Ken Billington News

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, December 14, 2008.

While there isn't anything terribly wrong with the new Broadway adaptation of the 1954 movie musical smash, White Christmas, hitting New York after four years of holiday season engagements across the country, there's also quite a bit that isn't especially right about it either. Yes, it's got those glorious Irving Berlin songs like 'Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep', 'Let Me Sing and I'm Happy' and 'Blue Skies' - the kind of stuff that turns wearing your heart on your sleeve into a hip fashion statement - and Larry Blank's swing orchestrations provide choreographer Randy Skinner's dancers with a red carpet of sizzle, but too much of director Walter Bobbie's perfectly pleasant production settles snugly into a groove of innocuous entertainment that is swift, professional and rarely exciting.

Broadway alums make return engagement of the reconceived Tony Award-winning Broadway revival a welcome addition to Boston's Broadway Across America schedule

Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, 'Talkback Tuesdays' Continued its series on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. The event featured a post-show conversation with five-time Tony Award-winning producer Barry Weissler.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the January installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new monthly series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical. Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the next 'Talkback Tuesdays' offering is set for Tuesday, January 6, 2009, featuring a post-show conversation with actress Melora Hardin.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the December 'Talkback Tuesdays,' a new monthly series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of 'Minsky's,' which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone').

The record-breaking smash hit musical 'CHICAGO' will undertake a National UK Tour, opening at the Bradford Alhambra on Monday 9 March 2009.

Ritchie Mastascusa was the Gypsy Robe recipient for Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Marquis Theatre on Opening Night, Sunday November 23rd. The colorful Gypsy Robe, embellished with mementos from Broadway musicals, is presented to the cast member who has the most Broadway chorus credits.

The original Broadway production of ANNIE won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and ANNIE continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the December 'Talkback Tuesdays,' a new monthly series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical.

Irving Berlin's White Christmas a new musical stage reinvention of the cherished classic film, arrived on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre for 65 performances only - guaranteeing New York a very 'white' Christmas! BroadwayWorld.com sent our cameras with a 'jingle' in their step join in on all the holiday fun of Opening Night!

BroadwayWorld gave the cast of High School Musical 2: On Stage a FLIP video camera and then set them loose backstage during the run of the show. Before they played the final performance they taped some exciting footage as they neared 'graduation', get ready to 'get your head in the game' one last time with the talented young cast!

Irvin Berlin's White Christmas, a new musical stage reinvention of the cherished classic film, arrived on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre for 65 performances only - guaranteeing New York a very 'white' Christmas! BroadwayWorld.com sent our cameras on their 'merry' way to join in on all the holiday fun of the opening night party!

This February, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, a new musical comes to Broadway. Starring Will Chase (Rent, Aida, The Full Monty) and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets (Amour, Merrily We Roll Along, 'Caroline in the City'), the show is directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance), THE STORY OF MY LIFE features a score by Neil Bartram and a book by Brian Hill. Performances begin Tuesday, February 3rd on Broadway at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Opening night is Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.

Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, a new musical stage reinvention of the cherished classic film, arrived on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre for 65 performances only - guaranteeing New York a very 'white' Christmas! BroadwayWorld.com sent our cameras on their 'merry' way to join in on all the holiday fun of Opening Night!

This February, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, a new musical comes to Broadway. Starring Will Chase (Rent, Aida, The Full Monty) and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets (Amour, Merrily We Roll Along,Caroline in the City), the show is directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance), THE STORY OF MY LIFE features a score by Neil Bartram and a book by Brian Hill. Performances begin Tuesday, February 3rd on Broadway at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Opening night is Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.

The Tuesday, November 18th CHICAGO talkback was moderated by Ms. d'Amboise's father, legendary choreographer and ballet dancer Jacques d'Amboise.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced today that the national tour of the smash hit musical Dreamgirls will premiere at the legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) in November 2009, for a limited engagement.