Bernie Telsey News

Hangar Theatre continues its 39th season with the regional premiere of Bruce Norris' award-winning play, Clybourne Park, running from August 8th through 17th.

The Hangar Theatre continues its 39th season with one of the greatest American musicals of all time, Gypsy, which runs from tonight, July 4-20. Distinguished by more than 45 awards and nominations - including the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards - Gypsy has been revived on Broadway four times. Gypsy was inspired by the memoirs of the legendary burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. This gripping story follows the ultimate stage mother, determined to catapult her daughters to stardom in the waning 1920s vaudeville circuit. It's filled with Styne and Sondheim's popular standards, including 'Everything's Coming up Roses,' 'Small World,' 'Let Me Entertain You,' 'All I Need Is the Girl,' and 'Rose's Turn.'

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) selected 62 finalists from tens of thousands of students to compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, last night at the Minskoff Theatre. Hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana, the fifth annual performance showcase featured dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon. Sarah Lynn Marion, from Fullerton, CA and Taylor Varga, from Newtown, CT took home the big awards for the evening and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) is pleased to announce that 62 finalists selected from tens of thousands of students will compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, scholarships and other honors at an event on Broadway to be hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince). The fifth annual performance showcase featuring dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon will take place on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St).

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) previously announced that 62 finalists selected from tens of thousands of students will compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, scholarships and other honors at an event on Broadway to be hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince). The fifth annual performance showcase featuring dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon will take place tonight, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St).

The Hangar Theatre continues its 39th season with one of the greatest American musicals of all time, Gypsy, which runs from July 4-20. Distinguished by more than 45 awards and nominations - including the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards - Gypsy has been revived on Broadway four times. Gypsy was inspired by the memoirs of the legendary burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. This gripping story follows the ultimate stage mother, determined to catapult her daughters to stardom in the waning 1920s vaudeville circuit. It's filled with Styne and Sondheim's popular standards, including 'Everything's Coming up Roses,' 'Small World,' 'Let Me Entertain You,' 'All I Need Is the Girl,' and 'Rose's Turn.'

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) is pleased to announce that 62 finalists selected from tens of thousands of students will compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, scholarships and other honors at an event on Broadway to be hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince). The fifth annual performance showcase featuring dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon will take place on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St).

MCC Theater recently announced that Neil LaBute's new play, Reasons to be Happy, also directed by LaBute, will now extend through Saturday, June 29th. Reasons to Be Happy is a companion piece to LaBute's critically-acclaimed award-winning play,Reasons to Be Pretty, first produced at MCC Theater in 2008 before moving to Broadway where it was nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Play. Performances began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on May 16, 2013. It officially opened last night and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the theatre arrivals below!

Today we are talking to a titanically talented and charismatic actor coming to a whole new audience this week with the highly anticipated premiere of the exceptional new USA series GRACELAND, although he is assuredly already known to audiences for his formidable stage and screen performances in a vast array of exciting and impressive roles over the course of his career - ranging from his early work in Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT in Central Park through to Richard Greenberg's TAKE ME OUT, and, most recently, CYRANO DE BERGERAC on Broadway to memorable TV roles on series like RESCUE ME, 30 ROCK and SEX & THE CITY to his appearances in films like last year's THE DARK KNIGHT, as well as GONE, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and many more - Daniel Sunjata. Touching upon many of his most celebrated previous roles onstage and onscreen, Sunjata eloquently explicates his process as an actor in playing various characters thus far - most of all, and with a special focus, on his current (and future) one on GRACELAND - in this extensive conversation. Additionally, Sunjata discusses his preferences for plays over musicals, teases his upcoming film LULLABY, expresses his enthusiasm for a DEVIL WEARS PRADA follow-up film, reminisces about 30 ROCK, recounts working with Woody Allen on MELINDA & MELINDA and more.

In Episode 10, Part 2 of THE GRAHAM SHOW, 'Summer Camp, A Theater Company & Juggling,' casting director Bernie Telsey talks growing up at his local Long Island community theater, studying acting and producing at NYU and balancing work as a casting director and co-founder of MCC Theater in NYC. Click below to watch the interview!

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) has announced that its 5th annual talent showcase will take place on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 W 45th St). At this 'Super Bowl' of amateur musical theater, student winners of awards competitions that take place across the United States will perform songs exclusively from the musical theater canon in the quest to win the coveted title of Best Performance by an Actress or Best Performance by an Actor and a Jimmy Award, named for legendary Broadway producer/theater owner James M. Nederlander, in recognition of his generous support of young artists.

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) has announced that its 5th annual talent showcase will take place on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 W 45th St). At this 'Super Bowl' of amateur musical theater, student winners of awards competitions that take place across the United States will perform songs exclusively from the musical theater canon in the quest to win the coveted title of Best Performance by an Actress or Best Performance by an Actor and a Jimmy(TM) Award, named for legendary Broadway producer/theater owner James M. Nederlander, in recognition of his generous support of young artists.

In Episode 10, Part 1 of THE GRAHAM SHOW, 'Never Satisfied, A New Canvas & Your Day,' casting director Bernie Telsey shares his advice for actors, his point of view as a casting director, and the hardest aspect of his job. Click below to watch the interview!

MCC Theater presented its annual Miscast gala last night, March 4, 2013 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street). Miscast 2013 honored Tony Award winner Judith Light (Other Desert Cities) for her illustrious screen and stage career (appearing on Broadway this year for her third straight season, this time in Richard Greenberg's upcoming The Assembled Parties), her work with MCC Theater (acclaimed performances in Colder Than Here and Wit), and her impassioned advocacy of several causes, including Arts in Education. BroadwayWorld was there for the special evening and you can check out photos of the arrivals below!

It's time for the newest episode of BWW's exclusive TV series - CHEWING THE SCENERY WITH Randy Rainbow! In this week's episode, Randy auditions with Bernie Telsey, and chats with Liza Minelli about this week's biggest events including Shia LaBeouf's exit from ORPHANS, Jeremy Jordan in THE LAST FIVE YEARS and more. Click below to watch episode 24!

MCC Theater presents the New York premiere production of Paul Downs Colaizzo's Really Really, directed by David Cromer (the Obie Award and Lucille Lortel Award-winning director of hits Our Town, Adding Machine and Tribes). The production, which marks Colaizzo's New York playwriting debut, plays at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) through March 10, 2013. The opening was last night, February 19. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos from the theatre arrivals below!

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2013 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Joshua Salzman (music) & Ryan Cunningham (book and lyrics); and Kamala Sankaram. The prestigious grants, totaling $10,000, will be presented on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

From Kristin Chenoweth to Deborah Cox to Idina Menzel to Barbra Streisand to Michael Crawford to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Patti LuPone, Raul Esparza, Alan Menken, Lea Salonga, Bernadette Peters, Laura Osnes, Victoria Clark, GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2013 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

SMASH makes it's long-awaited return to the NBC lineup for a second season on Tuesday, February 5 (9-10 p.m. ET) and will continue in its regular time slot on Tuesday, February 12 (10-11 p.m. ET). Season two will feature a slew of new talent, including Jennifer Hudson, Jeremy Jordan, Andy Mientus, Krysta Rodriguez, Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Nikki Blonski, and more.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) presents Matt Lauria (NBC's 'Friday Night Lights' & 'Parenthood'), ZOSIA MAMET (HBO's 'Girls', AMC's 'Mad Men'), Lauren Culpepper (Signature's Really Really), David Hull (Broadway's Wicked & How to Succeed...), Evan Jonigkeit (Broadway's High with Kathleen Turner), Kobi Libii (Off-Broadway's CQ/CX), and Aleque Reid (Hair 1st National Tour) in the New York premiere production of Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo. The production, which marks Colaizzo's New York playwriting debut, is directed by David Cromer, the Obie Award and Lucille LortelAward-winning director of hits Our Town, Adding Machine and Tribes.