Jan Svendsen News

Michael Arden, Dane Laffrey, Hillary Blanken, and Fred Gallo will be honored with the Transporting American Theatre Award by Transport Group on April 28.

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 16, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Rosie’s Theater Kids (RTKids), the nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to transforming the lives of young people through the power of the performing arts, just announced the formation of its newly established Advisory Board.

Rosie's Theater Kids announced the addition of Lea Salonga, Christopher Jackson, and other prominent figures to its advisory board, enhancing its mission to enrich young lives through the arts.

Earlier this week, Hamilton celebrated 10 years on Broadway with celebrations throughout the day. Check out even more photos from inside the epic day of celebration here!

BroadwayWorld was saddened to report yesterday that the legendary theatrical producer Paul Libin died at age 94. In the wake of his passing, tributes have been coming in from members of the theatre industry, honoring Libin and his legacy.

From Broadway's escalating production budgets to Berlin’s significant arts funding cuts, economic pressures are shaping the global cultural landscape. Meanwhile, New York City takes bold steps with congestion pricing, impacting theatergoers and commuters alike. Amid these challenges, artistic resilience shines through – whether in rural arts communities, Hollywood’s ongoing fight to rebound, or the launch of the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab to nurture new talent.

From nonprofit theaters innovating in the face of financial pressures to the anticipation of live performance rebounding amidst AI fatigue, the stories highlight an industry evolving while staying grounded in community and creativity. Stories include Broadway honoring Tom Viola, regional theaters navigating leadership changes, and international venues undergoing major renovations.

As the year winds down, this week’s stories reflect a season of change, opportunity, and challenges in the theatre world. From the opening of voting for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards to the rise of effective altruism reshaping holiday giving, we explore how innovation and community engagement continue to shape the arts. Highlights include expanded performance schedules on Broadway, significant regional funding initiatives like King County’s Doors Open program, and transitions like Heather Lanza’s appointment at NextStop Theatre. Meanwhile, stories of financial strain, such as Germany’s cultural budget cuts and UK theatre downsizing, remind us of the ongoing need for sustainable support in the arts sector.

Leadership transformations and financial strategies are reshaping the theater world, with new leaders like Alisha Tonsic at TCG and Jan Svendsen Weiss launching ACTivate4Good to drive innovation and social impact. Broadway faces mounting pressures as producers navigate rising costs and favor jukebox musicals over original works to mitigate risks. Regionally, initiatives like BroadwayWorld’s donation database and the reinvention of Cal Shakes’ scene shop demonstrate resilience amid challenges.

Jan Svendsen Weiss has announced new social impact and philanthropy consulting agency - ACTivate4Good - on Giving Tuesday. ACTivate4Good supports brands on their social impact, philanthropy and activism.

Transport Group has announced performers for its 2024 gala will include Tony Award winners Freestyle Love Supreme, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and John Lloyd Young.  

Transport Group has announced that its 2024 gala will honor Broadway producer Jennifer Costello and Activate4Good founder Jan Svendsen Weiss with its Transporting American Theatre Award on Tuesday, April 30, at The Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47 Street.

The Broadway Podcast Network will launch a new summer series of Broadway Gives Back hosted by Jan Svendsen. New episodes available now feature Hugh Jackman, Jonathan Groff, Broadway power couple Sergio Trujillo and Jack Noseworthy, TDF's Victoria Bailey, and producer Dori Berinstein with director Sammi Cannold.

The Broadway Podcast Network has announced 'Celebrating Women's History,' a specially curated collection of episodes from BPN's hit podcasts featuring women, and celebrating women.

Philanthropy unites Broadway stars like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Gloria Estefan, Judith Light, and more. The Broadway Gives Back Podcast spotlights Broadway actors, shows, and organizations in their pursuit of social impact and doing good. Our talented guests will share stories about their favorite charities, how they got involved, and the people and causes who have benefited from these philanthropic efforts. The latest episodes feature Damian Bazadona (Situation), Greg Propper (Propper Daley), and BroadwayWorld's own Robert Diamond.

Southern California's Verdi Chorus will cap off their 35th anniversary season with their Fall 2018 concert PASSIONE! OPERA! The two performances at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on November 10 and 11 will feature four guest artists: soprano Julie Makerov, mezzo soprano Janelle DeStefano, tenor Todd Wilander and baritone Gabriel Manro. I had the chance to quiz two-time Grammy Award-winning baritone Gabriel Manro on his love for singing, the technical aspects of singing opera vs. musical theatre and his recent onstage proposal.

'Time to Give' is an historic collaboration between renowned Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet and the Tony Awards. A live, invitation-only auction (conducted by Christie's Lydia Fenet) of 13 celebrity autographed timepieces was the evening's centerpiece. Special thanks to ISAIA and Wall Street Journal for their support. Transportation provided by Empire CLS Worldwide.

The legendary Julie Andrews and daughter Emma Walton Hamilton serve as National Ambassadors for this year's 'Kids' Night,' which they recently helped to launch!