Today we are talking to one of the most exciting breakout stars from FOX's hit musical dramedy series GLEE all about his Broadway and Hollywood past, present and future while previewing what we can expect in the coming weeks at McKinley High and beyond - the one and only Darren Criss. Detailing the finer points of his upbringing as a musical theatre fan, Criss speaks about some of his early theatre roles and shines some light on his stint starring in the recent revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING in addition to musing on some roles he would like to take on in the future, near and far. Besides all about GLEE, Criss also opens up about his recent film projects such as GIRL MOST LIKELY, co-starring Kristen Wiig (available now) as well as first news and fascinating new details on HBO's hotly anticipated documentary centered on musical theatre master Stephen Sondheim, directed by longtime collaborator James Lapine, titled SIX BY SONDHEIM. Criss outlines his role in the new doc as well as shares stories from the set and sharing time with Sondheim himself, as well as Lapine and co-stars Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes and America Ferrerra as part of the film's 'Opening Doors' sequence. Additionally, Criss shares his foremost early influences, imparts his perspective on his unique place in the performing arts realm, reflects on his recent sold-out national tour and solo music projects as well as looks ahead to what's next. All of that, a generous helping of GLEE backstage dish and a tantalizing appetizer of what is to come as well as much, much more in this extensive chat with one of the most popular personalities in the performing arts.
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Norm Lewis, Jeremy Jordan, Cyrille Aimee and Bernadette Peters will star in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis's A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Affair, a new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The cast met the press earlier today and you can check out what they had to say about the special show and catch a performance preview below!
Making its 54 Below debut, 'Once Upon A Time In New York City' is a concert series featuring a slate of brand new songs about the Big Apple, written by Broadway's best! Listen as they tell their tales of NYC both in song and in story; share in the ups and downs of city life, from the day they moved to Manhattan to the person who changed New York for them to their favorite spot on the island.
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Norm Lewis, Jeremy Jordan, Cyrille Aimee and Bernadette Peters will star in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis's A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Affair, a new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Lewis was just on the red carpet at AFTER MIDNIGHT where he chatted with Richard Ridge about the project. He revealed: 'It's rearrangements- all jazz infusion. It's not gonna be totally jazz, you'll still understand that it's Stephen Sondheim and its his music and his arrangements, but there is a little influence that Wynton Marsalis will put on it as well.'
Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his many impressive musical theatre scores since his astonishing debut in the 1990s with SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and PARADE, the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Discussing the finer points of the vastly different scores for his two new stage musicals premiering this year, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, Brown paints a vivid portrait of his composing process in creating both the serious romantic drama and bubbly musical comedy, respectively. Additionally, Brown outlines his experiences collaborating with theatre legends Harold Prince and Alfred Uhry on his first big Broadway musical, PARADE, and also reflects on the subsequent successful national tour which he himself conducted. Most importantly, Brown sheds some light on the sparkling new cast recording of his recent self-directed revival of his two-character cult mainstay THE LAST FIVE YEARS and how the last ten years have shaded his perspective on the piece, particularly as anticipation builds for the release of the highly anticipated feature film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, directed by Richard LaGravenese and set for release next year, which Brown confirms he has completed his scoring duties on this month and offers an enticing endorsement of the indie movie musical. All of that, a discussion of his solo album and specialty material penned over the years, astute observations on his sporadic collaborations with wife, songwriter and fellow InDepth InterView participant Georgia Stitt as well as much, much more in this quick catch-up chat with one of Broadway's busiest musical craftsmen.
Highlights this week include the Matilda's being drawn at Sardis, A TIME TO KILL, THE LANDING, and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY opening, and a marriage proposal for Allison Case!
On Monday night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. Below you can check out photos of the attendees in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!
Last night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the special night to chat with Bernadette Peters, Alan Menken, Jason Robert Brown, Stephen Schwartz, Kate Baldwin, Tonya Pinkins and more. Check out what they had to say, plus performances from Jeremy Jordan, Ben Vereen and Sherie Rene Scott below!
Last night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out coverage from the performances below!
Last night, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event honored legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out coverage from the star-studded red carpet below!
On October 21, 2013, the Dramatists Guild Fund will host their Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York. This year's event will honor legendary playwrights, composers, and lyricists who have greatly impacted the American theater.
Today we are spotlighting one of the most hotly anticipated theatrical happenings of 2013, the new musical event A BED AND A CHAIR: A NEW YORK LOVE AFFAIR, showcasing the spectacular songs of Stephen Sondheim in new arrangements by jazz great Wynton Marsalis, served up by some of Broadway's best - Bernadette Peters, Jeremy Jordan and Norm Lewis included.
Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor will reprise their roles as Cathy and Jamie in Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS in a concert version at 54 Below, running tonight, October 16 - 19, 2013.
Cabaret and special concert event hotspot 54 Below announced earlier today that they would hold a reunion concert featuring some of the stars of NBC's short-lived musical drama series SMASH performing material from one of the musicals within the series, HIT LIST, this December, and a new promotional poster for the event has been released via social media.
Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years), Krysta Rodriguez (First Date, The Addams Family), Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), and more will star in HIT LIST at 54 Below on Monday, December 9 for two performances only at 9:30PM and 11:30PM.
Just yesterday, the cast of Second Stage Theatre's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, including Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, celebrated the release of the cast album at Barnes & Noble. Accompanied by composer Jason Robert Brown, the duo sang from the show and signed copies of the album afterwards. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage below!
The Skivvies -- Lauren Molina (Marry Me a Little, Sweeney Todd, Rock of Ages) and Nick Cearley (All Shook Up) -- welcomed special guests Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Smash, The Last Five Years), Jeremy Kushnier and more at 54 Below on October 11, 2013. Click below to watch them strip down and belt it out!
Norm Lewis and Jeremy Jordan will join Cyrille Aimée and Bernadette Peters in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis's A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Affair, a new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, with choreography by Parker Esse and musical supervision by David Loud, was conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Viertel and John Doyle,and will run for seven performances, November 13 – 17 at City Center.
In honor of National Coming Out Day, composer and lyricist Scott Alan has made one of this songs 'Blessing', sung by RJ Helton, one of the Top Five from American Idol Season One, for free.
Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:
