Emma Hunton News

Dancing With The Stars finalist and N'SYNC star Lance Bass, theater producer and last years' honoree Michel Butler and New York Yankees pitcher David Robertson will be featured guests at tonight's fourth annual Broadway in South Africa gala. Tonight's event will feature Broadway artists and Broadway in South Africa (BSA) students from South Africa sharing the stage to present and perform world-premiere songs written my many of New York's most talented songwriters and composers. For tonight's show, held the Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom, located at 311 West 34th Street, general admission tickets are now selling for $25, and can be purchased at the door, or by visiting www.broadwayinsouthafrica.org. Curtain is 7:30p.

To further fulfill it commitment to creating cross-cultural exchange through the power of art, Broadway in South Africa (BSA) hosts a group of its South African students on their first trip outside of South Africa.

The Path Fund, Inc. has just announced that Drama Desk Award nominee Cheryl Freeman (The Civil War, The Who's Tommy), Billy Porter (Angels in America, Ghetto Superstar) and Gerry MacIntyre (Once on this Island) will appear in the 18th edition of ROCKERS ON BROADWAY set to take the stage of the Midtown Theatre @ HA! (163 West 46th Street, NYC) for two shows (7:00 PM and 10:00 PM) on Monday October 31, 2011 with proceeds benefitting The Broadway Dreams Foundation, Broadway in South Africa and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

To further fulfill it commitment to creating cross-cultural exchange through the power of art, Broadway in South Africa (BSA) hosts a group of its South African students on their first trip outside of South Africa.

Rockers Anonymous is an Upper West Side rock'n roll cabaret featuring the best up and coming rock and pop singers from musical theatre. Come enjoy some great drinks, a live band, the kick ass singers and some rockin' tunes.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today initial casting for the eight new musicals selected to be part of the 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Broadway Rocks for Kids, a one-night-only event to benefit arts education programming for children of the Northeast, is set for Monday, September 19, at Drom in the East Village. The evening will include live entertainment and premium raffle prizes. Guests will also have the option of purchasing food and drink.

Stars of the Broadway stage will belt out their favorite rock tunes in a benefit concert for the Northeast Children's Theatre Company.

Ben Cameron (Wicked, Aida, Footloose) is the host and creator of Broadway Sessions at The Midtown Theatre at the HA! Comedy Club (163 West 46th Street / Between 6th & 7th Avenues) every Thursday night at 11:00pm.

Stars of the Broadway stage will belt out their favorite rock tunes in a benefit concert for the Northeast Children's Theatre Company.

Ben Cameron (Wicked, Aida, Footloose) is the host and creator of Broadway Sessions at The Midtown Theatre at the HA! Comedy Club (163 West 46th Street / Between 6th & 7th Avenues) every Thursday night at 11:00pm.

BEN CAMERON (Wicked, Aida, Footloose) is the host and creator of BROADWAY SESSIONS at THE MIDTOWN THEATRE at the HA! Comedy Club (163 West 46th Street / Between 6th & 7th Avenues) every Thursday night at 11:00pm. Broadway Sessions is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week, and features musical director/composer Will Van Dyke (The Addams Family) on piano. In addition after the show we open the microphone up to anyone who wants to sing. Open mic from 12:00-2am.

BEN CAMERON (Wicked, Aida, Footloose) is the host and creator of BROADWAY SESSIONS at THE MIDTOWN THEATRE at the HA! Comedy Club (163 West 46th Street / Between 6th & 7th Avenues) every Thursday night at 11:00pm. Broadway Sessions is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week, and features musical director/composer Will Van Dyke (The Addams Family) on piano. In addition after the show we open the microphone up to anyone who wants to sing. Open mic from 12:00-2am.

The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL will end its national tour on July 30 at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto.

In the last few years there has been a resurgence of the jukebox musical - shows that are based on popular music that people already know, designed to sell tickets on the 'name' or the 'hum-ability' of the catchy songs in the score. I have no problem with jukebox musicals - they are generally fun, the audience leaves pleased and they keep people going to the theatre. That said, in my personal opinion, you truly can't beat a completely original musical. There is something about hearing a brand new score, crafted from an original book with fresh ideas that is an experience second to none - and one that people who take a trip to Dancap Productions presentation of Next to Normal will get to have.

On July 18, the Next To Normal tour pulled into Toronto, where it will play through July 30. Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Next to Normal, reprises her acclaimed performance in the musical's 36-week multi-city North American tour. Below, we bring you photo coverage of Next To Normal onstage in Toronto!

Tony-winner Alice Ripley is obviously having vocal problems