Ace Young News

Singers Adam Lambert and Kris Allen made it all the way to the season finale of 'American Idol' at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles last night, Wednesday May 20, and after a two-hour show where former 'Idol' winners Carrie Underwood and David Cook, as well as Rod Stewart, Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper, Queen Latifah, Black Eyed Peas and Keith Urban graced the stage, Kris Allen was named the winner! Over 100 million votes were cast to decide the victor! Allen's softer style and gentle vocals won the day. BroadwayWorld.com brings you Sara De Boer's fantastic photos of the arrivals and post show press room!

The brand new production of GREASE, stars American Idol winner Taylor Hicks alongside Eric Schneider as 'Danny' and Emily Padgett as 'Sandy.' Eric made his Broadway debut in Jersey Boys. His previous credits include Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway) and the national tours of Altar Boyz and The Full Monty. Emily made her Broadway debut in GREASE, where she understudied the role of Sandy. Her other credits include Legally Blonde on Broadway and the national tours of CATS. Starring as 'Rizzo' will be Allie Schulz, a contestant on NBC's 'Grease: You're the One That I Want.' Allie comes directly from the Broadway company of GREASE.

Last holiday season, due to the 2007 Broadway stagehands' strike, fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and sales of its annual holiday CD, Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, were gravely impacted. With most theaters dark, the main source of sales of the CD was cut off. Stephen DeAngelis, NYC casting director and Artistic Director from the Engeman Theater, contacted Lynn Pinto, Executive Producer of Carols for a Cure, to see if they could sell the CDs to help make up for strike losses. The Engeman Theater sold hundreds of the CDs. In gratitude, Ms. Pinto invited performers from the Engeman Theater to record a track of their own for the 2008 CD.

On Sunday January 4th, 2009, Broadway bid farewell to a number of shows, new favorites and old classics played one last performance for the eager crowds. Photographer Walter McBride brings you the emotional energy of a day in the life of Broadway.

The 2008 Tony Award nominated production of GREASE will play its final performance on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th Street) on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Upon closing, GREASE will have played 554 performances and 31 previews. The first national tour, starring 'American Idol' winner Taylor Hicks, launched Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI.

Cast members from the Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history, will sing holiday songs live throughout Good Morning America on ABC, this coming Monday morning December 22. Led by PHANTOM star Patricia Phillips, the first-ever African-American to play opera diva Carlotta Giudicelli, the cast's performances are in recognition of the special 10th Anniversary of Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday CD which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. On this year's CD, the cast of PHANTOM can be heard singing their folk version of 'Away in a Manger,' arranged by cast member and acoustic guitarist Geoff Packard.

Cast members from the Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history, will sing holiday songs live throughout Good Morning America on ABC, this coming Monday morning December 22. Led by PHANTOM star Patricia Phillips, the first-ever African-American to play opera diva Carlotta Giudicelli, the cast's performances are in recognition of the special 10th Anniversary of Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday CD which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. On this year's CD, the cast of PHANTOM can be heard singing their folk version of 'Away in a Manger,' arranged by cast member and acoustic guitarist Geoff Packard.

The cast of Wicked will be singing 'The First Noel' on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet on FOX, Thursday morning December 18th.

Ashley was a popular finalist on the NBC talent competition series 'Grease: You're the One That I Want.' Ashley's good girl charm and blonde tresses evoked an example of the perfect 'Sandy'. Ashley Spencer came directly from the Broadway company of Hairspray where she starred as 'Amber von Tussle.' She took BWW TV backstage at 'Rydell High' to give us a look at life at Grease!

The 2008 Tony Award nominated production of GREASE will play its final performance on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th Street) on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Upon closing, GREASE will have played 554 performances and 31 previews. The first national tour, starring 'American Idol' winner Taylor Hicks, launched Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI.

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Happy Holidays Everyone! Well ... here it is ... our BIGGEST CD coverage EVER and just in time for some last minute 'stocking-stuffer' inspiration ... even though a few of these are better used as coal, if you know what I mean.

A by-invitation-only reading of the new musical How The Nurse Feels will be presented Oct. 20 at in New World Stages in Manhattan.

Kevin Early (A Tale of Two Cities),Sandy Binion ( and Herschel Sparber (Guys and Dolls) have joined the cast of the by-invitation-only reading of the new musical How The Nurse Feels will be presented Oct. 20 at in New World Stages in Manhattan.

Rock-It Science Records presents Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Volume 10. Featuring highlights from the Volumes 1-9, as well as the incredible talents of stars from the 2008 Broadway season, the annual holiday CD benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). This two-disc set offers 36 original and traditional holiday songs recorded especially for this benefit CD, and features the cast of Billy Elliot with the premiere of an original song by Elton John, 'Cold Christmas.' Included are the voices of Antonio Banderas, Harvey Fierstein, Idina Menzel, Bernadette Peters, and Andréa Burns, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nick Jonas and American Idol's Constantine Maroulis and Ace Young, plus new recordings with performances by stars from In the Heights, South Pacific, Wicked plus many more! Also performing on this year's CD are Rosie's Broadway Kids, young students in the performing arts program founded by Rosie O'Donnell.

After the curtain call for the Tuesday, October 7th Broadway performance of Grease at Brooks Atkinson Theater, Olivia Newton-John returned to Rydell High and joined the cast to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, the four-time Grammy Award winner and iconic star of the film GREASE, has partnered with CURVES, the world's largest fitness franchise for women, to launch an international campaign to distribute 1 million units of the LIV AID, a breast self-exam aid that assists women to exercise breast exams correctly, during 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month.' Newton-John will join the Broadway cast of GREASE on stage at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre immediately following the Tuesday, October 7 performance and present a LIV AID kit to every female audience member.

On Monday, October 6 at 8:00 p.m. in Zankel Hall, The Carnegie Hall Notables hosted REVIVAL: Broadway's Next Act, a panel discussion focusing on the fresh approach that composers have recently introduced to Broadway, attracting audiences through a new range of media, from YouTube to MTV.

A by-invitation-only reading of the new musical How The Nurse Feels will be presented Oct. 20 at in New World Stages in Manhattan.