Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city: the original show at London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre; and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thenardier, Leo Burmester as Thenardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, and Terrence Mann as Javert.
Symphony Space pays exuberant homage to the Great White Way with Project B-way/95, a two-week celebration comprising 14 events, April 7 - 20. Curated and Produced by Joel Fram and Annette Jolles, and named for the intersection where Symphony Space stands, Project B-way/95 salutes Broadway with an exciting array of concerts, tributes, film screenings, discussions, workshops, and more. Anchored by three starry concerts in the Sharp Theatre - an evening with the incomparable Patti LuPone (Tuesday, April 19), the cheerfully nepotistic "All in the Family" with Kelli O'Hara (Monday, April 11), and this year's installment of Symphony Space's signature event, Wall to Wall Stephen Schwartz (Saturday, April 16) - Project B-way/95 offers something for every lover of American musical theater. Tickets for all events are available at symphonyspace.org.
The new American play Eclipsed by Danai Gurira, starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o, officially opened last night, March 6th, 2016 on Broadway at the Golden Theatre (252 W. 45th Street). The play also stars Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh and is directed by Liesl Tommy. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from the red carpet arrivals below!
The red carpet was the place to be last night, as dozens of stars aligned for the big event and BroadwayWorld was on hand to chat with some of them before the curtain went up. Below, check out interviews with Victoria Clark, Steve Kazee, Judy Kuhn, Kerry Butler, Tom Kitt, Megan Hilty and more!
Tony Perkins, head of the DC-based organization, objects to United States U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power taking fellow ambassador's to see the tony-winning musical.
Fun Home, the groundbreaking and Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will become the first Broadway show to participate in Spotify Sessions, the music services' streaming program of intimate in-studio performances and conversations, it was announced today. The Fun Home session, which will be available beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 4, 2016 through Spotify, was recorded in front of a live audience on January 19 in New York City.
Last night, UN Ambassador Samantha Power brought a group of ambassadors representing 17 different countries from across the world to see Broadway's FUN HOME and participate in a post-show discussion with Lisa Kron, Jeanine Tesori, and other cast members, hosted by Cynthia Nixon. Scroll down for photos from the visit!
Off-Broadway's acclaimed Classic Stage Company today announced plans for its 2016-17 season, led by incoming Artistic Director John Doyle and Managing Director Jeff Griffin. Doyle, a Tony Award winner for Sweeney Todd and the director of Broadway's highly-praised new production of The Color Purple, assumes the artistic leadership of CSC beginning in July, succeeding Brian Kulick, who has led the company since 2003. For CSC, Doyle has directed Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro, and later this season will direct Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt.
Producers Fox Theatricals and Barbara Whitman have announced that Fun Home, the groundbreaking and Tony Award-winning Best Musical, has teamed up with Ambassador Samantha Power and a group of UN ambassadors representing countries from acrossthe world for a special evening of theater on Tuesday, March 1. The group of ambassadors will attend the show and participate in a post-show talkback with the show's creators, Tony Award-winners Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori, along with members of the cast. The discussion, hosted by LGBT activist Cynthia Nixon, will take place on stage after the 7:00PM performance at the Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th St).
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: Two shows open off-Broadway, Roundabout marks its 50th anniversary, and a Happy Leap Year to all!
Just announced, three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker will join the cast of Fun Home, the groundbreaking and Tony Award-winning Best Musical, as Helen Bechdel, for a limited time from April 5 - May 22, 2016.
Two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone has joined the star-studded Broadway roster for The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim, a gala benefit for Off-Broadway's esteemed Classic Stage Company on Monday, March 14 at Alice Tully Hall (1941 Broadway) hosted and directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, who will become the company's new Artistic Director in July. In addition to LuPone, the evening will include performances from Sondheim's canon by Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Joaquina Kalukango (The Color Purple), Judy Kuhn (Fun Home, CSC's Passion), Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me, Kate) and Alexandra Silber (Fiddler on the Roof).
Signature Theatre presents ANGEL REAPERS, written by Residency Five playwright Martha Clarke and Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winner Alfred Uhry, directed and choreographed by Ms. Clarke. The production will run through March 20, 2016 with an opening last night, February 22, in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Check out photos from the special night below!
Still need a special something for your Broadway-loving Valentine? Not to worry- FUN HOME has got you covered. Below, check out some adorable graphics crafted by the team of the reigning Best Musical!
Judy Kuhn, the acclaimed actress and singer who stars in the groundbreaking Broadway musical Fun Home, will perform Finding Home, a concert to benefit The 52nd Street Project, which makes a difference in the lives of Hell's Kitchen (Clinton) kids by pairing them with theater professionals who mentor them through the creation of original theater. The event will take place Sunday, February 28, at 7:30pm at the Project's Five Angels Theater (789 Tenth Avenue, 2nd floor, in Manhattan).
Just announced, Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor Broadway librettist John Weidman (ASSASSINS, PACIFIC OVERTURES, ROAD SHOW) with the company's seventh Stephen Sondheim Award on April 4, 2016.
