Aaron Tveit News

DEFYING GRAVITY: the songs of Stephen Schwartz played at Sydney's Theatre Royale February 12-13. The event, celebrating the composer's incredible body of work, was headlined by two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster (Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Aaron Tveit.

Now that we are a full two weeks removed from Fox's first foray into the world of live, televised musicals, I think it is time to look back at the lessons learned from GREASE: LIVE. Though I hailed it as a rousing success in my review, on Broadway Radio's 'This Week on Broadway,' and on BWW's 'Some Like it Pop' podcast, there are a fair number of critics and viewers that had perfectly reasonable hesitations. Whether it was occasional sound issues, too strict a reliance on the film for inspiration, the wonky new song, or uneven performances, I am fine with acknowledging those shortcomings; but to me, there are three things that made GREASE: LIVE the most entertaining and artistically satisfying live musical of this recently reinvigorated phenomenon.

It was every music theatre nerd's dream come true: Broadway legends from Australia and the States converging in Sydney to give intimate treatment to the songs of one of our generation's most acclaimed songwriters. Stephen Schwartz's inimitable music is almost unarguably sure to have passed your lips at some point in the decades he has been active as a treasure of theatre and film. The Academy and Grammy Award-winning composer is best known for his touches on Disney's Pocahontas, as well as contributions to famed musicals Godspell, Pippin and - perhaps most notably - Wicked.

Freaking out over Sutton Foster coming to Gilmore Girls? Trying hard to win the online #Ham4Ham? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'

Below, Tveit stops by Sydney's 'Morning Show' to chat about the upcoming concert, his new TV series, and his past costars!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: Sandy Duncan flies back to Neverland, big Broadway names head to Oz to celebrate Stephen Schwartz, and more!

DEFYING GRAVITY: the songs of Stephen Schwartz is the world premiere concert production that is set to become the most exciting musical theatre event down under, playing at Sydney's Theatre Royale February 12-13. This event celebrating this incredible body of work is headlined by two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster (Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Aaron Tveit (Les Miserables movie, Next To Normal, Catch Me If You Can) who will appear alongside internationally renowned West End star Joanna Ampil (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Cats), Helpmann Award winner Helen Dallimore (Blood Brothers, Legally Blonde) and David Harris(Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde) who is returning to Australia for this event.  Making a very special guest appearance is Tony Award winning Broadway, TV and film icon Betty Buckley (Cats, Pippin, Sunset Boulevard, Carrie) in her debut Sydney performance.

Aussie musical theatre fans, David Harris has returned to Oz - but only for a flying visit! We get our homegrown leading man back to the Australian stage for two nights this weekend, when he joins Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit, Betty Buckley, Joanna Ampil and Helen Dallimore in DEFYING GRAVITY - a world premiere concert celebrating the work of Stephen Schwartz. 

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre producing Broadway musical revivals, welcomes Broadway couple Hunter Foster and Jennifer Cody for this month's production of GREASE as director and choreographer, respectively. The power couple starred together in the 1994 Tony-nominated Broadway revival of GREASE for several years, during which the two were married.

While sports-lovers are gearing up for football's biggest night, theatre people are probably more interested in the performances than the Panthers and Broncos. Tonight's halftime show will feature Coldplay, with Beyonce and Bruno Mars, but before that, Lady Gaga will kick off the night with the National Anthem. She joins the ranks of such music legends as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Ray Charles and many more, in singing the beloved tune for Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California. Tune in tonight at 6:30 PM on CBS to cheer her on live!

Paramount Television's highly-acclaimed, breakthrough hit GREASE: LIVE delivered more than 17 million total viewers worldwide since it originally aired this past Sunday, Jan. 31.

FOX's GREASE: LIVE left one question in the hearts of women everywhere. What's the deal with Aaron Tveit? Below, Jake Wilson and Sas Goldberg investigate!

The DVD may be pre-ordered here on Amazon.com for $21.99. The musical is also available in a digital HD version on iTunes for $9.99. Click here to purchase.

Still not over the news of HAMILTON performing at the Grammys? Getting ready to hear Amber Riley crush it in DREAMGIRLS on the West End? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'

Broadway's Tony Shalhoub has signed on for the lead role in CBS's upcoming comedy thriller series BRAINDEAD.

In the recently edited video below, watch a split screen perspective of Associate director Carrie Havel working behind the scenes of the showstopping number 'Greased Lightnin'!

Grease is the word! The landmark, live television production of the beloved musical Grease makes its home entertainment debut with GREASE LIVE! now available on Digital HD and coming to DVD March 8, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.