Judy Kuhn News

As millions of the faithful around the world light the last candles of their menorahs, we take a look at a handful of musical moments that have a decidedly Jewish flair. On the last night of Hanukkah, we want to celebrate some of our favorite Broadway tunes about the faith while honoring the contributions of our immensely talented Jewish legends who have helped mold the American musical into what it is today. Therefore, we have selected eight Jewish-themed showtunes for the occasion. You can watch a video of each below, along with an incredible film about the importance of Jewish writers to the history of the musical theatre.

Classic Stage Company's production of Bertolt Brecht's MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, starring Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins, begins performances tonight, December 9 for a limited engagement through January 24. MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN will be directed by Brian Kulick and will feature original music by Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik. The official press opening is Thursday, January 7.

Signature Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY will run from tonight, December 8 - January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

As VIOLET makes its Australian premiere, Broadway's most successful female composer talks about opening doors for women.

The Bechdels will soon be heading to Manila - with some legendary star power in tow.

New York Stage and Film just presented its annual Winter Gala, honoring star of stage and screen Bill Pullman, whose decades-long career includes starring roles in the blockbuster film Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping and Broadway's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia; as well as 2-time Tony Award-winner and 11-time nominee Donald Holder, lighting designer of Broadway's The Lion King, The King & I, and the upcoming Fiddler on the Roof revival, among countless others.

The new Small Alison does her part to help raise funds for a great cause.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY will run from December 8 - January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

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: ALLEGIANCE brings George Takei to Broadway, JERSEY BOYS hits a milestone and more!

Jeff McCarthy starred in Broadway's Beauty & The Beast, Chicago, Les Miserables, and the original casts of Side Show (Terry) and Urinetown, creating the role of Officer Lockstock, which he reprised several times for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS events, The Easter Bonnet and Gypsy of the Year competitions. He's spending his holiday season in Washington D.C. at the Arena Stage, where he'll take on the role of Fagin in their production of Oliver!. Jeff took a moment to chat with me about the show, as well as his past, present, and future plans.

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Classic Stage Company's production of Bertolt Brecht's MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, starring Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins, will begin performances Wednesday, December 9 for a limited engagement through January 24. MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN will be directed by Brian Kulick and will feature original music by Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik. The official press opening is Thursday, January 7.

Ring of KeysGabriella Pizzolo, who recently took over from Sydney Lucas in Broadway's FUN HOME, impressed the audience at the 2015 SAGE Awards at Gotham Hall in NYC on October 19 with her rendition of 'Ring of Keys' from the Tony-winning Best Musical. Watch her performance below!

Encompass New Opera Theatre held a gala to honor legendary Broadway performer BARBARA COOK and lyricist LEE ADAMS (Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause) with a star-studded musical salute on Sunday, October 25. BroadwayWorld has photos from the evening below!

FUN HOME, the reigning Tony winner for Best Musical, is celebrating six months on Broadway with a special behind the scenes look at the show's journey so far. Take a look inside the FUN HOME experience below!

Broadway fans have known that Laura Benanti has superhuman powers for years, but now the whole world is in on our little secret. In the final moments of last week's SUPERGIRL series premiere, the Tony-winner was revealed to not only be playing the title character's dearly departed mother, but her Kryptonian criminal aunt as well. The surprise twist was just part of what made the pilot the most watched debut of the fall season.

Look out HAMILTON cast- your replacements are ready to go!

Halloween is a two-show work day for Broadway's kids, so many are getting in the spirit all week.

Malcolm Gets (Tony Award nominee for Amour) and Ted Keegan (Star of Broadway's Phantom of the Opera) have joined the lineup for the Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director) gala to honor legendary Broadway performer BARBARA COOK and lyricist LEE ADAMS (Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause) with a star-studded musical salute on Sunday, October 25.

Happy Birthday Marin Mazzie! Marin most recently starred in the off-Broadway revival of Carrie. Before that she led the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Next to Normal and in the Broadway production of Enron. She received Tony and Drama Desk nominations and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance as Lilli/Katharine in the hit revival of Kiss Me, Kate, and later received an Olivier Award nomination when she made her West End debut in the show. Other Broadway credits include: Monty Python's Spamalot (also West End), Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics nominations), Passion (Tony nomination), Man of La Mancha, Into the Woods, Big River, and Out of this World and Kismet (Encores!).

There is still so much to know about the movie, and lots of time to stew about it, so we thought we'd get our official wishlist out to Disney early! Read on to find out what we can't live without when it comes to DISENCHANTED!