Ilana Levine sat down with Be More Chill composer Joe Iconis, producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper and co-stars Lauren Marcus and George Salazar this past Sunday afternoon at Subculture to discuss this summer's hotly anticipated off-Broadway musical. Little known facts were revealed about the upcoming off-Broadway production and the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts. After the talk, there was live performance of songs from the musical as well as a Q&A session. The afternoon was co-produced by Ilana Levine and John Zeitoun.
Ilana Levine will sit down with Be More Chill composer Joe Iconis, co-producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper and co-stars Lauren Marcus and George Salazar this Sunday afternoon at Subculture to discuss this summer's hotly anticipated off-Broadway musical. This Sunday at 3pm, little known facts will be revealed about the upcoming off-Broadway production and the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts. After the talk, fans can expect a live performance of songs from the musical as well as a Q&A session. The afternoon is co-produced by Ilana Levine and John Zeitoun.
Actresses, Liz Mikel (Lysistrata Jones) and Kiersey Clemons (Hearts Beat Loud, Transparent) stop by my studio to talk about their upcoming run in the New York Premiere of Eve Ensler's FRUIT TRILOGY, being presented by Abingdon Theatre Company as their final production of its 25th Anniversary season.
These women talk to me about getting involved with the project, the obvious conversation about women of color in these roles. and so much more. Please enjoy my chat with these FABULOUS women.
London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a ground-breaking musical to a mighty modern classic, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld reviews, interviews and features!
For the past 3 years, I have been able to cover the New Dramatists Luncheon, and each time, I am amazed at the people that I get to meet when doing a red carpet. It's nice to see some new faces and a dream to see the familiar ones. This year's honoree is 2x Academy Award winning/ Tony Award winning and current nominee for his performance in Eugene O'Neill's THE ICEMAN COMETH, Denzel Washington.
Modern Family Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson will sit down with Little Known Facts Podcast Creator Ilana Levine this Sunday at 6:30 pm at the W Times Square Hotel for an intimate conversation about life, love and art. Throughout the afternoon little known facts will be revealed as Jesse and Ilana discuss the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts.
On Monday, May 7th The League of Professional Theatre Women (Kelli Lynn Harrison & Lisa Rothe, Co-Presidents), an organization which has been leading the gender parity conversation and championing women in the professional theatre for over 35 years, presented the final Oral History event of their 2017-18 season with two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (111 Amsterdam Avenue at 65th Street). Ms. Rivera talked about her life and illustrious career with Broadway World's lead correspondent, Richard Ridge, host of Backstage with Richard Ridge.
For many of us of a certain age, SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, was the cornerstone to everything we kids learned about Civics, Mathematics, Parts of Speech, and so much more. It was one of those moments that made our Saturday Mornings literally sing. After learning about nouns, various multiplication tables, and of course, how a bill turns into law, I felt like I had tapped into a new world of learning.
Last month, I had the opportunity to talk to playwright, Phillip Dawkins, about his latest play, THE GENTLEMAN CALLER. We chatted about the men who are about to start previews in the New York premiere of the play, Juan Francisco Villa and Daniel K. Isaac. I was very specific that I wanted to chat with them. Sometimes, you get exactly what you ask. Both Juan and Daniel braved spending time with me, and we had a fantastic chat about the show, their careers, and being non-traditionally cast in the roles of Tennessee Williams and William Inge, respectively.
Darius De Haas, described by The New York Times as "electrically thrilling," by Variety as "a performer who can reveal the sorrows, pains and joys of the composer's richly layered repertoire with an intensity and honesty that easily envelops and mesmerizes the listener," and by the Jazz Times as "blessed with a gorgeous voice and a keen theatrical sophistication," brings his brand new concert and vocal magic to Feinstein's/54 Below, April 26th and 27th.
I am so fortunate that I live, work, and cover theater in a town like New York. It never fails to surprise me at how much talent is brimming over in New York. When I meet young actresses like Stephanie Courtney aka Sayonne, I am very excited to talk to them, because they are really embarking on a wonderful journey, especially when they are as grounded as this young diva to be. Many times, I feel like the proud and fun fairy godfather to so many of these performers.
Any actor worth their salt will tell you that every great play begins with the words on the page. Because of the worlds that playwrights (and Librettists) create, many people, even more than actors, have jobs inside and outside of the theater. So any chance to talk to a young playwright as delightful and talented as Chicago-based playwright, Philip Dawkins, I will take. His current opus, The Gentleman Caller is currently in rehearsals to make its New York debut at Cherry Lane Theater, as it coincides with its simultaneous World Premiere production, still running at Chicago's The Raven Theater, through May 27, 2018.
Tony Award winner and Broadway favorite Laura Benanti will sit down with Little Known Facts Podcast Creator Ilana Levine this Sunday at 4pm at W New York - Times Square for an intimate conversation about life, love and art. Throughout the afternoon little known facts will be revealed as Laura and Ilana discuss the real side of what it is to pursue a career in the arts.
Helen Olaketi Mariah Shute-Pettaway, a 2011 First Night Honoree and one of Nashville's most revered actresses, will take on the iconic role of Regina Giddens in the ACT 1 production of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. Directed by 2014 First Night Honoree Jeffrey Ellis, senior contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com, The Little Foxes runs at Darkhorse Theatre May 4-19.
FABULOUS NEWS, The Actors Fund will present a one-night benefit concert of When Pigs Fly, featuring the cast from the recently canceled production. I went to the major press event for the show and managed to secure some fab interview moments with the entire cast and some of the creatives.
The League of Professional Theatre Women (Kelli Lynn Harrison & Lisa Rothe, Co-Presidents), an organization which has been leading the gender parity conversation and championing women in the professional theatre for over 35 years, will present the final Oral History event of their 2017-18 season with two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera.
According to Comingsoon.net, the forthcoming documentary following the life of Whitney Houston will be released this summer on July 6. The doc, titled WHITNEY, is directed by Kevin Macdonald, who is known for winning the Academy Award for ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER. The documentary is coming from Roadside Attractions and Miramax. Read more about it from Comingsoon.net here!
I get so many great opportunities to chat with the legends, and under normal circumstances, I try to hold it together. Holding my Broadway fan boy energy at a safe distance, while maintaining a professional and coherent conversation with probing questions is something that I try to balance with every interview that I do. However, when you are in the room with 2x Tony Award Winning actress, singer, dancer, Chita Rivera, AND 2x Tony and Emmy Award Winning, dancer, actress, singer, Bebe Neuwirth, the balancing act is soooooooooo hard.
As we approach the middle of the season, and the new musicals and plays start previews in preparation for Tony Award considerations, Broadway Enthusiast and fellow Theater Ambassador, William Cortez-Statham, joins me to talk about the music that is available so far this season: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE BAND'S VISIT, and ONCE ON THE ISLAND.
The epic story returns. Tony Kushner's two-part play, ANGELS IN AMERICA makes its way back to Broadway tonight! A cast led by Tony nominee Andrew Garfield and two-time Tony winner Nathan Lane will begin previews tonight at the Neil Simon Theatre with Part 1: Millennium Approaches. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!
