Tony Yazbeck News

Producers Howard and Janet Kagan have announced complete casting for the new revival of ON THE TOWN, the musical-comedy love letter to New York City opening on Broadway this fall. Directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') ON THE TOWN is set to begin previews on Saturday, September 20, 2014 and officially opens on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). Tickets for the new Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN are on sale now and available at Ticketmaster.com.

Following the enormous success of the semi-staged performance of My Fair Lady at the Proms in 2012, John Wilson returns to perform Cole Porter's Tony Award-winning musical Kiss Me, Kate. Joining John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra, Broadway stalwarts Ben Davis, Alexandra Silber, Tony Yazbeck and West End star Louise Dearman lead the cast in an irreverent reworking of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew -- a play within a play. This is the BBC Proms debut for all four performers as they sing the energetic score in its original 1948 arrangement.

Yazbeck, who is currently in rehearsals for a concert version of KISS ME KATE at London's Royal Albert Hall, recently took the time to chat with BroadwayWorld about the concerts, preparing for ON THE TOWN, and much more. Check out the full interview below!

This August and September 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

Producers Howard & Janet Kagan have announced that Jackie Hoffman will join the upcoming Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN as "Madame Dilly." Directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') ON THE TOWN is set to begin previews on Saturday, September 20, 2014 and officially opens on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). Tickets for the new Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN are on sale now and available at Ticketmaster.com.

Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Jose Llana!

Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Jose Llana!

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: Encores! Off-Center's PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES opens tonight, and the regional theatre scene explodes tonight with Kyra Sedgwick starring in Powerhouse's THE DANISH WIDOW, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF opening at Goodspeed, and LIVING ON LOVE making its world premiere with Renee Fleming in Williamstown!

Following the enormous success of the semi-staged performance of My Fair Lady at the Proms in 2012, John Wilson returns to perform Cole Porter's Tony Award-winning musical Kiss Me, Kate. Joining John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra, Broadway stalwarts Ben Davis, Alexandra Silber, Tony Yazbeck and West End star Louise Dearman lead the cast in an irreverent reworking of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew -- a play within a play. This is the BBC Proms debut for all four performers as they sing the energetic score in its original 1948 arrangement.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include an Independence Day performance from ON THE TOWN, the first concert in the BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK series, the 11,000th performance of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and more!

Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). In anticipation of the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Debra Monk!

On The Town choreographer Joshua Bergasse choreographed a performance of the show's iconic opening number, 'New York, New York,' featuring the Top 20 finalists.

This fall, one of America's classic musical comedies is back on Broadway - ON THE TOWN! Below, check out a promo for the show filmed throughout New York City.

We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate today than joining the cast of On The Town to celebrate Independence Day at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest with a special performance. On The Town stars Clyde Alves, Jay Armstrong Johnson, and Tony Yazbeck performed the famous opening number 'New York, New York', posed with fans (and hot dogs) and more...

In the first of three minisodes, award-winning musical theatre writer Joel B. New discusses the development history of his song cycle, STANDALONE. Special vocal cameos by Carrie Love, David Burnham (The Light in the Piazza), Rachel Louise Thomas, Tony Yazbeck (On the Town), Dan Radzikowski, Roy Lightner, Shain Fike, Erin McCracken, and Nicole Wolf. The minisode series is a countdown to the premiere recording of STANDALONE, set to be released on Monday, July 21st.

ON THE TOWN, the musical comedy love letter to New York City, is set to begin previews on Saturday, September 20, 2014 and officially open on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). The show's star trio Tony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson and Clyde Alves has disembarked in New York City and took to the streets today in uniform -- check out photos (via Instagram) of their tour of the city below!

The producers of ON THE TOWN announced today that Megan Fairchild(New York City Ballet Principal Dancer), Alysha Umphress (American Idiot) and Elizabeth Stanley (Company) will join the critically-acclaimed Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, directed by John Rando (Tony Award® for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash'). Fairchild, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, will make her Broadway debut playing 'Ivy Smith'. Umphress will play 'Hildy' and Stanley will play 'Claire', both reprising their performances from last summer's acclaimed Barrington Stage production.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series takes place every Monday at 7pm, followed by the always-extreme open mic, Jim Caruso's Cast Party. Birdland is at 315 West 44 Street in the heart of the Theater District. See www.BirdlandJazz.com for details.

Even the legendary Broadway gods and goddesses have come face to face with failure. On May 31, June 1, and 2, Lyrics & Lyricists pays tribute to musical theater's most thoroughly panned musical bullion as artistic director and Tony Award-winning lyricist and director David Zippel closes the season with Panning for Gold: Great Songs from Flop Shows.