Tracie Bennett News

Stage and screen stars Kristin Chenoweth & Jim Parsons will announce this year's Tony nominees tomorrow morning, May 1, 8:30am EST at New York Public Library. The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, which are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from the Beacon Theatre, on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 10, 2012. In preparation for the big announcement, TonyAwards.com has released a Cheat Sheet that reminds you of the eligible shows/people of this season. The full Cheat Sheet is as follows:

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference this morning by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) and Edmund Gaynes, in association with Don and LizAnne Mitchell, presents The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, a musical by Angelo Parra, conceived and directed by Joe Brancato. Miche Braden stars as Bessie Smith, along with Aaron Graves, Jim Hankins, Keith Loftis, and Anthony E. Nelson, Jr. Performances began June 7th Off-Broadway at St. Luke's Theater (308 West 46th Street). Tracie Bennett, currently starring in END OF THE RAINBOW on Broadway, stopped by the show with her co-star Tom Pelphrey. View photos below!

The 78th Annual Drama League Awards will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square on Friday, May 18, 2012 at noon. Check out the 2012 Drama League Nominees for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award.

Nominations Talley for 3 or more: 9 - Nice Work If You Can Get It; 7 - Newsies, Once; 5 - Follies, Death of a Salesman, Evita, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; 4 - One Man, Two Guvnors, Porgy and Bess, Tribes; 3 - The Best Man, Bonnie & Clyde, Death Takes a Holiday, The Lyons, Queen of the Mist, Sons of the Prophet;

End of the Rainbow is hosting theaterland's first ever Instagram Meet-Up at the famed Belasco Theatre (111 W. 44th Street). Taking place at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, the event, which is open to all interested Instagram enthusiasts, will offer participants an exclusive tour of the recently renovated theatre, which boasts one of New York's most beautiful neo-Georgian interiors. Those participating in this rare opportunity will be encouraged to snap and post photos of the theater via Instagram. Photos will be tagged "endoftherainbowbwy" so non-participants can easily find and view the images. For more information, and to sign up for the event, visit: http://www.meetup.com/Instagram/New-York-NY/676332/

IT'S DECEMBER 1968 AND JUDY GARLAND is poised to make a triumphant comeback… again. In a London hotel room with her young new fianceé ('a perfectly cast Tom Pelphrey' New York Times) and trusted pianist ('a wonderful Michael Cumpsty' New York Times) at her side, Garland prepares to undertake a series of concerts at London's famed Talk of the Town with her signature cocktail of talent, tenacity and razor-sharp wit, revealing the most brilliant star in her most demanding role: her life. END OF THE RAINBOW is now playing - buy tickets today and save!

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!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: EVITA is back on Broadway, Mayor Bloomberg gets musical, Bleu channels Jesus, and so much more!

If energy and physical commitment equaled craft and technique, Tracie Bennett's performance as Judy Garland in End Of The Rainbow might be considered one of the great triumphs of the season. But Peter Quilter's flimsy play offers her little in the way of support and director Terry Johnson has her playing more highly strung caricature than character, reducing the enterprise to little more than an endurance test for those at both sides of the footlights.

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. Bennett is joined onstage by Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell.

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. Bennett is joined onstage by Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell. BroadwayWorld was on hand at the Plaza hotel to speak with Bennett and company at the celebratory after party and brings you full coverage below!

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. Bennett is joined onstage by Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell. BroadwayWorld.com was there as the premiere curtain came down and brings you photo coverage of the curtain call and encore performance below!

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Afterwards, BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the show's opening night party!

End of the Rainbow opened tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. How'd it fair with the critics? Let's find out...

The Broadway premiere of End of the Rainbow is tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. The first production highlights have been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a look below!

The Broadway premiere of End of the Rainbow is tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Check out these production photographs of Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell as they join two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson.

The Broadway production of END OF THE RAINBOW will open tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell join two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony Award winning Terry Johnson.

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY has just announced the release of Tracie Bennett Sings Judy: Songs from the Broadway Production of End of the Rainbow and Other Garland Classics available now. The new play with music features Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell, joining two-time Olivier Award-winner Tracie Bennett in Peter Quilter's acclaimed show about the legendary Judy Garland. Directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson, End of the Rainbow started performances on March 19, 2012 at Broadway's Belasco Theatre, opening April 2.

These days, in the new age of social media revolution, the best source of information is YOU. Each day, fans of BroadwayWorld post tens of thousands of comments on our multiple message boards (main and local), weighing in on the latest news, rumors, reviews, stars and more. Each week, we find a few stand-out threads - those that have sparked particularly interesting discussion that we've decided to shine a light on each week in our newest feature: DID YOU KNOW...The 10 Most Interesting Message Board Topics of the Week, brought to you by YOU! Be sure to check back each week to see if YOUR thread made the list!