Nicole Rosky - Page 550

Today in 1989, the first Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd opened at the Circle inthe Square Theatre, where it ran for 188 performances. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 musical thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and libretto by Hugh Wheeler. Set in 19th century England, the musical tells the story of Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after 15 years' transportation on trumped-up charges. When he finds out that his wife poisoned herself after being raped by the judge who transported him, he vows revenge on the judge and, later, the whole world. He teams up with a piemaker, Mrs. Lovett, and opens a barbershop in which he slits the throats of customers and has them baked into pies.

Today in 1943, Porgy and Bess opened at the 44th Street Theatre, where it ran for 24 performances. First performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward, it was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward. All three works deal with African-American life in the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 1920s. Originally conceived by George Gershwin as an 'American folk opera', Porgy and Bess premiered in New York in the fall of 1935 and featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers-a daring artistic choice at the time.

Today in 2011, Follies opened at the Marquis Theatre, where it ran for 152 performances. Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The story concerns a reunion in a crumbling Broadway theatre, scheduled for demolition, of the past performers of the 'Weismann's Follies,' a musical revue (based on the Ziegfeld Follies), that played in that theatre between the World Wars. The musical was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won seven. The piece has enjoyed a number of major revivals, and several of its songs have become standards, including 'Broadway Baby', 'I'm Still Here', 'Too Many Mornings', 'Could I Leave You?', and 'Losing My Mind'.

Happy Birthday, Harry Connick, Jr. A star in music, theater, film and television, Connick recently won his second Emmy for musical direction of his live concert television special, 'Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway.' In 1990 he appeared in a sold-out concert series at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and in 2006, received a Tony nomination for his performance in the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game. He most recently starred on Broadway in the musical On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

Today in 2000, Cats closed at the Wintergarden Theatre, where it ran for 7485 performances. Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. Cats first opened in the West End in 1981 and then on Broadway in 1982, each time directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Gillian Lynne; it won numerous awards, including both the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Happy Birthday Tom Wopat! Wopat first appeared on the Broadway stage as a replacement in the 1977 musical I Love My Wife, as 'Wally'. He then appeared as a replacement in the stage musicals City of Angels, and Guys and Dolls. He finally appeared in the opening cast of the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun opposite Bernadette Peters, Susan Lucci and Crystal Bernard, who played Annie Oakley. In 2008, Wopat starred on Broadway as the father in the musical A Catered Affair, and received his second Tony nomination for that performance. Wopat recently originated the role of Frank Abignale, Sr. in the musical Catch Me if You Can.

Here at BroadwayWorld.com, we could not be more excited about the upcoming September 16release of the highly anticipated latest album, PARTNERS, from Broadway's greatest export, Barbra Streisand. In honor of the album's 12 brand new duets, we are counting down with 12 days of Barbra! To pre-order the album, click here for Amazon.com, iTunes.com or to order direct. Today, we're excited to bring you a roundup of video previews from the album, including behind the scenes clips with Michael Buble, Babyface and Billy Joel.

Barbra Streisand's next album, 'Partners', is coming on September 16th, featuring duets with with some of the most celebrated talents of the music industry. The new album, which is executive produced by Ms. Streisand and Jay Landers, is produced by 'Babyface' and Walter Afanasieff. Below, BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you the world premiere exclusive of a behind the scenes look at Streisand's recording session with her son, Jason Gould, as they sing 'How Deep Is the Ocean.'

Broadway leading lady Elena Shaddow makes her 54 Below solo debut tomorrow, September 6, in an exciting evening dedicated to her favorite contemporary composers. Below, check out a clip of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY's 'One Second and a MIllion Miles' as performed by Shaddow (who stood by for the role of Francesca) and composer Jason Robert Brown.

The Pulitzer Prize winning play Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar just began rehearsals tomorrow for its Broadway production this fall. Previews begin on September 27 and opening night is October 23 at the Lyceum Theatre, 149 West 45th Street. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Disgraced received Obie and Joseph Jefferson Awards. The company just met the press and you can check out interviews with the full gang below!

Happy Birthday Jerry Zaks! Zaks won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play and Drama Desk Award for directing The House of Blue Leaves, Lend Me A Tenor, and Six Degrees of Separation and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and Drama Desk Award for Guys and Dolls.

Today in 2009, 9 to 5 closed at the Marquis Theatre, where it ran for 148 performances. 9 to 5 is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick, based on the 1980 movie Nine to Five. Resnick had co-written the screenplay with Colin Higgins, the director of the film, in which Parton had her first screen role. The musical premiered at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in September 2008 and opened on Broadway on April 30, 2009. It was nominated for 15 Drama Desk Awards, the most received by a production in a single year. It was also nominated for four Tony Awards.

Today in 2000, Aida opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 1852 performances. Aida is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. Aida was nominated for five Tony Awards and won four Tony Awards in 2000, including Best Musical Score and Best Performance by a Leading Actress. Aida was also named by Time Magazine in 2000 as one of the top ten theatre productions of the year. The First National tour was nominated for nine National Broadway Theatre awards (now 'Touring Broadway Awards') and won five awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the Tony Award-winning musical Rodgers +Hammerstein's Cinderella will soon welcome film and television star Keke Palmer as Cinderella, Emmy Winner Sherri Shepherd as her wicked stepmother Madame, and Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning actress Judy Kaye as Cinderella's Fairy Godmother - beginning September 12 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) in New York City. The new cast just met the press and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand to chat with the new group of stars. Check out what they had to say about filling the glass slippers below!

Today in 2011, Catch Me If You Can closed at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 166 performances. Catch Me If You Can is a musical with a libretto by Terrence McNally and a theatrical score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It follows the story of con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. A majority of the plot is borrowed from the 2002 film of the same name, which in turn was based on Abagnale's 1980 autobiography. The production received four Tony Awards nominations, including one for Best Musical, winning Best Actor in a Musical for Norbert Leo Butz.

This fall, one of America's classic musical comedies is back on Broadway - On The Town, featuringTony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson and Clyde Alves. ON THE TOWN, the classic musical comedy love letter to New York City, will return to Broadway this fall in a critically acclaimed production directed by John Rando (Tony Award® for Urinetown) and choreographed byJoshua Bergasse. Bergasse makes his Broadway debut as a choreographer with the production. On The Town will begin previews on Saturday, September 20, 2014 and officially open on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). Tickets for the new Broadway revival of On The Town are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. The cast just met the press today and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the full gang about the production. Check out what they had to say and watch a performance sneak peek below!

Signature Theatre presents The Wayside Motor Inn by A.R. Gurney, directed by Lila Neugebauer. The production will now play through Sunday, September 28, 2014. The Wayside Motor Inn began performances on August 12 and opens this Thursday, September 4 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

Below, check out a just-released video featuring some backstage footage of Rannells and interviews with the whole HEDWIG team!

BroadwayWorld.com continues our exclusive content series, in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, which delves into the library's unparalleled archives, and resources. Below, Richard Ridge chats with Doug Reside (Lewis and Dorothy Cullman Curator for the Billy Rose Theatre Division) about some of the the library's extensive collection of digital and 3D items!

New York's funniest show Celebrity Autobiography welcomed to its cast stars of stage & screen Gina Gershon &Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Tony Award-winner Karen Ziemba (Bullets Over Broadway), Tony-nominated actor Santino Fontana (Act One, Cinderella), actress Lucy DeVito (star of HULU's 'Deadbeat' series) & Drama Desk-winners Eugene Pack & Dayle Reyfel for its August show in NYC on Monday, August 18 at 7pm at Stage 72 (158 West 72nd Street).