Bill Russell News

COMING SOON: Hayes Theatre Company's Second Half Of 2016

The world premiere of the musical BRAVE NEW WORLD opened this past weekend at North Carolina Stage Company in Asheville, NC. Below, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action, plus photos from the opening festivities!

First casting is announced today for Broadway musical Side Show, which receives its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse. Louise Dearman and Laura Pitt-Pulford will play conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton in the brand new production, which runs October 21 to December 3, with a press night on October 26.

The cult musical SIDE SHOW, receiving its London premiere at the Southwark Playhouse later this year, has found its leading twin sisters. The

Asheville, N.C. - North Carolina Stage Company (NC Stage) welcomes Broadway's Justin Matthew Sargent as the lead for its world premiere of BRAVE NEW WORLD: THE MUSICAL.

Theater world, take notice: The Brown/Trinity Rep M.F.A. Class of 2017 is a force to be reckoned with. Their staging of SIDE SHOW impresses in every particular from casting and costuming to setting, dramatic pacing, and lighting. From curtain to curtain, this is theatrical storytelling at its finest.

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that North Carolina Stage Company (NC Stage) will welcome Broadway's Justin Matthew Sargent as the lead for its world premiere of BRAVE NEW WORLD: THE MUSICAL.

The Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs present Bill Russell and Henry Krieger's Side Show directed by Ashley Teague '17 beginning May 5, 2016.  

? North Carolina Stage Company (NC Stage) continues its recent development of world premiere productions. After playing a vital role in the development of Stalking the Bogeyman before its Off-Broadway and West End runs and Someone Else, currently slated for an off-Broadway run this spring, NC Stage announces the world premiere of the brand new musical Brave New World. This will consequently change the originally slated production of Bad Dates.

If you decide to attend Circuit Playhouse's production of PAGEANT in the next few weeks, and if you find yourself blushing at some of the eyebrow-raising humor, there's no need for alarm: Pink cheeks will blend right in, as the stage, many of the dresses and gowns, and much of the make-up are redolent with that color. However, the musical tends more toward the 'purple' at times, with innuendo, knowing looks, and pregnant pauses. Nonetheless, Robert Longbottom's lightweight little satire (with Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell and Frank Kelly and Music by Albert Evans) is a relatively harmless (and highly enjoyable) outing.

Last night, February 29, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to present Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens: A Benefit Concert with Bill Russell & Friends. Scroll down for photos!

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens: A Benefit Concert with Bill Russell & Friends; 54 Sings The Scarlet Pimpernel; Anneliese van der Pol and Tyce Green In Concert; Pride and Prejudice: the Musical in Concert; Christine Andreas: Cafe Society.

Veteran director Andy Sandberg's newest project is the play STRAIGHT, which he is bringing to life Off-Broadway. Straight tells the story of Ben, a 26 year old investment banker, and his relationships with his longtime girlfriend Emily and a new young guy named Chris. The new play is turning heads Off-Broadway and is proving to be quite the conversation starter.

On Monday, February 29, 2016, the Broadway at Birdland concert series will be presenting Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens as a benefit concert. With music by Janet Hood, lyrics and additional text by bill Russell, the piece is comprised of songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology. To get the inside scoop on the upcoming star studded concert, I chatted with Russell and director Jill Sapenoff.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for February 29-March 6, featuring Molly Ringwald, Peter Mazza Trio, Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra, and more. Scroll down for details!

After spending 22 years as a working and teaching professional in New York City, Michael decided to follow his instincts and try living and working in Paris. 

Modern conveniences like smart phones and GPS often make us forget that the journey of life is full of the unexpected. For its 2016 theater season, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater celebrates these unexpected moments: the realization of first love; a town bonded by a bullied teenager; a family finding common ground through music; the censorship of a fictional marriage between two rabbits; the beauty behind the darkness of Edgar Allan Poe; love lost then found again.

International Guitar Night returns to the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom with some of the world's foremost acoustic guitarists performing their latest original compositions and exchanging musical ideas in a public concert setting. Founder Brian Gore hosts three of Europe's finest in this year's tour which includes gypsy jazz legend Lulo Reinhardt, contemporary fingerstyle innovator Mike Dawes, and multi-genre showman Andre Krengel.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its February 2016 lineup, featuring Jane Monheit, Monterey Jazz Allstars, Nicolas King, The Birdland Big Band, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, John Pizzarelli Quartet, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Happy New Year, BroadwayWorld! As we eagerly anticipate the amazing musicals and plays coming up in 2016, we're taking a moment to look back at the significant Broadway closings of 2015.