Mario News

NBC's broadcasts of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (2013), PETER PAN (2014), and THE WIZ (2015) showed us that everyone and their GBF has a strong opinion about every aspect of these broadcasts. In light of this heated debate, we decided to get everyone's opinions out there by asking the BroadwayWorld readers to share which shows they think should be broadcast live next.

Time is running out to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

 Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb are kicking off the New Year's Eve celebration with “A Toast to 2015!” - the ultimate year-end look at the buzziest stories and events over the last twelve months. An all-star cast of celebrities – from Zooey Deschanel and Eva Longoria to Michael Bublé and Blake Shelton – recount the most talked about moments and mishaps that made for an unforgettable year. Produced by Dateline NBC, the two-hour primetime special airs Thursday, December 31 at 8pm/7c.

Carlo Rizzi is ready to enter an exciting period of work in the New Year. The conductor's 2015/16 season continues in January with a return to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for Matthew Ozawa's new production of Verdi's Nabucco. He heads to Milan the following month to begin rehearsals for Teatro alla Scala's eagerly awaited staging of Umberto Giordano's La cena delle beffe, an opera not seen at La Scala for eight decades. Rizzi's rich schedule also includes the world premiere of Iain Bell's In Parenthesis and the double-bill of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, staged to celebrate the 70th birthday of Welsh National Opera (WNO).

Join the Lyric Opera and the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center's free, pop-up performance of classic Neapolitan songs tomorrow, December 12 from 5 to 5:15 p.m. at Eataly (2nd floor), 43 E. Ohio, Chicago.

New York personalities, style icons and real estate 'superbrokers,' Tom Postillo & Mickey Conlon hosted 'The Sinatra 100 Holiday Spectacular.'

Voting is fully underway for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 11. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

For celebrity chef, author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich there is no place like home ? especially at Christmas, her favorite time of year.

For celebrity chef, author and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich there is no place like home -- especially at Christmas, her favorite time of year.

BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo Philharmonic's newest discs highlight two of the orchestra's most important endeavors: its outreach to children, and its commitment to advancing young classical guitarists.

Four critically-acclaimed plays and musicals - "The Cripple of Inishmaan" by Martin McDonagh, "The Last Five Years" by Jason Robert Brown, "Little Shop of Horrors" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and "Dead Man's Cell Phone" by Sarah Ruhl - make up Sierra Stages' eighth season of presenting quality local theatre in western Nevada County.

New York personalities, style icons and real estate 'superbrokers' Tom Postilio & Mickey Conlon just hosted their annual holiday spectacular at the Edison Ball Room, honoring Frank Sinatra for his 100th birthday. The evening also featured special performances with a 16-piece Sinatra 100 Orchestra and a Sinatra memorabilia gallery. 

Happy Birthday, Mario Cantone! He made his Broadway debut in 1995 as replacement for the role of Buzz in the Tony Award-winning play, Love! Valour! Compassion!. Later that year, he returned to Broadway again in the revival of The Tempest. In 2004, Cantone starred in the Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins as Samuel Byck. His latest Broadway credit was in his second one-man show, Laugh Whore, which he also wrote. Laugh Whore ran from October 24, 2004, to January 2, 2005, at the Cort Theatre and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Special Theatrical Event.

Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 2015-2016 Season with the world premiere of A ROOM OF MY OWN, written and directed by Charles Messina. The production features Mario Cantone (Sex and the City, Laugh Whore, Steve) and Ralph Macchio (Dancing with the Stars, The Karate Kid, My Cousin Vinny). A limited Off-Broadway engagement is set to begin previews February 13 in the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Opening night is set for Thursday, February 25, with performances through March 13.

A special concert for Voice for Veterans, which seeks to give aid and housing to homeless veterans, took place at The Peabody Opera House on Sunday night (December 6, 2015), and it was a simply joyous experience. Sometimes benefit shows can be a rather somber affair, but that was not the case at all with the pairing of international singing star Mario Frangoulis and the legendary Smokey Robinson. In fact, it was a very enjoyable evening that showcased the talents of both artists who each made the point that homelessness and veteran are two words that should never be associated. These are, after all, men and women who serve our country with the knowledge that they may never make it back, or if they do, may find themselves disabled, or without a place they can call home. If you attended, then you know this was a great cause that featured superb talent giving their all to bring this issue to the forefront, while delivering entertaining and moving sets.

The Actors Fund's Looking Ahead Program celebrated the 2015 Looking Ahead Awards with a star-studded gala on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood, CA. Below, check out photos from the star-studded event, featuring Tatyana Ali, Alfonso Ribeiro, Rose Marie, and more!

A+E Networks has announced additional casting for 'Roots,' from A+E Studios, including Grammy Award(R) winning recording artist/actor/philanthropist/entrepreneur Tip 'T.I.' Harris (

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

I had the opportunity to chat with international singing star Mario Frangoulis the other day, and it was a simply delightful experience. He'll be performing in St. Louis at the Peabody Opera House on December 6, 2015 along with the legendary Smokey Robinson in a concert that will benefit the Voices For Veterans Organization. This is a group that seeks to end homelessness, especially for those forgotten and neglected soldiers who have bravely served our country. It's a great cause, and it should be a fabulous event. Mario spoke with me about his career, and in particular, his latest release, a holiday album titled TALES OF CHRISTMAS.