Alex Rudzinski News

Award-winning producer, Craig Zadan, best known for his work on musicals of stage and screen (helping bring both back to the mainstream), has passed away at age 69.

There has been a lot of news swirling around stage to screen adaptations in the past few weeks, from Lin-Manuel Miranda directing a TICK, TICK... BOOM! movie, to Diane Paulus directing NBC's HAIR LIVE!, and this Friday, the Disney Channel original movie of the FREAKY FRIDAY musical will premiere.

FOX has ordered the new celebrity competition series THE MASKED SINGER, to premiere in January 2019. Based on an international hit, which already is a viral phenomenon with more than half a billion fans worldwide, and the No. 1 top-trending video of 2017 on YouTube, THE MASKED SINGER features celebrities facing off against one another with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, complete with full face mask to conceal his or her identity. Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke serve on the panel and play detective, alongside host Nick Cannon.

Below, check out photos from a recent meeting of the minds for the upcoming event, as producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron talk all things Hair Live! with director Diane Paulus and creator James Rado!

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: we're taking you inside opening night of Straight White Men, and more!

NBC's Live broadcast of the hit rock-musical HAIR, directed by Diane Paulus and Alex Rudzinski, is set to air May 19, 2019, TV Line has reported.

The hit summer series “World of Dance,” starring Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough, NE-YO and Jenna Dewan, will bring aboard several of the most accomplished and celebrated dancers in the world as guest mentors and guest judges during its highly successful second season.

“World of Dance Master Class with Derek Hough” is giving fans of NBC and Universal Television Alternative Studio's hit summer series “World of Dance” a chance to join the movement and enhance their dance skills with exclusive online access to Derek Hough, a two-time Emmy Award-winning choreographer and one of the most acclaimed dancers in the world.  For the first time ever, participants all over the world will be able to learn fundamental steps, combinations and advanced choreography in an accessible way, receiving lessons and technical insight from one of the masters of the craft.

NBC aims to change the landscape of unscripted programming with the launch of the Alternative Directors Program, the industry's first directing initiative for alternative series.

Judges Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough and NE-YO, and host Jenna Dewan get competitive.

Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera that tells the story of the final week in the life of Jesus Christ. It begins with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem and ends with the crucifixion. It also highlights the political and interpersonal struggles between Jesus and one of his 12 apostles, Judas Iscariot that are not present in the Bible narratives.

As preparation for the upcoming broadcast of Jesus Christ Superstar Live! this weeked, John Legend and Let's Free America have teamed up with Drama Club NYC to bring its members along on a behind the scenes visit to the musical. Check out video of the visit below, featuring Legend, Drama Club NYC organizer Susan Kelechi Watson and the students of this fabulous program below!

Next month, NBC will present Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, starring Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony and 10-time Grammy winner John Legend as Jesus Christ, with Broadway star and acclaimed recording artist Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, rock icon Alice Cooper as King Herod, and 'Hamilton' alum and 'Power' co-star Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas. Check out brand new photos of the star-studded cast below!

Next month, NBC will present Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, starring Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony and 10-time Grammy winner John Legend as Jesus Christ, with Broadway star and acclaimed recording artist Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, rock icon Alice Cooper as King Herod, and 'Hamilton' alum and 'Power' co-star Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas. Check out the latest promo for the television special below!

Heaven on your mind already? In just weeks, NBC will present Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. The album is now available for preorder on Amazon and iTunes.

Heaven on your mind already? In just weeks, NBC will present Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, starring Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony and 10-time Grammy winner John Legend as Jesus Christ, with Broadway star and acclaimed recording artist Sara Bareillesas Mary Magdalene, rock icon Alice Cooper as King Herod, and 'Hamilton' alum and 'Power' co-star Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas.

March is halfway over, which means we're just two weeks away from watching Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert on April 1st! The cast and creative team have been hard at work in rehearsals, with the supporting cast having just joined the process. Though they've only been in rehearsals for a few days, they've got a lot to say!

Below, watch a just released promo featuring a sneak peek of the title song, plus Sara Bareilles singing a clip of her big number, 'I Don't Know How to Love Him.'

The cast and creatives of the NBC's highly anticipated JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE met the press last night in New York City. Check out the gallery below to see what the buzz is all about! 

Last week, producers Marc Platt and Neil Meron met with members of the press to share some insight on NBC's upcoming JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT. NBC's highly anticipated special event is set to star John Legend as Jesus Christ, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, Alice Cooper as King Herod, and Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas. The event will air live Easter Sunday, April 1, and will be presented as a concert staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's iconic rock opera. It will be performed in front of a live audience at the Marcy Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y.