Joel Hatch News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. 'A Christmas Carol,' House Theater's 'Nutcracker,' 'Striking 12,' 'Pump Boys' at Theo Ubique, our first local 'Avenue Q,' 'My Fair Lady' in Sarasota, Florida and more....

The producers of BILLY ELLIOT on Broadway announced today that Daniel Jenkins, Katherine McGrath and William Youmans will join the cast of the 10-time Tony Award winning Billy Elliot the Musical in the roles of ‘Dad,' ‘Grandma,' and ‘George,' respectively. Current ‘Dad,' Tony winner Gregory Jbara, ‘Grandma,' Tony nominee Carole Shelley and ‘George,' Joel Hatch will play their final performance Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 7:30pm. Jenkins', McGrath, and Youmans' first performance is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00pm.

The producers of BILLY ELLIOT on Broadway announced today that Daniel Jenkins, Katherine McGrath and William Youmans will join the cast of the 10-time Tony Award winning Billy Elliot the Musical in the roles of ‘Dad,' ‘Grandma,' and ‘George,' respectively. Current ‘Dad,' Tony winner Gregory Jbara, ‘Grandma,' Tony nominee Carole Shelley and ‘George,' Joel Hatch will play their final performance Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 7:30pm. Jenkins', McGrath, and Youmans' first performance is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6 at 7:00pm.

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter have announced the debut of Sounds of Summer, a musical storytelling celebration by acclaimed composers Todd Almond, Michael Friedman, Josh Schmidt and Kenny Vance. In addition, Glen Berger (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark) and PigPen Theatre Company will collaborate on an evening of new material and Off-Broadway's The Civilians will present a concert version of the their hit musical, Gone Missing.

The first ever Tony Award Documentary Film Series launched May 9 as part of the 2011 Tony Awards Showcase at the Times Square Visitors Center and Mini-Museum. The Tony Award Documentary Films Series features three films that examine what it's like to be behind-the-scenes on a Tony-eligible Broadway musical. The first film to be screened was Finding Billy, taking viewers on the journey in the search for the young male leads in Billy Elliot the Musical. The screening was immediately followed by a panel discussion comprised of moderator Nora Brennan (Children's Casting Director for Billy Elliot), and Broadway cast members Tade Biesinger (Billy), Jacob Clemente (Billy), Stephen Hanna (Older Billy), and Joel Hatch (George).

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter have announced the debut of Sounds of Summer, a musical storytelling celebration by acclaimed composers Todd Almond, Michael Friedman, Josh Schmidt and Kenny Vance. In addition, Glen Berger (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark) and PigPen Theatre Company will collaborate on an evening of new material and Off-Broadway's The Civilians will present a concert version of the their hit musical, Gone Missing.

The first ever Tony Award Documentary Film Series launched May 9 as part of the 2011 Tony Awards Showcase at the Times Square Visitors Center and Mini-Museum. The Tony Award Documentary Films Series features three films that examine what it's like to be behind-the-scenes on a Tony-eligible Broadway musical. The first film to be screened was Finding Billy, taking viewers on the journey in the search for the young male leads in Billy Elliot the Musical. The screening was immediately followed by a panel discussion comprised of moderator Nora Brennan (Children's Casting Director for Billy Elliot), and Broadway cast members Tade Biesinger (Billy), Jacob Clemente (Billy), Stephen Hanna (Older Billy), and Joel Hatch (George). BroadwayWorld brought you a glimpse of the panel discussion then. Today, we bring a look at the second talkback in the series which took place last week, May 16, following a screening of Every Little Step, which follows the real-life dancers as they struggled through auditions for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. The film also takes a look at the history of the show and the creative minds behind the original and revival Broadway shows. This panel was moderated by John Breglio, Every Little Step executive producer, and producer of the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. Panalists included Baayork Lee, the original 'Connie' from the 1976 Tony Award-winning production of A Chorus Line and choreographer for the 2006 revival, and Donna McKechnie, who won the Tony Award for her performance as 'Cassie' in the original 1976 production of A Chorus Line.

The first ever Tony Award Documentary Film Series launched this week, May 9, as part of the 2011 Tony Awards Showcase at the Times Square Visitors Center and Mini-Museum. The Tony Award Documentary Films Series features three films that examine what it's like to be behind-the-scenes on a Tony-eligible Broadway musical. The first film to be screened was Finding Billy, taking viewers on the journey in the search for the young male leads in Billy Elliot the Musical. The screening was immediately followed by a panel discussion comprised of moderator Nora Brennan (Children's Casting Director for Billy Elliot), and Broadway cast members Tade Biesinger (Billy), Jacob Clemente (Billy), Stephen Hanna (Older Billy), and Joel Hatch (George). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the special event and brings you the panel disussion below.

MATTHEW BOURNE'S SWAN LAKE, the modern re-interpretation of the legendary ballet that won three 1999 Tony Awards, returned to New York on Wednesday, October 13 at New York City Center (131 West 55 Street). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the performance last night, October 20, and was invited backstage for an exclusive photo op with the Swan Lake cast and the Billy Elliot crew.

Tony Award winner Rondi Reed is set to participate in a reading of Making God Laugh, written by Sean Grennan on March 25. The private presentation will take place at 3 PM in the Irish Repertory Theatre's Studio Theatre at 132 W. 22nd Street.

Tony Award winner Rondi Reed is set to participate in a reading of Making God Laugh, written by Sean Grennan on March 25. The private presentation will take place at 3 PM in the Irish Repertory Theatre's Studio Theatre at 132 W. 22nd Street.

Tony-winner Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Broadway, television and film star Malcolm Gets (The Story of My Life, Amour), acclaimed director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie) Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida) The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch are all scheduled to appear in THE SKY IS NOT FALLI¬NG a benefit concert for the SKYLIGHT OPERA THEATRE at 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 5th, 2009 at St. Luke's Theatre at 308 W. 46th Street (off 8th Avenue).

Tony nominee Jeff Blumenkrantz (Urban Cowboy, A Class Act, How to Succeed . . .), Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde: The Musical, 25th Annual . . . Spelling Bee), and John Kuether (Phantom of the Opera) are scheduled to join previously announced artists Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Malcolm Gets, (The Story of My Life, Amour), director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie), Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida, The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch and a star-studded cast of over 25 Broadway and off-Broadway performers in The Sky is Not Falling, a benefit concert for Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre.

Tony nominee Jeff Blumenkrantz (Urban Cowboy, A Class Act, How to Succeed . . .), Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde: The Musical, 25th Annual . . . Spelling Bee), and John Kuether (Phantom of the Opera) are scheduled to join previously announced artists Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Malcolm Gets, (The Story of My Life, Amour), director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie), Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida, The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch and a star-studded cast of over 25 Broadway and off-Broadway performers in The Sky is Not Falling, a benefit concert for Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre.

Tony-winner Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Broadway, television and film star Malcolm Gets (The Story of My Life, Amour), acclaimed director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie) Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida) The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch are all scheduled to appear in THE SKY IS NOT FALLI¬NG a benefit concert for the SKYLIGHT OPERA THEATRE at 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 5th, 2009 at St. Luke's Theatre at 308 W. 46th Street (off 8th Avenue).

Tony nominee Jeff Blumenkrantz (Urban Cowboy, A Class Act, How to Succeed . . .), Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde: The Musical, 25th Annual . . . Spelling Bee), and John Kuether (Phantom of the Opera) are scheduled to join previously announced artists Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Malcolm Gets, (The Story of My Life, Amour), director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie), Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida, The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch and a star-studded cast of over 25 Broadway and off-Broadway performers in The Sky is Not Falling, a benefit concert for Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre.

Tony-winner Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Broadway, television and film star Malcolm Gets (The Story of My Life, Amour), acclaimed director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie) Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida) The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch are all scheduled to appear in THE SKY IS NOT FALLI¬NG a benefit concert for the SKYLIGHT OPERA THEATRE at 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 5th, 2009 at St. Luke's Theatre at 308 W. 46th Street (off 8th Avenue).

The vocal selections for Off-Broadway hit ADDING MACHINE have just been released. Alfred Music Publishing has released 'Adding Machine-A Musical: Vocal Selections,' whichh has a suggested price of $19.95.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Tommy Batchelor has joined the rotation in the role of 'Billy Elliot.' Tommy joins Broadway's original Billys David Alvarez,Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulishon stage at the Imperial Theatre.

A hit in London and one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, Billy Elliot officially opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on Thursday, November 13th. The show will play a special Actor's Fund performance on Sunday, January 25th at 8pm. For tickets call 212-221-7300 ext. 133, email at 'tickets@actorsfund.com.