Norm Lewis News

With much excitement and clamor, Broadway's N'Kenge returns to Alphine Theatre Project in Montana to star in 'Chicago' as Matron 'Mama' Morton, the Witch in 'Big Fish,' and various roles in 'Ring of Fire.' All three productions will be running in rotating repertory from July 9 - August 1.

When the all-male musical foursome Well-Strung released their new video 'Chelsea's Mom' on YouTube just over a week ago, the resulting chain of events was something that not even the most powerful entertainment moguls could have engineered, let alone an indie pop-classical singing string quartet.

Some of Broadway's top stars flew over to Madrid this past weekend to celebrate July 4th a bit early with over 3,000 ex-pats and Spaniards. The U.S. State Department invited Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti (GYPSY), Norm Lewis (PHANTOM, PORGY AND BESS), Jared Grimes (Radio City's NEW YORK SPRING SPECTACULAR) for an evening 'Celebrating New York City'. BroadwayWorld has footage from the concert below!

Walter McBride was given exclusive access to a rehearsal in New York and we have some wonderful pictures to share with you as we enter this 4th of July Weekend.

Audra McDonald reveals all in an all-encompassing impromptu Twitter Q&A!

When it comes to either their signature pop-classical mashups - or their politics for that matter - Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, wears its heart on its sleeve. For the first single from their upcoming new album titled 'POPssical', due out in early October, the group debuts their new music video 'Chelsea's Mom' today on YouTube. The video is Well-Strung's inventive take on the Fountains of Wayne hit 'Stacy's Mom', reimagined as a tribute to 2016 Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The musical arrangement for strings is by Well-Strung with lyrics by Well-Strung, Jeffery Roberson & Jacques Lamarre. The video was filmed by Blake Drummond, edited by Randy Rainbow and was produced by Mark Cortale, Matt Farber and Well-Strung.

As announced this week, the full cast of Bay Street Theater & Dreamworks Theatricals' upcoming concert reading of the musical adaptation of THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, featuring book by Philip LaZebnik (Mulan, Pocahontas), and music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), has officially been revealed.

? Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has announced the full cast for the premiere concert reading of the first act of DreamWorks Theatricals new stage adaptation of The Prince of Egypt.

The Broadway Community worships at the altar of Michael McElroy and, pretty soon, so will the world. The Broadway veteran, with many shows under his belt, founded the Broadway Inspirational Voices in 1994 and, last night, photographer and friend Walter McBride and I were invited to a private home, where an awe-inspiring event transpired. We witnessed the birth of PARLOR NIGHT, something that ladies Di Ana Pisarri and Schele Williams had dreamed of for some time.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: AMAZING GRACE arrives on Broadway, RUTHLESS! returns to NYC and more!

This weekend, Indianapolis is in for a treat as Broadway's darling N'Kenge returns for two-nights only with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for Disco Days and Boogie Nights: Music of the 70s.  N'Nenge, under the direction of Jack Everly, will sing disco anthems, such as "I Will Survive" and other monster rock hits! 

Below, BroadwayWorld has some behind-the-scenes photos of the making of FOREVER ALWAYS. Plus, click here to read Pati Buehler's interview with Dodie about the project!

'I know I'm who I am today, because I knew you...' This words by the late Kevin Gray come back to him as 150 Broadway colleagues join their voices in song and music as a loving tribute to an artist/teacher and friend who who never knew how loved he was.

On Sunday, June 21, 9:30 pm & Midnight, Broadway Bares is back and sexier than ever. The event will take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom located in the Manhattan Center (311 West 34th Street, NYC). BROADWAY BARES is an annual event that consists of an evening of sexy striptease that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year the event will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a spectacular edition, Broadway Bares: Top Bottoms of Burlesque, a show inspired by the golden age of Broadway.

Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, will return to Provincetown on July 1 to debut their brand new show 'Summer Lovin' directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. The show arrives in conjunction with the launch of the group's Kickstarter campaign for their new CD entitled 'POPssical' scheduled for release this fall. For 'Summer Lovin' tickets and information visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 800-838-3006.

Acclaimed songwriter Scott Alan returns to London for a two-week residency at The Hippodrome Casino. Featuring a different guest each night, the nine concerts will celebrate Alan's work in nights filled with heartfelt songs, the stories behind them and many surprises.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his uniquely designed mainstages musicals showcasing a fiercely idiosyncratic style and flair all his own, the one and only William Finn. Outlining the new version of A NEW BRAIN set to be presented later this month at City Center as part of the Encores! Off-Center series, Finn discusses his original intentions behind many moments in the show as well as shares his inspiration for many musical moments in the melodic and moving score, as well. Additionally, Finn shares fresh news of his long in developtment musical adaptation of George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber's THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BROADWAY and provides preliminary details on the forthcoming revival of his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical FALSETTOS set to premiere later this season, as well. Plus, Finn imparts his enthusiasm for the upcoming 10th anniversary cast reunion of his popular musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, touches upon his favorite songs to date and expresses his desire to revisit Depression-era musical ROMANCE IN HARD TIMES in the future, as well as reveals his personal favorite songs to date and much, much more.