Alysha Umphress News

On Monday June 22, 2015 Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony nominee Kerry Butler. Currently starring as Hillary Clinton in CLINTON THE MUSICAL at New World Stages, Butler made her Broadway debut in BLOOD BROTHERS before replacing as Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

The Off-Broadway hit Murder for Two opens tonight (June 3) in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater.  The production has now been extended through Sunday, August 2.

Over twenty of the biggest names on Broadway joined together to work behind the counter at Schmackary's selling delicious, freshly-baked cookies to the public in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Below, check out pics of Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, Laura Osnes, as well as cast members from FUN HOME, ALADDIN, ON THE TOWN, and more!

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, was held earlier today, May 27th in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets. Hosted by HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH's Darren Criss, Broadway's best turned out for the annual performance - including the cast of On the Town, who performed 'New York, New York'- check it out below!

On Monday, May 25th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori. In the interview, she talks of the five-year journey that she took alongside lyricist and book writer Lisa Kron adapting Alison Bechdel's celebrated graphic memior. After a ground breaking Off-Broadway run, the musical is now Tony-nominated and playing at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater. Tesori and Kron have been nominated together for this year's Best Original Score award; should they win, the pair would become the first all-female writing team in Tony history to take home that the prize.

Manhattan Theatre Club just presented their annual Spring Gala last night, at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street). This year's gala was hosted by Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski ('The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,' Nine) and featured special guest and Tony Award nominee for Airline Highway K. Todd Freeman, and performances by many of the most acclaimed musicals on Broadway including: Beautiful, Finding Neverland, Gigi, It Shoulda Been You, On The Town, Something Rotten!, and The Visit. BroadwayWorld takes you on inside the special event below!

Voting runs through May 31, 2015 for the 12th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/18 with just 12 days to go in voting!

The cast of Broadway's Tony-nominated musical ON THE TOWN stopped by this morning's TODAY to perform the number 'New York, New York.' Watch the appearance below!

On Monday, May 18th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU star Lisa Howard. Lisa made her Broadway debut as Rona Lisa Peretti in the 2006 Tony nominated production of 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. From there she has been seen on Broadway in SOUTH PACIFIC, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and 9 TO 5. In IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Howard has received glowing notices and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her turn as Jenny, older sister of the Bride who's gone out of her way to plan the perfect wedding. Despite acting alongside Broadway favorites like Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, and Sierra Boggess, much has been made of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU being a star making vehicle for Howard. 

Voting runs through May 31, 2015 for the 12th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/17 with just 13 days to go in voting!

NBC has announced that the cast of Broadway's ON THE TOWN will perform live on the plaza on Monday May 18th.

Nominated for four 2015 Tony Awards, On the Town is still going strong at the Lyric Theatre, but performances May 7-12 were canceled so that the theatre could host NYC upfronts for Univision Communications Inc. Performances will resume this afternoon at 2pm, May 13. Welcome back to the ship!

On Monday, May 11 the Theater People podcast welcomes 2015 Tony-nominee, Tony Yazbeck. Currently starring in the critically acclaimed and Tony nominated Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, Tony opens up about how the role first came to him for the 2008 Encores production, his experience with the pre-Broadway run at Barrington Stage, and how, as a true triple threat, he was particularly suited to play the role on Broadway.

Voting runs through May 31, 2015 for the 12th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/11 with just 19 days to go in voting!

Nominated for four 2015 Tony Awards, On the Town is still going strong at the Lyric Theatre, but this week the cast begins a pre-scheduled week off. BroadwayWorld has learned that performances May 7-12 have been canceled so that the theatre can host NYC upfronts for Univision Communications Inc. Performances will resume on May 13.

On Monday, May 4, Theater People podcast welcomes 'The First Lady of British Musical Theater,' Olivier Award-winner Elaine Paige. For the episode, Paige discusses her farewell tour, and what exactly she means by 'farewell.' She also talks about the upcoming theatrical release of her recent concert which was filmed at Royal Albert Hall in London. Paige, perhaps best know for originating the roles of Eva Peron in EVITA and Grizabella in CATS, shares her remembrances of how those roles came to her and how they changed her life and career. Paige made her Broadway debut in 1995 as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD Sunset Boulevard. She returned to Broadway in the critically acclaimed and Tony award winning 2012 revival of FOLLIES. In the role of Carlotta Campion, Paige received terrific notices for her performance of the showstopping song 'I'm Still Here.'

After 18 months of successful broadcasting, the popular Theater People Podcast has launched a KickStarter campaign to help fund their new season. Having interviewed Broadway greats from Lin-Manuel Miranda to Laura Osnes (twice) to Celia Keenan-Bolger, the Theater People Podcast is one of the most influential and inspiring connections that many theatre fans have with their idols. The podcast has become a valuable resource for students, individuals working to build a career in the performing arts, and theater lovers across the world.

On Tuesday, April 28th the Theater People Podcast welcomes three-time Tony-nominee Martha Plimpton. Perhaps best know for her TV and film work (RAISING HOPE, THE GOONIES, PARENTHOOD, 200 CIGARETTES), she is also a reproductive rights activist and beloved theater star. On the episode she discusses 'Broadway Acts for Women,' taking place Sunday, May 3rd at 54 Below. The event, benefiting A is For..., an organization co-founded by Plimpton in 2012, will feature Patti LuPone, Lena Hall, and Jessie Tyler Ferguson among other Broadway A-Listers. Information and tickets can be found at www.54below.com.

Christian Borle and the cast of Broadway's SOMETHING ROTTEN stopped by Friday's TODAY to perform a medley of the numbers 'God I Hate Shakespeare' and 'Will Power' from the hit Broadway musical. Click here to watch the performance. Below, check out a cast selfie taken by James Michael Scott!

Christian Borle and the cast of Broadway's SOMETHING ROTTEN stopped by this morning's TODAY to perform a medley of the numbers 'God I Hate Shakespeare' and 'Will Power' from the hit Broadway musical. Watch the performance below!