Geoff Packard News

This November and December 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) is proud to announce final casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Online Festival registration ends Friday, October 17.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) just announced initial casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Producers of the Tony Award-winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL announced today that Alison Luff will join the company as Miss Honey beginning tomorrow, Saturday, September 6.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a special celebration of 1,000 performances of ONCE, commemorations of both Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall, Tony Yazbeck at 54 Below, and more!

This week's event featured performances from the cast of MATILDA, featuring: Paige Brady, Gabby Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo, Ava Ulloa and Marisa Kennedy, Jennifer Bowles, Heather Tepe, Sean Montgomery, Alex Brightman, Geoff Packard, JohnArthur Greene, Timothy Cao, Grace Capeless, Ava DeMary, Jonah Halperin, Alexa Shae Niziak, Sofia Roma Rubino,Analise Scarpaci, Mitchell Sink, Chris Sumpter, Beatrice Tulchin and TEd Wilson. Check out clips from 'When I Grow Up,' 'Naughty,' and 'Revolting Children' below!

This week's event featured performances from the casts of MATILDA (Paige Brady, Gabby Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo, Ava Ulloa and Marisa Kennedy, Jennifer Bowles, Heather Tepe, Sean Montgomery, Alex Brightman, Geoff Packard, John Arthur Greene, Timothy Cao, Grace Capeless, Ava DeMary, Jonah Halperin, Alexa Shae Niziak, Sofia Roma Rubino, Analise Scarpaci, Mitchell Sink, Chris Sumpter, Beatrice Tulchin and TEd Wilson), ON THE TOWN (Brandon Leffler, Tony Yazbeck, Cody Williams and Alysha Umphress), MAMMA MIA! (Felicia Finley, Judy McLane, Stacia Fernandez , Traci Victoria, Thomasina E. Gross, Jacob Pinion, Albert Guerzon, Deanna Aguinaga, Sydni Beaudoin, Allyson Carr, Felicity Claire, Mark Dancewicz, Corey Greenan, Bryan Scott Johnson, Corinne MeIancon, Christopher Hudson Myers, Jennifer Noth, Ashley Park, Tera-Lee Pollin, Gerard Salvador, Neil Starkenberg and Victor Wallace) and MOTOWN THE MUSICAL (Josh Tower, Krystal Joy Brown, Dwayne Cooper, Nathaniel Cullors, Justin Prescott, Jaquez Andre Sims and Nik Walker). Check out photos below!

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With several weeks until the craziness begins, there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters . BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's MATILDA below!

Christopher Gurr from ALL THE WAY will direct a staged reading of a new play with music, BALLADEERS PLAY TO THE MOON, at Joe's Pub for one night only, August 4, 2014 at 9:30 p.m.

Broadway For All launches its third annual Summer Conservatory with a host of Broadway faculty artists, culminating in one-night only showcase at New World Stages. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the students in workshops with HEATHERS' Kristolyn Lloyd and Troy Woodcroft!

The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder for Two are teaming up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Adam Gwon continues the series on Monday, June 16, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder for Two at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street).

Spectacular Broadway entertainment and more than 400 guests celebrated Wimberly Award recipients Huntington Trustee John D. Spooner and Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman (The Jungle Book and Candide) while raising more than $980,000 (with additional gifts still coming in) to support the Huntington's renowned education and community programs at the Huntington Theatre Company's Spotlight Spectacular last Monday, April 28. 'Transforming lives,' said Managing Director Michael Maso. 'That's why we are here - to ensure another year of access to the Huntington's programs for thousands of young people.' The total raised also includes proceeds from an online auction that closed Friday evening, May 2.

Adam Wachter's original musical Tarrytown will get a private industry reading on Monday, March 10th in New York City. Tarrytown is a one act present day musical loosely based on Washington Irving's 'The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.' Wachter has written the book, music & lyrics. Andrew Keenan-Bolger ('Submissions Only') directs.

Once again the Weston Playhouse Theatre will light up a winter night with a free concert of songs from an exciting new musical performed by top Broadway talent. Tonight, March 1 at 8pm, Heidi Blickenstaff of Broadway's The Addams Family, The Little Mermaid and The Full Monty will sing the lead in the new musical, String, supported by a stellar cast of Broadway actor/singers.

Best-selling author, investment manager, and Huntington Theatre Company Trustee John D. Spooner and Mary Zimmerman, the visionary and acclaimed director of the Huntington's recent productions of The Jungle Book and Candide, will be honored with the Wimberly Award at the 2013 Regional Theatre Tony Award recipient's 2014 Spotlight Spectacular on Monday, April 28, 2014.

Once again the Weston Playhouse Theatre will light up a winter night with a free concert of songs from an exciting new musical performed by top Broadway talent. On Saturday, March 1 at 8pm, Heidi Blickenstaff of Broadway's The Addams Family, The Little Mermaid and The Full Monty will sing the lead in the new musical, String, supported by a stellar cast of Broadway actor/singers.

With temperatures dropping and a winter storm descending upon our nation's capital, audiences only had to look at the gaze in Chelsea Packard's eyes for warmth as she joined her husband Geoff in performing Our Funny Valentine in Signature's Ark Theatre. This affectionate and eclectic cabaret blended music and song to tell their story and celebrate love. It was a performance worth coming out for, despite Mother Nature's best intentions!