The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Michael Urie ignites the night, 'Mamma Mia!' returns, the original musicals 'One Hit Wonders,' 'The Last Ship' and 'Hey! Dancin'!,' a new 'Big Fish' and 'Seussical,' plus all the latest on showtune movies, TV shows and more!
Long Wharf Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, will present The Last Five Years, written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, from May 7 through June 1, 2014 on the Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stars in action below!
Barnes & Noble will celebrate the new Ghostlight Records cast recording of The Bridges of Madison County, the new romantic musical currently running at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street), with a special in-st0re performance and CD signing on Friday, May 23 at 5:00 PM. The event will feature stars Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale, in addition to other cast members. The composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown will join them at the piano, with Justin Goldner and Gary Seiger on guitars and Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf on cello. Barnes & Noble is located at 150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues on the Upper East Side. Fans who purchase the CD at the store will be offered priority seating. Please call (212) 369-2180 for details.
This has been an exciting year on Broadway. The Tony Awards will be announced soon. In preparation, I went to New York to see some of the nominated shows. Here's some brief comments:
Media Theatre New School student Gianni Palmarini is one of the main reasons for '13: The Musical' appearing on The Media Theatre stage May 30-June 8. This is due to his involvement with the production when it was produced earlier this year by the Wilmington Drama League.
Rehearsals begin today for The Life of the Party - A Celebration of the Songs of Andrew Lippa, a spectacular evening with one of Broadway's most exciting composers and lyricists with David Babani, Artistic Director of the Chocolate Factory, directing alongside an Olivier Award winning creative team. Lynne Page - Choreography, Gareth Owen - Sound Design, Tim Lutkin - Lighting Design and Morgan Large - Set and Costume Design.
Vulture.com welcomed actress Stephanie J. Block and composer Jason Robert Brown for 'The Art of Songwriting' at the first Vulture Festival, a weekend of pop culture events in New York City on May 10-11. During the event, Brown spoke to New York magazine theater critic Jesse Green about composing for musicals and played and sang some of his tunes with additional vocal accompaniment by Block. Song selections included 'Falling Into You' and 'Another Life' from The Bridges of Madison County and 'Still Hurting' from The Last Five Years. Check out their appearance below!
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2013-14 season in 24 categories.
Nominations for the 2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced last month at 54 Below. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the nominees as they arrive at the 2014 Drama Desk Nominees Reception!
Lost Nation Theater has long been a leader in bringing the performing arts to new Vermont audiences, and the organization's latest innovations are no exception. Lost Nation announced two new initiatives last week aimed at attracting a broader theater-going audience: LNTix and LNT Afterhours.
BoHo Theatre brings Adam Guettel's rarely-produced song cycle Myths & Hymns to life with an original narrative concept, directed by Peter Robel with musical direction by Nick Sula. BoHo is no stranger to Guettel's work, having garnered acclaim for its 2012 production of Floyd Collins at Theater Wit. Myths & Hymns represents the Bohemian Pillar of Beauty in BoHo's 2013/2014 Season.
The Muny has announced the principle casting for its fourth show of its 96th season, The Addams Family, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, choreographed by Vince Pesce, with musical direction by Ben Whiteley. The Addams Family is sponsored by Missouri Lottery.
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY team just Tweeted a photo of Broadway vet Kristin Chenoweth visiting star Kelli O'Hara backstage at the show on May 8, along with the caption: 'It was amazing having @KChenoweth with us last night!' and followed it up with a photo of Debra Messing, Will Chase and Michael McKean also schmoozing with O'Hara after the performance. Scroll down for both pics from the star-studded evening!
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Sierra Boggess and Norm Lewis join the cast of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as 'Christine' and 'The Phantom' tonight!
JASON ROBERT BROWN is the ultimate multi-hyphenate - an equally skilled composer, lyricist, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, director and performer - best known for his dazzling scores to several of the most renowned musicals of his generation, including the recently nominated The Bridges of Madison County, The Last Five Years, his debut song cycle Songs for a New World, and the seminal Parade, for which he won the 1999 Tony Award for Best Score.
The TONY Award-winning score of PARADE will be brought to life for one night only at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, February 16, 2015. Recent TONY-nominee Jason Robert Brown will be at the helm to conduct a star-studded cast and full chorus as Music Director.
On May 19th in Manhattan, LaGuardia Arts High School Parents Association will celebrate 'Peace, Love & The Power of Song' with a tribute to alumnus and folk legend Peter Yarrow.
America's Orchestra opened its 129th spring season with Keith Lockhart conducting and Jason Alexander as special guest artist. Best known as Seinfeld's best buddy George Costanza, the Tony Award-winning Alexander is a consummate showman and offered a celebration of Broadway music to complement the Pops' selections by American masters from Copland to Ellington to Gershwin.
Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more.
Highlights this week include a look at rehearsals for HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the Lucille Lortel Awards Red Carpet, and the upcoming West End production of THE LAST FIVE YEARS!