Lori Tan Chinn News

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented Grammy-nominated recording artist, television and Broadway star Ilene Graff, along with her husband, ASCAP-Award winning musical director Ben Lanzarone, with their big band show 'It's Better With A Band' on the Birdland stage Monday, June 13.  The show featured Ben's one-of-a-kind arrangements of songs from Broadway, the movies, and the pop world played by twelve of the best musicians in town. Their very special guest was their daughter, Broadway performer and podcast host ('The Ensemblist'), Nikka Graff Lanzarone.

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, Owner) have announced the winners of the 61st Annual Obie Awards. Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj, produced by the Atlantic Theater Company, received the Obie Award® for Best New American Play, which is accompanied by a $1,000 prize. Legendary actor/dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade and renowned playwright A.R. Gurney each received a special Obie Award® for Lifetime Achievement. Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria returned as host of this year's ceremony, which was held at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street).

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, Owner) have announced the winners of the 61st Annual Obie Awards. Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj, produced by the Atlantic Theater Company, received the Obie Award® for Best New American Play, which is accompanied by a $1,000 prize. Legendary actor/dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade and renowned playwright A.R. Gurney each received a special Obie Award® for Lifetime Achievement. Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria returned as host of this year's ceremony, which was held at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street).

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, Owner) are thrilled to announce the winners of the 61st Annual Obie Awards. Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj, produced by the Atlantic Theater Company, received the Obie Award® for Best New American Play, which is accompanied by a $1,000 prize. Legendary actor/dancer/choreographer Carmen de Lavallade and renowned playwright A.R. Gurney each received a special Obie Award® for Lifetime Achievement. Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria returned as host of this year's ceremony, which was held at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street). A complete list of the awards is given below.

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance officially opened in Chicago on December 28, and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. CLICK HERE to watch Nancy Ticotin and Alexander Aguilar performa  song from the show- 'Como No.'

We're starting 2016 off with a bang!  This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Chicago, Los Angeles, Rhode Island, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include the Broadway-bound GOTTA DANCE! in Chicago, top 2015 picks in L.A., and the new National Tour of ANNIE in Rhode Island, just to name a few.

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE officially opened earlier this week on December 28 and will play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Nora Dunn (Saturday Night Live) and Peach Carr (Project Runway) attended last night's (Dec 29th) performance, and you can check out a photo of them below!

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance officially opened in Chicago on December 28, and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside opening night below!

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance is now officially open and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you more shots of the cast in action!  Want to see more?  Check out the original production photos here.

Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell scores again with a light-hearted, uplifting GOTTA DANCE.

Let's check out what the critics had to say...

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE officially opens tonight, December 28, and will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016.

The Chicago Bulls Lovables and The Swinging Seniors- the Bulls' senior dance team- and Emmy winner Jane Lynch attended the musical on Saturday night, and BroadwayWorld has photos of the cast with all of them below!

Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, recently extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action!

Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, recently extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action!

Producers Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke have announced that Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, has extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016.

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE, the new Broadway-bound musical about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, begins performances today, December 13, 2015 at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago). GOTTA DANCE runs through January 10, 2016.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Gotta Dance! which announced previously that it was aiming for Broadway in 2016 and targeting the Spring, has now shifted plans to the Fall of 2016, due to theatre availability. 

The Theatre School at DePaul University will honor Andre De Shields with the 2015 Award for Excellence in the Arts tonight, November 9 at the Atlantic Ballroom of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel (221 North Columbus Drive), Chicago, IL. In honor of the occasion, De Shields sat down with Dean Richards to chat about his upcoming show GOTTA DANCE, his storied Broadway career and more. Watch the interview below!

GOTTA DANCE, the new Broadway-bound musical about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, makes its pre-Broadway premiere this winter at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago). GOTTA DANCE begins performances on December 13, 2015 and runs through January 10, 2016. Check out a brand new commercial for the show below!