Hailed as an 'off-the-hook inclusive comedy...with big laughs' by KABC-LA, 'Brenda Braxton presents Villain: DeBlanks' amazing December 6 cast featured the gloriously funny Geneva Carr (currently on Broadway in 'Hand to God'), wickedly clever Tony-winner Daisy Eagan ('Secret Garden'), the uniquely delightful Lauren Elder ('Sideshow,' 'HAIR'), multi-talented award-winning composer/lyricist Bobby Cronin ('Mary and Max,' '(un)Lucky in Love'), hilarious and handsome Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (current revival of 'Once Upon A Mattress,' 'A Little Night Music'), and inveterate reviewer, former president of the Drama Desk Awards, and champion of the theater, Peter Filichia.
CHANGING THE STATS: ASIAN AMERICANS ON BROADWAY, which took place on November 2nd at Symphony Space, welcomed Asian American actors to perform in dream roles not traditionally cast with Asian American stars. Click below to watch highlights from the concert!
Laugh your (BODY PART)_____ off as 'Brenda Braxton presents Villain: DeBlanks' continues December 6, and performs the first Sunday of each month at 7:30pm at The Triad NYC. A portion of proceeds from each performance will benefit the Humane Society of New York. Scroll down to meet the December lineup of stars!
On Tuesday night, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA opened a week-long run at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Running through Sunday, I was fortunate enough to attend the tour stop's opening night, as was fellow BWW Orlando editor Kimberly Moy. As we did when we discussed THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, first show of the 2014-2015 Orlando Broadway Series, we had a back-and-forth conversation about CINDERELLA. While I tend to look at things from a more historical and critical point of view, Kim is an admitted fan girl.
The incomparable Ann Harada will once again spread holiday spirit as the hysterical, sincere yet highly inappropriate therapist from Avenue Q as CHRISTMAS EVE'S HOLIDAY HUNKFEST (#hunkfest) welcomes a bevy of Broadway men. The one-night-only concert on Monday, December 14, 2015, is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Question: Would you buy an orchestra ticket (or any ticket for that matter) to an experimental Broadway musical called The Sweaty Smorgasbord where the 11 o'clock number is "Supper Sings Tonight?" How about checking out a derivative Jason Robert Brown musical titled The Gassy Breakthrough, where the song "Too Soon" is about whether the protagonist should fart on the first date? Here's one that potential musical theater show investors would love: A new Disney style musical called The Sticky Snake.
Of course these aren't real or even prospective Broadway musicals. They are ideas that have emerged from the creative minds of some young composers and lyricists who might very well have their musicals gracing Broadway theaters some day. But in the meantime they have been conjuring up these wild concepts in Tune In Time, a musical theater game show staged semi-regularly at The York Theatre Company on East 54th Street (the next installment will be on Monday, November 9 at 7:30 pm) that could have been created by some hybrid of Chuck Barris (of The Gong Show fame) and Mel Brooks. As the show's creators and producers Amy Engelhardt and Heather Shields are fond of promoting about Tune In Time, "Anything goes . . . and usually does."
The November installment will feature lyricists Meghan Kelleher (songwriter), Sukari Jones (Location, Location, Location!!!), and Kathleen Wrinn (Ten: The Story of Grace and Joe) and composers Bobby Cronin (unlucky in Love, 2014 NEO writer at the York), Andy Roninson (creator of the podcast Take a Ten Musicals), and Adam Spiegel (Cloned! and a returning TUNE IN TIME champion).
The Dramatists Guild Fund just welcomed a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala, GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss. Directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish) with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event featured award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer & Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.
The Dramatists Guild Fund just welcomed a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala, GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss. Directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish) with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event featured award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer & Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.
The Dramatists Guild Fund welcomes a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala tonight! As previously announced, actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss will host and perform at DGF's annual gala GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS at Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway at 36th Street) this evening, October 26 (cocktail reception at 6:30pm, dinner and celebration at 7:30pm).
BroadwayWorld has learned that Jose Llana (THE KING AND I), Ann Harada (AVENUE Q), Ali Ewoldt (THE KING AND I), and more will lead "Changing the Stats: Asian Americans on Broadway." The show will be a concert of excerpts from dream roles not traditionally cast with Asian American actors on Monday, November 2 at The Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space.
Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce that actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss will host and perform at the annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars on October 26. Joining the previously announced line up are Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth honoring Stephen Schwartz and Mo Rocca honoring Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin.
Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce the lineup for the nonprofit's Gala, Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars being held on October 26 at Gotham Hall. The Gala is the most critical fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund, the public charity arm of the Dramatists Guild of America. This very special evening pays tribute to legendary writers and recognizes their significant contributions to American theater.
Broadway fans celebrated the 29th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction by bidding on and buying everything from tickets to a bevy of opening night performances to custom-made music mixes, from autographed musical phrases to once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experiences. The result: a record $756,655 was raised for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
BC/EFA's 2015 Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction was held just yesterday, September 27, with more than 60 tables full of Broadway memorabilia, collectible Playbills and one-of-a-kind gems from us here at BroadwayWorld and all your favorite shows. Below, BroadwayWorld is happy to take you inside the special day with photo coverage from backstage, the autograph tables and more!
One question has been lingering all week: 'What does Patti think?' LuPone has made her stance on the use of cell phones in theatres very clear, especially since she snatched a phone from an audience member during SHOWS FOR DAYS earlier this summer. Check out her official statement below:
On Saturday, September 12, 2015, William V. Madison, author of Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life (University Press of Mississippi, 2015), hosted a musical tribute to the late singing actress as part of Metropolitan Room's GONE TOO SOON series, produced by Joseph Macchia. Directed by three-time MAC Award-winner Peter Napolitano, The Music of Madeline Kahn, with music director Jeff Cubeta on piano, featured friends & colleagues of the comic legend, as well as performers who have been inspired by her.
