Hal Prince News

Rebecca Spencer, who premiered the role of Madame Giry to critical acclaim in Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, will don the black dress again when she joins the world tour of The Phantom of the Opera in August in Manila and early 2013 in Seoul, South Korea. Spencer portrayed Madame Giry for more than two years in Sin City.

Pittsburgh CLO will present Fiddler on the Roof, July 13-22 at the Benedum Center. This classic tale is filled with 'memorable music, rousing dances and a touch of human wisdom.'

The Blue Note announces its lineup for the Late Night Groove Series, Brunch and Monday nights, July 20-23, featuring the Randy Oxford Band, Dwight & Nicole, Ben Monder Trio and Michelle Carr. See full details below.

Christina DeCicco, the "Eva" alternate in the new Broadway production of EVITA, will perform the title role for 14 performances, July 12-19 and August 11-18, while Elena Roger is on vacation. With the exception of Saturday, August 11, when Elena Roger will perform the matinee, Jessica Lea Patty will step into the role for the Wednesday evening and Saturday matinee performances during these periods, performing July 18 & August 15 at 8pm, and July 14 & August 18 at 2pm.

One of Broadway's most celebrated performers, Max von Essen, steps into the role of Che for six performances, starting tonight, July 2 - July 7, in the new Broadway production of EVITA while Ricky Martin is on vacation. Daniel Torres will play the role of Che for both the matinee and evening performance on July 8. Max von Essen originated the role of Magaldi in the current production of EVITA and will return to that role when Martin returns from vacation. The performance schedule for this week is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning legend famous for his performances starring in the original Broadway productions of PIPPIN and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as well as his celebrated turns in stage and screen projects as diverse as ALL THAT JAZZ, SWEET CHARITY, CHICAGO, FOSSE, WICKED, GRIND, ROOTS, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT, GOLDEN BOY, IDLEWILD, FUNNY LADY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and many more - the simply incredible Ben Vereen. Discussing many of his most fondly remembered roles and recounting his experiences working with many legendary directors and collaborators - Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Tom O'Horgan, Herbert Ross, Ann Reinking, Dan Sullivan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and many more among them - Vereen paints a vivid picture of a bygone Broadway and reminisces about many of the most significant theatrical creators of the past fifty years and his roles in their stage and film projects. Additionally, Vereen fills us in on what we can expect from his upcoming solo spotlight show - a career retrospective - that will be kicking off at 54 Below on July 10 for a two-week engagement before an even larger, Broadway-bound mounting later this year at Princeton. Also, Vereen elaborates on the causes closest to his heart, shares thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, future plans and much, much more!

Check out this behind-the-scenes look at Ricky Martin and Elena Roger recording 'High Flying Adored' for the complete New Broadway Cast Recording of EVITA. The video will be released everywhere tomorrow, June 26, where you will then be able to watch it below. But to view it now, visit the AOL Music Blog (http://blog.music.aol.com/2012/06/25/ricky-martin-high-flying-adored-video-premiere-exclusive/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed)!

After a three-year absence, Gerard Alessandrini's Forbidden Broadway returns to the 47th Street Theatre with a brand new edition, Forbidden Broadway: ALIVE AND KICKING. The show, which opens Thursday, September 6, will run for a limited engagement through January 6, 2013. Previews begin on July 24th. BroadwayWorld has learned that Jenny Lee Stern, Natalie Charle Ellis, Scott Richard Foster and Marcus Stevens will all star in the show.

One of Broadway's most celebrated performers, Max von Essen, steps into the role of Che for six performances, July 2 - July 7, in the new Broadway production of EVITA while Ricky Martin is on vacation. Daniel Torres will play the role of Che for both the matinee and evening performance on July 8. Max Von Essen originated the role of Magaldi in the current production of EVITA and will return to that role when Martin returns from vacation. The performance schedule for the week beginning July 2 is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm.

York Theatre Company opened the first New York City revival of the classic Off-Broadway hit Closer Than Ever, with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire, last night, June 20.

William Schermerhorn has won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Original Song that was perfomed in 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, called (Won't You) Join Our Parade. The Emmy award winning song (Won't You) Join Our Parade was performed by Stage Door Manor and written by composer, Doug Katsaros and lyricist, William Schermerhorn.

Masterworks Broadway will release the complete New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita, the first complete English language stage recording of the show since the original 1979 Broadway cast album. The two-CD set, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Nigel Wright, with Tim Rice as Executive Producer, is set for release June 26, 2012. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of Ricky Martin, Elena Roger, Michael Cerveris, Michael Grandage and the cast of EVITA in the recording studio!

After a three-year absence, Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY returns to the 47th Street Theatre with a brand new edition, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING. The show, which opens Thursday, September 6, will run for a limited engagement through January 6, 2013. Previews begin on July 24th. This production will mark FORBIDDEN BROADWAY's 30th Anniversary, as well as its 21st edition.

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you…hear it, feel it secretly possess you… Three powerhouse voices from Broadway's longest-running musical, "The Phantom of the Opera," join Pacific Symphony to deliver a revue of Broadway favorites for "The Three Phantoms-Broadway's Biggest Hits!," the second concert of the Symphony's Summer Festival 2012, sponsored by Hoag. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra accompanies Craig Schulman, Ted Keegan and Gary Mauer -three extraordinary performers who have all played the title role of the Phantom-in the soaring melodies from Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenon, plus blockbusters from other shows that made them stars. Singing songs from the golden age of Broadway to the musical spectaculars of today, the Phantoms perform classics from "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Guys and Dolls," "Kiss Me Kate," "My Fair Lady," "Les Miserables," "Jekyll & Hyde," "Man of La Mancha," "Most Happy Fella" and more-all backed by the lush and expansive sounds of the full symphony orchestra.

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY will release the New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita on June 19. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The track-list for the album is as follows:

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY will release the New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita, set be be available on June 19. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Go inside the recording studio with the cast of the musical in the video below!

Off-Broadway's Irish Repertory Theatre presented a concert performance of Lionel Bart's OLIVER! for its 2012 Annual Benefit Gala at The Shubert Theatre, helmed by Charlotte Moore. The all-star company was led by Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tony Award-winner for KISS ME, KATE, as Fagin; James Barbour (A TALE OF TWO CITIES) as Bil Sykes; and Tony-nominee Melissa Errico (AMOUR) as Nancy. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening and brings you photo coverage of the curtain call and post-celebration below!

A new commercial for EVITA, featuring scenes from the Broadway production starring Ricky Martin, Elena Roger and Michael Cerveris has just been released. Check it out below!

4th Wall Theatre, a non union professional theatre in Bloomfield, NJ is presenting PARADE, which had its Broadway premiere in 1998 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The show will be directed by NY Casting Director, Bob Cline.

Today we are talking to the Tony Award-nominated Best Featured Actor In A Musical who has set Broadway ablaze with his much-talked-about portrayal of Judas in Des McAnuff's spectacular revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - the electric and charismatic Josh Young. Tracing his journey with the Biblically-themed musical from the hallowed grounds of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada - where he first made his mark on the theatre world with his acting of another iconic Lloyd Webber/Rice anti-hero, Che in EVITA; as well as THE GRAPES OF WRATH - all the way to La Jolla in California, and, now, to eight performances a week on the Great White Way, Young shares his overflowing enthusiasm for the theatrical form and details his life as a performer; a veritable dream come true for the self-proclaimed Broadway baby. In addition to all about his perspective on Judas and his thoughts on the daring and innovative SUPERSTAR, Young also describes working with Tony-winning director Des McAnuff and how his training at the Royal Shakespeare Festival has prepared him for the rigors of a Broadway hit. Plus, Young looks back on past performances and his favorite roles to date as well as shines a light on some of the parts he would consider taking on in the future, both near and far. Plus, Young reacts to his Tony Award nomination, fills us in on genesis of the many new lyrics for the heavenly SUPERSTAR revival, shares thoughts on GLEE, SMASH and much, much more!