A true theatrical event, this legendary masterpiece is considered by many to be the greatest musical ever created.brbrThe time is 1971, and theatrical impresario Dimitri Weissmann (famous for his garish Weissmann Follies of yesteryear) hosts a reunion of ex-Follies performers in his crumbling theatre, setting the stage for a parade of brilliant '20s, '30s and '40s pastiche numbers that have become every bit as famous as their models: "Losing My Mind," "I'm Still Here" and "Broadway Baby," to name a few. Amid the reminiscing, two middle-aged couples confront some unpleasant truths about their past and present and come face to face with the future.brbrSurreal, sophisticated, compelling, heart-wrenching and epic in scope, "Follies" uses the musical theatre as a metaphor for the collapse of American innocence and naivete in the post-Kennedy years. It is a showcase for powerful dramatic actors, featuring a large cast rich in character, which provides opportunities for seasoned older performers.
Today we are shining a spotlight on some rarely discussed and unusual connections between the world of William Shakespeare and theatrical pop culture at large. Given the wide breadth of material contained within the canon of the Bard, it is certainly no understatement to claim that the connections are virtually endless between many modern tropes, terms, themes and ideas that derive in his classic plays - whether they be tragedies, comedies, histories or latter plays - yet the intriguing aspects of many of the lesser-known theatrical connections between Shakespeare and modern theatre are illuminating and fascinating to unearth. Ranging from the influence of Shakespeare on some of our greatest musical theatre masters - Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and William Finn included - through to the inspiration behind both Broadway's most lucrative production in history (THE LION KING) and the longest-running show in NYC to date (THE FANTASTICKS), the impact of Shakespeare on Broadway is impossible to accurately calculate - and, now, with the lovable and hilarious Shakespeare paean SOMETHING ROTTEN! poised to open later this month, the Bard is about to get a fresh jolt of electricity, buzz and excitement from the theatre community at large. Fear no more, indeed.
Stage, screen, and cabaret star Julie Wilson passed away yesterday, April 5, from complications from two recent stokes. She was 90 years old. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through the last two decades of her versatile career.
Yesterday we revealed that Betty Buckley and Peter Polycarpou had joined the starry cast of the one-night-only FOLLIES concert in London at the Royal Albert Hall. Today we've confirmed that Buckley will play 'Carlotta', singing the Sondheim classic 'I'm Still Here'!
Paper Mill Playhouse has announced complete casting for the world-premiere musical Ever After, directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It), featuring a book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music by Zina Goldrich.
BWW caught up with the busy artist just days before the 87th ACADEMY AWARDS airs live on February 22nd, to find out what's in store for this year's ceremony, and get the behind-the-scenes scoop on NBC's PETER PAN LIVE and more!
Lyrics & Lyricists gets going on the opening show of its 45th season with 'A Good Thing Going: The Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince Collaboration' beginning tonight, January 10, and continuing January 11 and 12.
Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent.
Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.
Lyrics & Lyricists gets going on the opening show of its 45th season with 'A Good Thing Going: The Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince Collaboration' on January 10, 11 and 12. Artistic director David Loud, himself a frequent Sondheim collaborator, explores the 1970-1981 partnership behind the groundbreaking musicals Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd and Merrily We Roll Along - with cast members Kate Baldwin, Heidi Blickenstaff, Liz Callaway, James Clow, Jason Danieley, and Jeremy Jordan.
The Broadway Theater Workshops-Lower Hudson Valley Youth Chorus will present NO ONE IS ALONE, it's 2nd Annual Holiday Benefit to help families in need, featuring songs from Broadway as well as holiday favorites, on Sunday, December 21st in Montvale, New Jersey.
The Collegiate Chorale presents the New York City premiere of Eric Idle and John Du Prez's Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) at Carnegie Hall, tonight and tomorrow, December 15-16, 2014 at 8pm.
Don't Quit Your Night Job, the longest-running variety show featuring Broadway Stars since The Ziegfeld Follies, awakened from hibernation just in time to present the Don't Quit Your Night Job Holiday Spectacular! at 54 Below last night. Check out photos below!
54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 'The Sound Of Music Nuns' Christmas Party' tonight, December 12, 2014 at 9:30 pm.
Lyrics & Lyricists gets going on the opening show of its 45th season with "A Good Thing Going: The Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince Collaboration" on January 10, 11 and 12. Artistic director David Loud, himself a frequent Sondheim collaborator, explores the 1970-1981 partnership behind the groundbreaking musicals Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd and Merrily We Roll Along - with cast members Kate Baldwin, Heidi Blickenstaff, Liz Callaway, James Clow, Jason Danieley, and Alan H. Green.
Don't Quit Your Night Job, the longest-running variety show featuring Broadway Stars since The Ziegfeld Follies, awakens from hibernation just in time to present the Don't Quit Your Night Job Holiday Spectacular!!!, tonight, December 11 at 11:30PM at 54 Below.
The Collegiate Chorale presents the New York City premiere of Eric Idle and John Du Prez's Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) at Carnegie Hall, December 15-16, 2014 at 8pm.
Happy Birthday, Graciela Daniele! As a performer, Daniele made her Broadway debut in What Makes Sammy Run? in 1964. She studied with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham while working with such luminaries as Bob Fosse, Agnes de Mille, and Michael Bennett, who hired her to assist him with Follies in 1971. Her first credit as a full-fledged choreographer was the 1979 revival of The Most Happy Fella. She has directed and/or choreographed several musicals of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, including, most recently, The Glorious Ones (2007) and Dessa Rose (2005) at the Off-Broadway Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. She has directed and/or choreographed several musicals of Michael John LaChiusa Off-Broadway, most recently Bernarda Alba (2006) and Little Fish (2003).
The feature film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fairy tale musical INTO THE WOODS is coming to movie theaters nationwide on Christmas Day and BroadwayWorld celebrates the man behind the music with a new series highlighting the work of iconic composer and lyricist, continuing today with a look at his work in the 1970s and 1980s.
Don't Quit Your Night Job, the longest-running variety show featuring Broadway Stars since The Ziegfeld Follies, awakens from hibernation just in time to present the Don't Quit Your Night Job Holiday Spectacular!!!, Thursday, December 11 at 11:30PM at 54 Below. Special guests will include 16-time Grammy Award winner Sting (The Last Ship), Josh Radnor (Disgraced, 'How I Met Your Mother'), Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin), Derrick Baskin (Piece of My Heart), Alex Brightman (Matilda), Jenn Colella, (If/Then), Erin Davie (Side Show), Dion Flynn (Obama on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'), Asmeret Ghebremichael (The Book of Mormon), Jason Kravits (Relatively Speaking, Lords of the Playground), Maurice Murphy(Motown), Emily Padgett (Side Show), Alysha Umphresss (On The Town), Kate Wetherhead(Submissions Only, The Other Josh Cohen), and more, joining creators Steve Rosen, Sarah Saltzberg, andmusic director Dan Lipton, with a visit from creator David Rossmer.
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 'The Sound Of Music Nuns' Christmas Party' on December 12, 2014 at 9:30 pm. It's been one year since you saw them on national TV in THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE!, but these sisters have reunited and are hosting the season's best and most irreverent Christmas party! Celebrate the season at 54 Below with an evening of holiday spirit, majestic choral singing and hilarious storytelling from some of the finest female voices on Broadway. Featuring Cameron Adams, Wendi Bergamini, Catherine Brunell, Paula Leggett Chase, Margot de La Barre, Rayanne Gonzales, Joy Hermalyn, Leah Horowitz, Autumn Hurlbert, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Jessica Molaskey, Sydney Morton, Elena Shaddow, Laura Shoop, Georgia Stitt and Rema Webb.
In advance of Classic Stage Company's rare production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1947 musical Allegro, CSC's artistic director Brian Kulick and Tony Award-winning director John Doyle lead a conversation on the legendary team's most personal, groundbreaking and little-known work. The discussion also includes Ted Chapin, president and executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, and cast members George Abud, Claybourne Elder, and Jane Pfitsch.
In advance of Classic Stage Company's rare production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1947 musical Allegro, CSC's artistic director Brian Kulick and Tony Award-winning director John Doyle lead a conversation on the legendary team's most personal, groundbreaking and little-known work. The discussion also includes Ted Chapin, president and executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, and cast members George Abud, Claybourne Elder, and Jane Pfitsch.
The new Broadway revival of On The Town, directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') officially opens tonight, Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). BroadwayWorld wants you to get to know the talented cast of Broadway's latest revival. Meet the company below!
BroadwayWorld.com reported yesterday the sad news that actress, singer and stage veteran Polly Bergen died today at her home in Connecticut, at 84 of natural causes. The star was surrounded by friends and family at the time of her passing. Today, we take a look back at photos of the star, taken by BWW's Walter McBride.
In a recent interview with Gotham Magazine, Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss revealed hopes of one day starring in Sunset Boulevard. She told Gotham: 'I've seen it twice, once with Glenn Close, the other time with Patti LuPone. Then I basically lived out my life waiting to get old enough to play that part. I also remember seeing The Will Rogers Follies. It was just such a great, old-fashioned, sad musical. I like sad musicals.'
An official announcement has not yet been made.
Principal casting has been announced for the upcoming world premiere production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. The cast will include Robert Fairchild as Jerry Mulligan, Leanne Cope as Lise Dassin, Veanne Cox as Madame Baurel, Jill Paice as Milo Davenport, Brandon Uranowitz as Adam Hochberg, and Max Von Essen as Henri Baurel.
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