Full Cast Announced for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR on Broadway; Tom Hewitt is Pontius Pilate
by Robert Diamond - Dec 22, 2011
The full Broadway cast has been announced for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff which will open March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).
Broadway By The Bay Honors Brooke Knight 11/13
by BWW
News Desk - Nov 13, 2011
Broadway By The Bay, the Peninsula's premier musical theatre company, honors outgoing Artistic Director Brooke Knight with Applause! Applause! A Grand Farewell To Brooke Knight on November 13, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel Palo Alto.
Broadway By The Bay Honors Brooke Knight 11/13
by Gabrielle Sierra - Oct 24, 2011
Broadway By The Bay, the Peninsula's premier musical theatre company, honors outgoing Artistic Director Brooke Knight with Applause! Applause! A Grand Farewell To Brooke Knight on November 13, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel Palo Alto.
MEMPHIS National Tour Kicks Off in Memphis, 10/16
by Lauren Wolman - Oct 16, 2011
The national touring production of MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will kick off on October 16, 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN (203 South Main Street) where it will play through October 23.
Jerry O’Connell To Co-Host Live With Regis And Kelly 10/13
by BWW
News Desk - Oct 13, 2011
Film and television star Jerry O'Connell, now in rehearsals to make his Broadway debut in the World Premiere of Alan Rickman starring in the new comedy SEMINAR by Theresa Rebeck, will co-host 'Live! with Regis and Kelly' this Thursday morning, October 13.
SOUND OFF SPECIAL: Revivals Galore! A Retrospective With FUNNY GIRL, SUPERSTAR, GODSPELL, EVITA, ON A CLEAR DAY & PORGY & BESS
by Pat Cerasaro - Oct 8, 2011
Today, in an extension of the FLASH FRIDAY column, we are sharpening our focus on the six upcoming revivals of musicals that are soon to hit the boards in the next few months (post-FOLLIES) and battle it out for the Best Revival as the Broadway season heats up just when the weather begins to cool: the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical that originally starred that star-of-stars, Barbra Streisand - FUNNY GIRL; the groundbreaking rock opera that rewrote the theatrical rulebook thanks to young creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; the hippie, flower child take on the Christ story covering some similar Biblical ground to that of SUPERSTAR, with this one being the composing debut of WICKED songwriter Stephen Schwartz - GODSPELL; another Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that won seven Tony Awards and acted as the vehicle for Patti LuPone's blazing Broadway debut in a starring role - EVITA; the significantly reworked, revised and rewritten new version of the beautifully scored time-travel musical by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, this time starring a male movie star crooner - ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER; and, the landmark American opera composed by the Gershwins with DuBose Haywerd - PORGY & BESS. While each and every one of these entities has a huge hit song or two that nearly everyone on the planet knows by heart - "Don't Rain On My Parade", "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Day By Day", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On A Clear Day…" and 'Summertime' included - each of these revivals also comes after a film version (or two) that, in more than a few of these cases, will be relatively difficult to top as far as expectations of many audience members undoubtedly will go. So, by taking a listen to the smash hit crossover songs from these musicals as well as looking at their respective film version's trailers - as well as a couple of surprises, too - perhaps we can glean some insight into what makes these generally pretty terrific properties so well worth reviving on Broadway, here, now, today, in 2011. Furthermore, all of this crystal ball commentary is not even taking into account the starry assortment of performers that have already been announced for these productions so far - especially with FUNNY GIRL's Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale, GODSPELL's Hunter Parrish, SUPERSTAR's lauded Josh Young, EVITA's Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris, PORGY's Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, as well as the leading man in what was once a leading lady's role (that of Barbara Harris) in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, Harry Connick, Jr.! What a tight race it is turning out to be for these new productions, particularly come Tony time in June! With rock to rhumba and borscht belt comedy to messianic hosannas and even full-out opera, seemingly every conceivable customer base is more than covered by this packed, potentially, well, awesome, season of shows - and many Broadway babies around BroadwayWorld are undoubtedly looking most forward to these six forthcoming revivals - with particularly good reason given the relative dearth of new musicals announced so far. So, let these revivals revive your flagging spirits as we leap into the 2011-2012 season with this comprehensive prospective and retrospective all about what makes them work so well in the first place and so worthy of another look!
BWW Interviews: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR's Josh Young
by Kelly Cameron - Oct 5, 2011
In light of yesterday's announcement that the Stratford production of Jesus Christ Superstar is Broadway bound in March of 2012, it seems a perfect time to feature the last in our series of profile interviews with this talented Canadian cast. Today we are speaking with Josh Young, one of Stratford's hottest leading men, who plays Judas in the production. He talks to us about the incredible Superstar journey, why people should come see this production, and (what were at that time) Broadway rumours.
Barn Theatre Premiere Of SUNSET BOULEVARD Set for 8/23
by BWW
News Desk - Aug 23, 2011
Old Hollywood glamour will come alive in the Barn Theatre premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD. Popular daytime television star Kim Zimmer will star as iconic silent film star Norma Desmond!
Lennie Watts Returns to Theatre By The Sea, Opens 8/19
by BWW News Desk - Aug 19, 2011
Audience favorite, Lennie Watts, who last appeared on stage at Theatre By The Sea as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (2000) returns in the lead role of Man in Chair in Ocean State Theatre Company's upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which opens on August 19.
PORGY AND BESS Starts Performances at A.R.T. 8/17
by BWW - Aug 17, 2011
A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will present The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, opening the A.R.T.'s 2011-2 season on August 117 at the Loeb Drama Center. The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, is adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray, and directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus.
Jesus Christ Superstar To Play the Benedum Center, Closes 8/14
by BWW News Desk - Aug 14, 2011
Audiences will be captivated by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Jesus Christ Superstar, August 2-14 at the Benedum Center! This powerful rock opera takes viewers on an emotional journey through the final days of Jesus of Nazareth.
Barn Theatre Premiere Of SUNSET BOULEVARD Set for 8/23
by Lauren Wolman - Aug 13, 2011
Old Hollywood glamour will come alive in the Barn Theatre premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD. Popular daytime television star Kim Zimmer will star as iconic silent film star Norma Desmond!
Cast Announced for MEMPHIS National Tour; Fenkart & Boswell to Lead!
by Robert Diamond - Aug 4, 2011
The 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced casting today for the U.S. national tour of the critically acclaimed production. The national tour of MEMPHIS will star Bryan Fenkart (Huey) and Felicia Boswell (Felicia) with Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray), Rhett George (Gator), Julie Johnson (Mama), Will Mann (Bobby), and William Parry (Mr. Simmons).
Lennie Watts Returns to Theatre By The Sea, Opens 8/19
by Gabrielle Sierra - Aug 2, 2011
Audience favorite, Lennie Watts, who last appeared on stage at Theatre By The Sea as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (2000) returns in the lead role of Man in Chair in Ocean State Theatre Company's upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which opens on August 19.
Jesus Christ Superstar To Play the Benedum Center 8/2-14
by BWW News Desk - Aug 2, 2011
Audiences will be captivated by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Jesus Christ Superstar, August 2-14 at the Benedum Center! This powerful rock opera takes viewers on an emotional journey through the final days of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus Christ Superstar To Play the Benedum Center 8/2-14
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jul 20, 2011
Audiences will be captivated by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Jesus Christ Superstar, August 2-14 at the Benedum Center! This powerful rock opera takes viewers on an emotional journey through the final days of Jesus of Nazareth.
THE MAGDALENE Closes
by Kelsey Denette - Jul 14, 2011
The Magdalene, a musical play about Mary Magdalene, closed July 13 after 15 previews and 17 performances. The production, opened off-Broadway at St. Clement's Theatre on Tuesday, June 28.
Full Cast Announced for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS at A.R.T.
by Robert Diamond - Jun 30, 2011
A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, begins previews on August 17 and opens for the reviewing press on August 31 at 7pm. Performances are at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. Tickets for preview performances are currently on sale, remaining tickets for the run go on sale on July 12.
BWW Interviews: Constantine Maroulis, ROCK OF AGES' 'Drew'
by Joseph Harrison - Jun 27, 2011
If you know the name Constantine Maroulis, it is likely due to his stint on American Idol, but many of our readers may be surprised to know that this AI rocker is actually a classically trained and Tony Award nominated actor, with a number of successful shows on his resume. One of his most successful, Rock of Ages, makes its way to Atlanta at the Fabulous Fox Theatre July 5 - 10. Audiences who come out for this show presented by Theater of the Stars will have the chance to rock out to some of their favorite 80's hits from Styx, Journey, REO Speedwagon and more. I had the chance to talk with Constantine about the show, his theatrical career and what he learned on Idol that still helps him today.