Jessica Lewis - Page 106

The producers of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN announced today that the 2011 Tony Award-nominated Best Musical will launch its first national tour in the fall of 2012 at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI.

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark unveiled the first in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the newly revamped production on May 20 on 'Nightline' along with a sneak peek on 'World News with Diane Sawyer'. For the segments, correspondent Cynthia McFadden attended rehearsals for the new production and interviewed composers Bono and The Edge, director Philip William McKinley, and actors Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, and Christopher Tierney, among others involved with the production. The story also featured never-before-seen footage of the actual show. Click below to hear what Bono and Edge have to say about the new production, what they've learned, and how their first crack was perhaps a bit too hubristic.

Kirstie Alley is back in the spotlight due to her success on 'Dancing with the Stars.' As previously reported, the actress has been vocal about her her desire to take her talents to the Broadway stage in a play. On last night's episode, Alley revealed that she may be one step closer to the dream, as she has already been offered a role. As reported in EW.com, she stated: 'I was offered a Broadway play...I'm not going to do it, because my friends said, `don't do one if you can't get a Tony!' But I am tempted. There a couple I want to do.' She revealed no further details about the gig.

Play Dead, the Off-Broadway comic thriller co-written and directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and co-written & performed by Todd Robbins is now playing an open-ended run at The Player's Theater. The recipient of a 2011 Drama Desk nomination for Unique Theatrical Experience, the show also features Geri Berman, Charlotte Pines, Drea Lorraine and Don Meehan. BroadwayWorld was recently invited into Robbins' lair backstage at Play Dead. Click below for the tour...if you dare.

The Awards ceremony was hosted by Harvey Fierstein last night at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Center! BroadwayWorld was updating the winners list live throughout the evening.

The first ever Tony Award Documentary Film Series launched May 9 as part of the 2011 Tony Awards Showcase at the Times Square Visitors Center and Mini-Museum. The Tony Award Documentary Films Series features three films that examine what it's like to be behind-the-scenes on a Tony-eligible Broadway musical. The first film to be screened was Finding Billy, taking viewers on the journey in the search for the young male leads in Billy Elliot the Musical. The screening was immediately followed by a panel discussion comprised of moderator Nora Brennan (Children's Casting Director for Billy Elliot), and Broadway cast members Tade Biesinger (Billy), Jacob Clemente (Billy), Stephen Hanna (Older Billy), and Joel Hatch (George). BroadwayWorld brought you a glimpse of the panel discussion then. Today, we bring a look at the second talkback in the series which took place last week, May 16, following a screening of Every Little Step, which follows the real-life dancers as they struggled through auditions for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. The film also takes a look at the history of the show and the creative minds behind the original and revival Broadway shows. This panel was moderated by John Breglio, Every Little Step executive producer, and producer of the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. Panalists included Baayork Lee, the original 'Connie' from the 1976 Tony Award-winning production of A Chorus Line and choreographer for the 2006 revival, and Donna McKechnie, who won the Tony Award for her performance as 'Cassie' in the original 1976 production of A Chorus Line.

Interested in joining BroadwayWorld's worldwide network of published authors? BroadwayWorld.com is now accepting inquiries for Connecticut Contributing Editor positions! Applicants should be industry enthusiasts and have an interest in giving local theater prominence on the largest theater site on the net.

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ('American Idol,' Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

On May 23, more than 2,500 employees, friends and benefactors of New York Hospital Queens will celebrate the extraordinary contributions of entrepreneur Eugene M. Lang, who created diverse manufacturing enterprises, participated in trade and economic policy missions for the U.S. and is nationally heralded for his philanthropic endeavors in education and health care. New York Hospital Queens will honor him for his longstanding service and support of the hospital.

BroadwayWorld has learned that today, May 20, Ars Nova is hosting a private industry reading of Nick Blaemire's When the World Ends, a new musical for which he wrote the book, music and lyrics. Blaemire is best known for penning Broadway's Glory Days and performing in Cry Baby on Broadway. The reading is being directed by John Simpkins and musical directed by Jesse Vargas, who also did the arrangements.

The New York Post reports this morning that U2's Bono and Edge are in talks with producers at American Idol to perform songs from the newly revamped SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK on the show's finale. According to the report on Page Six, Bono is also attempting to arrange for Spidey's stars to perform with him on the Idol stage. The two nigh season finale airs next Tuesday and Wednesday at 8pm EST on FOX.

Transport Group Theatre Company, the winner of a special Drama Desk Award and two OBIE Awards, began previews for the New York premiere of Lysistrata Jones, a new musical with a book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn, and directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges on Sunday May 15 on the basketball court of the Judson Memorial Church Gymnasium. The show officially opens on Sunday, June 5.

This spring, Jump, the internationally-renowned live-action martial arts comedy created by Yegam, Inc. Productions, comes to New York in a new production featuring new music, new plot twists and a new cast of hilarious martial artists. Presented by Show & Arts USA, LLC., Jump, begans performances Off-Broadway at New World Stages on Wednesday, May 11. Opening night is Thursday, June 23. Click below for a performance preview of Jump!

Writer Damon Runyon invented Broadway - and Broadway invented the American Musical! Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will open its 2011 Nutmeg Summer Series with the classic American musical, Guys and Dolls based on Runyon's comic tales of Broadway running June 2-12 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre (Lower Jorgensen).

Rainbow Valley, a musical adaptation of the seventh book in L. M. Montgomery's beloved 'Anne of Green Gables' series, will have a staged reading of Act One on May 19 at 6:30pm as part of Emerging Artists Theatre's 7th Annual New Works Series.

Paper Mill Playhouse will open its 2011-2012 season with the premiere of a new Disney stage musical, Newsies. Featuring music by eight time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, The Little Mermaid), lyrics by Jack Feldman and a new book by four-time Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy), Newsies is adapted for the stage from the live-action Disney feature film musical. The production is being directed at Paper Mill by Tony® nominee Jeff Calhoun (The Will Rogers Follies, Grey Gardens). The show begins performances on Thursday, September 15. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, September 25. Recently, BroadwayWorld stopped by the Newsies open call in New York City and went inside the audition room. Click below to watch the men's dance call and hear from Calhoun and the show's choreographer, Christopher Gattelli!

Yesterday, May 18, CBS Television Network hosted its 2011 Upfront at Lincoln Center in New York City. The annual gathering reveals the shows that will continue in the upcoming season and introduces the new additions to the line up. Staples such as The Good Wife, Survivor, CSI and How I Met Your Mother return. New additions include Person Of Interest and Unforgettable.

Broadway and off Broadway producer Randall L. Wreghitt has passed away, according to his production company website. A message posted on the homepage reads: 'Hello friends, our beloved Randall passed away early this morning. All arrangements are pending as of now and we will keep you posted.'

On Monday, May 16, the FOX 2011 Upfront event was held at the Wollman Rink in Central Park in New York City. The event revealed which shows are returning, which are being cut from the network line-up and introduced the new upcoming series. Audiences can, of course, expect the return of GLEE and American Idol and will be seeing the premieres of The X Factor, and new comedies with Katie Finneran and more.

Yesterday, May 17, 'The Beaver' film, starring Jodi Foster and Mel Gibson premiered at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the photo call below.