Ben Davis News

We lucked out this weekend as Sharrod Williams took BroadwayWorld behind the scenes at The Muni's first show of their 101st season, Guys and Dolls! So in case you missed it (or just want to relive all of the fun and excitement), we compiled clips for you to enjoy. Check it all out in this special video!

The MUNY's production of GUYS AND DOLLS just opened! The production runs through June 16, 2019. What did the critics think? Read all the reviews!

Luck be a lady! Sharrod Williams is taking over BroadwayWorld's Instagram Story at the MUNY's production of Guys and Dolls tomorrow, June 16th! Be sure to tune in throughout the day to get a peek behind-the-scenes of the closing night of the MUNY's first show of the season! We know you'll love it, a bushel and a peck, so you're not gonna want to miss it!

We've got a first look at the Muny's production of Guys and Dolls!

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The Muny's production of GUYS AND DOLLS! Check out the video!

The Muny announced today its complete cast, design and production team for 1776, the third show of its second century, June 27 - July 3. 

This week, NYC-based pianist, arranger, and music director Dan Pardo celebrates the one-year anniversary of his educational web series for musical theatre lovers, Pardo's Turn. Each 15-minute episode shines a light on a different showtune, starting with a brief musical analysis by Pardo, and followed by a discussion and casual performance alongside a special guest from the Broadway community.

BroadwayWorld has learned today the complete cast, design and production team for Guys and Dolls, the first show of its second century, June 10 - 16.

The line between Broadway-type musical theatre and opera becomes finer by the year--though I dare say that TOOTSIE is unlikely to be showing up at the Met any time soon. But the Kurt Weill-Ira Gershwin-Moss Hart LADY IN THE DARK might have morphed in a slightly different, better piece of music theatre if it arrived in the 21st century rather than World War II.

It was a special event as The Philly Pops under the baton of the always entertaining and talented David Charles Abell offer a De-lightful "De-Lovey" weekend of music.

There's an unfortunate guffaw in the otherwise well-calibrated British thriller of '46, 'Dead of Night,' when Mervyn Johns (Glynis' dad), sensing he's sinking into insanity, brings a shaky hand to his forehead and says, 'I've got to get to a mental specialist.'

BroadwayWorld has learned that The Muny announced today 25 principal cast members for the first season of its second century. Complete company casting will be announced throughout April and May. The 101st season opens on a brand new, state-of-the-art stage with Muny favorite Guys and Dolls followed by the U.S. regional premiere of Kinky Boots. The season continues with 1776, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Footloose and a newly-reimagined Lerner and Loewe's Paint Your Wagon. Season 101 closes with the highly-anticipated Muny debut of Roald Dahl's Matilda.

MasterVoices will conclude its 2018-19 season with the world premiere of a new adaptation of the legendary Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin, Moss Hart musical Lady in the Dark. Presented as part of New York City Center's 75th anniversary season, it is directed and conducted by MasterVoices Artistic Director Ted Sperling, and choreographed by Doug Varone. The musical will star Tony Award winner Victoria Clark in the lead role of Liza Elliott. In addition to the previously announced performances on April 25 and 26, because of high-ticket demand, a matinee has been added for April 27. Opening on Broadway in 1941, Lady in the Dark was groundbreaking in its unusual subject matter psychoanalysis and unconventional structure. It has not been seen in New York in 25 years, since it was presented as part of the inaugural Encores! season at New York City Center in 1994.

Joining the 60+ Pops Orchestra are three outstanding vocalists; Jazz singer Catherine Russell and Broadway's Lisa Vroman and Ben Davis under the baton of Philly's guest conductor David Charles Abell.

MasterVoices will conclude its 2018-19 season with the world premiere of a new adaptation of the legendary Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin, Moss Hartmusical Lady in the Dark. Presented as part of New York City Center's 75th-anniversary season, it is directed and conducted by MasterVoices Artistic Director Ted Sperling, and choreographed by Doug Varone.

Principal Guest Conductor David Charles Abell returns to his hometown of Philadelphia for Cole Porter's Broadway: Too Darn Hot, the explosive penultimate performance of The Philly POPS 40th Anniversary Season, April 12-14 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. 

Bright Star Tony Award nominee Carmen Cusack returned to Feinstein's/54 Below with a brand new show last night, February 13 at 7pm and 9:30pm. Joining Carmen were her Bright Star co-star and Drama Desk nominee Paul Alexander Nolan (Escape to Margaritaville, Slave Play at NYTW), and fellow Encores! Call Me Madam cast members Ben Davis (Violet) and internet personality Randy Rainbow.

For the second time in Encores! history-and to honor City Center's 75th Anniversary Season-the series revived one of its own revivals. A highlight of the second season of Encores! (1995) and featuring a memorable score by Irving Berlin and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, Call Me Madam centers around a brassy ambassador to the fictional European nation of Lichtenberg. The show pokes fun at a far more polite and benign political world and includes standards such as 'It's a Lovely Day Today' and 'Something to Dance About,' along with Berlin's most famous counterpoint duet, 'You're Just in Love.'

For the second time in Encores! history-and to honor City Center's 75th Anniversary Season-the series revived one of its own revivals. A highlight of the second season of Encores! (1995) and featuring a memorable score by Irving Berlin and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, Call Me Madam centers around a brassy ambassador to the fictional European nation of Lichtenberg. The show pokes fun at a far more polite and benign political world and includes standards such as 'It's a Lovely Day Today' and 'Something to Dance About,' along with Berlin's most famous counterpoint duet, 'You're Just in Love.'

For City Center's 75th Anniversary Season the series is reviving one of its own revivals, the musical Call Me Madam. Featuring a memorable score by Irving Berlin and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, Call Me Madam centers around a brassy ambassador to the fictional European nation of Lichtenberg.