Dick Latessa News

Yesterday BroadwayWorld was saddened to report the passing of Tony Award Winner Dick Latessa, who is fondly remembered for his timeless Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning performance as Wilbur Turnblad in the original Broadway production of Hairspray. Latessa was a veteran of the stage and screen. He was most recently seen on Broadway in the revival of Promises, Promises and The Lyons.

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported last night, Tony Award Winner Dick Latessa, who is fondly remembered for his timeless Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning performance as Wilbur Turnblad in the original Broadway production of Hairspray, has passed away.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the passing of Tony Award Winner Dick Latessa, who is fondly remembered for his timeless Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning performance as Wilbur Turnblad in the original Broadway production of Hairspray.

Today's big news: Christina Bianco premieres O COME, ALL YE DIVAS tonight in London!

The first was the 1988 original film, the second was the 2002 Broadway musical, the third was its 2007 film adaptation, and then the 2016 live television production on NBC. As a Welcome to the 60's, let's go back to beginning to learn the history of the property itself.

The new musical WALLENBERG will receive a developmental lab this fall in New York City, directed by Tony-winning ANNIE lyricist Martin Charnin.

According to an Equity notice, new musical WALLENBERG will receive a developmental lab this fall in New York City, directed by Tony-winning ANNIE lyricist Martin Charnin.

Broadway favorite Harvey Fierstein took Best Actor In a Musical honors while his newcomer co-star claimed Best Actress.

The celebrity cast of 'Dancing with the Stars' are slipping into their ballroom shoes and getting ready for their first dance on MONDAY, MARCH 21 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network.

As millions of the faithful around the world light the last candles of their menorahs, we take a look at a handful of musical moments that have a decidedly Jewish flair. On the last night of Hanukkah, we want to celebrate some of our favorite Broadway tunes about the faith while honoring the contributions of our immensely talented Jewish legends who have helped mold the American musical into what it is today. Therefore, we have selected eight Jewish-themed showtunes for the occasion. You can watch a video of each below, along with an incredible film about the importance of Jewish writers to the history of the musical theatre.

Deck the halls, trim the tree, and spin the dreidel. BroadwayWorld is continuing our tradition of celebrating the holiday season with a special countdown. This year we've invited Director of Programming at Feinstein's/54 Below and author of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series Jennifer Ashley Tepper to share her favorites holiday performances. Check back daily to get in the holiday spirit in time for December 25 and to find out what else made her list!

?The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced the Nominating Committee for the 2015-2016 Broadway season, which includes Theatre Aspen's Executive Artistic Director Paige Price.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2015-2016 Broadway season.  The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. 

So .... this is sort of a 'mash-up' of mediums and a fun 'take' on a traditional Hanukkah song, bolstered by the additional creative forces of Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman. It also boasts the talents of Harvey Fierstein, Jackie Hoffman, Peter Matthew Smith, Shoshana Bean, Clarke Thorell, Jenn Gambatese, Michael Longoria, Rashad Naylor, Tracy Jai Edwards, Chester Gregory II, Dick Latessa and others from the Broadway cast of HAIRSPRAY. The year was 2003, and HAIRSPRAY, pretty much, owned Broadway.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company's productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences.

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: Goodspeed's HOLIDAY INN premieres tonight, Sting talks THE LAST SHIP on Twitter, LENNON and GOING ONCE! LAUGHING TWICE!! open off-Broadway and more!

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2014-2015 Broadway season. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Today we continue the 2014 edition of our annual BroadwayWorld feature series spotlighting the very best Tony Awards-related moments of all time with a special focus on a major hit musical with a pertinent and positive message of self-acceptance, HAIRSPRAY.

Tony Award winners Kathleen Marshall and Dick Latessa bring together Broadway stars to help raise funds for Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY), which uses drama therapy to empower children and adults who have endured trauma to rebuild their lives.

Tony Award winners Kathleen Marshall and Dick Latessa bring together Broadway stars to help raise funds for Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY), which uses drama therapy to empower children and adults who have endured trauma to rebuild their lives.