Leslie Odom, Jr. News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: REALLY ROSIE begins at Encores! Off-Center and more!

Today, August 2nd, Broadway alum Darren Criss (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, HOW TO SUCCEED) will perform on NBC's TODAY during the 9-10 am hour. Dean Cain, Will Poulter and Algee Smith are also set to appear on the show.

Jonathan Groff (HAMILTON, SPRING AWAKENING) will appear in an upcoming LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER special alongside two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster, as part of a group of four shows featuring some of Broadway's biggest stars.

Tony Award winning actor and singer Alan Cumming (Cabaret, CBS's The Good Wife), two-time Golden Globe nominated actress and singer Lea Michele (Scream Queens, Glee, Spring Awakening) and Emmy nominated songwriter, musician and actor Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) to headline the third annual Elsie Fest.

A worse-for-wear Dr. John walked slowly to the piano with the help of two canes. He was no quicker while leaving the stage at the end of the set. But for over an hour in between, he and his sextet kept up an infectious funky beat, and his voice and piano playing erased half a century of his 76 years. Listeners felt an irresistible urge to tap feet, sway rhythmically, and sometimes laugh at the lyrics of songs such as 'How Come My Dog Don't Bark (When You Come 'Round)?' sung in Dr. John's inimitable raspy growl. Contrary to the title of his biggest hit, it was 'Right Place Right Time.'

In honor of the return of Elsie Fest - NYC's first outdoor music festival celebrating stars and songs from the stage and screen - Emmy-nominated composer, musician and actor Darren Criss released his stripped-down rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from the multi-award winning Broadway musical and film, Les Miserables. Check it out below!

Shirley House is excited to announce the release of a new music video— Get Lit —out today. Get Lit was filmed at the famed The McKittrick Hotel, where the band is currently performing a weekly, Friday night residency in the hotel's main concert venue, The Heath.

Award-winning actor and vocalist Leslie Odom Jr. will perform with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra at Powell Hall Sunday, December 3 at 7pm. The dynamic performer and the orchestra will dazzle audience members with an extraordinary one-night-only performance.

The Minnesota Orchestra today announced that conductor Sarah Hicks will lead the Minnesota Orchestra's "Live at Orchestra Hall" concert series through the 2020-21 season, and that Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts will continue as director of the Orchestra's Composer Institute through the 2019-20 season.

Broadway stars, live musical presentations and a high school theater department-themed drama series are all on tap for the upcoming 2017-18 primetime television season. Check out the exciting programming slate below!

Leslie Odom Jr talks about singing with the San Diego Symphony, his current projects, and how he's seizing the opportunities that come form being in HAMILTON

I recall with reverence the illustrated cover of the original cast album of MY FAIR LADY by the acclaimed caricaturist, the late Al Hirschfeld (who has a Broadway theater named in his honor). It featured the author of 'Pygmalion' which MY FAIR LADY is based on, George Bernard Shaw, overlooking a cloud in heaven with puppet strings holding up the two lead characters in the show, Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, It's a true classic. So was the original cast which opened on Broadway in 1956 and starred Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison and later became a smash movie with Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in 1964. I recall having a reserved seat ticket for the film.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's big news: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, starring Michael Urie, re-opens tonight at New World Stages!

On last night's BOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, former HAMILTON star Leslie Odom Jr. joined The Boston Pops orchestra, under the direction of Keith Lockhart, to perform 'Wait For It,' from the hit Broadway musical.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as 'a vital American cultural ambassador to the world,' returns to Paris, Basel, several German cities, and Copenhagen to perform 15 ballets from July 4 - September 10.

As described in part one of the interview, Martha Gilmer works hard to expand San Diego Symphony audiences. That makes the summer program another priority. 'It's more ambitious than ever. We've really invested in it this year. And the results are spectacular. We already have advanced sales greater than those of past seasons.' Visiting artists include Leslie Odom Junior, Tony Bennett and Herb Alpert. There will also be a special program devoted to Broadway. Gilmer said Rob Fisher, 'Has created a program for San Diego, dedicated to the work of Bock and Harnik. Rob and I share a passion for little known musicals, but, of course, the second half will be Fiddler on the Roof.' Music director, conductor, and arranger Fisher's credits include Chicago, the recent revival of An American in Paris and many other successful productions.

With its guests soloists, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has sung everything from Broadway ballads to African-American spirituals, and from the Great American Songbook and opera to Swedish folk music.

See the full lineup of events for Deer Valley Music Festival below!

With the celebration of America's birthday just around the corner, BWW brings you a guide to this year's Fourth of July television specials, featuring performances by BANDSTAND's Laura Osnes, Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr, and the World Premiere of new music from award-winning composer Alan Menken!