Darren Criss News

Nominees for the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2012 in five film and eight primetime television categories as well as the SAG Awards honors for outstanding action performances by film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center's SilverScreen Theater in West Hollywood.

Nominees for the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® for outstanding performances in 2012 in five film and eight primetime television categories as well as the SAG Awards honors for outstanding action performances by film and television stunt ensembles were announced this morning in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center's SilverScreen Theater in West Hollywood.

Even the rain on Sunday night did not dampen the holiday spirit at GLEE star Darren Criss's free Christmas concert at eBay Toy Box, a pop-up shop-turned-concert venue, located in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan.

Actor, singer, and composer Darren Criss plays the role of brand ambassador for eBay's annual "Toys for Tots" anew by performing a free outdoor acoustic concert at eBay Toy Box, a pop-up shop and concert venue at the Meatpacking District in Manhattan (Hudson Street and 14 Street), tomorrow, December 9 at 5 p.m.

"For the first time in its charmed, yet pitiful, existence the New Directions has lost Sectionals," and, with that, indeed did "Christmas came early for one Sue Sylvester." As GLEE gave the gift of its inimitable takes on a number of musical theatre showstoppers - among them, songs from CHICAGO, COMPANY and HALLELUJAH, BABY - to gleeks around the world with last night aptly-titled "Swan Song" episode, the Lima-based glee club that now and always acts as the focal point of the show faced perhaps its most treacherous hurdle yet - and that's not even including Sue's evil shenanigans. In NYC, the temperature rose in much the same way that it actually unseasonably happened to do in Gothan itself this week with a spectacularly sexy "All That Jazz" and some seriously stage-worthy barn-burners courtesy of "Being Good Isn't Good Enough" - recently re-introduced to the world at large by no less than Barbra Streisand in her landmark 2012 tour (as well as on her recently released cut-out compilation RELEASE ME) - and COMPANY classic "Being Alive". While next week is sure to provide all the holiday cheer a show named GLEE could possibly muster - which is a whole lot - this week's "Swan Song" reminded us why GLEE connects and continues to express an all-too-rarely explored, expressed and enacted trope of those who are involved with the performing arts: competition inspires greater dedication.

Charlene Kaye will tour Nashville, NYC, Boston and Vienna, Va. this December in support of her album Animal Love.

Fox has just released the audio track for Darren Criss and Chris Colfer's duet for 'White Christmas,' featured in GLEE's upcoming Christmas episode, set to air on Dec. 13. Check it out below!

'Tis the season to be jolly as the Glee cast releases Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 3, available Tuesday, December 11.The album features timeless holiday classics, including "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "White Christmas," and "Jingle Bell Rock." Six of the tracks recorded will be included on the holiday themed episode of Glee, which airs Thursday, December 13, at 9:00 PM ET/PT on FOX. Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 3 will also showcase 4 songs recorded exclusively for the release including "Joy To The World" and "Silent Night" (see below for track-listing).

Click below to watch Darren Criss perform a cover of Katy Perry's 'Part of Me', Kristin Chenoweth and Anna Kendrick singing 'For Good' from WICKED, and American Idol's Jessica Sanchez dueting with GLEE's Matthew Morrison at last night's Trevor Live event!

Last night, December 2, The Trevor Project presented its annual benefit event, "Trevor Live" presented by Audi of America and Wells Fargo and directed by celebrated director, producer and choreographer Adam Shankman. This high-profile evening of music, comedy and entertainment honoedr Audi of America with the Trevor 2020 Award and international superstar Katy Perry with the Trevor Hero Award. A slew of Broadway favorites were in attendence, including: Kristin Chenoweth, Andrew Rannells, Laura Benanti, Betty Buckley, Matthew Morrison, and more. Check out photos from the red carpet below!

Today BroadwayWorld is proud to present the third and fourth world premiere exclusive songs in a month's time, following "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" performed by Kitty (Becca Tobin) and the New Directions girls as well as "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" performed by Marley (Melissa Benoist): following "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO courtesy of Rachel (Lea Michele)and Cassandra (Kate Hudson), here is Cory Monteith, Darren Criss and the New Directions with a theatrically-attuned group reworking of the 80s Crowded House pop classic "Don't Dream It's Over" from this Thursday's brand new episode, "Swan Song".

Today BroadwayWorld is proud to present the third and fourth world premiere exclusive songs in a month's time, following "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" performed by Kitty (Becca Tobin) and the New Directions girls as well as "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" performed by Marley (Melissa Benoist): in addition to Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Amber Riley, Darren Criss and the New Directions with a theatrically-attuned group reworking of the 80s Crowded House pop classic "Don't Dream It's Over", here is theatrical standard "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO courtesy of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Cassandra (Kate Hudson) from this Thursday's brand new episode, "Swan Song".

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, December 2, 2012 - Sunday, December 2, 2012.

Today, Dec. 2, 2012, The Trevor Project will present its annual benefit event, "Trevor Live" presented by Audi of America and Wells Fargo and directed by celebrated director, producer and choreographer Adam Shankman. This high-profile evening of music, comedy and entertainment will honor Audi of America with the Trevor 2020 Award and international superstar Katy Perry with the Trevor Hero Award.

Today we are talking to a breakout Broadway star who has made a name for himself with memorable turns in this century's revivals of Rodgers & Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG, Stephen Sondheim's PACIFIC OVERTURES and Stephen Schwartz's GODSPELL on Broadway as well as turns in Schwartz's WICKED and Jonathan Larson's RENT in addition to his lauded work on the brand new Broadway-bound tuner ALLEGIANCE, co-starring Lea Salonga and George Takei - and, of course, his easily identifiable uniform-outfitted Warbler on Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the passionate and gifted Telly Leung! Besides taking a look back at many of his best-loved and most well-remembered roles to date, in this career-spanning conversation Leung and I also dissect the finer points of his new solo album, I'LL COVER YOU, as we look ahead to the splashy release party on December 2 at 54 Below, and he outlines his initial inspiration for the creation of it and recounts the recording process for the unique genre-crossing release. Plus, Leung generously shares some truly thrilling backstage stories involving luminaries such as Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Neil Patrick Harris and more as well as shares his infectious enthusiasm for future endeavors, near and far - after a well-earned vacation in January, that is. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Over the last two weeks, GLEE has bravely taken on a catalog comprising everything from David Bowie and Simon & Garfunkel to FOOTLOOSE, PROMISES, PROMISES, the Scissor Sisters, Kelly Clarkson and fun., to say nothing of Psy's current worldwide smash hit "Gangnam Style", and, in so doing, it is clearly showing no signs of slowing down - actually, its amped up. Mashing up the New Directions of the original glee club with the new crew comprised of GLEE PROJECT winners and new faces, to say nothing of the Season Four additional storyline following the New York City-set travails of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) with guest stars Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker, both "Dynamic Duets", written and directed by co-creator Ian Brennan, and "Thanksgiving", written by Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner, directed by Bradley Buecker, also introduced anomalous themes into the GLEE universe while juggling everything else - namely: super heroes and a holiday tribute, Thanksgiving. While this week's episode was perhaps more generally amiable and appealing and certainly more successful in its overall execution and worthy place in the upper half of the episode stack four seasons in, last week packed a plosive "Pow!" of a punch insofar as its appreciable visuals and creative utilization of the tried and true tropes of comic book lore, new and old.

Charlene Kaye will tour Nashville, NYC, Boston and Vienna, Va. this December in support of her album Animal Love.

On last week's episode of FOX's GLEE titled "Dynamic Duets", a love triangle heated up among Marley (Melissa Benoist), Jake (Jacob Artist) and Ryder (Blake Jenner), and Blaine (Darren Criss) had a run-in with the Warblers. The episode aired Thursday, November 22. Below, watch Jake and Ryder's full performance of 'Superman'!

This weekend, Darren Criss, of TV's Glee and Broadway's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, visited New York City and took in a performance of A Christmas Story before meeting and posing with the cast backstage. Look below for pictures of Darren with the stars of A Christmas Story!

Last week I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to Tony Award-winning SPRING AWAKENING songwriter Duncan Sheik all about his staggering spate of upcoming stage projects - the musical stage adaptation of the controversial Bret Easton Ellis bestseller AMERICAN PSYCHO, as well as his Steven Sater collaborations on THE NIGHTENGALE, WHISPER HOUSE, MR. CHESS and ALICE included - in addition to all about his upcoming concert appearance on November 23 at the Gramercy Theatre. Additionally, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter also expounded upon his career thus far and we took a look back at some of his favorite scores and composers, as well as the individuals to have the most impact on him and how that has played out in both his theatre and recording career. Plus, Sheik shares exciting exclusive news on the development of the forthcoming film adaptation of SPRING AWAKENING, directed by McG, to potentially begin filming next summer if all goes as planned, as well as opens up with his feelings on GLEE's recent homage to his hit 90s single "Barely Breathing" and his original SPRING AWAKENING leads Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff, as well as news about his upcoming solo album and the many, many stage projects he currently has in development. All of that and much, much more!