Joel Grey News

Artistic director Ed Fernandez breathes new insights into one of the deepest plays in musical theatre

Today in 2003, Wicked opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it is still running. Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North), who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. Its original stars included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard. The original Broadway production won 3 Tony Awards and 6 Drama Desk Awards whilst its cast album received a Grammy Award.

The School of Theatre at Florida State University presents Cabaret, written by Joe Masteroff with lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander. Cabaret will be directed by School of Theatre faculty member Tom Ossowski, and will feature such beloved musical theatre classics as Willkommen, Cabaret, Married, and Money.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will host their 18th Hall of Fame Luncheon on Thursday, November 6th in downtown Cleveland. The 2014 honorees have impacted the success of CPH through their wide-ranging achievements. This year's recipients include Joe Garry, George Gund II, Maeve McGuire, and June Squibb. Receiving the Heritage Award for his contributions to CPH will be Nelson Isekeit. Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are long-time CPH supporters Bob Blattner and Betty Fredman.

Joel Grey and Jeanine Tesori were honored last night at the Encompass New Opera Theatre's Gala celebration at The National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South, New York City), starring in the Musical Salute are Jeffry Denman, David Garrison, Lisa Kron, Judy Kuhn, Karen Mason, Michael McElroy, Bebe Neuwirth, Tonya Pinkins, David Pittsinger, Ron Raines, Patricia Schuman, Christopher Sieber, and Betsy Wolfe. BroadwayWorld brings you phtoos from inside the gala below!

Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters together again, with some very special friends!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: WIESENTHAL begins tonight at Theatre Row, PHANTOM opens its new pop-up shop today, and THE LAST SHIP sails to Broadway this Sunday!

Over a century since public health pioneer Lillian Wald first provided charitable care for a mother and her baby on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the organization that she founded, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), will once again celebrate Wald's efforts and the work of thousands of nurses and other dedicated VNSNY health professionals who have followed in her caring footsteps through today.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, October 19, 2014 - Sunday, October 19, 2014.

Linda Lavin will be joining the lineup of stars honoring Joel Grey and Jeanine Tesori at the Encompass New Opera Theatre's Gala celebration on Oct. 26th at The National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South, New York City).

Today, Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director of Encompass New Opera Theatre and Gala Honorary Chairs Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Tony Kushner and Maury Yeston announced the October 26th Star-Studded Musical Salute honoring Two Luminaries of the American Musical Theater -- Tony and Academy Award Winning Legend JOEL GREY and Celebrated Award Winning Composer JEANINE TESORI.

Cocktails named after some of the show stopping musical numbers from the smash Broadway musical CHICAGO greeted the cast, crew, and guests at a post-performance party at Marti's, a bistro in the French Quarter, late Tuesday night. CHICAGO's current tour cast, headlined by Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Terra C. MacLeod (Velma Kelly), John O'Hurley (Billy Flynn in select cities), Jacob Keith Watson (Amos Hart), Roz Ryan (Matron 'Mama' Morton), and C. Newcomer (Mary Sunshine), kicked off CHICAGO's 16th U.S. Tour at the newly reopened atmospheric theatre in NOLA, the 2,736-seater Saenger Theatre along Canal Street, with a rapturous standing ovation from a packed audience earlier that evening.

Just a few weeks ago I was dodging a falling chandelier at the Orpheum's staging of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; at the 'Phantom Event' held prior to the play, I was reminded of all the physical (as well as fiscal) requirements for properly staging this production. I kept thinking, 'How many small, financially strapped towns would breathe a sigh of relief if the proceeds from such a production were to come their way?' Well, that's one extreme of theatre. Tonight I was exposed to the opposite; Circuit Playhouse's production of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' allegorical THE FANTASTICKS reminded me of Thornton Wilder's minimalism in the staging of OUR TOWN. If musicals like PHANTOM and LES MISERABLES are the 'central air' of theatre, THE FANTASTICKS is rather like a quaint little oscillating fan. Yet, its breeze can be refreshing.

The timeless musical ANYTHING GOES runs from November 7th through 23rd at the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City (2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA).

In celebration of this season's ON THE TOWN, we've collected 10 of our favorite dance musicals. From classics like ANYTHING GOES, 42ND STREET, A CHORUS LINE and WEST SIDE STORY to modern marvels such as NEWSIES and STRICTLY BALLROOM, the way choreography is used to tell a story continues to evolve and inspire.

The Actors Fund presents a very special MUSICAL MONDAY with Michael Childers Presents: ' TRADITION, THE JEWISH LEGACY OF BROADWAY' on November 17, 2014. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 7 p.m.; performance at 8 p.m., followed by dessert reception with the performers.

MCC THEATER has announced that this year's Miscast gala, an annual highlight of the New York theater season, will honor two bold and fearless women: Emmy & Golden Globe nominated stage and screen actress Sarah Paulson and Tony Award-winning producer Fran Weissler. Miscast 2015 will be held Monday, March 30, 2015 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street).

Legendary civil rights activist and author David Mixner will premiere Oh Hell No!, an evening autobiographical storytelling, in a special one-night-only event on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Taking place at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), Oh Hell No! will benefit Point Foundation. Amy and Jeff Towers will present the evening, which will be produced by Tim Ranney. Scroll down for photos from the show's recent cocktail party!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: THE LAST SHIP sets sail on Broadway, STALKING THE BOGEYMAN opens at New World Stages, CHICAGO welcomes a new 'Mama', Kevin Spacey performs in D.C. and more!

Today, Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director of Encompass New Opera Theatre and Gala Honorary Chairs Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Tony Kushner and Maury Yeston announced the October 26th star-studded musical salute honoring two luminaries of the American musical theater -- Tony and Academy Award-winning legend Joel Grey and celebrated, award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori.