Lillias White News

Today in 1987, the FIRST Broadway revival of Dreamgirls opened at the Ambassador Theatre, where it ran for 177 performances. Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. The musical opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre, and was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006. The 1987 cast featured Lillias White as 'Effie.'

A good reason for a family vacation

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his uniquely designed mainstages musicals showcasing a fiercely idiosyncratic style and flair all his own, the one and only William Finn. Outlining the new version of A NEW BRAIN set to be presented later this month at City Center as part of the Encores! Off-Center series, Finn discusses his original intentions behind many moments in the show as well as shares his inspiration for many musical moments in the melodic and moving score, as well. Additionally, Finn shares fresh news of his long in developtment musical adaptation of George S. Kaufman & Edna Ferber's THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BROADWAY and provides preliminary details on the forthcoming revival of his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical FALSETTOS set to premiere later this season, as well. Plus, Finn imparts his enthusiasm for the upcoming 10th anniversary cast reunion of his popular musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, touches upon his favorite songs to date and expresses his desire to revisit Depression-era musical ROMANCE IN HARD TIMES in the future, as well as reveals his personal favorite songs to date and much, much more.

Sara Chase loves Broadway! Join her for a loving and slightly inappropriate tribute to the Great White Way. While her friends were doing normal things, Sara was stalking Lillias White, hocking a couch for Barbra Streisand tickets, and rubbing elbows with future Broadway stars when they still went by their birth names.  Tony Award nominee, Nick Cordero will be joining Sara for some Broadway debauchery on June 19!

Three Tony-winners converged to honor Cy Coleman at 54 Below last night and Broadwayworld was there.

Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman's musical The Life explores the human flotsam and jetsam of Times Square in the 1980s--prostitutes, pimps, dealers, runaways, the seedy, lost and desperate. And, of course, this being a musical, some have hearts of gold. The Life began Off-Broadway in 1990 at the Westbeth Theater and moved to Broadway in 1997, garnering three Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards for Lillias White and Chuck Cooper. On Sunday evening (5/17), 54 Below presented a concert version of The Life as part of its 54 Below Sings series. The cast sunk its teeth into this score with gusto offering 15 songs that reminded us of the show's pith and sass. Intermittent narrative sketched the storyline. Few of those onstage were acting, but everyone sang up a storm.

What's up BroadwayWorld?! Welcome back to my weekly blog here at the Goodspeed Opera House! Last week I gave you a bit of an inside look at the rehearsal/production process of our show. This week, I thought it might be fun to get to know a bit more about the Composer / Lyricist of this masterpiece: Frank Loesser.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Three of Cy Coleman's Broadway leading ladies invite you to a celebratory shindig buoyed by talent, palpably warmed by affection. Sometimes orchestrated as a harmonizing girl group and at others in distinctively different solo turns, Lillias White, Cady Huffman, and Randy Graff offer a banquet of Coleman's oeuvre in the 54 Below revue, My Guy Cy, which opened Friday night (and played again the following night). Arrangements by various musicians are texturally piquant, showcasing uncommon skill when interweaving songs. Direction (from vocalist Will Nunziata, who has a second flowering career) is fluid, deft, and winning.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning Broadway leading lady noted for her affinity and affection for the music of legendary songwriter Cy Coleman, the utterly divine Lillias White. Discussing her long-standing relationship and memorable musical collaborations with Coleman himself and recounting tales from their time shared together on the original Broadway production of THE LIFE, for which White took home a Best Featured Actress In A Musical Tony Award back in 1997, White also opens up about her participation in a lesser-known Coleman property titled LIKE JAZZ and acting as a replacement performer in the original Broadway production of Coleman's circus-themed hit BARNUM. Additionally, White sheds some light on the unique 54 Below show celebrating Coleman's career kicking off this weekend at the NYC cabaret hotspot co-starring two other recognizable Tony Award winners, Randy Graff and Cady Huffman, titled OUR GUY CY: THE MUSIC OF CY COLEMAN. All of that and much more with one of Broadway's biggest divas!

Three Tony-winners converge to honor Cy Coleman!

Fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo with stylist Matt Carmouche will collaborate with director Will Nunziata on 'Our Guy, Cy: The Songs of Cy Coleman.'

In honor of this week's big casting coup coming in the form of original Dorothy Stephanie Mills joining the cast of NBC's live musical presentation of THE WIZ later this year, titled THE WIZ LIVE!, today we are posing some possible casting suggestions that line up with the thoughtful and affectionate choice of Mills as Auntie Em by taking a look at some of the other original leads and stars associated with the property who could be perfect fits for the live telecast as well as some familiar faces who would be ideally cast in the Oz-centric musical spectacular. Tony Award-winning Broadway divas to Hollywood superstars and beyond, this list has more potential than munchkins in Oz!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

The Off-Broadway League just announced winners in 18 categories for the 30th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. BroadwayWorld a there for the big night, and below, you can check out more photos from the red carpet arrivals! Click here to check out Part One. 

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, May 10, 2015 - Sunday, May 10, 2015.

The Off-Broadway League recently announced nominations in 18 categories for the 30th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards are being handed out tonight, Sunday, May 10, 2015 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST, and BroadwayWorld will be updating the winners as they are announced!

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 18 categories for the 30th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out tonight, Sunday, May 10, 2015 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST. Check out the full list of nominees below!

Musical director and performer Brian Nash (Silence! The Musical, the upcoming Beaches) celebrates the release of his debut solo album, 'Forever/After' with an album release concert tonight, May 8th at 9:30pm at 54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Cast of Side Show: Added Attractions; The Theory of Relativity: A New Musical in concert by Neil Bartram & Brian Hill; 54 Celebrates Julie Wilson; Songs of Cy Coleman, Starring Randy Graff, Cady Huffman, & Lillias White; and Ciara Renee at 54 Below.