Joe Benincasa News

BOMBSHELL is on Broadway!

BOMBSHELL is gigantic smash!

BOMBSHELL is huge smash!

Last week, BroadwayWorld began a new InDepth InterView focus series highlighting all aspects of one of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, and, now we bring you the top facts, features and fun tidbits gleaned from the conversations so far.

One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with an elemental figure in the creation of the project, choreographer and director Joshua Bergasse, all about the hotly anticipated evening. As part of our conversation, Bergasse offers up a slew of new details on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as share first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more than $315,000 in donations in less than two weeks, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced. Additionally, Bergasse parses the finer points of the BOMBSHELL score and outlines what fans can expect from the songstack on the evening as well as preliminary staging and presentational plans and also what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future, near and far - a HIT LIST concert or perhaps a night featuring the other musicals-within-the-series. Plus, Bergasse also comments on his contributions to two new mainstage musicals this season byway of ON THE TOWN and GIGI as well as looks ahead to the La Jolla Playhouse premiere of the new musical by the FROZEN team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, UP HERE, while also glancing back at his Broadway debut in THE LIFE. All of that and much, much more!

BOMBSHELL is huge smash!

One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with two elemental figures in the creation of the project, songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, all about the hotly anticipated evening. As part of our conversation, Shaiman and Wittman offer up a slew of new details on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as shares first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more the $230,000 in donations in only a few short days, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced last week. Additionally, Shaiman and Wittman parse the finer points of the BOMBSHELL score and outline what fans can expect from the songstack on the evening as well as preliminary staging and presentational plans and also what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future, near and far. Plus, Shaiman and Wittman comment on the recent rousing performance of SMASH standout 'I Can't Let Go' performed by Jennifer Hudson on the 2015 Academy Awards. All of that and much, much more!

One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with an elemental figure in The Actors Fund, producer Tim Pinckney, all about the hotly anticipated evening. As part of our conversation, Pinckney offers up new details on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as shares first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more the $230,000 in donations in less than a week, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced last week. Additionally, Pinckney looks back at some previous Actors Fund special events such as HAIR and DREAMGIRLS and how the exultant reaction to this recent announcement compares to the hubbub surrounding those starry affairs - and what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future. All of that and much, much more!

One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with The Actors Fund president himself, Joe Benincasa, all about the hotly anticipated evening on June 8. As part of our conversation, Benincasa offers up the 411 on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as shares first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more than $230,000 in donations in only a few short days, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced last week. Additionally, Benincasa looks back at some previous Actors Fund special events such as FUNNY GIRL and DREAMGIRLS and how the exultant reaction to this recent announcement compares to the hubbub surrounding those starry affairs - and what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future, near and far. All of that and much, much more!

In recognition of outstanding achievements in stage, television and film, and for his work in protecting performers rights, as a past President of SAG, as the first-elected President of SAG-AFTRA, and as a Trustee of the Actors Fund, and of the SAG Foundation, The Lambs bestowed Honorary Membership to Ken Howard. The event was hosted by The Lambs' Shepherd, Marc Baron, who is also a board member of the union.

Slyvia Steiner had her caricature added to the the celebrities on the walls of the legendary Sardi's restaurant yesterday. Joseph Benincasa presidet/CEO of the Actors Fund and Max Klimavicius managing partner of Sardi's honored Sylvia as family and friends toasted her. Slyvia and her husband David are well known in the theater community and as Joe Benincasa pointed out, 'To know Slyvia is to love her'.

BroadwayWorld.com thought it would be interesting to go a little more 'in-depth' about the recipients, to help you better understand their being chosen and to look more closely into their lives, worlds and work. In addition, we wanted them to be interviewed by someone with whom they shared some sort of history. Next up in the special series is President & CEO of The Actors Fund, Joe Benincasa. In the video below, Joe chats with Fund Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell, who is currently in rehearsals for Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte Theatre!

It's Tonys week! On Sunday night, the stars will align at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the best of Broadway. One of the final events before the ceremony, the Tony Honors Cocktail Party was held last night at the Paramount Hotel's Diamond Horseshoe to celebrate the 2014 honorees: Joe Benincasa (President & CEO of The Actors Fund), Joan Marcus (Broadway photographer), and Charlotte Wilcox (general manager). BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet to chat with the stars one last time before the big night, and below, you can find out what they'll be wearing, how they are preparing for Sunday and more!

Just last night, the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were handed out at the Tony Honors Cocktail Party, a private cocktail reception at the Paramount Hotel's Diamond Horseshoe. The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories. This year's Tony Honors will be presented to Joe Benincasa (President & CEO of The Actors Fund), Joan Marcus (Broadway photographer), and Charlotte Wilcox (general manager). In the video below, watch acceptance speeches from all three of the honorees!

BroadwayWorld.com thought it would be interesting to go a little more 'in-depth' about the recipients, to help you better understand their being chosen and to look more closely into their lives, worlds and work. In addition, we wanted them to be interviewed by someone with whom they shared some sort of history. Next up in the special series is General Manager Charlotte Wilcox. We reached out to Jerry Mitchell, who has worked with Wilcox on many of his Broadway projects over the course of their careers.

The Theatre Museum awarded its 2014 Theatre Museum Awards for Excellence at the Players Club, on Tuesday May 27, 2014. The mission of The Theatre Museum is to preserve, protect, and perpetuate the legacy of the theatre. It is the first and only chartered non profit museum dedicated to the history of Theatre. Since 1995 The Awards for Excellence have recognized individuals and organizations for their contribution to theater arts, education, theater history and preservation.

Below you can check out photos of special honoree Joe Benincasa, in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In the Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

Just last night, May 19, Broadway stars turned out for a special performance of Terrence McNally's Tony-nominated new play Mothers and Sons, benefitting the Actors Fund. Theatre luminaries and current Broadway stars including Brian Dennehy, Sebastian Arcelus, Adriane Lenox, Tonya Pinkins, Orfeh & Andy Karl, Jessie Mueller, Laura Osnes, and more, helped cheer on Mothers and Sons stars Tyne Daly, Frederick Weller, Bobby Steggert, and Grayson Taylor as they supported the Actors Fund. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special night below!

As a bonus, we delved into Joan's archives to pick 10 of her most iconic photos (a near impossible task!). Scroll below for some of our favorites...