Joe DiPietro News

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference this morning by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards took place tonight, Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Yesterday, June 3, The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were held at The Town Hall, celebrating this year's big winners. The festivities were presided over by star of stage and screen Brooke Shields and Broadway favorite - and previous Drama Desk winner - Brian d'Arcy James. BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet for the starry arrivals and brings you Part 2 of the photo coverage below! CLICK HERE for a complete list of the evening's honorees and winners!

Yesterday, June 3, The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were held at The Town Hall, celebrating this year's big winners. The festivities were presided over by star of stage and screen Brooke Shields and Broadway favorite - and previous Drama Desk winner - Brian d'Arcy James. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the entire evening and brings you photo coverage of the winners below!

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference on April 27 by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. After weeks of anticipation, the ceremony is tonight, June 3, at The Town Hall and BroadwayWorld will be bringing you the full spectrum of coverage, of course!

"Everyone want[ed] to be black" on Tuesday Night at the Ohio Theatre as MEMPHIS came to town and literally tore down the house. From its onset, MEMPHIS was clearly a liberating celebration in every sense of the word. Its jumping and jiving, soulful, high energy rock-n-roll, powerful singing, and endearing story take you on a nonstop whirlwind from start to finish.

Today we are talking to a two-time Tony Award winning lyricist and book writer who was responsible for the 2010 Best Musical winner, MEMPHIS, and who has since written the libretto of the Gershwin revue NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET and received a well-earned Tony nomination for his efforts; one of the show's ten nods - Joe DiPietro. In this concluding portion of our conversation, DiPietro and I break down the process of creating NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT and he comments on the starry cast - including Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, Judy Kaye and Estelle Parsons - and the process of collaboration in bringing the 2012 Tony Awards top nominee to the Broadway stage. Additionally, DiPietro fills us in on the future for THE TOXIC AVENGER and its tentative Broadway plans, as well as the upcoming West End mountings of MEMPHIS and, hopefully, NICE WORK - and, a look ahead to his next David Bryan collaboration, CHASING THE SONG, as well. Plus, a glance back at his work on I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE, F*CKING MEN and ALLEGRO and his favorite current pop acts.

Today we are talking to a two-time Tony Award winning lyricist and book writer who was responsible for the 2010 Best Musical winner, MEMPHIS, and who has since written the libretto of the Gershwin revue NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET and received a well-earned Tony nomination for his efforts; one of the show's ten nods - Joe DiPietro. Discussing the finer points of his many musicals with a special focus on the two currently running on Broadway - MEMPHIS and NICE WORK - DiPietro eloquently elaborates on the process of creating both shows and the challenges new musicals these days face on their developmental road to Broadway. Additionally, we discuss Montego Glover, Chad Kimball, Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, Judy Kaye, Adam Pascal and the many other talented individuals onstage and off who have participated in the two hit productions treading the boards eight times a week. Besides the complete 411 on MEMPHIS in Part I and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT in Part II, DiPietro also opens up about his new musical endeavor with Bon Jovi and MEMPHIS composer David Bryan, THE TOXIC AVENGER, and its star, Constantine Maroulis - and don't miss my exclusive interview with Constantine all about the most recent Alley Theater iteration of the show, available here. Plus, DiPietro shares fond remembrances of shows past - I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, F*CKING MEN and ALLEGRO - and future - CHASING THE DREAM - and expresses his infectious enthusiasm for the theatrical arts in general by revealing his early theatre memories, favorite scores and general love for the art form. All of that and much, much more! In Part I, DiPietro and I analyze MEMPHIS and take a step-by-step look at its creation and the development of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical. Additionally, DiPietro shares his theatrical influences and the shows and scores that meant the most to him growing up. Plus, he shares his thoughts on GLEE, SMASH and the new movie musical era.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and 2012 nominee Kelli O'Hara from the Tony-nominated Best Musical NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT performed 'S'Wonderful' on 'The View' this morning, May 31st. Check out the full performance below!

BroadwayWorld was there for this year's official Tony Brunch, and got a chance to chat with this year's nominees! Today we bring you Martin Pakledinaz, Best Costumes nominee for NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT.

Penobscot Theatre Company presents the musical I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE from tonight, May 30 to June 17th.

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony® Award-winner for Best Musical, opens at the Ohio Theatre on May 29 for a limited engagement.

The Tony-nominated Best Musical NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT just recorded an Original Broadway Cast album and we have the Exclusive behind-the-scene shots, along with backstage photos of a recent performance! Factory label to be distributed by Sony. The album was recorded at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Long Island City, NY on May 20th and 21st. The release date will be announced soon. The album will be produced by six-time Grammy® nominee Robert Sher.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: GODSPELL sings Schwartz, Paper Mill preps ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, New Dramtists honor Bernadette, and so much more!

Last night, Broadway veteran Taye Diggs brought his mom to MEMPHIS to see friend Adam Pascal play 'Huey Calhoun'. Check out photos of Diggs with the cast below!

Yesterday, May 24, New Dramatists honored two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters with their 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 63rd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those who offered tributes were Emmy Award-winner Mary Tyler Moore, Peters' Tony Award-winning A Little Night Music co-star Elaine Stritch, and New Dramatists Artistic Director Todd London. Tony and Academy Award-winner Joel Grey and Peters' Tony-nominated Gypsy co-star John Dossett offered musical tributes. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below!

Matthew Broderick, star of Broadway's NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, was a guest on last night's 'Watch What Happens Live' on Bravo. While playing host Andy Cohen's favorite game of 'Plead the Fifth', Broderick revealed his most embarrassing moment on the Broadway stage.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge brings you interviews with the stars in attendance at the 78th Annual Drama League Awards luncheon, held yesterday, May 18. Below, Ridge speaks with co-hosts John Larouquette and Stockard Channing, presenter Donna Murphy, honorary co-chairs Cynthia Nixon and Judith Light, nominees Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis (The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess), Linda Lavin (The Lyons), Nicky Silver (The Lyons), Russell Harvard (Tribes), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Ghost), Cristin Milioti (Once), Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara and Joe DiPietro (Nick Work If You Can Get It) and more!

The Tony-nominated Best Musical NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT will get an Original Broadway Cast Recording on the Shout! Factory label to be distributed by Sony. The album will be recorded at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Long Island City, NY on May 20th and 21st. The release date will be announced soon. The album will be produced by six-time Grammy® nominee Robert Sher.

Penobscot Theatre Company is pleased to present the musical I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE from May 30 to June 17th.

On May 15, the first National Tour of the Tony Award-Winning MEMPHIS arrives in Dallas to stay until May 27. The company just released a promotional video in preparation for the upcoming performances in Texas, which features Bryan Fenkart, Felicia Boswell, and an amazing ensemble of singers and dancers.