Jessica Lewis - Page 90

President Barack Obama was in New York City yesterday to begin fundraising for his 2012 re-election campaign. As part of the visit, he invited potential endorsers to a performance of SISTER ACT as part of an event hosted by producer Whoopi Goldberg. Tickets for the special performance and evening event ranged from $250 to $10,000 (the latter of which includes a photo shoot with the President). Click below to hear from the President following the show, praising the performance and discussing equal rights and the challenges and hope facing our future.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that a musical based on the famed 1950s television series The Honeymooners. A reading directed by Jerry Mitchell will take place today starring Jim Belushi (Ralph), Peter Scolari (Norton), Rachel York (Alice) and Helene Yorke (Trixie). The Honeymooners follows Ralph (originally played by Jackie Gleason) as an everyman and an underdog who struggled to make a better life for himself and his wife, but who ultimately failed due to his own shortcomings.

As previously reported, an Annie remake is in the works, produced by Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jay-Z and partners, and starring the Smith's youngest, Willow. No other casting has been revealed (Willow has, however, expressed her wish for Brad Pitt to step into the shoes of Daddy Warbucks), and while for a time it seemed GLEE's Ryan Murphy was in talks to direct, it appears those talks are off, according to published reports. Today, New York Magazine reveals that Will Smith has called upon Emma Thompson, with whom he is currently starring in Men in Black III, to readapt John Huston's screenplay for the latest reincarnation of the famous story.

Stage and screen star Brooke Shields will join THE ADDAMS FAMILY in the role of Morticia beginning Tuesday, June 28 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre. Two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will play her final performance in the role on Sunday, June 26. Ms. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as Gomez. Shields has been making the promotional rounds this week and stopped by The View yesterday to talk about stepping into the iconic persona.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto has just announced that the World Premiere of the musical A Room with a View, with a book by Marc Acito, music by Jeffrey Stock (Triumph of Love) and lyrics by Acito and Stock, will complete the Globe's 2011-12 Winter Season. Scott Schwartz will direct the new work based on the classic novel by E.M. Forster. A Room with a View will run in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, March 2 - April 8, 2012. Opening night is Saturday, March 10.

As previously reported, Wednesday night was to mark the 100th performance of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, but after a delay of just over one-hour, the show was cancelled. The audience was informed twice via announcements that there was a delay, followed by an onstage apperance by Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette who told the audience that the performance would not be taking place, citing a 'tragedy within the company.' It has since been revealed that the tragedy was the death of a 29-year old carpenter for the show due to an apparent accidental drug overdose (the official cause of death has not yet been declared). The stagehand's name has not been released and an investigation took place at the show's home at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre today. The LA Times has now reported that according to one law enforcement official, 'at least a dozen packets that had contained heroin' were found in the stagehand's work area. The man was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital last night.

Following a critically acclaimed season which included the World Premiere of Lynn Nottage's hit comedy, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, Second Stage Theatre has announced three of the four mainstage productions in the company's upcoming 33rd season.

Front Row Productions has announced that the world-renowned film composer and trumpet player Terence Blanchard will compose the original musical soundscape for the upcoming Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Emily Mann, starring Blair Underwood and opening in the spring of 2012.

The 2011 Muny Season kicked off this week with the Muny premiere of LEGALLY BLONDE (June 20 - 26). Next, the Cole Porter favorite KISS ME, KATE (June 27 - July 3) will grace the stage. Following will be the Muny and St. Louis premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (July 6 - 14), opening Wednesday, and featuring 2 extra performances! Tapping its way across the Muny stage next will be SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (July 18 - 24). Complete casting for KISS ME, KATE has been announced!

Yesterday, June 22, Billy Elliot welcomed their 1,500,000th audience member at matinee performance. As patrons entered the theatre, tickets were scanned and the lucky, 1.5Mth audience member was revealed during the curtain call. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the celebration and brings you the curtain call speech below!

As BroadwayWorld announced yesterday, screenvision, the leading innovator in cinema advertising, has added extended dates for its limited presentation of the New York Philharmonic's critically acclaimed, all-star revival of Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical, Company. Due to the overwhelming response of the movie theater audience of the sold-out production, now more fans have the opportunity to see this once in a lifetime revival of classic musical theater. COMPANY will receive a special screening at the famous Ziegfeld Theatre this Sunday, June 26th. In honor of this special event, Screenvision will host a Q & A session with COMPANY's award-winning director, Lonny Price, for all attendees immediately following the on-screen presentation.

Quidam had its world premiere in Montreal under the Big Top in April 1996. Since that time, the production has toured on five continents and been experienced by millions of people. In December 2010, Quidam embarked on a new journey, performing the same captivating production, but now in arenas throughout North America and Canada.The international cast features 52 world-class acrobats, musicians, singers and characters. The production opened in Ottawa on June 21, 2011 for an 11 show run. BroadwayWorld brings you production shots below.

As previously reported, President Barack Obama has chosen SISTER ACT for his first Broadway fundraiser of his re-elction campaign. The event, which will be held today, will be hosted by SISTER ACT producer Whoopi Goldberg. Tickets for the special performance range from $250 to $10,000 (the latter of which includes a photo shoot with the President). Also while in town, Obama will host a second fundraiser with the gay community. Justin Bieber will also be in town for promotional appearances, further adding to the expected traffic gridlock in midtown today.

Producers Julian Schlossberg and Letty Aronson have announced that Caroline Aaron, Bill Army, Lisa Emery, Ari Graynor, Steve Guttenberg, Danny Hoch, Julie Kavner, Fred Melamed, Grant Shaud and Marlo Thomas will star in the ensemble cast of the world premiere production of RELATIVELY SPEAKING, three one-act comedies by the prolific writing trio of Ethan Coen, Elaine May and Woody Allen, and directed by John Turturro.

The MUNY's production of Legally Blonde The Musical opened June 20 and runs through June 26. Marc Bruni and Rusty Mowery are recreating the original Broadway direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Lauren Ashley Zakrin stars as Elle Woods, with Matthew Hydzik starring as as Warner Huntington III, Sara Sheperd as Vivienne Kensington, D. B. Bonds as Emmett Forrest, Ken Land as Professor Callahan, Lisa Howard as Paulette, Tiffany Engen as Serena, Taylor Louderman as Margot, K. B. Hart as Pilar, and Nikki Snelson as Brooke Wyndham. The first production photos have been released and appear below!

To celebrate the World Premiere of Zarkana, the major new acrobatic spectacle from Cirque du Soleil at Radio City Music Hall, Serendipity 3 has created the unique and over-the-top Zarkana Sundae, available exclusively at Serendipity 3 for a limited time. Zarkana characters in full show costume and make-up officially unveiled the new sundae today and BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage below.

Screenvision, the leading innovator in cinema advertising, announced additional, extended dates for its limited presentation of the New York Philharmonic's critically acclaimed, all-star revival of Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical, Company. Due to the overwhelming response of the movie theater audience of the sold-out production, now more fans have the opportunity to see this once in a lifetime revival of classic musical theater.

Givenik.com recently launched the Givenik Ambassadors program. Through the website as part of the program, cast members of hit shows are able to discuss the causes and charities they support in short video blogs. The series has kicked off with Reeve Carney (Spider-Man) in support of Partnership for the Homeless, Joel Grey (Anything Goes, The Normal Heart) in support of Friends In Deed, and Rory O'Malley (The Book Of Mormon) in support of Broadway Impact. Click below to hear from Carney on why he suppoers The Partnership for the Homeless and how you can help.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced full details and casting for the first ever UK & Ireland tour of the hit musical comedy SISTER ACT, which will open at the Manchester Opera House on Thursday 29 September with a Gala night for Press on Tuesday 4 October.

More than 20 world class shows took to the stage in Trafalgar Square this past weekend for the seventh West End LIVE. The annual free entertainment festival wass presented by Westminster City Council in partnership with the Society of London Theatre. The event showcased the best of the West End's theatre and entertainment including performances from West End LIVE favourites Billy Elliot - The Musical, Wicked, Jersey Boys and Priscilla Queen of the Desert to brand new shows such as The Wizard of Oz, Shrek the Musical, Betty Blue Eyes and Ghost The Musical. Click below to go backstage at the concert with Reelkandi TV!