Matt Morris News

Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!

Papatango have teamed up with one of London's leading new writing venues, the Finborough Theatre to present the winning entries in the 2011 Papatango Playwriting Competition 2011, featuring this year's winning play Foxfinder by Dawn King which will play for a four week limited season from 29 November (Press Night: Thursday, 1 December 2011 at 8.30pm) and three runners up who will each receive a one week run - Through The Night by Matt Morrison (Press Night: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 at 6.30pm), Rigor Mortis by Carol Vine (Press Night: Wednesday, 14 December 2011 at 6.30pm) and Crush by Rob Young (Press Night: Tuesday, 20 December 2011 at 6.30pm).

Last night's GLEE, titled "Asian F" (referring to an A-), was an A+ in almost every respect, managing to pack all the musical power, dramatic pathos, fabulous diva-tude and off-the-wall comedy that made GLEE the international sensation that it is and also push a few buttons over the course of an hour - and make a new star or two of its impossibly talented cast in the process, with that individual walking away - or, should I say, strutting away - with the night undoubtedly being Harry Shum, Jr., thanks in no small part to his premiere solo song sung on the show so far in his two seasons on the show. Indeed, Shum's "Cool" from WEST SIDE STORY was imbued with more choreographic tics and embellishments than even Jerome Robbins could have dreamed up in a week's time to get on film this swiftly and speedily. Besides the ultra-hip-swingin' awesomeness of Shum, last night's GLEE also set in motion a number of plots that will surely be a central focus of this fresh-faced and bold newly focused season - Santana/Brittany's relationship, the new Glee club member arriving next week and Idina Menzel's continuously ingratiating and increasingly impressive arc as Shelby, Rachel (Lea Michele)'s estranged mother, foremost among them. What will next week hold for New Directions? Plus, how did the famous recitative sequence from DREAMGIRLS - "It's All Over" - work outside of the classic r&b musical's context? Did Mercedes (Amber Riley) deliver in true Oscar-winning Effie fashion by taking on Jennifer Hudson's hit single "Spotlight" and making it her own? What about Heather Morris and Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)"? And, most importantly, which semi-secondary lead stole the whole show? To see the answers to these pressing "Asian F" queries and some explanations of many of the reasons why GLEE continues its sterling winning streak with the third episode of the resoundingly successful Season Three, read on! Merely calling it "cool" doesn't even begin to cover it!

When a performance montage this fantastic comes along you are caught up in the spirit and lost in the moment in a magical way that only truly transcendent performances can conjure - and, on Monday night, on the stage of the unassuming fireworks spectacular from Washington, D.C., A CAPITOL FOURTH, on PBS, hosted by Jimmy Smits, such a momentous musical theatre moment occurred. While it is no surprise that Broadway star Kelli O'Hara was note-perfect, gorgeous and spirited, the fact that she brought such an air of star presence to the proceedings and performed with such precision made the medley burst, much like a firework, into something truly, well, spectacular. The addition of GLEE star and Broadway baby Matt Morrison on a pristine "Tonight" from WEST SIDE STORY brought the entire enterprise to new emotional and musical heights. What a rare and celebratory treat it is to have a look at these patriotic and, alternately, pathos-infused performances going into the weekend, post-Fourth - plus, "America" from Josh Groban and a MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET medley!

In what was described as an opportunity "too big to miss," Matthew Morrison announced today that he will join the summer's hottest tour as a special guest.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

Coming quick on the heels of last month's extensive acting-based discussion in BroadwayWorld's SPOTLIGHT ON THE NY POPS series, today we are again highlighting one of the brightest stars on Broadway and talking about all aspects of her stupendous and multi-faceted new album, ALWAYS - online and in stores next week - and, also, all about her solo concert at The Town Hall this Friday night, what surprises may be in store, and, additionally, what we can possibly expect from her onstage in the near future. BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY? FINDING NEVERLAND? What about Encores!? GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES? MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG? All are possibilities - just not Bartlett Sher's FUNNY GIRL! One thing is for sure: whatever Kelli O'Hara is doing, Broadway babies will be watching intently! In addition to tomorrow's gig at The Town Hall, Ms. O'Hara will also be a part of a benefit at Le Poisson Rouge on June 7 and featured on the A CAPITOL FOURTH PBS special alongside GLEE star Matt Morrison on July 4.

Today marks the last episode review of the second season of Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE and I'm sure that many will agree with me that last night's show was as good a Season Two send-off as could have possibly been expected from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan and company given what has gone on this year so far. Besides the sights and sounds of the dramatic NYC wrap-up, the Broadway babies amongst the gleeks were treated to the extended returns of fan favorite Jonathan Groff and new cast member Cheyenne Jackson, in addition to a characteristically fabulous cameo by Broadway legend Patti LuPone - and the grand return of international singing sensation - as well as a participant in this column; in addition to Mr. Groff, yesterday (and, coming up: Mr. Jackson) - the big-voiced-diva known as Charice. While original songs dominated the episode, we were also treated to a mash-up of Madonna's 'I Love New York' and the Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green ON THE TOWN anthem 'New York, New York' (and a sample of the Kander & Ebb version elsewhere in the episode, 'for good' measure), in addition to one of the musical highlights of not only this episode, but all of Season Two - a song which was incidentally premiered in this very column on BroadwayWorld last week: Lea Michele and Chris Colfer putting their own spin on the WICKED curtain song 'For Good' on the very stage of the Gershwin Theater where the Broadway smash plays eight times a week - and has since 2004 - right where fellow GLEE guest stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel first sang it. While the musical quotient on GLEE is always appreciably entertaining - with few exceptions - this season has been significantly more expansive and varied in its storytelling style, so the question of the season undoubtedly is: was it all wrapped up satisfactorily? Well, we'll just have to stack it all up side-by-side-by-side-by-side and see, now, won't we? But, one thing is crystal clear: GLEE in NYC was all it was cracked up - and built up - to be. The big pay-off. Finally. Or, make that more to the point: finale.

Today, we are talking to GLEE fan favorite - as Jesse St. James - and theatre superstar - from SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway to DEATHTRAP in the West End - the charismatic and magnetic Jonathan Groff. In this world exclusive interview, Jonathan and I discuss all things GLEE and all about working on the second season of the hit show - and, most importantly, everything about the season finale - with GLEE stars Lea Michele, Cheyenne Jackson, and Charice, in addition to working with Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and GLEE creator/show-runner Ryan Murphy. Additionally, in this complete conversation, we take a look back at Groff's many stage roles ranging from HAIR and THE BACCHAE in Central Park for the Public Theater, to SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, DEATHTRAP in the West End, as well as his debut in IN MY LIFE - a show whose composer/lyricist/writer, Joe Brooks, was just in the news following his apparent suicide this weekend. Jonathan and I also touch on his blazing feature film debut in Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK co-starring Liev Schreiber, as well as his work on the pilot for Ryan Murphy's PRETTY/HANDSOME, co-starring Joseph Fiennes and Blythe Danner, and his participation in the new independent film TWELVE THIRTY. We also take a look ahead to the future and deduce what is next for one of the brightest talents on Broadway - all of that and much, much more!

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

Following this weekend's WORLD PREMIERE EXCLUSIVE FIRST LISTEN of 'For Good' from WICKED as featured on the GLEE season finale, today BroadwayWorld is bringing the gleeks one last special surprise, just in time for the Season Two finale! Today, we are talking to GLEE fan favorite - as Jessie St. James - and theatre superstar - from SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway to DEATHTRAP in the West End - the charismatic and magnetic Jonathan Groff. In this world exclusive interview, Jonathan and I discuss all things GLEE and all about working on the second season of the show - and, most importantly, everything about the season finale - with GLEE stars Lea Michele, Cheyenne Jackson, and Charice, in addition to working with Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and GLEE creator/show-runner Ryan Murphy - and, of course, recording and performing Adele‘s 'Rolling In The Deep' with Lea Michele, the surefire musical highlight of Season Two. Additionally, in the forthcoming complete chat, we take a look back at Groff's many stage roles ranging from HAIR and THE BACCHAE in Central Park for the Public Theater, to SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, DEATHTRAP in the West End, as well as his debut in IN MY LIFE - a show whose composer/lyricist/writer, Joe Brooks, was just in the news following his apparent suicide this weekend. Jonathan and I also touch on his blazing feature film debut in Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK co-starring Liev Schreiber, as well as his work on the pilot for Ryan Murphy's PRETTY/HANDSOME, co-starring Joseph Fiennes and Blythe Danner, and his participation in the new independent film TWELVE THIRTY. Plus, we take a look ahead to the future and deduce what is next for one of the brightest talents on Broadway! All of that and much, much more - yet, one question remains: Is it 8 PM yet?!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

In what was described as an opportunity "too big to miss," Matthew Morrison announced today that he will join the summer's hottest tour as a special guest.

Legends in their own time, ascending to the top ranks of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriting landscape, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have accomplished and climbed to heights most of what many film fans, Broadway babies and general entertainment junkies only dream of witnessing and ascending to. Marc Shaiman's work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT prompted Stephen Sondheim - as he told me himself - to cite it as one of the best musicals of the era. And, it is - as is their Tony-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY, based on the film by Pope of Trash John Waters. Featuring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and an all-around-amazing cast of triple-threats, the stunning Craig Zadan/Neil Meron-produced film version of HAIRSPRAY may be the greatest cinematic Shaiman and/or Wittman accomplishment so far. Then, there is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - one of the snappiest new scores on Broadway in a strangely strong season of original scores - boasting boss Sinatra blues and sizzling Shirelles riffs and everything else that's swingin' in between. Up next for the team - onstage and off - is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, in addition to what is perhaps the most exciting prospect on their impossibly cluttered horizon: the new Steven Speilberg/Craig Zadan/Neil Meron musical/comedy/drama series SMASH which has just been picked up for the Fall season on NBC! In this exclusive, extensive and exhaustive conversation we cover it all from HAIRSPRAY to CATCH ME to CHARLIE to all about SMASH and far, far beyond!

Boasting the big, bright and blazing return of Broadway baby Jonathan Groff as show-favorite featured guest star Jesse St. James and the very finest vocal song performance of Season Two so far, last night's 'Prom Queen' episode of GLEE was everything but CARRIE's bucket of pig's blood on top. Speaking of pigs, Karofsky certainly got his comeuppance - quite heartfelt in its denouement - at long, long last, on the dramatic side of the story, and the audience got to musically pig-out and irreverently indulge in the frothy pop confections of Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus & Stig Andersen - otherwise known as ABBA - with the rousing gleeked-out, tweaked-out rendering of the newly-crowned MAMMA MIA super-anthem 'Dancing Queen', as well as partake in the pop culture right-this-moment fun of the funky Black Kids' song 'I‘m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend To Dance With You' courtesy of fan favorite Darren Criss at his hipster height, and the YouTube sensation Rebecca Black‘s 'Friday', performed by the boys of New Directions riotously right. Kings, queens, hearts, diamond tiaras and even a few jokers were in the deck as the hand was played out in this brisk, brash and glossy entry in the spectacularly strong - if dramatically inert more often than not - second half of Season Two. So, today, we dust off our best blue tuxes and pop the cheapest pink champagne for a guilty pleasure edition of the weekly SOUND OFF reviews of GLEE that will be wrapping up - so very sorry to say - all too soon at the end of this month with the highly-awaited season finale on May 24 and our year-end rap up soon thereafter. But, with this column as well as with GLEE, certainly the very best is yet to come - and, even if not, this is good enough.

Last night GLEE took on the catalogue of Fleetwood Mac - namely, their 1977 Grammy-winning Album of the Year, RUMOURS - and proved that you can do justice to the originals - as inimitable as they may be - but still go your own way with them. And, have your own way. Also, Broadway baby Kristin Chenoweth made her long-awaited return as boozy April Rhodes just in time to duet with Matt Morrison on the Stevie Nicks-penned classic 'Dreams' and a few of the secondary leads - namely Santana, Artie and Quinn - got a chance to shine with these silvery takes on the solid gold classic rock tracks. While some of the tribute shows have been hit-or-miss in the past, Fleetwood Mac and the self-avowed queen gleek herself, Stevie Nicks - who was on set for Gwyneth Paltrow's taping of 'Landslide' earlier this year, cheering the cast on - surely won't be digging an early grave with her silver spoon after hearing and seeing these sensitive and respectful takes on her tunes - and Lindsey Buckingham‘s and Christine McVie‘s, as well. But, I guess if anyone in the group has an issue with any of these covers, they can always cast a spell using some white witches and black magic. Speaking of which - or witch - too bad they didn't do 'Gold Dust Woman' or 'Silver Springs'! And, no cover of 'The Chain'? But, I suppose they're saving them for 'Rumours: Part 2' or, perhaps, an all-Stevie Nicks episode - particularly if it happened to feature songs from her splendid new album, IN YOUR DREAMS, which is out this week (her first new album this decade). So, break out your feathers, rings, and shawls, we've got all the gypsy magic you can handle inside thanks to the ever-revolving door of the ever-evolving cast of GLEE paying due respect to the similarly designed/aligned folk/rock super-group of the 70s making their momentous musical marriage somehow oh-so-apropos to the times, no?

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its third show of their season, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND: The Music of The Beatles, which will include James Snyder (Broadway: Cry-Baby, Pasadena Playhouse: Dangerous Beauty), Tom Lowe (London: Les Miserables, Cats) and Elizabeth Brackenbury (Vanities, Rock Of Ages), performing the music of The Beatles, and their own selections, under the musical direction of Todd Schroeder, in a one night only concert - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND which will perform on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

Singer/songwriter Drew Brody offers a first audience with his songs before they hit the stage of the Goodspeed this Spring in the world premiere of Cutman: A Boxing Musical.

DREW BRODY: SONGS I DREW plays Thursday, April 14 at 9:30 PM; $20

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its third show of their season, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND: The Music of The Beatles, which will include James Snyder (Broadway: Cry-Baby, Pasadena Playhouse: Dangerous Beauty), Tom Lowe (London: Les Miserables, Cats) and Elizabeth Brackenbury (Vanities, Rock Of Ages), performing the music of The Beatles, and their own selections, under the musical direction of Todd Schroeder, in a one night only concert - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND which will perform on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.