The American playwright Edward Albee's greatest glories came early in his career. When his first play, The Zoo Story, debuted in Provincetown, Mass., in 1960, he was called, as Gussow (cultural writer for the New York Times) puts it here, "our homegrown equivalent of Beckett." After his masterpiece, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was staged in 1962, Albee was heralded as the voice of his generation. Then came two decades of debilitating alcoholism and commercial and critical flops. However, his most recent play, 1997's Pulitzer Prize-winning Three Tall Women, has returned him to the spotlight. In this biography, Gussow demonstrates that Albee's life has always been riven with contradictions. The playwright's youthAborn in 1928, he was the adopted son of an extremely laconic owner of a chain of vaudeville theatersAwas unhappy. Perhaps as a result, Albee has always been drawn to idyllic images of family life in literature. Still, in his extensive interviews with Gussow, he describes his own escape from marriage and "two-and a half kids" with great relief. "What did I think I was doing?" Albee asks of his brief engagements. "I was going to bed with boys from age thirteen on and enjoyed it greatly." Nonetheless, Albee is still fuming about '60s critics who questioned his ability to understand family life, pigeonholing him as a "homosexual" writer whose female characters are either misogynistic travesties or stand-ins for male lovers. A friend and ex-lover of Albee's once complained of "forever trying to penetrate your iron curtain." Here, Gussow adroitly accomplishes that feat, never shying away from the complexities of the elusive playwright's troubled personality and his still potent artistic vision.
The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) has announced the release of 65 for the 65th, a celebratory publication honoring 65 directors and choreographers whose work has transformed the American theatre.
Craft Recordings has announced a pair of deluxe digital edition reissues celebrating the singer, songwriter, and actress Natalie Cole, on what would have been her 75th birthday year.
British arts journalist Charlotte Runcie just released her debut her debut novel, Bring the House Down. The book is about 'a theater critic at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe writes a vicious one-star review of a struggling actress he has a one-night stand with.'
Composer Sam Nasar and Producer Alexander Robertson hosted a release party for Nasar’s album, ‘Sam & Company’ at Disco Sally’s in Sir Henry’s Restaurant in New York. See photos here!
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Wicked has just received its 4X Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. In celebration, Decca Broadway will release its first-ever 2-LP picture disc release of the album.
Allison Charney's forthcoming album, ALIKE - My Mother's Dream, will make a bold and timely contribution to the classical music canon when it's released in August. Learn more here!
FUSONG, a new musical with book and lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson and music by Cecilia Lin, based on Geling Yan's searing novel, 'The Lost Daughter of Happiness', has just released a concept album. Learn more here!
With the original cast recording now streaming, we caught up with Dave Malloy and Lucy Kirkwood to discuss their musical of Roald Dahl's The Witches, which held its world premiere at the National Theatre in 2023.
Oasis have announced details of deluxe formats of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary. The release will hit shelves on October 3.
CENTER STAGE RECORDS will release Out of Myself – Songs of Peter Foley in streaming and digital formats in July. The album will feature Kate Baldwin, Melissa Errrico and more.
Mercury Studios, TH Entertainment, and Nashville PBS are set to release a DVD and Blu-ray release of Brenda Lee: “Rockin’ Around” on September 5, 2025.
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra has recorded Frank Wildhorn’s “Odessa Symphonie,' the full-length symphony by the Tony Award-nominated composer. Listen to it now.
In celebration of Pride 2025, New York Theatre Barn will release a concept album of the original musical Winner featuring Taylor Iman Jones and Jade McLeod. Learn more!
The official Wicked Instagram account has posted a new video, teasing a special edition re-release of the original Broadway cast recording featuring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.
YELLOW SOUND LABEL has released the new single from The Billy Joel Project, the debut album from The Broadway Ensemble. Listen to New York State of Mind here!
Tony Award-winning performer Cynthia Erivo has set the release of a new book, Simply More: A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They're Too Much, on November 18, 2025.
Tomorrow, Broadway Records is set to release the original London cast recording of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Ahead of the release, BroadwayWorld is excited to share an exclusive track from the recording, featuring the company performing the song One Day. Check it out now!
Rock legend Billy Idol is set for the release of new vinyl re-pressings of three classic albums: Charmed Life, Whiplash Smile, and his first-ever solo release, the Don’t Stop EP, are all due August 15.
Concord Theatricals Recordings will release Songs By An Immigrant Vol. 3, the highly anticipated third album by Jaime Lozano & The Familia, on streaming and digital download platforms. Learn more about the album here!
Warner Music Nashville and Rhino Records, along with Randy Travis, have announced the upcoming release of NOW PLAYING – Randy Travis, a new vinyl collection featuring 10 of the country icon’s most beloved songs.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Universal Pictures and Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 summer blockbuster, Jaws, UMe is releasing a limited-edition “Blood in the Water” splatter vinyl of the film's soundtrack.
GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS will release the CD of Real Women Have Curves: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording). Learn more about the musical and see how to listen here!
Following its debut on PBS's Great Performances in May, the official proshot of Broadway's Girl From the North Country will be making its way to physical media in the UK.
Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 24 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Summer 2025 reading list.
Recording artist Ricky Asc (currently starring on Broadway in Boop! The Musical under the name Ricky Schroeder) has released a song and music video just in time for the NYC Pride dancefloors. Learn more!
The Billy Joel Project, the debut album from The Broadway Ensemble – an 11-member cast with a combined 48 Broadway credits – has been released on streaming and digital formats Friday, July 11, with a CD edition to follow later this summer.
Boston-based vocalist Brian De Lorenzo will mark the release of his new album Toast of the Town, Volume 1 with a concert on Tuesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM at Club Café’s Moonshine Room. The performance will feature the Tom LaMark Orchestra, also featured on the album.
Theatre Communications Group has announced the upcoming publication of three acclaimed plays: Ain’t No Mo’ by Jordan E. Cooper, Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee, and Public Obscenities by Shayok Misha Chowdhury.
Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo, the theater poster designer whose imagery defined decades of Broadway hits, has released a new novel. Learn more about 'Scenery of the Crime”, the first in the Retro Broadway Mystery Series.
Broadway performer and rising recording artist Omar Madden has officially released his debut EP, Thoughts & Feels, now available on all major streaming platforms.