Duncan Stewart News

Today we are talking to the new Roxie in CHICAGO on Broadway best known for her status as one of the most successful songwriters of the twenty-first century, having had hundreds of songs featured on albums by the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Pink and many, many more - with a significant number of them topping the charts in a variety of genres from pop to rock to country and beyond. In this all-encompassing conversation, DioGuardi and I dissect her career thus far - in front of millions and behind the scenes - and she generously sheds some light on how some of her most famous songs came to be - including the modern-day Gwen Stefani classic "If I Were A Rich Girl", famously sampling a song from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Additionally, we talk about her two-year stint on AMERICAN IDOL and what working with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul was like, as well as her opinions on Simon's new talent competition premiering later this year, THE X-FACTOR, and how she looks back on her experience doing the hit show and her own reality series, PLATINUM HIT. Additionally, we discuss DioGuardi's Broadway baby roots and her formative theatrical experiences, as well as what taking the stage at this point in her career means to her - and, all about wearing Ashlee Simpson's costume. Plus, DioGuardi's thoughts on entertainment legends ranging from CHICAGO composer John Kander to rock icon Jim Steinman to Broadway legends like Liza Minnelli, Gwen Verdon, Stephen Sondheim and many, many more. We also have news on her upcoming songs and collaborations to look out for, featuring a vast array of artists such as Jason Mraz, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo and more - many featured through her music publishing company, Arthouse Entertainment. As if all of that weren't enough, DioGuardi also shares her affection for GLEE, Broadway song craftsmanship and gypsies!

Broadway.tv has joined forces with McDonald's 42nd Street and the Ronald McDonald House to host 'The Next Broadway Star'.

StudentsLive- The Premiere Broadway Education Company offers international and domestic students of all ages the opportunity to experience, first hand, the best live, Broadway interactive theater education programs, taught by the best, highly trained Broadway specialists, our country has to offer. It allows these young students to experience the intensive training of a professional, successful and highly disciplined Broadway Artist and the myriad skills required in collaboration, interrelation, communication and human exploration. The goals are to expand and deepen students understanding and familiarity with Broadway. Through challenging music, dance, acting and 'behind the scenes' studies physically, verbally and intuitively, we prepare them to be highly competitive in whatever career they choose to pursue.

StudentsLive- The Premiere Broadway Education Company offers international and domestic students of all ages the opportunity to experience, first hand, the best live, Broadway interactive theater education programs, taught by the best, highly trained Broadway specialists, our country has to offer. It allows these young students to experience the intensive training of a professional, successful and highly disciplined Broadway Artist and the myriad skills required in collaboration, interrelation, communication and human exploration. The goals are to expand and deepen students understanding and familiarity with Broadway. Through challenging music, dance, acting and 'behind the scenes' studies physically, verbally and intuitively, we prepare them to be highly competitive in whatever career they choose to pursue.

StudentsLive- The Premiere Broadway Education Company offers international and domestic students of all ages the opportunity to experience, first hand, the best live, Broadway interactive theater education programs, taught by the best, highly trained Broadway specialists, our country has to offer. It allows these young students to experience the intensive training of a professional, successful and highly disciplined Broadway Artist and the myriad skills required in collaboration, interrelation, communication and human exploration. The goals are to expand and deepen students understanding and familiarity with Broadway. Through challenging music, dance, acting and 'behind the scenes' studies physically, verbally and intuitively, we prepare them to be highly competitive in whatever career they choose to pursue.

Duncan Stewart, Director of Casting at National Artists Management Company since 2007, has joined colleague Benton Whitley to form DUNCAN STEWART AND COMPANY, a New York-based legit casting office.

Yesterday, January 30, an all-star roster of CHICAGO alumni celebrated CHICAGO's 'Facebook Fan Day,' a one-of-a-kind performance marking the first time in Broadway history that a production has given away its entire house to Facebook fans for FREE. Participants included Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (Broadway's original Velma Kelly), Vincent Pastore (Amos Hart), Tony Award winner Lillias White (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Roxie Hart), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton) and many more, plus current CHICAGO stars Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Leigh Zimmerman (Velma Kelly), Colman Domingo (Billy Flynn), Robert Creighton (Amos Hart) and LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Matron 'Mama' Morton). Also in attendance were producer Barry Weissler, special guest hosts Julie James and Seth Rudetsky of SiriusXM Radio's 'On Broadway' channel, and over 1,000 of CHICAGO's top fans, all of whom are attending this very special performance for free. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the next installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

BUNKED!: A New Musical, by Bradford Proctor and Alaina Kunin, has been picked up for sponsorship by Logo (the same channel that brings you RuPaul's Drag Race, Buffy, and the upcoming RuPaul's Drag U). BUNKED! will make its world premiere this summer at the New York International Fringe Festival (August 13-29; exact dates TBA).

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the next installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the next installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the next installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the September installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the September installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the September installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the September installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce exciting new details for 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the unique new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

Broadway Classroom will present its first workshop in the new 'Putting it All Together' series on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at New York City Center (130 W. 56th St., 5th Floor).

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce exciting new details for 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the unique new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce exciting new details for 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the unique new series offering post-show discussions and audience Q&A sessions with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.