Entertainment superstar Liza Minnelli - winner of an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Grammy, an Emmy and multiple Tony Awards - will guest-star as herself in NBC's musical drama SMASH in the upcoming season, and will sing an original song with series star Christian Borle that was written by the show's celebrated composer and lyricists Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
Today BroadwayWorld is particularly proud to present an exceptionally exciting exclusive byway of this career-spanning chat with two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Bernadette Peters. In this all-encompassing conversation we discuss many aspects of her storied career, with a special focus on her upcoming feature film, COMING UP ROSES, which opens this Friday in NYC - a gritty and uncompromising independent feature offering Peters a searing central role as a struggling actress with a teenage daughter (Rachel Brosnahan) and their shared experiences cohabitating in 1980s era New York City. In what very well could be her finest dramatic performance of the new millennium, Peters does it all in COMING UP ROSES; she even gets to sing in it - the soundtrack features a familiar FIDDLER ON THE ROOF tune, a Kander & Ebb gem and even a stirring original song. Additionally, Miss Peters also sheds some light on her role in Season 2 of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH. Over the course of the discussion we also look back at her exceptional career on stages and screens large and small, touching upon her theatre work with Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber and what roles of theirs she would consider in the future, as well as her experiences sharing the small screen with stars like Megan Hilty, Anjelica Huston and Carol Burnett and acting on the big screen for Woody Allen in ALICE. Plus, Bernadette gives us a tantalizing glimpse of what we can expect from her role in an upcoming animated feature film co-starring SMASH's Hilty and GLEE's Lea Michele, the highly anticipated DOROTHY OF OZ, and shares her satisfaction with her original, Bryan Adams-penned musical material for the forthcoming film. Yes, indeed, everything is definitely coming up roses today on BroadwayWorld and it's all thanks to the one and only Bernadette!
According to Newsday, Tony Award nominee and Broadway star Brian d'Arcy James, who is currently starring in the world premiere of the musical Giant at The Public Theater through December 2, will return to NBC's 'Smash' in the premiere episode of season 2 as Debra Messing's husband 'Frank Houston'.
NBC today announced changes to its 2013 primetime mid-season schedule highlighted by the premieres of three new series, including comedy '1600 Penn,' from one of the architects of 'Modern Family'; an intriguing drama 'Deception' (formerly 'Infamous'); and producer Eva Longoria's big reality relationship show 'Ready for Love.' In addition, several of the network's biggest hits will return, including 'Smash' (February 5), which this season will feature The second season of SMASH will include a growing list of high-profile guest stars, including Nikki Blonsky, Jesse L. Martin, Jeremy Jordan, Sean Hayes and Jennifer Hudson.
On Twitter Watch, Jeremy Jordan wrote 'Another early morning at @NBCSmash playing piano like a mad man. They keep making me do this, I may become half decent!'
As BroadwayWorld previously reported the second season of SMASH will include a growing list of high-profile guest stars, including the just-announced Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray, as well as Jesse L. Martin, Jeremy Jordan, Sean Hayes and Jennifer Hudson. Now according to Vulture, Bernadette Peters, who guest starred last season as Ivy's (Megan Hilty) mom, will return in season two. The Broadway favorite will begin filming soon in New York City.
As previously announced, Sean Hayes will be on Smash season 2 for a few episodes. He has already finished filming, but throughout the process, he tweeted lots of pictures of himself as the actor Terrence Falls in Smash's other musical (besides the Marilyn Monroe show BOMBSHELL) called LIASONS.
According to TV Guide, while at the premiere of his Lifetime remake of Steel Magnolias, SMASH's executive producer Neil Meron let loose some details about the NBC show's second season, to premiere in January.
According to EW.com, Broadway favorite Daphne Rubin-Vega has joined SMASH's all-star cast for season two. Rubin-Vega will play a Broadway publicist on the show, which returns on NBC in 2013. Also joining the cast for season 2 are Jennifer Hudson, Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus and Jeremy Jordan.
Season 2 of NBC's SMASH won't premiere until mid season, but fans will get a chance to relive Season 1 beginning January 8. Clcik here to preorder the first season on DVD!
As BroadwayWorld previously reported the second season of SMASH will include a growing list of high-profile guest stars, including the just-announced Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray, as well as Jesse L. Martin, Jeremy Jordan, Sean Hayes and Jennifer Hudson. Now according to Vulture, Bernadette Peters, who guest starred last season as Ivy's (Megan Hilty) mom, will return in season two. The Broadway favorite will begin filming soon in New York City.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, 'Hairspray's' Nikki Blonsky has just landed a recurring role on the upcoming season of NBC's SMASH. The actress joins a growing list of high-profile guest stars on the musical drama's second season including Jesse L. Martin, Jeremy Jordan, Sean Hayes and Jennifer Hudson.
"Law & Order" star Jesse L. Martin - one of the original members of the Tony-winning "Rent" Broadway cast - will recur over an arc of six episodes in NBC's SMASH and will sing in some episodes when the musical drama series returns at mid-season.
Following its past sold-out Christmas musicals (Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music, Sweet Charity and Pippin), Menier Chocolate Factory announces the casting for its hugely anticipated revival of the Sondheim / Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along as its Christmas 2012 show.
According to the New York Post, SMASH's Megan Hilty will perform 'America the Beautiful' before the US Open women's championship between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka tonight, September 8, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Chris Botti is set to sing the same tune tomorrow, September 9 before the men's final.
Emmy Award-winning actor Sean Hayes (NBC's "Will & Grace") will guest star in a multi-episode arc on NBC's SMASH as Terrence Falls, a comedic television and film star who is making his Broadway debut in the musical "Liaisons," based on the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." Due to a series of comic circumstances, he becomes a major thorn in the side for Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) and other characters. Check out a photo of Hayes on the SMASH set with Megan Hilty as featured on the series' Facebook page!
Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will take its guests on an incredible journey to an amazing new world with its special engagement of the all new Tinker Bell "Disney Fairies" movie "Secret of the Wings" from today, August 31 through September 13 2012, it was announced by Lylle Breier, senior vice president of worldwide special events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Guests will experience a special live appearance by Tinker Bell and Periwinkle - each with magically illuminated wings -- before each showing of this latest Pixie Hollow adventure.
Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will take its guests on an incredible journey to an amazing new world with its special engagement of the all new Tinker Bell "Disney Fairies" movie "Secret of the Wings" from August 31 through September 13 2012, it was announced today by Lylle Breier, senior vice president of worldwide special events for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Guests will experience a special live appearance by Tinker Bell and Periwinkle - each with magically illuminated wings -- before each showing of this latest Pixie Hollow adventure.