Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell appear IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE tonight, ALADDIN and THE LION KING appear on this morning's GMA!
Happy New Year, BroadwayWorld! As we eagerly anticipate the amazing musicals and plays coming up in 2016, we're taking a moment to look back at the significant Broadway closings of 2015.
As 2015 comes to a close, BroadwayWorld takes one last look at this season's brightest moments before the curtain comes down, showcasing what readers - and audiences - loved most. Below, check out the curtain call highlights on Broadway from 2015!
Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company presented the 50th Anniversary Season Benefit Reading of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, starring Nathan Lane. Joining him were Austin Durant ('Expressman, Technician, Police Officer'), Peter Kim ('Sandy'), Mark Linn-Baker ('Dr. Bradley'), Ned Noyes('Michaelson/Westcott/Expressman'), Harrison Unger ('Stage Directions'), Richard Poe ('Mr. Stanley'), Lee Wilkof ('Banjo') and Mary Louise Wilson ('Harriet Stanley'). BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos below!
Based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock: THE MUSICAL, with music from the movie, as well as an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, a book byJulian Fellowes and direction by Laurence Connor, made its World Premiere on Broadway last night, December 6, at the Winter Garden Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and we're taking you inside the red carpet below!
Roundabout Theatre Company presents the 50th Anniversary Season Benefit Reading of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, starring Nathan Lane. Joining the celebrated cast are Austin Durant ('Expressman, Technician, Police Officer'), Peter Kim ('Sandy'), Mark Linn-Baker ('Dr. Bradley'), Ned Noyes ('Michaelson/Westcott/Expressman'), Harrison Unger ('Stage Directions'), Richard Poe ('Mr. Stanley'), Lee Wilkof ('Banjo') and Mary Louise Wilson ('Harriet Stanley'). Roundabout's Associate Artistic Director Scott Ellis directs this one-night only reading tonight, December 7, 2015 at 7 PM at Studio 54.
Roundabout Theatre Company has confirmed complete casting for the 50th Anniversary Season Benefit Reading of THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart starring Nathan Lane. Joining the celebrated cast are Austin Durant ('Expressman, Technician, Police Officer'), Peter Kim ('Sandy'), Mark Linn-Baker ('Dr. Bradley'), Ned Noyes ('Michaelson/Westcott/Expressman'), Harrison Unger ('Stage Directions'), Richard Poe ('Mr. Stanley'), Lee Wilkof ('Banjo') and Mary Louise Wilson ('Harriet Stanley'). Roundabout's Associate Artistic Director Scott Ellis will direct this one-night only reading.
On Tuesday night, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA opened a week-long run at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Running through Sunday, I was fortunate enough to attend the tour stop's opening night, as was fellow BWW Orlando editor Kimberly Moy. As we did when we discussed THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, first show of the 2014-2015 Orlando Broadway Series, we had a back-and-forth conversation about CINDERELLA. While I tend to look at things from a more historical and critical point of view, Kim is an admitted fan girl.
The Acting Company (Margot Harley, Co-Founder and Producer), America's best known touring repertory theater, will honor Emmy Award-winner Tom Fontana, educator and student mentor Paul Fontana, and Acting Company Co-founder and Producer Margot Harley at a Gala Benefit evening on Monday, November 9th atCapitale (130 Bowery - between Broome & Grand Sts). Both of the gentlemen will each be presented with the Warburg Humanitarian Award for their outstanding philanthropic endeavors on behalf of children, education and the arts, while Ms. Harley will be saluted for her 43 years of leadership and achievement as she steps down as Producer of The Acting Company.
It is fitting, perhaps, and definitely a case of perfect timing, for actress Blair Ross: Preparing to go onstage as “Madame” – aka The Wicked Stepmother – in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella with most of her Tennessee family on hand to share in the excitement from their vantage point in the audience. Currently in Memphis, the national touring company of the recent Broadway revival of Cinderella welcomes Ross to the cast as they look ahead to next week's eight-performance run at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Ghostlight Records celebrates the physical CD release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording for IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU with a special in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble tonight, October 12 at 7:00 PM.
On October 9, The New York Pops, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, opened its 33rd season at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with My Favorite Things: The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The concert honored the duo's timeless work, which has captured the hearts of every generation of music lovers, and featured guest artists Sierra Boggess and Julian Ovenden (who replaced the previously announced Steven Pasquale), alongside Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you backstage with the stars!
Actress Peri Gilpin and comedian and author Stevie Dupin (a.k.a. Stevie D.) are among performers lined up for the 15th annual production of "Les Girls," a star-studded, cabaret-style fundraiser to benefit the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund (NBCC), to take place in Hollywood on Sunday, October 11.
The original company of the Broadway musical CRY-BABY releases a cast recording in digital formats today, September 25. Physical copies will hit the shelves on October 9.
Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director of East West Players in Los Angeles, CA, is the 2015 recipient of the Zelda Fichandler Award, an award to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theatre. The $5,000 award, given by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, heralds both accomplishment to date and promise for the future, and lauds deep commitment to a community.
Ghostlight Records released the Original Broadway Cast Recording of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU - starring Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess and Lisa Howard - in digital formats just last month and with the physical CD online and in stores on Friday, October 9, 2015. To celebrate the release, the company is set to reunite at the Upper East Side Barnes & Noble (150 East 86th Street) on Monday, October 12 (7PM) to perform and sign albums.
Crying over HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH closing? Still trying to win the #Ham4Ham lottery? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'
The original Broadway cast of CRY-BABY took the stage at 54 Below for a reunion concert last night. Cry-Baby is based on the movie of the same name by John Waters and features a score by David Javerbaum (Act of God) and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and a book by Mark O'Donnell (Hairspray) and Thomas Meehan (Annie). Although it only ran for three months, Cry-Baby was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the long-awaited official cast album will be released shortly.