Colm Wilkinson News

Award-winning Canadian actress Chilina Kennedy, who made her Broadway debut as 'Mary Magdalene' in Jesus Christ Superstar, has nabbed the title role in Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, the smash hit musical about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. Kennedy begins performances on March 7, 2015, succeeding Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller, who will play her final performance in Beautiful on March 6 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street). Check out a first look at the actress in action below!

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Award-winning Canadian actress Chilina Kennedy, who made her Broadway debut as 'Mary Magdalene' in Jesus Christ Superstar, has nabbed the title role in Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, the smash hit musical about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter. Kennedy begins performances on March 7, 2015, succeeding Tony Award-winner Jessie Mueller, who will play her final performance in Beautiful on March 6 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street).

Ciaran Sheehan and Gwen Eagleton, Broadway stars of The Phantom of the Opera and LES MISERABLES, will perform a one-night-only musical event From Galway to Broadway on Thursday, March 5th at 7:30 p.m. to benefit The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's young artist education and training programs. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Sheehan and Eagleton will perform a medley of traditional Irish songs, Broadway standards, and beloved pop tunes. Tickets start at $20. Prime seating is available for $35 and a $60 ticket includes a post-show reception with the artists. For more information, contact the Box Office at (973) 408-5600 or www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

As a young teenager, Sandra Turley saw the musical 'Les Miserables' and knew that someday she wanted to perform in that production. Her substantial acting and vocal chops eventually landed her the role of Cosette on Broadway and she was also able to play Cosette with the venerable Colm Wilkinson in Shanghai, China. Wilkinson originated the leading role of Jean Valjean in the London and Broadway productions of the famous Victor Hugo story.

Tuesday, November 11 My lifelong friend, Jane Parham arrived in town for the invited dress rehearsaltomorrow and I had lunch with her at Sonoma Grill. Have I mentioned that Sonoma Grill is awesome? So is Jane. We had a marvelous time and then I took her to the theater to see the set. While we were standing there, Zach Moore ran a sound cue, Bizet's Symphony in C… loudly. Both Jane and I burst into tears. Got to introduce her to Ted Pappas who greeted her like an old friend. Good times.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present 'From Galway to Broadway on Thursday, March 5th at 7:30 pm. The show stars Broadway stars, Ciaran Sheehan and Gwen Eagleton. Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Ciaran Sheehan about his career and the show.

Broadway stars of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables Ciaran Sheehan and Gwen Eagleton will perform a one-night-only musical event From Galway to Broadway on Monday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. The concert will benefit The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's young artist education and training programs. Sheehan and Eagleton will perform a medley of Broadway standards, traditional Irish songs, and beloved pop tunes.

There were several reasons that I almost denied myself the pleasure of attending DeSoto Family Theatre's new production of Boublil and Schonberg's LES MISERABLES, the epic (and enduring) musical version of Victor Hugo's massive nineteenth century novel. I hereby state my preconceived notions - and hope to explain why I was so ill-opined.

This week, in honor of BroadwayWorld's simply spectacular charity concert celebration of the men behind the music to most of the most important and indelible musicals of the last 50 years at Monday night's THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM, we turn our attention to the sole clip of the two modern musical theatre marvels performing side by side.

It was like a scene from Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys." `I came from the people; they need to adore me /So Christian Dior me from my head to my toes.' What kind of a lyric is that?" kvetched lyricist Fred Ebb as he got into the taxi. "You remembered it," quipped his songwriting partner, composer John Kander, with a shrug. The song? "Rainbow High." The show? "Evita."

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The Tony Awards are fast approaching and BWW will be bringing you an inside look at rehearsals, plus performances at the Tony Awards Pop-Up Shop today. The Interfaith Awards Gala is tonight, NAAP's all-Asian OLIVER! begins performances, Kenneth Branagh makes his NY stage debut and more!

It was like a scene from Neil Simon's “The Sunshine Boys.” `I came from the people; they need to adore me /So Christian Dior me from my head to my toes.' What kind of a lyric is that?” kvetched lyricist Fred Ebb as he got into the taxi. “You remembered it,” quipped his songwriting partner, composer John Kander, with a shrug. The song? “Rainbow High.” The show? “Evita.”

The Il Divo 'A Musical Affair' tour played the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto on Wednesday night, and after the show, BroadwayWorld Toronto Senior Editor Alan Henry was able to go backstage and chat with a BroadwayWorld favorite - Lea Salonga. Salonga is, of course, best known for originating the role of Kim in Miss Saigon (the west end revival had its opening last night), and being the singing voice of two Disney princesses - Mulan and Jasmine. She is joining Il Divo on their international tour.

Join us for a one night only musical tribute to Colm Wilkinson featuring Broadway stars Adam Brazier, Chilina Kennedy, Aaron Walpole, Tony nominee Josh Young, internationally acclaimed Jennie Such, and more artists performing the gorgeous songs he made famous.

Rick Fox will be taking over the role of musical director in Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's production of Smokey Joe's Cafe--The Songs of Leiber and Stoller from Victor Simonson, who will be departing the show for personal reasons.

Ramin Karimloo has burst into this Broadway season, playing everyone's favorite ex-con, Jean Valjean, in the new revival of Les Miserables. This re-imagined production, written by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg, is currently playing at the Imperial Theatre. You might not know him yet, but below, BroadwayWorld gives you just a few reasons to love Broadway's newest leading man!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand for the star-studded red carpet, where he got to chat with all the high-profile guests before the curtain went up. Click below to check out interviews with Colm Wilkinson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg, Michael Arden, Betsy Wolfe, Audra McDonald & more!

Cameron Mackintosh's new production ofAlain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical Les Miserables opened last night, Sunday, March 23 on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre. The cast of the new LES MIZ features Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean; Will Swenson as Javert; Caissie Levy as Fantine; Nikki M. James as Eponine; Andy Mientus as Marius; Samantha Hill as Cosette; acclaimed Canadian actor Cliff Saunders as Thenardier; Tony Award nominee Keala Settle as Madame Thenardier and Kyle Scatliffe, as the revolutionary Enjolras. BroadwayWorld was there for all of the opening night festivities and you can catch full coverage from the theatre arrivals below!

In honor of Les Miserables' opening tonight, BroadwayWord brings you the actors who've taken on the many complex and vocally challenging roles of Victor Hugo's world, from the unscrupulous Thenardiers to innocent Cosette, or principled Javert against the compassionate and strong-willed Jean Valjean. From Fantine and Eponine, unfortunate in life and romance, to Enjolras and Marius, the fiery young leaders of the French Revolution.

Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city: the original show at London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre; and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thenardier, Leo Burmester as Thenardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, and Terrence Mann as Javert.