Chita Rivera News

Grammy-nominated, internationally acclaimed artist Ute Lemper's collaboration with renowned best-selling author Paulo Coelho, The 9 Secrets, is available now via Steinway & Sons. In celebration, Lemper will perform the piece in its entirety in a fully staged production at Symphony Space in New York City on May 13, tickets and information here.

Michael Weber, artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, has announced Porchlight Music Theatre's 2016 - 2017 mainstage season which includes In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's first big hit and winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, September 9 - October 16, 2016; End of the Rainbow, the Chicago premiere of the Judy Garland bio musical play, a recent smash hit in London and New York, November 4 - December 4, 2016; The Scottsboro Boys, the long-awaited Chicago premiere of the final collaboration of Kander and Ebb concerning one of the most infamous events in American history, February 3 - March 12, 2017; Marry Me a Little, Jeff Award-winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook stars in this rarely seen Stephen Sondheim production, April 14 - May 21, 2017.

One of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today, Vanessa Williams will be performing on November 25 at 8 p.m. on the Mainstage of the Union County Performing Arts Center.

As part of their 50th Anniversary Season, the critically acclaimed and award-winning Roundabout Theatre Company is proud to present, direct from Broadway, the national tour of SAM MENDES (Skyfall, American Beauty) and ROB MARSHALL's (Into the Woodsand Chicago, the films) Tony Award-winning production of CABARET, playing this weekend, February 23-28 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Associated Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series.

In this episode: guest Andre Ward talks about how there is nothing 'Rotten' about joining the Renaissance, how he's roller skated for Tina Fey and with Whoopi Goldberg and done the Disco of the Ages. He also shares how continuing to find his authenticity offstage will make a healthier and longer career onstage.

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 47th Anniversary at a gala benefit on Monday, March 28th, 2016 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award winning actress, singer and dancer Donna McKechnie.

George Street Playhouse today announced the cast of Laura Eason's Sex With Strangers, which runs March 8 through March 27 at the New Brunswick theatre.  Kyle Coffman (Newsies, West Side Story on Broadway) will portray young, brash writer Ethan Kane; JoAnna Rhinehart (TV's Elementary, Damages) will play novelist and teacher Olivia Lago.  The production will be helmed by George Street Playhouse Artistic Director David Saint.

MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opened January 11th. Legendary Broadway star Chita Rivera recently visited Hines after the show - check out photos below!

In this episode: Michael Goddard talks about his dreams of being in the 'tall man' track in a Susan Stroman show and how he got to achieve that dream on Broadway and a 1st National tour. He also said he always knew he'd have an Act 2.  Now a NYC talent agent who represents top talent working in Broadway ensembles (many of whom have been interviewed on this podcast), he gives a candid talk about the necessities of an agent, the pro and and cons, setting goals and making new ones. This interviews delves into the 'show' and the 'business'.

song cycle composed and sung by Lemper, set to words by Coelho from his 2012 novel Manuscript Found in Accra, the thematic content of which may be encapsulated in the lines, “After lying undiscovered for over 700 years, a manuscript holding the answers to questions about life and humanity is unearthed. / Simple questions about our lives torn between happiness and sorrow and defined by hope, intelligence and desire to love as much as the capacity to hate and destroy.” Coelho himself is featured on two tracks—see below for track list. In celebration, Lemper will perform the piece in its entirety in a fully staged production at Symphony Space in New York City on May 13, tickets and information here.

BroadwayWorld is excited to announce that we'll be bringing you new episodes of Broadway's Backbone- a podcast dedicated to the men and woman of the ensemble: the chorus of dancers, singers, and actors that are the foundation of every Broadway musical. These often-unsung gypsies are the hardest working people on the boards and are Broadway's backbone. Each episode features an interview with a Broadway vet, in which the speak about their life, career and dreams, and the topics that aren't always shared. The life of a gypsy maybe full of passion, but not always filled with glamour. Each guest shares intimate details about their journey. There is no mud slinging, but expect a little dirt.

Grammy-nominated, internationally acclaimed artist Ute Lemper's collaboration with renowned best-selling author Paulo Coelho, The 9 Secrets, is set for release on February 12

From Neil Patrick Harris to Bernadette Peters to Kelli O'Hara to Kristin Chenoweth to Jason Robert Brown to Barbra Streisand to Chita Rivera to Nick Jonas, Raul Esparza, Alan Menken, Lena Hall, Laura Osnes, Victoria Clark, and everyone in between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2016 Valentine's Day Special - and it's bigger than ever! This year's entries feature John Cameron Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Jeremy Jordan, Kelli O'Hara, Peter Gallagher, Kate Baldwin, Alex Sharp, Judy Kuhn, James Monroe Iglehart, Joshua Henry, Rob McClure, Brynn O'Malley and MANY more!

Grammy-nominated, internationally acclaimed artist Ute Lemper's collaboration with renowned best-selling author Paulo Coelho, The 9 Secrets, is set for release on February 12 via Steinway & Sons.

Today in 1984, The Rink opend at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre), where it ran for 204 performances. With a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander, the musical focuses on Anna, the owner of a dilapidated roller skating rink on the boardwalk of a decaying seaside resort, who has decided to sell it to developers. Complicating her plans are her prodigal daughter Angel, who returns to town seeking to reconnect with the people and places she long ago left behind. Through a series of flashbacks, revelations, and minimal forward-moving plot development, the two deal with their pasts in their attempt to reconcile and move on with their lives.

Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen, joins Alan Cumming as a special guest for his headlining debut at Carnegie Hall tonight, February 8 at 8:00 PM.

BroadwayWorld already announced Alan Cumming's star-studded SAPPY SONGS concert at Carnegie Hall, and we're now excited to report that Yellow Sound Label will release ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS -- the new solo recording from the eclectic and electric Tony Award-winning performer -- today, February 5, ahead of the event.

? New Brunswick's George Street Playhouse celebrates the end of another successful season on Sunday, May 22, with its Annual Gala Benefit.  As part of the celebration, the Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award will be conferred upon The Actors Fund and its President and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph P. Benincasa, by the former Governor himself.  The inaugural award was given to Governor Kean in 1990 and was named in his honor to pay tribute to an individual, corporation or foundation whose dedication to the arts enhances the cultural life of the citizens of New Jersey.

The North American tour of the new stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ will play the National Theatre for two weeks only, May 3 - 15, 2016.

Just announced, Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor Broadway librettist John Weidman (ASSASSINS, PACIFIC OVERTURES, ROAD SHOW) with the company's seventh Stephen Sondheim Award on April 4, 2016.