On Monday, September 28, the Theater People podcast welcomes back Tony-winner Laura Benanti for part 2 of her interview. The first part of the interview launched earlier this month. In this episode, Benanti discusses her work in the short-lived WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN for which the actress received her fourth Tony nomination. Benanti also discusses her television work including the hugely popular SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE!, NASHVILLE, and the upcoming SUPERGIRL. Additionally, she discussed working with the Radio City Rockettes in last year's SPRING SPECTACULAR, and writing her first book.
Madonna launched her highly anticipated Rebel Heart Tour with a sold-out show at the Bell Centre in Montreal just less than two weeks ago, and BroadwayWorld has obtained a performance video! Below, watch as Madonna sings 'La Vie En Rose'- signature song of Edith Piaf, the subject of the Broadway musical PIAF- with just a ukelele as accompaniment!
On Monday, September 13, the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony-winner Laura Benanti. This is the first of two interviews in which Benanti will be featured on the podcast, The second part of will be released in two weeks!
Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY will soon be presented by Watch This at Fortyfivedownstairs. BWW had the opportunity to ask Director Kat Henry and cast Nick Simpson-Deeks (Robert) and Sally Bourne (Joanne) a few questions ahead of opening night.
Today in 2011, Follies opened at the Marquis Theatre, where it ran for 152 performances. Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The story concerns a reunion in a crumbling Broadway theatre, scheduled for demolition, of the past performers of the 'Weismann's Follies,' a musical revue (based on the Ziegfeld Follies), that played in that theatre between the World Wars. The musical was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won seven. The piece has enjoyed a number of major revivals, and several of its songs have become standards, including 'Broadway Baby', 'I'm Still Here', 'Too Many Mornings', 'Could I Leave You?', and 'Losing My Mind'.
The latest West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash-hit musical Cats kicked off its Australasian tour last night to a packed Civic Theatre in Auckland. Nominated for two Olivier Awards (including best revival) this production of Cats was put together by the original creative team of the award winning 1981 London production and features the superb UK star Sophia Ragavelas in the role of 'Grizabella'.
On Monday, September 9, the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony-winning director Michael Mayer and writer/lyricist Dick Scanlan. For the episode, Mayer and Scanlan discuss their new collaboration, WHORL INSIDE A LOOP which Scanlan co-wrote with Sherie Rene Scott and which Mayer and Scanlan co-directed. The play, currently running Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater, is loosely based on Scanlan and Scott's experience working with prison inmates on putting together a show based on monologues written by the inmates about the circumstances that landed them in jail.
On Monday, August 31st, the Theater People podcast welcomes the Tony-nominated HAND TO GOD star Geneva Carr. In making her Broadway debut with HAND TO GOD, Carr gave one of last season's most critically acclaimed performances in the role of Margery, the protagonist's mother.
Bay Area Cabaret, now in its 12th season of presenting world-renowned popular musical performers announces the 2015-2016 season of shows at San Francisco's most elegant and historic showroom, the Fairmont Venetian Room.
The Phantom of the Opera is not only the longest running musical in Broadway history, but also one of the most successful shows internationally. In 2010, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber premiered a sequel of the musical London's West End with such stars as Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo. LOVE NEVER DIES, which has since successfully played in Australia (where it was filmed and released on DVD), Denmark and Japan, and will tour in the US in 2017, is now coming to the stage in Germany. Following the celebrated success of the return of Phantom of The Opera last year, Stage Entertainment will produce the fascinating sequel this fall. The show will begin preview at the Stage Operettenhaus in in Hamburg on October 8, with an official opening set for October 16.
Mit der Besetzung von Startenor Gardar Thor Cortes (41) in der Titelrolle des Phantoms in und der ausgebildete Opernsangerin Rachel Anne Moore (30) in Rolle in der Christine steht nun das Cast von LIEBE STIRBT NIE - PHANTOM II fest. Die Produktion wird am 15. Oktober im Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg Deutschlandpremiere feiern.
Lines are blurring. Gender-bending is seemingly everywhere these days, from high fashion ads to news coverage to I AM CAIT, Queen Latifah as The Wiz and beyond. Furthermore, one of the most provocative and popular stories of last week was the news of a Canadian regional production of A CHORUS LINE casting a male actor in the leading role of Cassie, renamed Casey. With the additional angle of Broadway currently being abuzz with the appearance of stage and screen star Taye Diggs stepping into the iconic high heels of the titular character in the recently multi-Tony Award-winning musical HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH - itself centered on a transsexual character - it seems as though now would be the ideal time to consider some other musical theatre mainstays and how they could be re-purposed and refreshed with a gender-bended twist. Although certain roles seems tailor-made to such treatment, it is illuminating to consider the rich possibilities that could potentially be afforded in the experience of witnessing the right performer of perhaps the perceivably wrong sex tackling a role normally associated with the opposite gender. Who knows, maybe a female Phantom or a make Elphaba are not that wildly spurious or far-fetched to consider given the compelling performances that have been given by unlikely actors in roles traditionally portrayed in a certain way. Theatre is nothing without reinvention and these are my top 10 picks for musicals I would like to see taken on with fresh eyes and a new outlook.
When compared to SUNSET BOULEVARD, which follows the same classic film-to-stage pedigree as SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and tackles the same dilemma of making the transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s - albeit of psychological melodrama in genre compared to the latter's rollicking parody - SUNSET BOULEVARD had big stars of stage and screen who headlined West End and Broadway. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN did not delve into such stunt casting from the onset - unless you consider Tommy Steele, who originated the role of Don Lockwood in the West End, as big as Elvis Presley or Gene Kelly, the silver screen's original Lockwood.
Last week, I selected ten top picks for a major headliner to star as Norma Desmond in a potential future stage and/or screen version of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton's Tony Award-winning Best Musical SUNSET BOULEVARD in honor of both the show's anniversary of its West End opening and recent news that Glenn Close is considering a return to her Tony-winning role in an upcoming revival. As a result of that column, BroadwayWorld readers took the title of this column to heart and sounded off on some of their ideal choices for a leading lady with major star quality to tackle the unforgettable role in a future production - and, what fabulous choices they are! Among the reader submissions, Ilene Argento posited, 'If not Patti Lupone, maybe Meryl Streep (with some more singing lessons!), but it should be Patti (although Patti plus ALW will probably never happen again).' while Brian Lipensky wrote, 'Glenn Close can still play her. That said, Meryl Streep can pull it off. We know she can sing and play characters with psychological problems. Susan Sarandon also. Maybe even Emma Thompson.' Furthermore, Jonathan Caplan offered, 'ANNIE LENNOX. Period. Well, if it can't be Elaine Paige, then absolutely, Annie Lennox. I said this before the musical ever opened, and I stand by it....ANNIE LENNOX!!!!!!' whereas David Macaluso relayed, 'Seriously. With a good director, in a film. LIZA! she could be AMAZING.' Other suggestions sure to inspire discussion included Cher, Lady Gaga, Ruthie Henshall, Donna Murphy and even Caitlyn Jenner. So, without further ado, here are ten more delectable choices for a new Norma Desmond for 2015.
On Thursday, July 16, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Broadway vet and ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK star Lea Delaria. On the episode, DeLaria shares stories from her nearly 35-year career as a stand-up comic, jazz musician, Broadway leading lady, and film and television actor.
Cygnet Theatre is pleased to announce a Concert Staged-Reading of the Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. The two-night-only performance, presented on Monday, August 3rd, and Tuesday, August 4th at 7 pm at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town, will feature some of San Diego's brightest musical theatre stars.
Dusty, a unique new multi-media show celebrating the musical icon Dusty Springfield, last night (15 July 2015) held a V.I.P. media night at the Charing Cross Theatre.
With breaking news arising late last week of Glenn Close being considered for a return to her Tony Award-winning role in Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton's Tony Award-winning Best Musical SUNSET BOULEVARD as well as the show's anniversary of its original West End world premiere opening on July 12, now is an absolutely opportune time to turn back the clock to 1993 and see what precisely makes SUNSET BOULEVARD so spectacular - and muse on some of the major talent that could bring the type of big-time attention that would warrant a major revival of the musical, whether on Broadway, the West End or even the silver screen. Given that the original Billy Wilder film was penned with Gloria Swanson in mind and ultimately became a roman a clef of sorts for the unique star as well as considering the sordid history of original lead Patti LuPone and her odyssey in starring in the show, not to mention the victorious and memorable highs achieved by the leading ladies who have headlined the show - which, post-Close, included Betty Buckley, Rita Moreno, Diahann Carroll, Elaine Paige and more - the role is ripe for a star of epic proportions to introduce one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most acclaimed musicals to a new generation. And, the time is now. The possibilities are virtually endless, but here are some particularly delectable ideas as we begin to consider who would be absolutely ideal for a new Norma Desmond fit for 2015.
On Monday, June 6th the Theater People Podcast welcomes two-time Tony winner Michael Cerveris. The star of stage and screen won his second Tony Award last month for his turn as Bruce Bechdel in FUN HOME. Cerveris shares stories of his over two-year journey with the show, which won this year's Tony for Best New Musical. He discusses his decision not to read the graphic memoir on which the show is based, and his experience of visiting the real life Bechdel home where most of the show takes place.
