Jarrod Emick News

Atlanta's Broadway dreams will come true for the 6th consecutive summer when The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents their acclaimed Summer Performing Arts Intensive Monday, June 13 through Sunday, June 19, 2011 at The Woodruff Arts Center (1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA). Director Matt Lenz (Catch Me if You Can) and a roster of Broadway veterans will work with aspiring young performers from the Atlanta area throughout the week in preparation for 'True Colors,' a one of a kind Broadway concert open to the public. Performances will take place at the Hertz Stage Saturday, June 18th at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, June 19th at 1 pm and 5 pm. Tickets are $30 - $50 and are now on sale at www.woodruffcenter.org, at the Woodruff Center Box Office, or by calling 404.733.5000 .

Atlanta's Broadway dreams will come true for the 6th consecutive summer when The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents their acclaimed Summer Performing Arts Intensive Monday, June 13 through Sunday, June 19, 2011 at The Woodruff Arts Center (1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA). Director Matt Lenz (Catch Me if You Can) and a roster of Broadway veterans will work with aspiring young performers from the Atlanta area throughout the week in preparation for 'True Colors,' a one of a kind Broadway concert open to the public. Performances will take place at the Hertz Stage Saturday, June 18th at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, June 19th at 1 pm and 5 pm. Tickets are $30 - $50 and are now on sale at www.woodruffcenter.org, at the Woodruff Center Box Office, or by calling 404.733.5000 .

La Jolla Playhouse will present a reading of its commissioned musical Hands on a Hardbody, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner and 2011 Playhouse Gala Honoree Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and Trey Anastasio of the popular band Phish. Directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and choreographed by Benjamin Millipied (Black Swan), the Hands on a Hardbody reading will take place in New York on April 8th and 9th (by invitation).

La Jolla Playhouse will present a reading of its commissioned musical Hands on a Hardbody, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner and 2011 Playhouse Gala Honoree Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and Trey Anastasio of the popular band Phish. Directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and choreographed by Benjamin Millipied (Black Swan), the Hands on a Hardbody reading will take place in New York on April 8th and 9th (by invitation).

Broadway Sessions w/ Ben D is thrilled to welcome Jarrod Emick and Sarah Darling, Thursday, January 20th.

In this exclusive interview with BroadwayWorld, Raul Esparza takes a comprehensive look back at his spectacular rise to fame from this time ten years ago in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW on Broadway, his first New York stage role, to now, with career-defining reviews for the out-of-town tryout of the new Alan Menken musical LEAP OF FAITH - as well as his sold-out American Songbook concerts early next year in New York. What does the future hold for Raul Esparza onscreen and onstage? Will it be Shakespeare or Sondheim or something completely new? Mamet or MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG? You may very well find your answer here.

Over the course of our ninety minute conversation earlier this week, Tony-winning Broadway star Alice Ripley was kind enough to open up about her role in the phenomenon of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, which is now kicking off a US Tour beginning in Los Angeles, as well as offer thoughts on many of her significant stage roles that she has taken on over the course of her impressive and varied career. Pete Townshend and THE WHO'S TOMMY to Andrew Lloyd Webber and SUNSET BOULEVARD and TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, to Sondheim with COMPANY (as the greatest Amy of all time), and even a turn in ROCKY HORROR; Alice Ripley has seemingly done it all, and her passion, dedication and insight into her craft are amply evident in both her studied performances on stage as well as in discussing the art of acting in musical theatre in conversation and what she has taken as her inspirations to play Diana Goodman, ranging from Albee to O'Neill to actors like Cynthia Nixon, Toni Collette and more. In this portion of her most comprehensive interview to date, BroadwayWorld is proud to present Part I of InDepth InterView: Alice Ripley.

Some of Broadway's most celebrate talent lent their voices to the THE BROADWAY DREAMS FOUNDATION'S Second Annual Holiday Benefit Concert at New World Stages last night, November 22. The evening of entertainment benefits the national non-profit organization that brings young talent closer to their Broadway Dreams though intensive week-long Broadway training programs across the country. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Broadway's best will celebrate the holidays in THE BROADWAY DREAMS FOUNDATION'S Second Annual Holiday Benefit Concert at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) on Monday, November 22, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Broadway Impact participated in Tune in Tuesday's at Bar-Tini Ultra Lounge, Hosted by Emily McNamara, to raise funds for their 2010 ING NYC Marathon Team last night, November 2.

The Boomerang Theatre Company (Tim Errickson, Artistic Director; Sue Abbott, Managing Director), in collaboration with Big Fish Big Pond Productions, will present a workshop of the new musical LOVELESS, TEXAS October 29th-November 4th. LOVELESS, TEXAS has music and lyrics by Henry Aronson (Broadway's ROCK OF AGES) and libretto by Cailin Heffernan (Boomerang's VENUS OBSERVED, ANNA CHRISTIE). The workshop will culminate in a private industry only presentation on November 4th at The Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street). Heffernan will direct the workshop.

This week we are taking a listen to the soundtrack for the forthcoming ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW homage ala GLEE with a rundown of the second season of the hit Golden Globe-winning musical dramedy series and how it stacks up to last season. Additionally, we take a peek at one of the most famous musicals numbers from the cult classic score - 'Time Warp' featuring all of the central Glee club cast-members of the show, among them Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron and Chris Colfer. The soundtrack also contains a special appearance by John Stamos - late of Broadway's recent BYE BYE BIRDIE, and the other Roundabout revivals of NINE and CABARET - who sings the song made famous by a then unknown Meat Loaf in 1975 who will be making an appearance himself on the episode when it airs October 26th on Fox. So, come up to the lab and see what's on the slab a whole week early as we take a peak at the soundtrack and some special video clips from THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW.

The Boomerang Theatre Company (Tim Errickson, Artistic Director; Sue Abbott, Managing Director), in collaboration with Big Fish Big Pond Productions, will present a workshop of the new musical LOVELESS, TEXAS October 29th-November 4th. LOVELESS, TEXAS has music and lyrics by Henry Aronson (Broadway's ROCK OF AGES) and libretto by Cailin Heffernan (Boomerang's VENUS OBSERVED, ANNA CHRISTIE). The workshop will culminate in a private industry only presentation on November 4th at The Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street). Heffernan will direct the workshop.

A friendly giant known best for his devilish and, at times, demonic lead roles in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW as Frank N. Furter, the eponymous DRACULA and the first replacement cast of THE LION KING as Scar - in addition to his current essaying of the role of the lecherous lawyer Billy Flynn in the smash hit Broadway revival of CHICAGO - time and perseverance has aided Tony-nominated actor Tom Hewitt in carving out a career on Broadway quite unlike most others in existence. In this comprehensive conversation we discuss his many marvelous stage performances on Broadway and beyond thus far, including his new lead role in the New York Musical Theater Festival musical THE GREAT UNKNOWN written by William Hauptman (PUMP BOYS & DINETTES) and Jim Wann (BIG RIVER) and directed by Don Stephenson. In addition to a thorough discussion of that new NYMF musical, we also talk about working with Julie Taymor on the PBS film FOOL'S FIRE and Broadway's THE LION KING, what the insane ROCKY HORROR LIVE experience was like from a stage perspective, his many stints in CHICAGO, as well as working with co-stars like Matt Morrison, Kelli O'Hara, Brenda Braxton, Charlotte D'Amboise and Chip Zien. We also discuss his feelings on Dan Savage's IT GETS BETTER campaign and what he thinks of GLEE taking on the garters, boas and stilettos of Frank & Crew when they do their ROCKY HORROR tribute later this month. Performances of the original bluegrass musical THE GREAT UNKNOWN have already begun so be sure to grab some tickets a the link below and catch the show on Sunday if you haven't done so yet!

Leap of Faith opened at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles music center October 3/

The full cast is set for the world premiere of the new musical 'Leap of Faith,' which will begin performances at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on September 11, 2010 and continue through October 24. The opening is scheduled for October 3. Check out the new rehearsal photos below.

The full cast is set for the world premiere of the new musical 'Leap of Faith,' which will begin performances at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on September 11, 2010 and continue through October 24. The opening is scheduled for October 3.

This August, from the 18th through the 21st, the Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) hosted its Summer Performing Arts Intensive in Philadelphia! During the intensive, attendees received first-rate training in acting, dance and vocal performance daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. by savvy Broadway veterans who shared their invaluable insider knowledge on the skills needed to make it in show business.

Philadelphia's Broadway dreams will come true once again when the Broadway Dreams Foundation offers their Summer Performing Arts Intensive for the second consecutive year at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (300 South Broad Street) Monday, August 2 through Sunday, August 8, 2010.