Craig Zadan News

As previously reported, the Footloose remake, starring Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald will be released in theaters on October 14, 2011. The new film Footloose will be expanded into a 'full-blown movie musical' from the earlier film with songs. In addition to starring a young Kevin Bacon as Ren, Footloose also starred Lori Singer as Ariel. It was originally written by Dean Pitchford. A Broadway musical version of Footloose was previously staged in 1998.

Today, BroadwayWorld has the distinct privilege of premiering an exclusive world premiere clip from the Season Three finale of Liftime's hit original dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA. Click below to check out Brooke Eliott as the titular lady in action and legal eagle in charge breaking down the classic Rosemary Clooney rouser "Mambo Italiano", penned by the theatre's own Bob Merrill (of FUNNY GIRL and CARNIVAL fame) - with some generous assistance from Thunder Down Under, no less - and bringing down the house with her big, bright Broadway belt. As is clear to see in this clip and in the rest of the musical numbers on the show, DROP DEAD DIVA delivers the goods for Broadway babies and perhaps that is because DROP DEAD DIVA boasts the same executive producers as CHICAGO, HAIRSPRAY, the forthcoming FOOTLOOSE remake, as well as a string of hit television musical theatre adaptations (such as ANNIE, THE MUSIC MAN, GYPSY and LIZA'S AT THE PALACE) - the esteemed Craig Zadan and Neil Meron - so, the production values are truly top-most and they deserve a huge tip of the top hat for their continued excellence in bringing theatre-themed entertainment to an international audience time and time again.

The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that they will be teaming up with THE TREVOR PROJECT for a special benefit performance on Thursday, October 6 at 7pm. A portion of every ticket sold for the October 6 performance will go directly to THE TREVOR PROJECT. The evening will also feature a post-show talkback with Daniel Radcliffe and the cast, as well as a post-show auction featuring autographed HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING merchandise, with all proceeds from the auction going to THE TREVOR PROJECT. Tickets for this one-night only event are available by visiting Telecharge.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers. BroadwayBeat was on hand for the press conference earlier today and chatted with Jonas about taking on the leading role! Click below to check it out!

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers.

Nick Jonas will climb the corporate ladder as Broadway's next ‘J. Pierrepont Finch' in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are currently on sale through Sunday, July 1, 2012. Jonas, who began his career on stage at age 8, returns to Broadway for the first time since the launch of the international sensation The Jonas Brothers.

Just as iconic as the original roles is the title song, which was covered by country singer and 'The Voice' judge Blake Shelton for the movie's October 14 release. Listen to the song below!

Today we are kicking off the male-centric portion of our ongoing series of interviews with the stars of Lifetime's DROP DEAD DIVA with the heartthrob of the show and Jane's former fiancee in her past life, legal eagle Grayson, played by the dashing and suave Jackson Hurst. In addition to talking all about Season 3 of DROP DEAD DIVA and the future for Jane and Grayson - as well as the hiccups and roadblocks in his relationship with Deb, before, and, now, Jane, that have cropped up so precipitously along the way - we also analyze the various guest stars on the show over the seasons - everyone from Kathy Griffin to Samuel L. Jackson to Elliot Gould to Liza Minnelli and more! In addition, Hurst and I also discuss his past and future stage and screen roles and his experiences on sets and backstage - including a thorough discussion of working with director Terrence Malick on THE TREE OF LIFE and his starring role in the forthcoming September release, A BIRD OF THE AIR, by CHINATOWN scribe Robert Towne - as well as Hurst's own favorite films and ultimate career aspirations - plus much, much more!

Will Chase, most recently seen on Broadway in Billy Elliot, has joined the myriad of stage stars who will be seen in the upcoming NBC series SMASH.

Queen Latifah, winner of Grammy, Golden Globe and SAG awards, has partnered with leading multichannel retailer HSN for the exclusive launch of the Queen Collection, her first-ever lifestyle brand.

Harry Potter star Tom Felton has finally made it to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to see his on screen enemy Daniel Radcliffe in HOW TO SUCCEED, and he had a lot to say about the experience. Felton told Fanshare.com: 'I saw Daniel about a week ago and I was completely blown away. He really does excel. It's amazing, as well, how in one second, you see Harry Potter and he's completely gone within a minute; you're just looking at someone else.'

As previously reported, the Footloose remake, starring Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald will be released in theaters on October 14, 2011.

FOOTLOOSE will once again hit the silver screen in October. Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell star in the highly anticipated film, and the musicians that will be featured on the film's soundtrack have just been announced. The full track listing is as follows:

The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING recently announced that Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning smash hit television show 'GLEE', will make his Broadway debut as J. Pierrepont Finch, performing a strictly limited three week engagement from January 3, through January 22, 2012. He will replace Daniel Radcliffe, who will play his final performance on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Tickets for Radcliffe's final performances in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale!

Today we are talking to DROP DEAD DIVA guest star Sharon Lawrence and discussing her long-awaited return to the series as Bobbie Dobkins in Sunday's "Mother's Day" episode as well as taking a look at her long and varied film and theater career with thoughts on everything from CABARET and CHICAGO onstage to DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, LAW & ORDER: SVU, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM on the small screen and the new Theresa Rebeck play she stars in opening next month at the Mark Taper Forum in LA, POOR BEHAVIOR and much, much more! Over the course of the next several weeks, we are going to be taking an extensive look at the sights and sounds both onscreen and onset of the hit TV dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA - new episodes airing Sunday nights at 9 PM on Lifetime - featuring exclusive interviews with the leading lady divas and dashing supporting men on the LA-based supernatural legal series. Featuring a memorable collection of musical performances and Broadway guest stars over the years - Paula Abdul, Rosie O'Donnell, Delta Burke and many more included - DROP DEAD DIVA is the quintessential TV series for Broadway babies looking for some laughs and levity - the latter available in many more ways than one, given the show's heavenly aspirations. DROP DEAD DIVA centers on a legal eagle named Jane whose body acts as the means for the indomitable spirit of a model, Deb, who loses her life, to make a second chance and how the girl inside must learn to adjust to looking like the woman on the outside that she is now. In other words, a model finds out what it means to look like everyone else, in a delightfully quirky twist of fate - and learns to be a lawyer, too. Season Three picks up with the cliffhanger car crash that closed last season in a dark and shocking way. What will Grayson remember of the conversation he had with Jane pre-crash? What will Jane do to save him? What about his engagement (to somebody else)? What will happen back at the office with Teri, Kim and Parker? What about Stacy and Fred? All these questions and many more will most assuredly be answered come Sunday night! Plus, there's always a musical number or two not too far off if you stay tuned - such as this week's BroadwayWorld exclusive world premiere of "Lean On Me" available here! Be sure to check back often because in the following weeks, we will also feature conversations with DROP DEAD DIVA stars Josh Henderson, Jackson Hurst, Ben Feldman and definitely stay tuned for next week's exclusive chat with featured guest star and Tony-winner, the one and only Faith Prince! Continuing the BRIDGING TV & THEATRE: DROP DEAD DIVA series, here is my extended conversation with DROP DEAD DIVA guest star Sharon Lawrence in which we discuss her many Broadway credits - CABARET, CHICAGO, ZORBA and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF included - as well as her extensive and varied theater career and acting alongside the likes of Cherry Jones, Marian Seldes and DROP DEAD DIVA guest star and fellow Broadway baby Faith Prince. Additionally, Ms. Lawrence shares her fascinating insights into the art of acting and the role of the actor in society as well as provides detailed insight into her own process and musical theatre versus straight drama - plus, comments on SMASH, GLEE, Weill, Brecht, feminism and much, much more!

The producers of the 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING announced today that Darren Criss, breakout star of Fox's Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning smash hit television show 'GLEE', will make his Broadway debut as J. Pierrepont Finch, performing a strictly limited three week engagement from January 3, through January 22, 2012. He will replace Daniel Radcliffe, who will play his final performance on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Tickets for Mr. Criss' engagement in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING are now on sale.

According to TVLine.com's Matt Mitovich, NBC's highly anticipated new musical series SMASH will premiere on February 6 at 10 PM, and BroadwayWorld couldn't be more excited for the big day!

In the Hollywood Bowl's production of Hairspray August 5, 6 and 7, directed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, John Stamos will play the super suave TV Host Corny Collins. Stamos starred on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cabaret, Nine and Bye Bye Birdie and is known for his television work on Full House and ER, and this season on Glee and Law & Order: SVU. In our chat, he talks about Corny and his favorite theatrical ventures.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Kristin Chenoweth at Sidetrack, Jennifer Hudson at Ravinia, 'Carousel,' 'West Side Story,' 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party,' 'For The Boys,' more....