millie JR. (A list of schools participating in the May 29 celebration follows.)

The words we've all been breathlessly waiting to hear - "You're going on as Marilyn tonight," - were finally uttered by the director of the show-within-the-show, Derek (Jack Davenport), on SMASH's "Bombshell" season finale last night: Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) nabbed the coveted role. Despite seemingly all of the bets being placed early in the season against Karen by viewers and critics alike insofar as her likelihood in donning the peroxide wig and beautymark - she seemed a Norma Jean but rarely an expected choice for Marilyn; certainly no match in the classic idea of the screen siren as far as the vivacious and curvaceous Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) was concerned. While many were quick in giving Ivy Lynn the upper hand - or upper skirt, as the case may be - it was evident from the first moment of the series that Karen, the underdog, is who we were largely meant to be rooting for above all others; the naive Iowa girl singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on a stage of glitterring stars, so close and yet so far away. Ivy surely made a fast and furious impression soon thereafter with "The National Pastime" in SMASH's pilot, but Karen had already been quite clearly established as our most central protagonist - perhaps with Julia (Debra Messing) equally as prominent. As the fourteen subsequent episodes have progressed, SMASH has revealed itself to be a true ensemble piece with the emphasis on the collective journey of all of the characters and how that has had an effect on the burgeoning Broadway musical at the show's core, but Karen and Julia still have remained the two given the most screen-time and exposure. Megan Hilty has nonetheless emerged as a force to be reckoned with and her performance in the role is the finest of all on the series, outshining all in her songs and scenes. The various highways, byways and alleyways by which we have journeyed on the road of SMASH from the beginning to last night has unquestionably been leading to the BOMBSHELL first preview performances and the reveal of who would ultimately win the part of a lifetime in the show-within-the-show - and, on that count, the SMASH season finale bared all. And, as if all of that were not enough - cameos from Broadway heavyweights Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas, too!

Broadway Records (www.BroadwayRecords.com) has just released the original cast recording of the Broadway musical, LYSISTRATA JONES, featuring music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn and book by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's month-long salute to the 2012 Tony Awards - which will take place June 10 on CBS - with a spectacular performance captured only last year, featuring three generations of J. Pierrepont Finches - originator Robert Morse, revival Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and Hollywood/Broadway crossover superstar Daniel Radcliffe - with the former two introducing the latter as he leads "Brotherhood Of Man" from the Pulitzer Prize-winning HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, a true blue Broadway classic.

Following 2010's BRING HIM HOME, Alfie Boe returns with the release of his sophomore album, ALFIE. Get a first listen to the album with two tracks - featuring Nick Jonas and Robert Plant - below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: FOLLIES travels to LA, Sumissions Only wraps Season 2, Drama Desk Nominees celebrate, and so much more!

Next week on the season finale of SMASH, the big night is finally here. Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) race against time to save the show, while Derek (Jack Davenport) makes a decision that will change the lives of Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty) forever. Ellis (Jaime Cepero) reveals his true colors. But when he finally makes his move to save "Bombshell," will it be for or against Eileen (Anjelica Huston)? In the midst of it all, another bombshell goes off - this one is in Karen and Dev's (Raza Jaffrey) relationship. Additionally, Nick Jonas returns as 'Lyle' and you can check out a sneak peek of him in action below!

Former casting exec Geoffrey Soffer and Talent Manager/Producer Jen Namoff have partnered to form Soffer/Namoff Entertainment, a talent management and production company based in New York.

La serie americana SMASH se estrena esta semana en nuestro país a través del canal AXN WHITE y entre abril y mayo, un grupo de artistas de teatro musical están interpretando un número en lugares públicos de Madrid y Barcelona para su promoción.

The revival of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING will play its final performance on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The 50th Anniversary production, which recouped its $9 million initial investment in December 2011, will have played 30 preview and 473 regular performances at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite behind-the-scenes sitcom, wrapped its second season on April 27 with an all-star guest line-up lincluding Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nick Jonas, Harvey Fierstein, Kerry Butler, Jackie Hoffman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lea DeLaria, John McDaniel, Molly Ranson and cast members from Newsies. BroadwayWorld was on hand at the show's celebratory wrap party on Monday, May 7, to chat with the show's stars and creative team. Click below to go inside the party!

It was a Finch reunioun last night, as worlds collided at the 2012 Met Gala. Joe Jonas, brother of Nick- who is currently starring as J. Pierrepont Finch in Broadway's HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING- took the below picture of his little brother with Darren Criss and Daniel Radcliffe. Check out the photo of the trio together below!

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite behind-the-scenes sitcom, wrapped its second season on April 27 with an all-star guest line-up like none before. View photos from the season two wrap party below!

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

BC and Columbia Records' soundtrack from the first season of NBC's musical hit SMASH (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) will be released today, May 1.

Broadway Records will release an EP of Nick Jonas performing five tracks from the smash hit musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. The CD will be released Tuesday, May 8, 2012, and will be available in the Hirschfeld Theatre the week of May 1. Check out a first listen of Jonas singing 'I Believe in You' below!

La popular serie de televisión sobre la creación de un musical basado en la vida de Marilyn Monroe, llegará a las pantallas españolas el próximo sábado 12 de mayo a las 21.00h. Este drama musical, protagonizado por Megan Hilty y Katharine McPhee, que celebra la belleza y dolor del mundo del espectáculo sigue el proceso de selección de los aspirantes que albergan un único deseo: ser estrellas de Broadway.

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite behind-the-scenes sitcom, wraps its second season today with an all-star guest line-up like none before. Guest stars for Episode 8 include Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nick Jonas, Harvey Fierstein, Kerry Butler, Jackie Hoffman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lea DeLaria, John McDaniel, Molly Ranson and cast members from the Disney Broadway hit, Newsies. Click below to watch the highly anticipated Season 2 finale!

The 26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised $3,677,855, the result of six weeks of intensive fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by 51 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. The grand total was announced Tuesday at this year's Easter Bonnet Competition, which ended in two shows featuring original presentations, songs, dances and 18 elaborate, custom-made bonnets. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of day two of the competition extravaganza!