Andrew Rannells News

While Book of Mormon is not necessarily a musical for everyone, it is definitely a show that opens up conversation about some very important issues and is sure to keep audiences talking for years.

On Monday, October 21, 2013, The New York Pops Music Director Steven Reineke and Board Member Kelli O'Hara will launch the new PopsEd Ambassadors initiative, which connects The New York Pops network of talented guest artists with its transformative music education programs. PopsEd music programs provide children throughout the five boroughs of New York City with opportunities to be inspired by music and to ultimately foster a life-long appreciation for the arts.

At the end of the first act of The Book of Mormon, now playing Austin's Bass Concert Hall for a two week run, I thought to myself, 'This is the most distasteful, crude, offensive, and subversive musical I've ever seen, and I'm loving every minute of it.' When I went out to the lobby, it was clear that the audience agreed. Everyone was smiling and wiping away tears of laughter as they quoted some of the best lines so far.

Stage legend Patti LuPone will have a guest starring role on the third season of HBO's GIRLS. The news was confirmed to BWW by LuPone's press rep this afternoon.

Happy Birthday, Andrew Rannells! Rannells played Bob Gaudio in the First National Tour of Jersey Boys. In January 2009, he reprised the role of Gaudio in the musical's Broadway production. Rannells originated the role of Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, a musical written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez. For his performance, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. His last performance was June 10, 2012. He will soon play Bryan Buckley in Ryan Murphy's new television series The New Normal on NBC.

The Public Theater's production of the new musical LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, the second show of The Public's 2013 free Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte, recently began previews on July 23. Directed by Alex Timbers, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST features songs by Michael Friedman with book adaptation by Timbers and will run through Sunday, August 18, and opened last night, August 12. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out photos from the red carpet arrivals below!

Broadway/Hollywood legends Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore spearhead the charity Broadway Barks and a new 2014 calendar is now available for those who wish to be reminded of their furry friends 365 (or 366, in leap years) days a year, as well as exclusive autographed merchandise and more.

On this morning's THE VIEW on ABC, Bernadette Peters introduced adorable puppies that will be up for adoption at this year's 'Broadway Barks' event. Check out the appearance below!

In order to get the word out, Peters will be appearing on ABC's THE VIEW tomorrow, Today, July 9th at 11:00 am/ET.

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters will host the 15th annual BROADWAY BARKS!, a star-studded dog and cat adoption event benefiting New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. Produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, sponsored by the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and additional sponsorship by the New York Times, BARKS will take place on Saturday, July 13 in Shubert Alley, the heart of the Broadway Theater District (located between 44th and 45thStreets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenues). The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m.; celebrity presentations of pets from animal shelters citywide will take place between 5-6:30 p.m. This year, BARKS will open the show with a performance from the Jersey Boysfollowed by the Broadway debut of many adoptable animals presented by many stars from this season's "hottest" shows. In addition, Peters will be in Shubert Alley with famed illustrator/ author, Hilary Knight, the designer of this year's BARKS poster and Playbill cover. The signing is from 12 noon - 2:00p.m. All proceeds benefit Broadway Barks!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 23, 2013 - Sunday, June 23, 2013.

Click below to watch Episode 8 of BITTER PARTY OF 5, featuring Laura Benanti, Jason Antoon, Mary Birdsong, Greg Cromer, Tricia O'Kelley and Romy Rosemont!

Broadway fans can own the 2013 Tony Awards Telecast, through iTunes and Amazon.com. Starting now, fans can purchase and watch this year's exciting telecast on their computer, tablet, phone and other devices.

When I was first asked to be a guest blogger, I thought my focus would be to provide an operatic perspective on the world of theatre and vice versa. Since there are an infinite number of differences to discuss from the training to the music to the casting process to the productions to the artists themselves, I was pretty set on always being able to find a topic about which to write. But as I found my voice as a writer, I discovered instead that I was relating the similarities in the lifestyles, the subjectivity of art in general and how being an artist, regardless of specialty, is the most wonderful job in the world.

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - What was your favorite part of the 2013 Tony Awards?

The casts of KINKY BOOTS, PIPPIN, MATILDA and many more shows and entertainers joined host Neil Patrick Harris on last night's broadcast of the 67th Annual Tony Awards on CBS. Below, we bring you the lyrics to the television medley, which included appearances from Laura Benanti, Megan Hilty, and Andrew Rannells!

Ratings for the 67th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS are up from last year, delivering the largest audience since the 2009 telecast.

The divas took all the top prizes at the 2013 Tony Awards, from Cyndi Lauper and Billy Porter (as Lola) of KINKY BOOTS through to Best Directors Diane Paulus and Pam McKinnon to Cicely Tyson, Patina Miller, Judith Light and Andrea Martin in the acting categories to Caroline O'Connor of A CHRISTMAS STORY to MATILDA, CINDERELLA, and beyond in smashing performances. Polished, practiced, poised and primed to deliver, the show was a splendid showcase for Broadway today, fabulously decked out to the nines (and over-elevens).

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 9, 2013 - Sunday, June 9, 2013.