Fontana News

HBOAccess has announced the top 20 semi-finalists for their 2018 Directing Fellowship. The program supports directors who are interested in a career in television by giving them the opportunity to shoot a pilot presentation which will air on HBO, HBO GO, and HBO NOW.

From 1948 to 1971, TV's longest-running prime time variety program, CBS' 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' beamed the world's biggest stars into the homes of nearly every American household live every Sunday evening. For musicians of all stripes, performing on the show was the pinnacle of television opportunities, with singular star-making potential. Among the artists vaulted to new heights of stardom via history-making appearances were The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Temptations, and The Supremes, all of whom returned to 'The Ed Sullivan Show' several times after electrifying debut performances on the program.

Could Crazy Ex-Girlfriend take it's final bow after season 4? Rachel Bloom announced that the recently renewed fourth season would be the 'final' season via her twitter account this afternoon.

Broadway Kids Jam has released their new 'Frozen' medley, featuring songs from the hit movie and Broadway musical. This jam features Carly Gendell (School of Rock the Musical, Annie), Joshua Turchin (The Pill, TrevorLIVE LA, A Christmas Story the Musical), Hudson Loverro (A Bronx Tale, Ragtime/Ellis Island), Molly Richardson (Matilda), Shaina Turchin, and Luke Bonenfant (School of Rock). Joshua Turchin arranged this medley. See the Broadway Kids Jam video here: https://youtu.be/Z3Mv4J1mfD4

Auli'i Cravalho and Damon J. Gillespie are on hand to award R.I.S.E. America Project grants to high schools across the country, ensuring some dreams really do come true.

An array of New York actors, entertainers and other industry professionals were among those who came out to support Jamaican born author Nicole McLaren Campbell at the launch of her self help book Make It Count at the Jamaican Consulate in Manhattan, last Thursday, March 15.

ABC's iconic comedy series “Roseanne” has been named title sponsor for NASCAR's Xfinity Series Race at Auto Club Speedway. The “Roseanne 300” will take place on Saturday, March 17.

Madison Square Park Conservancy is proud to announce the opening of its thirty-fifth exhibition, Whiteout by artist Erwin Redl. The project features a luminous white carpet of LED lights across Madison Square Park's central Oval Lawn, on view from November 16, 2017 through March 25, 2018.   

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins previews tonight, and more!

Tony Award nominee Santino Fontana, 'one of the most promising young actors to emerge in the New York Theater in recent years' (The New York Times), has stepped into the role of Cornelius Hackl in the most successful and beloved Broadway production of the year, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival, Hello, Dolly!. Fontana, filling in forGavin Creel, who won a 2017 Tony Award for the role, joined the company for a limited time beginning this past Tuesday, March 13. Creel will be out of the show during this time as he recovers from back surgery.

Madison Square Park Conservancy announces its thirty-sixth exhibition, Delirious Matter by artist Diana Al-Hadid. Six new sculptures will be installed across Madison Square Park's central Oval Lawn, peripheral lawns, and northern reflecting pool. Delirious Matter is the artist's first major public art project. It will be on view from May 14, 2018- September 3, 2018.

Amulet Books announced today that actor, singer, and songwriter Andy Mientus has written a middle-grade fiction series called The Backstagers. The first installment, The Backstagers and the Ghost Light, will publish on September 25, 2018. The series will follow the paranormal adventures of a high school stage crew and is based on the award-winning BOOM! Studios graphic novels created by James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh.

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin today announced the launch of “New York in 25,” a year-long public awareness campaign promoting NYC Life, the City's official television channel, which appears as channel 25 on most cable providers, and channel 25.1 over the air. The print, digital, and broadcast campaign features prominent New Yorkers describing the reasons why they love New York City – in exactly 25 words.

Broadway In Chicago announces its upcoming season line-up which features six time 2017 Tony and 2018 Grammy Award winning Best Musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN, the Pre-Broadway World Premiere of the new comedy musical, TOOTSIE, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival HELLO, DOLLY! starring Broadway legend Betty Buckley, ROALD DAHL'S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, MISS SAIGON and THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG.

 Fifty high schools have risen above 1,000 applicants to claim NBC's R.I.S.E. America grants. The program – inspired by the network's upcoming drama “Rise” about a high school theatre department and its effects on a small town – is awarding half million dollars to high school theatre programs across the country. 

Roundabout Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Amy and the Orphans by Lindsey Ferrentino, directed by Scott Ellis. The cast includes Vanessa Aspillaga as 'Kathy,' Mark Blum as 'Jacob,' Jamie Brewer as 'Amy,' Diane Davisas 'Sarah,' Josh McDermitt as 'Bobby' and Debra Monk as 'Maggie.' Amy and the Orphans opened officially last night at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street). This will be a limited engagement through April 22, 2018.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the previously announced CBS reboot of MURPHY BROWN will not only feature one of the original stars, but four. Candice Bergen will officially be joined by additional original cast members Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud. All four original stars are set for the 13 episode order.

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) continues its 2017-2018 season, under the leadership of Artistic Director Derek Bermel, Music Director George Manahan, and President Edward Yim, with Dreamscapes, on Friday, April 6, 2018 at 7:30pm at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall (57th St. and 7th Ave.).

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top news: An Ordinary Muslim opens tonight, Roundabout Theatre Company and Atlantic Theater Company hold their 2018 galas, and more!

Gingold Theatrical Group (David Staller, Artistic Director)'s 13th Season of Project Shaw continued on February 19th with Pygmalion, one of Shaw's most beloved plays, the basis for the musical, My Fair Lady (returning to Broadway later this season!). Artistic Director David Staller directed.