Orlando Interviews - Page 3

As the school year begins again we get a fresh crop of productions from our local colleges. To kick off this season Rollins College presents THE FOREIGNER. Grace Zottig is a senior and is gaining some hands on experience at directing alongside Thomas Ouellette. Grace took some time out of her busy s...

Music and theater come together in TheatreWorks Florida's latest production ROCK OF AGES. This show promises to be a rock concert and feel good American story. Director, choreographer, and TheatreWorks Florida's artistic producer, Scott A. Cook takes a few moments out of his busy rehearsal schedule ...

Tommy Heller has wanted to work in theatre ever since he can remember. “When I was six I saw a production of “The Christmas Carol” where I grew up in Long Island and I was totally entranced by the whole thing. That's when I knew – I just knew that theatre was going to be my thing.” Heller says. Hell...

The Rollins College theater season comes to a close with DETROIT. This play's plot and theme seems all too real for many Americans as it highlights life as an adult and the challenges we face. Playwright Lisa D'Amour came to Rollins College to speak about the play and see the first performances. Sho...

Though there are obvious similarities, the life of a professional ballet dancer and the life of a musical theatre actor are quite different. From the physical demands to the number of performances, transitioning from one to the other is no small feat.  Just ask Jennifer Winton, who plays Johnny C...

Beginning tonight at Orlando's Mad Cow Theatre, their third annual Science Play Festival begins at 8:00pm with a reading of Sarah Treem's play about evolution THE HOW AND THE WHY. On Friday night, there will be a reading of Nick Payne's Broadway hit CONSTELLATIONS, and Mad Cow will close the festiva...

For over 25 years, STOMP's unique blend of percussion, dance, and theatricality has been thrilling audiences around the world. After launching in the UK in 1991, STOMP has been playing Off-Broadway since 1994 and touring across the globe ever since. A cultural phenomenon, STOMP has performed at the ...

Long before Facebook and the Internet, women gathered at host's house to chat and buy Tupperware at widely popular Tupperware parties. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing and . While this practice has mostly moved online, there are still a few out there who prefer the face-to-face interaction. Di...

The word 'kinky' doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about family-friendly entertainment. However, with the Tony-winning musical KINKY BOOTS, playing at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday, February 28th, that's exactly what you've got. Based on a 2005 British...

Salem, McCarthyism, witch hunts, high-school literature, Winona Ryder… all phrases that come to mind when someone mentions the 1953 Arthur Miller play, THE CRUCIBLE.  As we enter Central Florida Community Arts' opening weekend for this classic drama, BroadwayWorld got together with Director, Donald ...

There are few titles in the American Musical cannon that are as beloved as GUYS AND DOLLS. The show about loveable gangsters and gamblers in 1920s and 30s New York has been thrilling audiences around the world since 1950. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burro...

There is something both familiar and jarring about the brand new North American tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, running at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday, January 10th. While the beloved musical about a nun turned governess still has all of the iconic songs by Richa...

When the glorious national tour of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC sets up shop at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts tonight, it will be a homecoming of sorts for one of the show's leading ladies. Though Teri Hansen, who plays the Baroness Elsa Schr...

Pull out your party hats and noisemakers Orlando, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is hosting one heck of a New Year's Eve party this year. To celebrate the end of 2015, the Dr. Phillips Center is welcoming Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth and Special Guest, stage and screen sta...

The holidays are a time when families come together around some of their most beloved traditions. From caroling on Christmas Eve, to hot chocolate around the tree, to snuggling under a blanket to watch your favorite Christmas movie, there is something reassuring about our favorite holiday traditions...

Andy Huntington Jones plays Prince Topher in Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando 2015-2016 series opener CINDERELLA. Jones is no stranger to the show as he was a part of the Broadway cast. While CINDERELLA on Broadway officially closed earlier this year, it's legacy lives on throughout the tour....

Marshall Ellis founder ME Dance is no stranger to the Orlando dance scene. As a performer and choreographer turned entrepreneur, Marshall's life is filled with music, creativity and of course a little bit of chaos. ME Dance's newest production SERENITY illustrates those moments of noise and of peace...

If you've ever seen a show on Broadway or even professional companies touring nationally, you may have hear a curtain call speech requesting donations for a charity called Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This non-profit group uses the funds to help those suffering from HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS affects ...

Despite being one of the most respected performers on Broadway, Canaan also has a passion for bringing his experiences to young theatre lovers around the country. Having taught with Kid's Night on Broadway, Camp Broadway, Broadway Dreams, and the Jimmy Awards (a.k.a. The National High School Musical...

Meet the leads of Annie Russell Theatre's REEFER MADNESS, opening tomorrow, September 25th. Seniors MiKayla Phillips and Taylor Wright know what it's like to balance rehearsals, homework, and preparing for what is next. They are definitely not as naive as their characters Mary and Jimmy who find the...

Complaining about movie stars on Broadway has become a popular pastime for theatre folk, however, the occasional uproar hasn't stemmed the tide of A-listers looking to get back to, or establish, their legit roots. This theatrical divide is at the center of Theresa Rebeck's THE UNDERSTUDY, playing at...

Last weekend, Southern Winds Theatre presented the Central Florida Premiere of WOMEN PLAYING HAMLET by William Missouri Downs, directed by David McElroy. BroadwayWorld's Danielle Ashley sat down with the cast before opening night to find out more about the play and how UCF has prepared the three stu...

Dee Roscioli has a knack for playing powerful women. Having performed the role of WICKED's 'green girl' Elphaba more than any other woman, Roscioli is now taking on the mysterious Lady of the Lake in Orlando Shakespeare's production of Monty Python's SPAMALOT, running from September 9th-October 11th...

BWW @kmoy126 Interviews @OrlandoShakes hilarious Brad DePlanche #Spamalot Patsy #Coconuts...

Music director, Broadway producer, and skilled musician Michael J. Moritz Jr. will be spending this fall traveling the United States with one purpose in mind: teaching. To get the inside scoop on his US coaching tour, I sat down with Michael J. Moritz Jr., and we discussed his multifaceted career, t...

TheatreWorks Florida is known throughout the Orlando theater scene for putting on hit productions like Legally Blonde in 2012, Sweeney Todd in 2014, and Nunsense in 2013. If you've seen any of those shows you know that the quality of theater is best in the business. This year, TheatreWorks Florida w...

There are few shows in the American Musical Theatre cannon that are as intriguing as CARRIE THE MUSICAL. From it's legendary Broadway flop in 1988 to the re-worked Off-Broadway revival in 2012, despite its rocky history, CARRIE fascinated theatre-goers. Last week, Clandestine Arts opened the musical...

In 2007, Lin-Manuel Miranda's energetic love-letter to his neighborhood burst onto the Off-Broadway scene. From there, IN THE HEIGHTS went to Broadway, earning four Tony Awards and a Grammy, making Miranda a star. As the show's creator, composer, lyricist, and original star, Miranda has become one o...

Brent Wakelin is a Central Florida native and UCF graduate who is currently on tour in the ensemble with this production. Brent took a few moments between shows to answer a few of our questions....

In Orlando Shakespeare's final Classic Repertory Series, we meet the young ruler HENRY V in his quest for respect and ownership of France. Orlando Shakes veteran, John P. Keller, plays Henry and he took a moment out of his busy schedule to discuss his involvement in the show and other projects....

Currently playing at the Athens Theatre in DeLand is the classic musical YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Based off the comic strip made famous by Charles M. Schulz, the musical revolves around Charlie Brown and his group of friends. Here is a moment with Gabe Friedman, who plays Charlie Brown, to ...

The incredible talent and empowering storytelling of Broadway will soon be gracing Florida's shores with two star-studded performances of Jason Robert Brown's beloved 1995 musical SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD. On Friday, January 23rd, an all-star cast of Broadway favorites will perform this incredible show...

BWW Interviews Orlando-based playwright Rob Winn Anderson about his creative process and his new play CHRISTMAS BY COMMITTEE playing at The Garden Theatre....

As I've said numerous times in my reviews and recaps, I don't think there is a show on television more important for the future of the arts than SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. In addition to exposing the public to a much more emotionally honest and raw form of creativity than we are used to seeing in t...

One star of Orlando Shakespeare's LES MIS is Broadway veteran Davis Gaines. Davis plays the antagonist, Inspector Javert, who becomes obsessed with capturing Jean Valjean. Taking a break between dress rehearsals, Davis took the time to answer some of BroadwayWorld's questions....

ALICE LOST IN WONDERLAND is the newest Beth Marshall Presents, which will make it world premiere on October 18th, right here in Winter Garden, Florida. This is not your typical Alice in Wonderland story. Billed as a whimsical psychological thriller, this production promises to be a version of Alice ...

Just in time for Halloween, DRACULA: THE JOURNAL OF JONATHAN HARKER, is an original adaptation by Orlando Shakes very own Jim Helsinger from the Bram Stoker novel Dracula. Jonathan Harker must make a delivery to Castle Dracula and is captured by the mysterious Count. Can Jonathan survive the ordeal ...

Kicking off Theatre UCF's summer season is BOEING BOEING, a play originally written by Marc Camoletti and translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans. Set in Paris during the 1960's Bernard (Patrick Sylvester) happily juggles life with the aid of his maid (Kate Ingram) as a swinging bachelor with ...

QUAKE brings together Orlando-based actors, Kelly Kilgore and Justin L. Baldwin. BroadwayWorld.com recently sat down with Artistic Director of A.R.T. Co., Justin L. Baldwin to discuss QUAKE: A Love Story and its acceptance into the New York International Fringe Festival this summer....

Orlando Shakespeare recently announced its 25th anniversary season with promises that it will be the best and largest season yet. Over the past 25 years, Orlando Shakespeare debuted 17 world premieres and produced about 130 productions since 1989. PJ Albert is Orlando Shakespeare's Managing Director...