Karen Olivo News

Broadway's newest charity organization creates a unique way for fans and Broadway stars to give back to the community as a team. Chat 4 Charity allows anyone to give a Broadway star, like Eden Espinosa, a call and pay by the minute to benefit a charity of the actor's choosing. Espinosa recently sat down with BroadwayWorld to discuss her role in the up-and-coming program.

To celebrate their first year of podcasting, the Theater People Podcast is counting down its Top-10 moments. As he has done before, host Patrick Hinds is giving the BroadwayWorld readers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what happens before, during, and after the the tape is rolling.

On Monday, December 15, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony winning Actress LaChanze. LaChanze, currently starring in Tom Yorkey/Brian Kitt hit musical IF/THEN discusses her role in the show and why this particular character drew her back to Broadway after an eight year break. She also discusses being a working single mom and her delight in working alongside co-stars Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, and Jen Colella.

On Monday, December 8, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Mary Testa. Over the course of Testa's nearly four decades in the New York Theater she's racked up 12 Broadway credits, 26 Off-Broadway credits, two Tony nominations, two Obie Awards, four Drama Desk nominations and an honorary Drama Desk for her years of outstanding performances on and off Broadway.

On Monday, December 1, the Theater People Podcast welcomes ON THE TOWN star Alysha Umphress. Umphress shares fascinating stories from her journey with the project including her decision, after a slew of ensemble roles in Broadway shows, to only be seen for principal parts which led to this opportunity.

On Monday, November 17, the Theater People Podcast welcomes SIDE SHOW star Erin Davie. Davie shares stories about her six year journey with the production, working with director Bill Condon on updating and reimagining the show, memories from having seen the original production on Broadway, and how she and co-star Emily Padget found their Daisy and Violet.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents "The Songs of Adam Wachter: Just Come To This" on Monday, November 10 at 9:30pm. The evening will feature works by up-and-coming and eternally youthful musical theater composer/lyricist Adam Wachter, including original songs from his new musical Tarrytown, the hit web series "The Battery's Down" and "Submissions Only," and new material written specifically for this concert, as well as new arrangements of well-known songs from his varied career as a music director and arranger, all performed by a starry group of his obscenely talented, generous, and attention-hungry Broadway veteran friends. "Unmissable!" and "Not too lengthy!" raves several press releases.

On Monday, November 3, The Theater People Podcast welcomes celebrates Broadway debuts with actresses Margo Seibert (ROCKY THE MUSICAL) and Amber Iman (SOUL DOCTOR). Both actresses discuss landing leading roles for their first Broadway jobs.

On Monday, October 20th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes three time Tony nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger. Topics discussed include her Broadway debut in the popular 2005 musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, her critically acclaimed turns in the Broadway productions of PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER and last year's THE GLASS MENAGERIE. She also talks about taking on the new play THE OLDEST BOY, currently in previews at the Mitzi Newhouse theater at Lincoln Theater, and the exciting experience of working for the first time on a play with two women at the helm--the playwright Sarah Ruhl, and director Rebecca Taichman.

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.

I first met the Genius Lin-Manuel Miranda (I will never stop calling him that) back in 2003 when I was trying to get some traction as a freelance writer. My friend Tommy Kail asked me if I wanted to interview a young writer/composer he was working with on a new hip hop musical called IN THE HEIGHTS. It was just a one-act being workshopped in the basement theater of the Drama Bookshop, but the show's main character was gay (obviously a lot has changed over the years) and he thought that would interest me. It did, so we set up an interview.

On Monday, October 6th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony, Emmy, Drama Desk, Obie winner and Pulitzer Prize nominee Lin-Manuel Miranda. Topics discussed include Miranda's upcoming new musical HAMILTON--which makes it's world premiere at the Public Theater in January, the Tony winning IN THE HEIGHTS, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL, AND 21 CHUMP STREET--The short musical Miranda wrote for NPR's 'This American Life.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. All the scoop from the amazing FWD Theatre Project gala, and 'The Last Unicorn' gets some big backers. Plus concerts by Chita Rivera, Felicia P. Fields, Sierra Boggess and Donna McKechnie, 'Sweeney Todd' on PBS and 'From Here To Eternity' on movie screens, plus the Marriott announces two casts!

On Monday, September 22 the Theater People Podcast welcomes the multi-talented Telly Leung. Topics discussed include his work on the musical TV show GLEE, his work on Broadway including FLOWER DRUM SONG, the groundbreaking 2004 revival of Stephen Sondheim' PACIFIC OVERTURES, RENT, and GODSPELL, and his new role as a producer on the rock musical short film GRIND starring Anthony Rapp.

On Monday, September 8th the Theater People Podcast welcomes the multi-talented Ellyn Marie Marsh. Topics discussed include her two Broadway heartbreaks: being cast as a replacement in the role of Hatchet Face Mona in CRY BABY, but never even making it into rehearsal because the show closed just after previews; and being cast as an understudy in ENRON, but never making it to the stage because the show suffered a similar fate.

Lena Hall, 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), recently surprised students of Broadway Artists Alliance'a Summer Intensive. Hall spoke of the start of her career, auditioning for her award winning role, and making time for her rock band, The Deafening. Hall also participated in a Q&A with students, answering questions and offering advice for young performers. Get a look at her appearance below!

Chat 4 Charity, LLC announced the launch of a new website allowing members of the entertainment industry an opportunity to contribute to charitable organizations in a unique and exciting way. With celebrities like Angela Robinson (The Haves & The Have Nots), Tony Award winner Karen Olivo (West Side Story, Harry's Law), Frenchie Davis (The Voice, Rent), and Eden Espinosa (Wicked) already registered, Chat 4 Charity is quickly gaining recognition and becoming one of the most innovative new ways to give back.

On Monday, August 18th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony-winner Jerry Mitchell. Mitchell discusses directing and choreographing the Tony winning mega-hit KINKY BOOTS. He also discusses making his director/choreographer debut with the popular LEGALLY BLONDE as well as his collaborations with the great Jack O'Brien on HAIRSPRAY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE FULL MONTY and others. The episode is available now for iTunes subscribers.

At the beginning of this year, a new theatre-centric podcast debuted, and has been supplying extremely insightful and heartfelt stories ever since. One of the show's charms is the amount of love and appreciation that host Patrick Hinds shows each guest. For their most recent episode, Hinds interviewed Tony-winner Karen Olivo, and what resulted was a moving hour of conversation. Olivo has been one of Broadway's most talented stars for over a decade, but in 2013, she decide to 'retire' and leave New York City.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 3, 2014 - Sunday, August 3, 2014.