Janine DiVita News

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta announced today that tickets for the National Tour of IF/THEN, which was named the "Best Musical of the Year" by New York Magazine, will go on sale Sunday, May 22. IF/THEN will perform a limited one week engagement from August 9-14 at Atlanta's Fox Theatre to close the 2015/2016 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta Series.

New 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' presentation HEAR MY SONG, starring Academy Award winners Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Bates, Academy Award nominee Debra Winger, Emmy Award winner Eddie Izzard, IF/THEN's Janine DiVita, Josh Lucas and Kevin McHale will be broadcast Saturday, April 16 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The inspirational, music-filled movie tells the tale of a neglected 12-year-old boy, Stet (Garrett Wareing), whose devilish behavior obscures his angelic singing voice until he enters a boy choir boarding school where the demanding choir master (Hoffman) drives him to achieve beyond his wildest dreams.

The National Tour of IF/THEN, which was named the 'Best Musical of the Year' by New York Magazine, will perform a limited engagement at Detroit's Fisher Theatre, March 29 - April 10, 2016.

It's interesting to me that IF/THEN is billed as 'a new musical'. It's the use of the word 'new' that I find puzzling. The concept certainly isn't an original one, having been explored on the big screen in the films Blind Chance (1981) and its sort-of remake, Sliding Doors (1998). And, even though neither of those movies were musicals, they both featured the idea of having their lead traverse optional story lines, with Blind Chance even offering up three different scenarios for its protagonist to experience. But, this show is new in the sense that it explores contemporary trends, with the caveat that some audiences may not find much to identify with, and it features a wonderfully fresh and tuneful score (music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey). All of that just might be enough to make this show worth seeing. Because it does feature a talented cast who have the ability to pull off these roles and the memorable songs provided with considerable conviction. But, the trickery seems a bit cloying at times, and the show does seem to drag at over 2 ½ hours. I guess, like our heroine, Elizabeth, I'm straddling the fence too, at least when it comes to my opinion.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents OLIVER!, running April 5-17, 2016 at The Hobby Center for Performing Arts - Sarofim Hall (800 Bagby St., Houston, TX, 77002). To get you ready for spring, BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at Walnut Street's production, featuring Hugh Panaro and more, below!

I happened to be in D.C. on November 5, 2013 when IF/THEN opened its preview run. I was fortunate enough to get tickets to opening night.

Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease) have joined Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN. The tour is now playing at the Connor Palace Theatre in Cleveland through Sunday, February 21. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the new cast in action below!

The National Tour of IF/THEN, which was named the 'Best Musical of the Year' by New York Magazine, will perform a limited engagement at Detroit's Fisher Theatre, March 29 - April 10, 2016.

If/Then, just by the way it is written, will always be about if the woman playing Elizabeth/Liz/Beth is on or not.  While the show was on Broadway Elizabeth was played by Idina Menzel so obviously people will always want to compare.  I for one, am not going to do that because Jackie Burns was too amazing. She completely sold both story lines and sang her face off.  The vocal performance that this character requires is no easy feat and Burns made it look effortless.

Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease), will join Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN, playing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre March 15 - 27.

When IF/THEN debuted on Broadway in March 2014, it reunited original RENT stars Idina Menzel and Anthony Rapp with RENT director Michael Grief. Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, whose 2008 rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL had received the Pulitzer Prize, wrote the much-anticipated show, and New York celebrated the team's brisk New York return. Although the show received mostly mixed-to-positive reviews, it lasted a mere 430 performances, despite mother-daughter duos flocking to see Menzel upon the icy heels of FROZEN's success.

Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray(American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease), will join Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN, starting tomorrow,Wednesday, January 27 at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas.

In addition to Idina Menzel's predictably powerhouse vocals, IF/THEN features a stellar performance by LaChanze. She is a non-stop engine of energy, delivering one knockout song after another and acting up a storm. Janine DiVita stands out as well as a talent to watch.

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today that tickets for the Minneapolis debut of the national tour of If/Then, named the "Best Musical of the Year" by New York Magazine, will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016.

The L.A. Premiere engagement of IF/THEN, starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), began performances at Hollywood Pantages Theatre on December 8, 2015 for a limited four-week engagement through January 3, 2016. Menzel recently stopped by FOX 11 Los Angeles to talk about the show. Click below to watch her interview!

As expected, Tony Award winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel drew thunderous applause a mere second into the the start of IF/THEN's opening night performance at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre last Wednesday night. It's no stretch then to say that her mere existence in this very same role she herself originated in the original Broadway production seems, above everything else, to be the immediate draw to the recently launched national tour now on stage at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for a four week engagement through January 3, 2016. The bonus? She is joined onstage by her original co-stars LaChanze, Anthony Rapp, and James Snyder!

Producer David Stone and the Nederlander Organization present the L.A. Premiere engagement of IF/THEN starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), opening at Hollywood Pantages Theatre on December 8, 2015 for a limited four-week engagement through January 3, 2016.  Check out the red carpet arrivals below!

The L.A. Premiere engagement of IF/THEN, starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel(Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), began performances at Hollywood Pantages Theatre on December 8, 2015 for a limited four-week engagement through January 3, 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night bows, featuring Idina Menzel and more!

The L.A. Premiere engagement of IF/THEN, starring Tony Award-winner and Broadway superstar Idina Menzel(Wicked, Rent, Frozen, Glee), began performances at Hollywood Pantages Theatre on December 8, 2015 for a limited four-week engagement through January 3, 2016. BroadwayWorld has photos from the starry opening night red carpet below!

Broadway In Chicago has announced Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease), will join Chicago native and Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN, playing Broadway In Chicago's Oriental Theatre for a limited two-week engagement February 23, 2016 - March 6, 2016.