Douglas Hodge News

Sometimes you go to the theatre to see a star, but you end up seeing something different -- or stumbling upon something even better. This past weekend, I went to two Broadway shows that had understudies. In both cases, I was entirely happy with what I saw.

Two more casts have added their voices to Broadway's Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday music CD benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Promises, Promises cast members sing 'Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel,' and Joey Curatolo, who plays Paul McCartney in RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles On Broadway, wrote and recorded an original song 'Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas.'

Check out the October calendar of events on page A21 of today's New York Times featuring well-known writers, celebrities, newsmakers, and musicians.

Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Center has announced an exciting line-up of Broadway guests for October. The kick-off begins today, October 1 at 5pm with a Cabaret Convention Preview.

Broadway headliners are coming in droves to record the 2010 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday CD benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Featured voices include Bernadette Peters and the cast and orchestra from A Little Night Music, Kelsey Grammer, Douglas Hodge, Christine Andreas and the cast of Tony Award winning La Cage aux Folles; Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, from Next to Normal; plus the casts from Memphis, Wicked, Elf, and In the Heights. Jackie Hoffman and the cast of The Addams Family sing 'It's Chanukah,' a Jackie Hoffman/Lon Hoyt original song written during their time together at Hairspray.

PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will release the New Broadway Cast Recording for the 2010 Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES tomorrow, Tuesday, September 28.

Broadway headliners are coming in droves to record the 2010 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday CD benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Featured voices include Bernadette Peters and the cast and orchestra from A Little Night Music, Kelsey Grammer, Douglas Hodge, Christine Andreas and the cast of Tony Award winning La Cage aux Folles; Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, from Next to Normal; plus the casts from Memphis, Wicked, Elf, and In the Heights. Jackie Hoffman and the cast of The Addams Family sing 'It's Chanukah,' a Jackie Hoffman/Lon Hoyt original song written during their time together at Hairspray.

Michelle Federer (Wicked's Original Broadway Nessarose) spent Sunday, September 19th, mentoring the young talent of Broadway's future as she led a Wicked-themed master class with Broadway Artists Alliance of New York City. Federer inspired, as she skillfully guided a master class in 'Song Interpretation' to a group of eager and talented young performers ages 10 to 21. Students also spent time on cold readings and scene study utilizing scenes from Wicked. Michelle's morning class was followed by an advanced audition technique workshop with a top casting representative from Telsey and Co. Casting.

Little did composer/lyricist Jerry Herman know that when he wrote that lyric for LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, he was actually predicting his own future. The original production of LA CAGE opened to enormous critical acclaim in 1983 and is currently receiving its second revival on Broadway in The Menier Chocolate Factory's brilliantly scaled-down version. The second act showstopper in every version is 'The Best of Times' which inevitably has the audience singing along when it's performed during the final bows. It's also the song that seems to be going through Herman's head ever since August 13th when he learned he'd been named to receive one of this year's Kennedy Center Honors.

Winners of Drama Desk Awards for the 2009/2010 New York theater season received their engraved trophies at a cocktail reception in their honor last week at Il Punto Ristorante. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage of the trophy ceremony below.

Kelsey Grammer, Tony Award nominee for LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and this year's host of the annual 'Broadway on Broadway' concert on Sunday, September 12, will guest on 'The Wendy Williams Show,' Thursday, September 9. In the New York area, 'The Wendy Williams Show' airs on WNYW-TV Channel 5 at 10:00 AM and WWOR-TV Channel 9 at 10:00 PM. Check local listings.

Logan is doing 'La Cage' for the third time in two years, but it's his first-ever show on Broadway!

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, winner of three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, welcomes new cast members Allyce Beasley and Matt Anctil to the company. The production, starring five-time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer and Tony and Olivier Award winner Douglas Hodge, is playing at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).

PS CLASSICS recorded the New Broadway Cast Recording for the 2010 Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on August 5 and 6 for a September 28 release. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is playing at the Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Starting July 6th at the Provincetown Theater, producer Robert Driemeyer, in association with Jim A. Landé, is proud to present David Parr's provocative new play SLAP&TICKLE. The production will be directed by Obie Award winner David Drake, whose critically acclaimed mounting of Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic OUR TOWN enjoyed a extended run at the Provincetown Theater this spring.

Emmy-winner and Tony-nominee Kelsey Grammer will be guest-starring on Nickelodeon's 'The Troop' this Saturday, TV Guide reports. His role will be 'Dr. Cranius,' an evil Harvard graduate who also happens to be a sponge. He will be captured by Jake, Hayley, and Felix (the Troop) in the episode. The episode airs this Saturday at 12PM/11C. BroadwayWorld brings you a sneak peek below!

PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record the New Broadway Cast Recording for the 2010 Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on August 5 and 6 for a September 28 release.

Douglas Hodge, who won a 2010 Tony Award for his critically acclaimed performance as Albin in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, will extend his run for an additional six months in the smash hit Tony Award-winning revival at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Hodge and five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer will keep their love alive as Albin and Georges in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES until February 13, 2011, when both actors will depart the production.

PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record the New Broadway Cast Recording for the 2010 Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on August 5 and 6 for a late September release. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is playing at the Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Carrie Dunn talks to the Olivier-winning star about her return to the Open Air Theatre...