Jessica Philips News

​​​​​​​PIPER THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, now in its 23rd season, continues its commitment to new plays with our SPOTLIGHT festival now showcasing three new plays - Mother Sauvage with music by Rob Parker, Best Party Ever! By Jessica Phillips Lorenz, and a reading of The Charioteer and the Prince by Naren Weiss.

Pasek and Paul's teen musical sensation has style, substance and a great cast, though the score is sometimes a little generic.

The Broadway Boys will once again host Broadway's favorite holiday party and concert with the 8th Annual BROADWAY SINGS FOR TOYS: A Benefit for Toys for Tots, Monday Dec 16th at 7pm. The annual concert is a cocktail party/concert/toy drive that gathers Broadways hottest talent for a dynamic and inspirational concert sure to brighten your spirits!

Today we are talking to a multi-talented performer who has performed on Broadway in everything from BROOKLYN to WICKED who made her most recent Broadway bows standing by in both ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER and PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT - the dynamic and compelling Julie Reiber. Talking all about her new solo album, LOVE TRAVELS, and its various inspirations as well as casting a look back at her many Broadway, touring and regional roles thus far in her eclectic career - ALL SHOOK UP, SWEENEY TODD and many more included - Reiber and I attempt to illustrate her unique place on Broadway and what she would like to pursue in the future, both on the stage and in the recording studio. Additionally, Reiber opens up about her exhaustive song selection process for LOVE TRAVELS and shares candid stories of the recording process of her solo debut, including providing some background on the songs that did not make the cut, how the sterling arrangements arose out of the material and the process of becoming a singer-songwriter in her own right over the project's three-year-long creation. Also, Reiber outlines her experiences performing in the out-of-town tryout of the new musical adaptation of Armistead Maupin's TALES OF THE CITY penned by rock super group Scissor Sisters and expresses her desire to continue with future iterations of the 70s-set Broadway-bound tuner as she looks ahead to her new roles of recording artist, and, also, she is happy to announce, mother. Plus, Julie offers details on her role in the heretofore little-known Meat Loaf-inspired movie musical ECLIPSE OF THE HEART (hopefully released some red moon soon), expresses her thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, compared Broadway now versus a decade ago - and much, much more!

Southern-born Broadway veterans Tad Wilson and Jessica Phillips come together to explore their Tennessee roots in a concert of Today's Country Music on February 13 at 9:30 PM at The Triad Theatre on 158 West 72nd Street.

BroadwayWorld has learned that the West End hit, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, has been extended for a fourth time and will continue to play the Palace Theatre into 2011. Bookings are open through 28 May 2011. The show's star, Jason Donovan hangs up his heels and says farewell to PRISCILLA on 29 May, 2010 after 14 months and over 450 performances.

Stephan Elliott, Director of 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,' as well as author of its stage adaptation, will direct Australian comedy 'A Few Best Men,' according to Variety.

As BroadwayWorld has reported, Deadline.com revealed that Matt Cavenaugh and Will Swenson may join original cast member Tony Sheldon for the Broadway premiere of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. BroadwayGirlNYC revealed on her twitter that Jessica Philips and Joshua Buscher may be joining the cast, as well. Today in an article out in The Australian, Tony Sheldon's mother reveals that Sheldon, who originated the role of Bernadette in Australia and is now starring as the character in the West End, will make the Broadway transfer next season. Sheldon was nominated for a 2010 Olivier Award for his performance.

As BroadwayWorld mentioned yesterday, Deadline.com revealed that Matt Cavenaugh and Will Swenson may join original cast member Tony Sheldon for the Broadway premiere of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. Today, BroadwayGirlNYC suggests on her twitter that Jessica Philips and Joshua Buscher may be joining the cast, as well.

New York Musical Theater Festival kicked off its sixth season with a Gala Celebration of its first five years, called BEST OF THE FEST, on Monday, April 20th at 7 PM at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). BroadwayWorld.com was there to catch all the 'NYMF' filled action!

We all know we're going to die someday… just not today. So, why are we here and is there more to our journey? Those questions were the inspiration behind Tony Award-nominated writer Jack Murphy's new play 'Gods of Autumn,' which makes its world premiere at Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy on Wednesday August 20, 2008; starring Jarrod Emick and Jessica Phillips. Murphy also directs.

Tony Award-nominated writer Jack Murphy's new play 'Gods of Autumn,' makes its world premiere at Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy tonight Wednesday August 20, 2008; starring Tony Award-winning Broadway actor Jarrod Emick and Jessica Philips.