Today we are talking to the originator of leading roles in two iconic Tony Award-winning musicals of the 1990s and 2000s, RENT and AIDA, as well as a notable presence on the Great White Way in musicals such as CABARET, CHICAGO and MEMPHIS - the charismatic and steel-voiced Adam Pascal. Reflecting on his career highlights as part of Jonathan Larson's seminal rock musical RENT and how it defined an entire generation, Pascal opens up about his participation in the early stages of the show as well as comments on the enduring legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning musical in its 20th anniversary year. Furthermore, Pascal sheds some light on his other originating role in a Broadway musical as part of Elton John and Tim Rice's Disney stage musical AIDA, sharing observations on headlining a new musical of such epic proportions. Most importantly, Pascal previews what audiences can expect from his upcoming East Coast concerts coming up later this month and what sort of evening of story and song he has planned for his passionate fan-base. Additionally, Pascal reflects on his runs in a handful of revivals ranging from Kander & Ebb's long-running CHICAGO to the last Roundabout Theatre Company revival of CABARET as well as starring in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS. Plus, Pascal offers the 411 on his new self-penned stage adaptation of the unique M. Night Shyalaman superhero film UNBREAKABLE and what his plans are for the project currently in development. All of that, potential future roles he would like to take on someday soon, his upcoming feature films PUNK IS DEAD and THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL: HALLELUJAH, CHESS observations and much, much more with one of Broadway's most recognizable modern leading men!
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.
Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan created a one-woman show called LATE NIGHT CATECHISM back in 1993 which was based on the pair's experiences growing up Catholic in Chicago and on parochial school stories they heard from their families and friends. The show holds the record for the longest running religious comedy in Chicago's history. Its success inspired them to write sequels, including SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM: MYSTERY OF THE MAGI'S GOLD.
Today we are celebrating one of the most popular musicals of the modern age in honor of the new film version opening today, ANNIE!
Today we are analyzing all aspects of the brand new big screen edition of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS.
Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London's West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in Noel Coward's smash-hit comedic play 'Blithe Spirit' in an exciting North American tour to be launched at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre.
Broadway stalwart Jeff McCarthy joins the all-American cast of the Broadway musical CHICAGO, which is set to play Solaire Resort and Casino's The Theatre from next Wednesday, December 3, to Sunday, December 21. McCarthy will play the role of criminal lawyer Billy Flynn, alongside Bianca Marroquin's Roxie Hart, Terra C. MacLeod's Velma Kelly, Jacob Keith Watson's Amos Hart, Roz Ryan's Matron 'Mama' Morton, and C. Newcomer.
The 1997 flop with a big cult following returns with major revisions.
The completely reimagined revival of Side Show officially opens tonight, November 17, at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...
You could feel the excitement rising as the crowd began to enter the theatre; the pull of liquor and jazz tugging them towards their seats as the opening night of Chicago at San Francisco's SHN was about to begin. Filled with songs that have become Broadway classics, such as 'All That Jazz', 'Razzle Dazzle', 'Cell Block Tango,' and really the list goes on, the revival is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards, outperforming the 1976 original which received ten nominations but no wins. Celebrity murderesses, jazz, greed, lime light, and amazingly inspired Fosse style dancing - what could be better than a night of Chicago, playing now through November 16 at SHNSF's Orpheum Theatre.
Back in the late 1990's before vampires sparkled, there was a town called Sunnydale that was home to Buffy. She wasn't just an average teenage girl, she slayed vampires. Spun off from the 1992 movie of the same name, the TV series, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER ran from 1997 – 2003. A little known fellow by the name of Joss Whedon brought a new kind of heroine to our small screens and vampires were in our lives to stay.
The Geffen Playhouse announces its production of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord. Written by Scott Carter, executive producer and writer for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and Real Time, this whip-smart philosophical comedy features Larry Cedar (Deadwood, PBS's Square One TV), David Melville (Travel Channel Lawrence of America, film Ironclad) and Armin Shimerman (Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Associate Artistic Director at The Antaeus Company) and will be again helmed by director, Matt August (Broadway How the Grinch Stole Christmas). Discord begins previews tonight, October 7 with the press opening on October 15. The closing date is currently scheduled for November 16.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's Super October! Local productions of 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Titanic,' 'Parade' and 'The Wild Party' have folks excited! 'At Last' and 'Cole Porter's Greatest Hits' honor past artists, the Savoyaires mount 'The Grand Duke,' and Des Plaines goes 'Legally Blonde.' Colleges produce 'Into The Woods' and 'In The Heights, 'Amazing Grace' arrives downtown and more!
Folger Theatre launches its 2014/15 season in Rome with William Shakespeare's enduring political tragedy, Julius Caesar from October 28 - December 7, 2014. Robert Richmond (Richard III and Henry V at Folger) directs the epic portrait of the battle between ambition and honor, conspiracy and loyalty, leading an outstanding ensemble including Anthony Cochrane (Broadway's War Horse and Folger's Henry VIII) as the honorable Marcus Brutus, and Maurice Jones, making his Folger Theatre debut as Caesar's closest ally, Mark Antony.
I'm happy to confess that this piece was a total, happy accident.
Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London's West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in Noel Coward's smash-hit comedic play 'Blithe Spirit' in an exciting North American tour to be launched at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre.
The Geffen Playhouse announces its production of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord. Written by Scott Carter, executive producer and writer for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and Real Time, this whip-smart philosophical comedy features Larry Cedar (Deadwood, PBS's Square One TV), David Melville (Travel Channel Lawrence of America, film Ironclad) and Armin Shimerman (Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Associate Artistic Director at The Antaeus Company) and will be again helmed by director, Matt August (Broadway How the Grinch Stole Christmas). Discord begins previews on October 7 with the press opening on October 15. The closing date is currently scheduled for November 16.
Poetry has been with the author who goes by the pseudonym of The Virgin Poet as a way of expressing in a spontaneous manner his ideas that have been thoroughly contemplated. Through poetry, he is able to pass the necessary moments away from society and in individualism to later reintroduce it filled with artistic airs (whenever he is making descriptions) what he has taken from society. Other times, he uses poetry to dress his personal or adopted thoughts with aesthetic vigor, so that they can be seen in a more appealing way.
THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE, the world's best-selling touring magic show, will make its Broadway bow this fall at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway), beginning previews on November 26 and opening on December 4. It will play a strictly limited six-week engagement through January 4 2015 as part of a 30-city US tour. Tickets for THE ILLUSIONISTS go on sale today at www.ticketmaster.com.
Michael Cerveris, Isaiah Johnson, Randy Newman, Laura Osnes, Vonda Shepard, Brooklyn Shuck, Tony Vincent and Broadway Inspirational Voices have been cast in Randy Newman's Faust: The Concert, which will be performed tonight, July 1 as the second Encores! Off-Center presentation of the 2014 season. Faust will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Marcos Santana. Jeanine Tesori is the Encores! Off-Center artistic director; Chris Fenwick is its music director.
Last summer Beach Haven's Surflight Theatre came back from superstorm Sandy with a superb production of 'Les Miserables' starring Broadway's Bart Shatto as Jean Valjean. This summer, Broadway's got 'Les Mis,' but luckily the beach still has Bart. Shatto currently stars as not one, but two 19th century protagonists, 'Jekyll & Hyde,' in Frank Wildhorn's 1997 musical sensation. It's almost as if he were playing Valjean and Javert. If such a thing were possible, Shatto would be the man to do it.
Michael Cerveris, Isaiah Johnson, Randy Newman, Laura Osnes, Vonda Shepard, Brooklyn Shuck, Tony Vincent and Broadway Inspirational Voices have been cast in Randy Newman's Faust: The Concert, which will be performed on July 1 as the second Encores! Off-Center presentation of the 2014 season. Faust will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Marcos Santana. Jeanine Tesori is the Encores! Off-Center artistic director; Chris Fenwick is its music director.
Grab the umbrellas! Audiences will be delighted by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Singin' in the Rain, May 30-June 8 at the Benedum Center. A talented cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans will take this feel-good movie-musical off the silver screen and on to the Benedum Center stage.
Grab the umbrellas! Audiences will be delighted by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Singin' in the Rain, May 30-June 8 at the Benedum Center. A talented cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans will take this feel-good movie-musical off the silver screen and on to the Benedum Center stage.
Oscar-nominated actor and founding Wooster Group member Willem Dafoe and legendary performer Mikhail Baryshnikov are a dapperly dressed odd couple, forced to deal with the most inconsiderate of corpses in this surreal melding of absurdism, pitch- black comedy, and vaudeville from iconic director Robert Wilson, THE OLD WOMAN.
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