Gregory Jbara News

The cast of the five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES, will continue to rock eight times a week through summer 2010. Tom Lenk joins the cast as 'Franz,' the role he originated in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas productions, beginning Monday, September 14, 2009 for a six month limited engagement. Mr. Lenk is best known for his portrayal as 'Andrew Wells' on television's 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' Mr. Lenk is taking over for Wesley Taylor, who will play his final performance on Sunday, September 13. Mr. Taylor is leaving to join the cast of the upcoming production of The Addams Family.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Alex Ko and Kate Hennig will join the cast of the 10-time Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical in the roles of ?Billy' and ?Mrs. Wilkinson,' respectively.

EFFABLE ARTS (Artistic Directors Brad Landers, Kimberly Kaye, Meredith Ryan Packer) has announced its premiere production, Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings . Stop, Collaborate & Listen: 20Nothings is a collection of original one-acts, monologues, dance, music and art depicting the hilarity and horrors of twentysomething-ness in 2009. Presented in two parts by artists age 23-27, this collaborative production throws a spotlight on mid-twenties purgatory with riotous, touching and insightful results.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Trevor Braun will join the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of Michael,' Billy's best friend. At age 11, Billy Elliot marks Trevor's third bow on Broadway, having previously performed as Chip' in Beauty and the Beast and ?Flounder' in The Little Mermaid. Trevor will begin performances in Billy Elliot on Tuesday, August 31st.

Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster delighted students as their special surprise guest during the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Workshop and Summer Intensive (Session Two). Foster also taught a master class on song interpretation during the Summer Intensive (Session One).

BroadwayWorld.com presents it's newest column, Twitter Watch, which will bring you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!

Billy Elliot's Tony Award-winning actor Gregory Jbara delighted students as their special 'surprise guest' during the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Intensive (Session One).

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Trevor Braun will join the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ?Michael,' Billy's best friend. At age 11, Billy Elliot marks Trevor's third bow on Broadway, having previously performed as ?Chip' in Beauty and the Beast and ?Flounder' in The Little Mermaid. Trevor will begin performances in Billy Elliot on Tuesday, August 18th.

The American Theatre Wing has announced the return of its acclaimed interview show 'Downstage Center,' back by popular demand. The show returns as a podcast on Monday, August 3 with Tony Award-winner and Billy Elliot star Gregory Jbara.

Kerry O'Malley played her first performance as Mum in BILLY ELLIOT on Tuesday July 28th. O'Malley steps in for Leah Hocking, who originated the role for 6 weeks while Hocking is away from the show.

The American Theatre Wing has announced the return of its acclaimed interview show 'Downstage Center,' back by popular demand. The show returns as a podcast on Monday, August 3 with Tony Award-winner and Billy Elliot star Gregory Jbara.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical, featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, will launch a U.S. national tour with an extended run in Chicago in the spring of 2010 before embarking on a multi-city tour. Performances will begin March 2010 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph, Chicago). Additional cities, dates and casting will be announced at a later date.

SpongeBob SquarePants was celebrating his 10th Anniversary in Times Square yesterday, Wednesday July 15th and as part of the celebration, he came by the Imperial Theatre to meet the 'kids' of BILLY ELLIOT. Trent Kowalik and Tommy Batchelor met SpongeBob along with many of the talented kids in the cast (along with some adult SpongeBob fans too!).

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters recently welcomed new celebrities Michael Urie, Carol Kane, Dee Hoty who will be joined by such luminaries of stage and screen as Ashanti (The Wiz), Jayne Atkinson (Blithe Spirit), Stephanie J. Block (9 to 5), Tovah Feldshuh (Irena's Vow), Audra McDonald (Twelfth Night), Becki Newton (Ugly Betty), and Will Swenson (Hair)

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters recently welcomed new celebrities Michael Urie, Carol Kane, Dee Hoty who will be joined by such luminaries of stage and screen as Ashanti (The Wiz), Jayne Atkinson (Blithe Spirit), Stephanie J. Block (9 to 5), Tovah Feldshuh (Irena's Vow), Audra McDonald (Twelfth Night), Becki Newton (Ugly Betty), and Will Swenson (Hair)

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Will Chase has joined the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ?Tony,' Billy's older brother. Chase will begin performances on Tuesday, July 7th.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Will Chase has joined the cast of BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ?Tony,' Billy's older brother. Chase will begin performances on Tuesday, July 7th.

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters will host the eleventh annual BROADWAY BARKS!, a star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon benefiting New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and sponsored by the ASPCA and PEDIGREE® with additional sponsorship by the New York Times will take place on Saturday, July 11h in Shubert Alley (located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m.; celebrity presentations of pets from citywide animal shelters will take place between 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

The American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, 2009 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network.

Fidelity FutureStage® Playwriting Contest winner Madeline Hendricks is headed to Broadway's Imperial Theatre on June 15 to see her play produced by the Tony Award® winning creative team of Billy Elliot the Musical. Hendricks had the opportunity to celebrate by meeting Elton John, Billy Elliot the Musical composer and honorary chairperson of Fidelity FutureStage.