Christopher Gattelli News

The Goodman Theatre's buzzy new world premiere WAR PAINT has enlisted one more Tony winner.

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today that the Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin Season engagement of Disney's NEWSIES set a box office record for the highest-grossing one-week theatrical engagement at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. The award-winning musical grossed sales of $1,448,779.50 for the week ending Feb. 14, 2016 and attracted more than 20,000 patrons to the West Downtown MPLS Cultural District (WeDo) during its eight performances.

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.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Producing Artistic Director) has announced that 3-time Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie will assume the role of Anna Leonowens in its Tony Award-winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I beginning Tuesday, May 3 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Dancing newsboys! Underdogs win! Read all about it! NEWSIES leaps on the Orpheum stage through Feb. 14.

NEWSIES! is leaping onto the stage at Omaha's Orpheum Theater. This high-energy musical based on historic events opens February 16 for a six day run. I spoke with Andrew Wilson, Dance Captain and Swing for NEWSIES, about his background and his experience working with the show. This is what he had to say

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, Ken Watanabe's return to THE KING AND I has been postponed after recently undergoing endoscopic surgery in Japan. Now we've confirmed with a Lincoln Center representative that he will officially return to THE KING AND I on Thursday, March 17.  Hoon Lee, who is currently playing the King of Siam, will play his final performance on Wednesday, March 16.

DMI Soundtracks announced today that the Broadway cast album of Amazing Grace will be released on February 26; with digital download pre-orders available on February 12. Amazing Grace will be available to purchase on all digital download and streaming services, as well as in-store. The recording was co-produced and engineered by six-time Grammy Award winner Frank Filipetti and co-produced and arranged by Joseph Church.

Chaning Tatum talks about working with the Coen Brothers,and learning how to tap dance for the Coen brothers new movie HAIL, CAESAR! in theatres now.

Today, it was revealed that his Broadway return will be postponed by several weeks due to recent laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer

Four-time Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen's HAIL, CAESAR! arrives in theatres today, February 5, 2016. An all-star comedy with music set during the latter years of Hollywood's Golden Age, it stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, Jonah Hill, Frances McDormand, and Channing Tatum, playing a Gene Kelly/Fred Astaire-type song and dance man of the silver screen. Tatum, who previously had no experience with the style, got help from a pro- Tony winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, The King and I). Below, watch a clip from his musical number, go behind the scenes of filming, and learn more about his character and the inspirations behind it!

Four-time Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men, True Grit, Fargo) write and direct HAIL, CAESAR!, an all-star comedy with music set during the latter years of Hollywood's Golden Age. The movie hits theaters today, February 5th, 2016.

One would think that a movie like HAIL, CAESAR!, written and directed by two of America's favorite filmmakers, starring a veritable who's who of Hollywood heavyweights, and set in one of the most entertaining and romanticized eras in American history would be a sure fire hit. The first time that I saw the film's trailer, that's immediately what I thought. I just naturally assumed that it would be scheduled for a mid-December release, in time to scoop up the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical, and to be the kooky, critical darling that snatched an Oscars' Best Picture nod, a la THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL. Instead, it was released in the first week of February, one of the slowest movie-going times of the year, eons away from awards-consideration, and is easily the most disappointing movie that I've seen in quite a while.

Disney's NEWSIES will play an exclusive two-week premiere engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with performances May 17 - 29, 2016 in Segerstrom Hall. Individual tickets for NEWSIES start at $25 and may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group tickets for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, May 28, 2016 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2015 (Dec. 1, 2014 - Nov. 30, 2015).

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, The SpongeBob Musical just announced casting for the Chicago engagement. Ethan Slater will make his Chicago debut in the role of the iconic SpongeBob Squarepants andLilli Cooper will play SpongeBob's close friend Sandy Cheeks. The cast will also feature Gaelen Gilliland, Curtis Holbrook, Stephanie Hsu, L'ogan J'ones, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Mark Ledbetter, Kelvin Moon Loh, Vasthy Mompoint, JC Schuster, Abby C. Smith, Jason Michael Snow. The SpongeBob Musical will begin performances on Tuesday, June 7th at Broadway in Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, July 3, 2016. Check out the just-released artwork for the show below!

It's not unusual for movies to be adapted for the stage these days, in fact, it's become rather commonplace. But typically, musicals written for the screen that flop (even though they might have a rather substantial cult following), are usually avoided for obvious reasons. Although, that didn't stop the producers of XANADU from plowing forward, go figure. The Disney film NEWSIES actually seems likes a logical choice to revamp and produce on the stage, and it wound up winning Tony Awards for best score and choreography back in 2012, and becoming quite the hit. So why am I so surprised? I guess because the current touring production, while occasionally dazzling, comes off slightly uninspired and flat. Now, don't get me wrong, there are some really fine performances, an eye catching scenic design, cool effects, and energetic choreography that certainly lives up to expectations. And, like the film, an awful lot of people, both young and old, are guaranteed to truly love this show, as evidenced by the very enthusiastic response from the audience at the performance I attended.

The SpongeBob Musical just announced casting for the Chicago engagement. Ethan Slater will make his Chicago debut in the role of the iconic SpongeBob Squarepants and Lilli Cooper will play SpongeBob's close friend Sandy Cheeks. The cast will also feature Gaelen Gilliland, Curtis Holbrook, Stephanie Hsu, L'ogan J'ones, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Mark Ledbetter, Kelvin Moon Loh, Vasthy Mompoint, JC Schuster, Abby C. Smith, Jason Michael Snow.

Think you could rock a starfish or crab costume onstage? THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL is looking to fill two of its leading roles for its World Premiere engagement in Chicago this summer, and BroadwayWorld is excited to report auditions will be held this or next month in New York City and on January 29th in Orlando, Fla.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Producing Artistic Director) has announced the casting of a succession of Kings to star this spring in its Tony Award-winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I, directed by Bartlett Sher, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Hoon Lee, who is currently starring as the King of Siam, will play his final performance in the role on Sunday, February 28.