Finian's Rainbow Photos - New York

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.

Ivoryton favorite Bruce Connelly returns to the Playhouse stage tonight, October 29th, in the hit Broadway show, Say Goodnight, Gracie. This stunning tour de force invites you to spend an hilarious, heart-warming evening in the uplifting company of the world's favorite and funniest centenarian, George Burns, who spanned one hundred years of American entertainment history. Say Goodnight, Gracie was Broadway's third longest running solo performance show and was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award for BEST PLAY and won the 2003-04 National Broadway Theatre Award for BEST PLAY. Scroll down for a first look at Connelly onstage!

Earlier this week, legendary actresses of stage and screen, Ruby Dee died at the age of 91. According to sources, the actress was at her home in New Rochelle, NY, surrounded by family members when she passed away.

Walnut Street Theatre's 2013-2014 Independence Studio on 3 season concludes with a musical fit for the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Written by Joe DiPietro, with music by Jimmy Roberts, and directed by Christopher Sutton, the production opened May 1st and continues through June 29th in the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3. Scroll down for new photos of the cast onstage!

Walnut Street Theatre's 2013-2014 Independence Studio on 3 season concludes with a musical fit for the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Written by Joe DiPietro, with music by Jimmy Roberts, and directed by Christopher Sutton, the production began with previews on April 29th, opens tonight, May 1st and continues through June 29th in the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The cast of Broadway's Big Fish gathered at Sardi's last night, December 20, to honor their fellow cast mate Kate Baldwin with her very own portrait. BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration and you can check out photo coverage below!

Broadway's new musical Big Fish will play its final performance on Sunday, December 29, 2013. This is your last chance to see two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can), Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (Giant, Finian's Rainbow) and Bobby Steggert (Giant, Ragtime) onstage at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). 50 uniformed members of the USO attended the show earlier this week and you can check out photos of them with the cast below!

BIG FISH has its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre in a limited 5-week engagement opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013. Check out the photo below of cast stars with Jimmy Buffett and Frank Marshall!

BIG FISH has its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5-week engagement opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below!

BIG FISH has its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5-week engagement beginning performances today, Tuesday, April 2, 2013, opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013. Tickets for the Chicago engagement on sale Monday, February 4, 2013.

Today, we're featuring Jennifer Cody and Lisa Gajda circa 2003.

BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, will open Sunday, October 6, 2013, at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Big Fish begins previews on Broadway Thursday, September 5, 2013. The artwork for the show has just been revealed. Check it out below!

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN begins previews on November 6th, opens on November 14th and runs through January 6th on the WST Mainstage.

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full cast this July for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block as Edwin Drood. Meet the whole cast in the video and bios below!

Billy Elliot's Tony Award-winning actor Gregory Jbara delighted students as their special 'surprise guest' during the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Intensive (Session One).

The Tony Award-winning Manhattan Theatre Club (Peter J. Solomon, Chairman of the Board; Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) dedicated its Broadway theatre the 'Samuel J. Friedman Theatre' on Thursday, September 4. The ceremony began at the theatre (261 West 47th Street at 8th Avenue) . MTC previously announced that it was renaming its Broadway home, until now known as the Biltmore Theatre, the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in recognition of the pioneering Broadway publicist.