John Cudia News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Grammy and Oscar, 'Smash' and 'Million Dollar Quartet' on TV, Lyric Opera's five R and H shows, Rachel Rockwell directs 'Brigadoon' and 'Shrek,' two college shows, and the two singing Callaway sisters!

Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director Anthony Freud announced today that Broadway's Tari Kelly will portray the feisty Ado Annie in the company's premiere and new production of Oklahoma! directed by Gary Griffin May 4-19 at the Civic Opera House. Casting is now complete for the beloved classic musical.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA today celebrates its 25th Anniversary and continues to play at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), with no end in sight. Back in 2009, we brought you a behind the scenes look with 'PHANTOM' makeup supervisor extraordinaire Thelma Pollard as she gave us an all access pass on what it takes to bring the iconic Phantom of the Opera character to life eight times a week! In the video below, you get a front row seat as she transforms John Cudia into 'The Phantom' right before your eyes.

Below, BroadwayWorld tributes the men behind the mask- the many who have taken on the title role at the Majestic Theatre since it opened in 1988. Check it out below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nominees, three shows that are closing, 'The Burnt Part Boys' debuts, a second 'Fifty Shades' parody musical, 'Miami Nice,' Lyric Opera's 'Oklahoma!' and more....

Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director Anthony Freud announced today the principal casting and production team for the company premiere and new production of Oklahoma! to be presented in May.

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history.

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history.

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history.

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced preliminary casting and final music directors for its 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place on Thursday, October 21 and Friday, October 22, 2010 at New World Stages in New York City.

Principal cast changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the longest-running show in Broadway history. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. and directed by Harold Prince, the musical is in its phenomenal 23rd year in New York, playing at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street).

Tom Viertel, Chairman of the Board of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, has announced that Stephen Sondheim will present Harold Prince with the organization's Monte Cristo Award at a gala benefit on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Bridgewaters. The Award, given annually in recognition of a distinguished career exemplifying Eugene O'Neill's pioneering spirit and standard of excellence, has previously been presented to Kevin Spacey, Neil Simon, Jason Robards, Jr., Edward Albee, August Wilson, Zoe Caldwell, Brian Dennehy, Karl Malden, Arthur and Barbara Gelb, and Wendy Wasserstein.

Tom Viertel, Chairman of the Board of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, has announced that Stephen Sondheim will present Harold Prince with the organization's Monte Cristo Award at a gala benefit on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Bridgewaters (11 Fulton Street, NYC).

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, last week broke the house record at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street) to have its best weekly gross in the production's nearly 22 year history.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA reached another new milestone as the musical became the first Broadway show ever to reach 9,000 performances.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA reached another new milestone as musical became the first Broadway show ever to reach 9,000 performances. Now in its phenomenal 22nd Year, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production, directed by Harold Prince, continues to play at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), with no end in sight. The New York Times turns a very special spotlight on 'PHANTOM' usher Sylvia Bailey, Bailey has been a usher at The Majestic Theatre since the show opened in 1988. To read the article in The Times click here.

Gary Beach received the 2001 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for the role of Roger DeBris in the Broadway production of 'The Producers.' His other Broadway experiences include 'Les Miserables', 'La Cage aux Folles', 'Beauty and the Beast' (Tony nomination and Ovation Award nomination), 'Sweet Adeline' (Encores!), 'Doonesbury,' 'The Moony Shapiro Songbook', 'Annie,' 'Something's Afoot,' '1776', plus the national companies of: 'Les Misérables,' 'Legends!,' 'Lend Me a Tenor,' 'Closer than Ever,' and 'Of Thee I Sing' (Helen Hayes nomination).