Norm Lewis News

Broadway's best filled a sold-out Al Hirschfeld Theatre with laughter, tears and cheers during the unforgettable ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards on Monday, March 24, 2014, raising a record-breaking $423,182 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

The ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards, a one-night-only performance produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and benefiting BC/EFA and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York, took place last night. This year's special event featured the talents of Michael Berresse (Kiss Me, Kate; A Chorus Line), Tony winner Beth Leavel (Elf, The Drowsy Chaperone), Tony winner Debra Monk (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, TV's 'Girls'), Ken Page (Ain't Misbehavin', Cats), Tony winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), Tony nominee Andrew Rannells(The Book of Mormon, TV's 'Girls'), Tony nominee John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, TV's 'Johnny and the Sprites.'), and more This year's edition of Broadway Backwards (#bwaybackwards) was held at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 W 45th Street, NYC), current home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots. BroadwayWorld was there for the after party festivities and you can check out photo coverage below!

BroadwayWorld broke the news last week that The Phantom of the Opera, now in its 26th year on Broadway, will welcome former 'LITTLE MERMAID' co-stars Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess to the cast on Monday, May 12, at the Majestic Theater. Both of the show's new stars were at the opening night for Les Miserables yesterday, and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge got to chat with them about their big news!

On Twitter, Sierra Boggess, who will soon return to Broadway as 'Christine' in The Phantom of the Opera, met up with her future costar Norm Lewis at the opening night of Les Miserables and had this to say @sierraboggess: Look who I found!!!!! @normlewis777

Cameron Mackintosh's new production ofAlain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical Les Miserables opened last night, Sunday, March 23 on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre. The cast of the new LES MIZ features Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean; Will Swenson as Javert; Caissie Levy as Fantine; Nikki M. James as Eponine; Andy Mientus as Marius; Samantha Hill as Cosette; acclaimed Canadian actor Cliff Saunders as Thenardier; Tony Award nominee Keala Settle as Madame Thenardier and Kyle Scatliffe, as the revolutionary Enjolras. BroadwayWorld was there for all of the opening night festivities and you can catch full coverage from the theatre arrivals below!

SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and conceived and originally directed by James Lapine, is now available for licensing via Music Theatre International.

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: MOTHERS AND SONS opens tonight, Block, Groff, Lewis, Rannells and more join forces for BROADWAY BACKWARDS and more!

In honor of Les Miserables' opening tonight, BroadwayWord brings you the actors who've taken on the many complex and vocally challenging roles of Victor Hugo's world, from the unscrupulous Thenardiers to innocent Cosette, or principled Javert against the compassionate and strong-willed Jean Valjean. From Fantine and Eponine, unfortunate in life and romance, to Enjolras and Marius, the fiery young leaders of the French Revolution.

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: CABARET begins previews tonight, Andrew Rannells and Stephanie J. Block are set to sing with The New York Pops, and looking ahead to Sunday, LES MIS returns to Broadway!

In honor of the pair joining one of The Great White Way's most beloved musicals, BroadwayWorld presents a look back at some of their finest performances and moments on stage!

A limited number of $40 rush tickets for the much-anticipated ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards will be released for sale at 6:30 PM Monday, March 24, 2014. The rush tickets will be sold outside the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). They will not be available at the box office. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, cash only and are limited to two tickets per person. The show begins at 8 PM.

On March 8, 2014, Norm Lewis made his long-awaited solo debut for the AMERICAN SONGBOOK Series, at the recently renamed Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center (now, the Appel Room).

After his recent concert at the IndigO2 in 2013, Songwriter Scott Alan will return to the Hippodrome Casino for five intimate concerts at the Hippodrome Casino. Alan will be joined by a rotating cast of special guests, to be announced closer to concert dates.

The stars are coming out to play this summer with Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS and their one of a kind, simply cannot miss popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles Arboretum. Coming off the heels of last summer's critically acclaimed concerts to record breaking crowds, Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS are taking the popular series to new heights. Artists include Laura Osnes ('Cinderella' and 'Bonnie and Clyde'), Norm Lewis ('LES MISERABLES' and 'Porgy and Bess'), Julia Goodwin (2013 Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador), composer/host Tena Clark, Dionne Warwick (five-time Grammy Award winning music legend), Michael Feinstein (to sing Gershwin for one night only), powerhouse singers Maureen McGovern, Patti Austin, stars of stage and screen Kevin Earley, Liz Callaway ('Anastasia and 'Aladdin'), Jeremy Jordan ('Smash'), plus special appearances by Debby Boone, Alan Bergman and pianist Armen Guzelimian.

The roster of stars continues to expand for Broadway Backwards with today's additions of Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, TV's 'Scandal'), Roger Rees (co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby), Julie White (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Little Dog Laughed), and Rachel York (Encores! Little Me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

Come look at the freaks! Last night at 54 Below, performers celebrated Bill Russell and Henry Krieger's Side Show in 'I Will Never Leave You: 54 Sings Side Show.' Directed by Russell, the special concert featured the talents of Lauren Kennedy, Norm Lewis, Jeff McCarthy, Hugh Panaro, Alice Ripley, The Skivvies and more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you two performances from the Skivvies, including 'Come Look at the Freaks' and 'The Devil You Know' featuring original Side Show star Norm Lewis.

Norm Lewis gave a 'once in a lifetime' sold out concert on Saturday Night for the AMERICAN SONGBOOK Series at Lincoln Center. The evening featured a dazzling combination of story-telling and extraordinary vocal expertise, spanning from showtunes to pop, to R&B, church and just about everything in between.

This just in! Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group just announced that THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will welcome a starry leading combination beginning Monday, May 12.