Ward Billeisen News

Desertland Entertainment introduces the inaugural Ballet Championships of America, aiming to redefine the ballet competition landscape. This new era in ballet competitions is set to take place in Las Vegas, NV.

Tonight's the night! Broadway Backwards, the only annual LGBTQ+ celebration on Broadway returns to the New Amsterdam Theatre. We're flashing back with videos of just a few of our favorite Broadway Backwards performances from years past. Which Broadway Backwards number is your favorite?

The virtual edition of Broadway Backwards delivered an emotional and exuberant evening of performances and raised a record $749,555 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

Broadway Backwards, the annual event where gender doesn't matter but love does, made its virtual premiere earlier this week with special appeals from Chasten Buttigieg, Ariana DeBose, Debra Messing, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tony Shalhoub and Ben Vereen. The stream will be available on demand through 11:59pm tonight, April 3.

Broadway Backwards, the annual event where gender doesn’t matter but love does, is set to make its virtual premiere this Tuesday, March 30, 2021, with special appeals from Chasten Buttigieg, Ariana DeBose, Debra Messing, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tony Shalhoub and Ben Vereen.

This week, New York City Center presents the final Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season, High Button Shoes. The production features Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins), Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

This week, New York City Center presents the final Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season, High Button Shoes. The production will feature Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins), Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

Next week, New York City Center will present the final Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season, High Button Shoes. The production will feature Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins), Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

New York City Center will soon present the final Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season, High Button Shoes. The production will feature Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins), Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

New York City Center today announced casting for High Button Shoes, the final Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season. The production will feature Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins),Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Another Monday means another week full of Broadway news! Catch up on the latest below!

Among the performers was Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss who performed the rapid-fire patter of Stephen Sondheim's "Getting Married Today" from Company. Criss was joined by Ward Billeisen, Michael James Scott and the Broadway Backwards ensemble.

A bevy of Broadway's brightest stars joined a sold-out audience on March 11, 2019, to celebrate and motivate the LGBTQ community and its allies through gender-reversed renditions of beloved show tunes, spectacular choreography and a record-breaking fundraising total at Broadway Backwards.

A bevy of Broadway's brightest stars joined a sold-out audience on March 11, 2019, to celebrate and motivate the LGBTQ community and its allies through gender-reversed renditions of beloved show tunes, spectacular choreography and a record-breaking fundraising total at Broadway Backwards. Check out highlights from the evening below!

Check out some behind the scenes footage of the making of a new cast recording of Brigadoon, starring Kelli O'Hara and Patrick Wilson! See the video below!

Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon - New York City Center 2017 Cast Recording, featuring Tony Award-winner Kelli O'Hara and Patrick Wilson, was just released last week. Below, watch was O'Hara, Wilson and the rest of the cast hit the recording studio!

Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon - New York City Center 2017 Cast Recording, featuring Tony Award-winner Kelli O'Hara and Patrick Wilson, is available in physical, digital and streaming formats today.

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company presented a special one-night-only Benefit Musical Performance of My One and Only, the award-winning musical comedy by Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. The event was led by Sutton Foster ('Edythe Herbert') and Gavin Creel ('Captain Billy Buck Chandler'), with Heidi Blickenstaff ('Mickey'), Ted Louis Levy ('Mr. Magix'), Michael Park ('Prince Nicolai') and Lance Roberts ('Rev. J.D. Montgomery').

Ghostlight Records has announced the release of Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon - New York City Center 2017 Cast Recording in physical, digital and streaming formats on Friday, December 7. Brigadoon has book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Released to celebrate both the 70th anniversary of the original production of the show and the Alan Jay Lerner Centennial, the recording is based on the New York City Center Annual Gala Production, which was directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, with Jack Viertel serving as artistic advisor. Brigadoon stars Kelli O'Hara, Patrick Wilson and Stephanie J. Block, and features the Encores! Orchestra led by Music Director Rob Berman