I grew up in a musical family. My grandmother was my piano teacher and she actually lived with us pretty much my whole life until I moved to Nashville. I remember going to Davidson's Record Shop in Huntington, West Virginia and getting the the single to Let It Be and I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles.
20 years after Hairspray opened on Broadway, Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur is once again channeling Tracy Turnblad in Santa Bootcamp. BroadwayWorld caught up with Winokur to discuss working with Rita Moreno in the new film, how they 'doubled down on Christmas,' Hairspray's 20th anniversary, and more.
Tony Award winning playwrights Edward Albee and Harold Pinter, who have left indelible marks in world theatre, both give voice to the outlandish and amusing behavior of humans in many of their dark comedies. Pacific Resident Theatre is offering a retrospective of two of their early one acts in tandem, both first produced in 1960. Albee's Fam and Yam, set in an upper Eastside penthouse, examines an encounter between two unnamed playwrights, one famous, one not, offering Albee's biting wit and incisive satire at its best. In Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, two working-class hitmen wait in a basement for their next assignment. I decided to speak with Pacific Resident Theatre's Artistic Director, Marilyn Fox, about the production.
Jordan and Michelle are just days away from premiering their debut Halloween Extravaganza and Broadway World Cabaret has some behind-the-scenes details.
Actor, singer, teacher and chat show host Robert Bannon lands in the hot seat this week, as he prepares to go live at The Green Room 42, for a live recording.
Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran John Rubinstein performs in his first one-man show Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground at Theatre West opening October 22, 2022. This world premiere (co-produced in association with New Los Angeles Repertory Company) is directed by Peter Ellenstein. John carved out some time to answer a few of my queries.
Mark Morris and Ethan Iverson join creative forces for the world premiere of The Look of Love: An Evening of Dance to the Music of Burt Bacharach October 20, 2022 at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage. The Mark Morris Dance Group (costumed in Isaac Mizrahi) will be accompanied by their MMDG Music Ensemble (led by Ethan) with lead vocals by Broadway star Marcy Harriell. Ethan found some time between rehearsals to answer a few of my queries.
After a fully cancelled 2020 season and an out-door-under-a-tent 2021 season, the main stages at the Stratford Festival have finally seen some action this year. Over at the Festival Theatre, the Donna Feore choreographed and directed production of CHICAGO is a huge hit! Two major reasons for this are the phenomenal performances by the two leads. BWW had the opportunity to chat with Roxie and Velma themselves - Chelsea Preston and Jennifer Rider-Shaw, to find out what it has been like to finally do the show they had been waiting two years to mount.
A descendant of Motown royalty, Karla Gordy Bristol will present Motown: Celebrating The Music, The Magic, The Love October 1, 2022. This world premiere, created, produced and directed by Karla, will feature a panel and show that includes: Shelly Berger, Janie Bradford, Duke Fakir, William Goldstein, Iris Gordy, Brian Holland, Brenda Holloway, Thelma Houston, Miller London, Scherrie, Lynda & Susaye (Former Ladies of The Supremes), Martha Reeves, Paul Riser, Claudette Robinson, Smokey Robinson and Otis Williams. Pat Harvey acts as master of ceremonies, with Shadoe Stevens announcing and Patrice Rushen as panel moderator. Karla managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.
Cherry Poppins presents their one-nighter XOXO Euphoria Girl – A Burlesque Musical Parody September 26, 2022, at The Bourbon Room. The team of Alli Miller-Fisher, Chadd McMillan and Sarah Haworth-Hodges direct this Burlesque musical parody mashup set to chart-topping music with the cast of: Ty Deran, Kristyn Evelyn, Everjohn Feliciano, Bianca Gisselle, Emma Hunton, Carly Jibson, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Meredith Lim, Alli Miller-Fisher, Matthew Scott Montgomery, Shelly Regner, Sarah Wines, Lauren Avon and Brin Hamblin. Emma managed to carve out some time to answer a few of my queries.
BroadwayWorld talks to writer-performer Irma Herrera about 'Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?' which she has newly revised for a return engagement at The Marsh Berkeley running September 23 to October 21. Herrera uses humor to explore issues of othering and belonging, and ask what kind of society we want to be.
We're falling into fall with a great Broadway read! This season, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 25 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's fall reading list.
Broadway legend and film star, Brian Stokes Mitchell, will make his first appearance in East Lansing on 9/23 in Cobb Great Hall at the Wharton Center. The 2-time Tony Award winner with a 40-year career spanning Broadway and more is a highly versatile singer ready to give fans a memorable show, An Evening with Brian Stokes Mitchell.
In August, Transforming Space Over Time: Set Design and Visual Storytelling with Broadway’s Legendary Directors by Beowulf Boritt was released. After reading the book, I had the chance to speak with Beowulf about the book’s release and his years of experience as a set designer.
The creator of SONGBOOK SUNDAYS shares a conversation with Broadway World Cabaret about the thrilling new series that plays Dizzy's Club.
BroadwayWorld talks to playwright Jessica Dickey about TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's world premiere production of her frank and funny play 'Nan and the Lower Body' running July 13 to August 7 in Palo Alto.
Playwright Carolene Joy Cabrera King’s TOO MUCH SKIN will debut as part of SheLA’s annual Summer Theatre Festival July 15, 2022, at the Zephyr Theater. Carolene depicts the story of Filipino siblings navigating assimilation and battling stereotypes via the world of cosplay and videos. Carolene took some time from her rehearsals to answer a few of my SKIN queries.
Singing actress Caitie Frownfelter pays tribute to the Golden Age of Broadway and her Grandma with her nightclub debut.
BroadwayWorld talks to Broadway musical star Laura Benanti about her show at the Lesher Center for the Arts on June 25th. Effortlessly engaging and chatty, Benanti also talks about her amazingly varied career, having worked with everyone from Patti LuPone to Chita Rivera, Steve Martin, Richard Chamberlain and the late Rebecca Luker.
Summer is here at last and there is no better time to have fun in the sun with a new read! You're in luck, because this year, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind.
Reviewer Peter Nason counts down the greatest 101 YACHT ROCK HITS for your summertime listening pleasure.
Legendary Broadway performer and Tony, Academy, and Golden Globe Award winner Joel Grey (Cabaret, Wicked, Anything Goes) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Chita Rivera Awards.
Greenway Arts Alliance, in association with Two Sisters Media, presents the world premiere of Who Are You, written and performed by Shareen Mitchell, beginning May 13, 2022, with Kate Jopson directing this one-woman show. Shareen made some time to answer a few of my queries into her show, her fashion background and Two Sisters Media.
The final event of The Soraya’s 10th Anniversary Celebration - Broadway Celebrates The Soraya - features Broadway stars Eden Espinosa, Joshua Henry and Megan Hilty, backed by Richard Kaufman and the CSUN Symphony April 30, 2022. Megan was most gracious in finding time to answer a few of my queries.
Moving, heartfelt, and raw, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel draws on the musical’s story and gives readers deeper glimpses of the characters. It’s a story about the power of voicing your pain, standing up for what’s right, and finding healing and connection. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an excerpt from the book.
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