Amadi Chapata News

Justin Collette is currently jamming the night away making his Broadway debut leading the School of Rock company as Dewey. Taking on a role as nonstop and electric as this, Collette has plenty to say about the experience including following in the steps of iconic actors Jack Black and Alex Brightman, working with overwhelmingly talented children, and the energy required to keep Dewey alive on stage from start to finish.

The Broadway classic ANNIE was featured at the Hollywood Bowl this past weekend, helmed by Tony Award-nominated director Michael Arden, conducted by Todd Ellison, and choreographed by Eamon Foley. Check out video from the concert below!

ANNIE composer Charles Strouse and ANNIE lyricist (and director of the original 1977 Broadway production) Martin Charnin paid a visit backstage at Saturday night's performance of ANNIE at the Hollywood Bowl.  Check out photos from the special visit below!

Featured at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend (July 27-29) is Annie, helmed by Tony Award-nominated director Michael Arden, conducted by Todd Ellison, and choreographed by Eamon Foley.

Even if you have seen it before, I cannot stress enough how miraculous the current production of ANNIE is at the Hollywood Bowl, directed with creative ingenuity by Michael Arden. Featured in the cast of incredibly talented triple-threat (acting, singing, dancing) performers are Ana Gasteyer as the ruthless headmistress Miss Agatha Hannigan, David Alan Grier as the refined, generous billionaire Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks, Lea Salonga as his dedicated and caring assistant Grace Farrell, with newcomer Kaylin Hedges as Annie, who won the role over hundreds of other young girls from across the country who submitted video auditions to win role. Miss Hedges is the cornerstone of the production and her soaring, pitch-perfect voice and effervescent stage presence setting the jubilant tone for the entire ensemble.

Quite possibly the most popular family-friendly stage musical of all time, ANNIE---the classic 1977 Tony Award winner for Best Musical based on Harold Gray's 'Little Orphan Annie' comic strip---seems like a no-brainer choice to appear as the annual all-star summer musical at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. So it's actually not a surprise that this plucky, unabashedly charming production---now causing giddy bursts of laughter and collective choruses of 'awwww's' at Hollywood's iconic 18,000-seat outdoor arena for two more performances this weekend---is such a perfect fit. And judging by its marvelous opening night performance this past Friday, July 27, the production itself is sure to win over anyone in attendance of its remaining shows.

Featured at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend (July 27-29) is Annie, helmed by Tony Award-nominated director Michael Arden, conducted by Todd Ellison, and choreographed by Eamon Foley.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Smokey Joe's Cafe begins previews tonight, and more!

Casting is now complete for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Annie. The new cast members are Roger Bart as Daniel 'Rooster' Hannigan, Kaylin Hedges as Annie, Ali Stroker as 'Star-to-Be,' Amir Talai as Bert Healy, Marlow Barkley as Kate, Amadi Chapata as Pepper, Noe Lynds as July, Rae Martinez as Tessie, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja as Molly, and Olivia Zenetzis as Duffy.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical School of Rock - The Musical will welcome seven new cast members to the class on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. Rocking their way to Broadway will be Montgomery Lamb as 'Katie' the bassist, Jim Kaplan as 'Lawrence' the keyboardist, Sarah Walsh as 'Marcy,' Iggy Rosado as 'Mason,'Madalen Yarbrough Mills as 'Sophie,' Madison Elizabeth Lagares as 'Shonelle,' and Katie Greendorfer as 'Madison.' Current cast member Gabrielle Greene will assume the role of 'Tomika.'

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit School of Rock The Musical, which recently celebrated its second anniversary on Broadway on December 6, 2017, has just released its photos of the new cast, featuring Justin Collette as Dewey Finn and Analisa Leaming as Rosalie Mullins.

The indomitable and generous spirit of the theatre community - those onstage, backstage and in the audience - shined brightly as the 29th annual Gypsy of the Year competition celebrated six weeks of fundraising work of 56 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Gypsy of the Year (#GypsyOfTheYear), which was held December 4 and 5, 2017, raised a record-breaking $5,609,211 for Broadway Cares. Check out highlights from the show below!

School of Rock celebrated two years on Broadway yesterday, December 6, 2017. BroadwayWorld was there to celebrate with the cast and crew, and you can check out photo coverage here!

The indomitable and generous spirit of the theatre community - those onstage, backstage and in the audience - shined brightly as the 29th annual Gypsy of the Year competition celebrated six weeks of fundraising work of 56 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Gypsy of the Year (#GypsyOfTheYear), which was held December 4 and 5, 2017, raised a record-breaking $5,609,211 for Broadway Cares. BroadwayWorld has photos from the star-studded affair below!

Broadway's brightest will celebrate six weeks of dedicated fundraising in a spectacular showcase of songs and skits when the 29th Annual Gypsy of the Year competition returns at 4:30 pm Monday, December 4, 2017, and at 2 pm Tuesday, December 5, 2017, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical School of Rock The Musical will celebrate two years on Broadway, on Wednesday, December 6, 2017. The musical began preview performances at the Winter Garden Theatre (1654 Broadway) on November 9, 2015 and officially opened, to rave reviews, on December 6, 2015.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical School of Rock - The Musical will welcome four new adult cast members to the show this November.

Hand-picked by producer and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, newcomers Justin Collette and Conner John Gillooly will join the cast of School of Rock - The Musical in the role of failed, wannabe rocker, Dewey Finn.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit musical School of Rock - The Musical will welcome five new cast members to the class on Monday, July 31, 2017. Rocking their way to Broadway will be Zachary Zwelling as 'Zack' the guitarist, Levi Buksbazen as 'Freddy' the drummer, John Allyn as 'Billy' the stylist, Gabrielle Greene as 'Shonelle' the back-up singer, and Cory Leventhal as 'James.'

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway smash hit School of Rock - The Musical has recouped its entire investment on Broadway, making the show an undisputed hit simultaneously on Broadway and the West End.