Celebrating the release of SING YOU TO SLEEP, Anika Larsen made her solo concert debut at Birdland on Monday, March 23. Joined by her BEAUTIFUL castmates Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector and her XANADU castmate Kenita Miller, Larsen's set featured songs from her album and thematically appropriate solos that featured her guests' talents too. Thus, the evening was the perfect night cap to an otherwise manic Monday.
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Award-winning Canadian actress Chilina Kennedy, who made her Broadway debut as 'Mary Magdalene' in Jesus Christ Superstar, has nabbed the title role in Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, the smash hit musical about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. Kennedy begins performances on March 7, 2015, succeeding Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller, who will play her final performance in Beautiful later this week on March 6 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street). Below, we tribute Mueller's final week of performances with a special flashback of her journey with the show.
Just last night, Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) hosted the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street).
Big winners for the night included Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Jessie Mueller, and Neil Patrick Harris and Jefferson Mays- who tied for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Click here for a full list of winners. Check out photos of arrivals: Part 1 and Part 2.
Just last night, Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) hosted the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). Big winners for the night included Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Jessie Mueller, and Neil Patrick Harris and Jefferson Mays- who tied for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.
Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) will host the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards tonight, June 1, 2014 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). BroadwayWorld will be updating you with winners throughout the night. Check back later for the full list!
For people, like me, who sit in front of a computer for a living, or have long commutes each day, podcasts are an entertaining and educational way to pass the time. Last month I introduced you to the 20 Top Podcasts for theatre fans, and chief among them was the Theater People Podcast, hosted by Patrick Hinds. Recently, I spoke to Patrick about the his incredible Broadway friends, his research process, and why Laura Osnes made him sick to his stomach.
The cast of Broadway's BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL signed CDs for fans at Lord & Taylor today, May 2, to celebrate the unveiling of the BEAUTIFUL-themed windows at the flagship store on 5th Avenue. Scroll down for photos!
According to the New York Times, Carole King, who until last month had seen the Broadway show about her life, we reportedly 'do anything it takes' to help Beautiful win Tony Awards this June. The show, which earned 7 nods on Tuesday, is one of four new shows up for Best Musical, and King plans on both attending and performing at the June 8 ceremony, though she hasn't yet decided what she will sing.
She told NYT: 'Once I got over my fear of how the show would affect me emotionally - seeing my life onstage - I decided I was all in on helping the show.'
Eligibility and award category designations for the productions under consideration this season were determined by the Drama Desk board of directors with recommendations from the nominating committee. Because of the abundance of great work throughout the season, the Board also authorized the increase in the number of nominees allowed in select categories.
The generosity of theatre fans during six weeks of fundraising by 57 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies helped push the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition to another record high, raising $4,532,129 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld brings you Part 2 of our photo coverage from the celebration below! CLICK HERE for Part 1.
Is network news appointment television for you? I didn't think so. Are you constantly angered that ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT only talks about theatre when a Hollywood star joins a cast or someone falls 30 feet to the stage floor? Me too. Well, I have an alternative that just might satisfy your news and theatre cravings; podcasting. Isn't that just what hipsters do between their shift at Starbucks and another trip to the thrift shop? Well, yes and no. I'm sure there is a barista in Portland who is currently recording a missive bemoaning mass media's attempt to co-opt the indie subculture, but most people who do podcasts well are incredibly informed and passionate about their specific topics.
Jarrod Spector, currently playing legendary songwriter Barry Mann in the new Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, just offered an added performance of his acclaimed cabaret show, 'A Little Help From My Friends,' at 54 Below. This time, he got a little extra help from his friend, when the real Barry Mann joined him on stage as a special guest for part of the evening's performance. Scroll down for photos of the duo onstage and off!
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) on January 12, 2014, where it continues to break box office records. Just last night, King made a surprise trip to the show, where she not only shocked the cast onstage, but managed to raise $30,000 for BC/EFA for a special duet of 'You've Got a Friend' with Jessie Mueller. Check out highlights from her appearance below!
Carole King, whose life is chronicled by BEAUTIFUL, appeared during the musical's curtain call tonight, April 3. Below, check out a photo of her onstage with the cast!
Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will offer a special added performance to benefit The Actors Fund on Sunday, April 27 at 8:00 PM. The company of Beautiful will donate their time and talent for the performance, for an audience which will include cast members from current Broadway shows and other areas of the entertainment community. All proceeds will go to The Actors Fund, which helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. Beautiful opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street), on Sunday, January 12, 2014, where it's playing to sold-out crowds and has broken multiple box office records.
In the video below, go into the recording studio with Broadway's Jessie Mueller (Carole King), Anika Larsen (Cynthia Weil) and Jarrod Spector (Barry Mann) as they discuss and record 'You've Got a Friend' for BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL's cast album!
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, now available for digital download via iTunes and Amazon, is the #1 Cast Recording on the iTunes Charts. The album, produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, is #4 on iTunes Top 10 Soundtrack and #41 album. The Original Broadway Cast Recording will be available in-stores on May 13, 2014.
Ghostlight Records has announced that the Original Cast Recording of the new Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, can now be pre-ordered on iTunes, in advance of a Tuesday, April 1st digital release. Those who pre-order the album will immediately receive a special advance track of Jessie Mueller's 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow.' The album, produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell and Billy Jay Stein, with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer, will be available in-stores on May 13, 2014 and will include a 28-page color booklet with full lyrics, rare and never-before-seen archival and show photos, and liner notes by Beautiful book writer Douglas McGrath. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first listen of 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', as performed by Jessie Mueller.