Jennifer Hudson News

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for Peter Pan. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Patti Colombo, Peter Pan will run at the Millburn Theater from June 2 through June 27, 2010. Peter Pan is generously supported by a gift from Allen and Joan Bildner and supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Day 3 has Seth deconstructing Liz Callaway in BABY. Seth writes 'Here she is! GREAT song GREAT singer. I now think that the last couple of high notes are mixed...can't decide!'

Day 1 has Seth deconstructing Jason Robert Brown's '13'. Seth writes' Still devastated this was not nominated for a Tony Award!!!! Featuring, Graham Phillips, Aaron Simon Gross, Al Calderon, Delaney Moro, Elizabeth Gillies, Eric Nelson'

Seth Rudetsky-multi-talented actor, comedian, musician, radio host and published author has embarked on a breathless musical mission, his inspired new YouTube project: 31 Deconstructions in 31 Days! Since we always love to support the 'Broadway Ballyhoo' of Seth, we jumped at the chance to run his webisodes here on BWW TV. Day 1 has Seth deconstructing Patrick Wilson, Mark Price, Jared Zeus and Liz Larsen!

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) will close the production of Smokey Joe's Café on May 2nd.

Michael Urie, currently co-staring in the Off-Broadway play THE TEMPERAMENTALS, will chat with Seth Rudestsky at tomorrow's edition of 'Seth's Broadway Chatterbox.' Seth's Broadway Chatterbox is a one hour weekly talk show hosted by Seth Rudetsky, and includes interviews and performances by noted Broadway celebrities. The show takes to the stage Thursday evenings @ 6 PM at Don't Tell Mama.

This fresh, entertaining reboot of the Tony® Award-winning stage musical DREAMGIRLS (now playing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through May 2) is exquisitely vintage, yet surprisingly modern all at the same time. It's a reverent homage to the soulful musical roots of pop music, displayed with a knowing wink and a contemporary eye that aims to be enthralling to both longtime fans of the original stage production and to new fans that have discovered it recently, thanks to Bill Condon's splashy Oscar®-lauded 2006 film adaptation. The iconic, memorable score that accompanies its all-too-familiar story, performed by truly gifted actor-singers within a vividly-conceived backdrop, all mesh together to make this new DREAMGIRLS quite a satisfying revamp.

According to a report from Entertainment Weekly, Liza Minnelli will be featured on the soundtrack recording for 'Sex and the City 2.' Liza has a small cameo appearance in the film as herself and will be featured on two tracks, Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' and Cole Porter's 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye.'

During what was called 'Andrew Lloyd Webber week' of the seventh season of the hit TV talent competition American Idol, Webber predicted to an audience of millions that Syesha Mercado will 'bring the house down' with a sexy, splashy take on one of his many musical hits. And that, she did. Then 21, she eventually lasted on the show to become the second runner-up. Fast forward two years later, and she is now in the midst of a multi-city national tour of the rebooted DREAMGIRLS stage musical, where she nightly plays Deena Jones, the beautiful and eventual front-woman of the semi-fictional musical group The Dreams. Before she takes the stage of The Orange County Performing Arts Center (April 21-May 2), Mercado spoke with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about life on the road, her American Idol roots, and what it takes to become Deena Jones night after night.

VH1 will produce a record 44 original series in 2010 to further build on the network's connection to young adults and their hunger for programming centered around music, celebrity and real life stories.

Stephen Pevner joins producers Hammerstein Weiner LLC, Christopher McElroen, Alfred Preisser, and Kingsize USA, as lead producer of CALIGULA MAXIMUS, currently playing at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre through April 17th.

The national tour of the hit musical "Dreamgirls" is currently at Seattle's Paramount Theatre. You may have seen a production of this before. Or maybe you've only seen the 2006 movie. Or maybe you're only familiar with that one song from the show. Whatever the case, the current tour of this outstanding show is a production not to be missed.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for Smokey Joe's Café. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Denis Jones, Smokey Joe's Café will run at the Millburn theater from April 7 through May 2, 2010. Smokey Joe's Café is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

The Lake Worth Playhouse is proud to announce the return of Send in the Queens. This annual Pride Week Drag Show Fundraiser is back by popular demand for a third consecutive year with performances on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce that Dennis Stowe has joined the all-star cast of Smokey Joe's Café. Mr. Stowe is replacing the previously announced Devin Richards who had to withdraw from the production due to an injury. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Denis Jones, Smokey Joe's Café will run at the Millburn theater from April 7 through May 2, 2010. Smokey Joe's Café is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse. Press Opening is Sunday, April 11th at 7:00pm

Karen Mason, Broadway & recording star will be heading to Queens this summer to direct students in a Cabaret Workshop Camp for teens produced by the Theatre Arts Center in Bayside. On Broadway Ms. Mason starred in Sunset Boulevard, Mama Mia, Hairspray, and most recently, the Queens of Hearts in Frank Wildhorn's new musical, Wonderland.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for Smokey Joe's Café. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Denis Jones, Smokey Joe's Café will run at the Millburn theater from April 7 through May 2, 2010. Smokey Joe's Café is proudly sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

Not only is Mo'Nique riding high on winning the Washington, DC, Boston, Los Angeles and New York Film Critics' Awards, a SAG Award and a Golden Globe Award, having a top-rated late night talk show on BET and now an Academy Award, the highest honor an actor can achieve, but she is also readying herself to embark upon a highly anticipated comedy tour--Spread the Love Tour 2010.

Actor and performer Israel Cortez is becoming quite the YouTube sensation thanks in part to his solo remix interpretation of the powerhouse song 'It's All Over' from the film version of the musical 'Dreamgirls'. Cortez, a La Palma, California, resident, plays all the parts in the song, which is sung by Jamie Foxx, Keith Robinson, Beyonce, Anika Noni Rose and Sharon Leal as they confront Jennifer Hudson's 'Effie'.

Not only is Mo'Nique riding high on winning the Washington, DC, Boston, Los Angeles and New York Film Critics' Awards, a SAG Award and a Golden Globe Award, having a top-rated late night talk show on BET and now an Academy Award, the highest honor an actor can achieve, but she is also readying herself to embark upon a highly anticipated comedy tour--Spread the Love Tour 2010.