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.
Sherie Rene Scott ('Everyday Rapture,' Aida,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' 'The Last Five Years') is back on The Graham Show to talk about her early years in the Midwest and finding the theater. Watch the interview below!
Today we are talking to a charismatic leading man who has made quite a mark on Broadway over the last few seasons, having participated in the original Broadways casts of Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (for which he received a Tony nomination for Best Actor), Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT (as Favorite Son) and, most recently, the rapturously-received revival of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS (as Jake), which won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival - the multi-talented Joshua Henry. Discussing the creation, casting, rehearsal and reception of each of the aforementioned musicals, as well as working with his collaborators on said projects - John Kander, Susan Stroman, Billie Joe Armstrong, Tom Kitt, Michael Mayer, Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, Diane Paulus and more included - Henry illustrates the process of bringing the three wildly different entities to the stage and how he shaped his disparate characters within them. Additionally, Henry also discusses his role in the original production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS and that Tony-winning Best Musical's inception and legacy. Plus, Henry expounds on his new self-composed family-friendly musical, AMIGO DUENDE, directed by Luis Salgado, which begins performances October 5 at El Musio Del Barrio and also shares the inspiration behind it. All of that, first news on his starring role in COTTON CLUB PARADE at City Center (co-starring GLEE's Amber Riley), sharing the screen with Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson and the Fab Four in SEX & THE CITY: THE MOVIE, his role in the recent MOTOWN workshop (as Marvin Gaye), future plans and much, much more!
The new weekly web interview series "The Graham Show," hosted by Graham Douglass, premieres today, Friday, September 28. The inaugural episode features an interview with Tony Award-winning actor Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, "Smash"). Watch the episode below or at www.TheGrahamShow.com!
Ghostlight Records released the long-awaited cast recording of Carrie: The Musical yesterday, September 25, 2012, preserving the recent MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) Off-Broadway revival. Just yesterday, the cast gathered at Barnes & Noble to celebrate the release with a special performance and CD signing. BroadwayWorld was there for the big event and we bring you full photo coverage below!
For the first time ever, the musical Carrie has been preserved in a cast recording of the recent MCC Theater Off-Broadway revival. Just last night there was a special 'listening party' for the long awaited album, which officially comes out September 25, 2012 on Ghostlight Records. BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you coverage below!
Today we are talking to a multi-talented performer who has performed on Broadway in everything from BROOKLYN to WICKED who made her most recent Broadway bows standing by in both ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER and PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT - the dynamic and compelling Julie Reiber. Talking all about her new solo album, LOVE TRAVELS, and its various inspirations as well as casting a look back at her many Broadway, touring and regional roles thus far in her eclectic career - ALL SHOOK UP, SWEENEY TODD and many more included - Reiber and I attempt to illustrate her unique place on Broadway and what she would like to pursue in the future, both on the stage and in the recording studio. Additionally, Reiber opens up about her exhaustive song selection process for LOVE TRAVELS and shares candid stories of the recording process of her solo debut, including providing some background on the songs that did not make the cut, how the sterling arrangements arose out of the material and the process of becoming a singer-songwriter in her own right over the project's three-year-long creation. Also, Reiber outlines her experiences performing in the out-of-town tryout of the new musical adaptation of Armistead Maupin's TALES OF THE CITY penned by rock super group Scissor Sisters and expresses her desire to continue with future iterations of the 70s-set Broadway-bound tuner as she looks ahead to her new roles of recording artist, and, also, she is happy to announce, mother. Plus, Julie offers details on her role in the heretofore little-known Meat Loaf-inspired movie musical ECLIPSE OF THE HEART (hopefully released some red moon soon), expresses her thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, compared Broadway now versus a decade ago - and much, much more!
