Megan Hilty News

The 33rd annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH on PBS featured over thirty cast members from Broadways' new smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, including Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Saycon Sengbloh and 2013 Tony Award nominee Valisia LeKae. Check out the performance below!

GLEE's Darren Criss performed the crowd-pleasing, "Shout' on last night's Fourth of July celebration A CAPITOL FOURTH on PBS. Check out the rousing performance below!

SMASH and Broadway star Megan Hilty performed a Patriotic Medley and a moving version of George Gershwin's 'Someone to Watch Over Me,' on last night's PBS special A CAPITOL FOURTH. Check out the performances below!

Last night I had the privilege of taking a look back on an incredibly impressive recent string of major musicals starring the phenomenally talented Brandon Victor Dixon with the leading man himself, ranging from his work last year Off-Broadway in RENT as well as the Williamstown Theatre Festival mounting of FAR FROM HEAVEN, both directed by Michael Greif, through to his acclaimed performance in Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS through to his new role portraying music titan Berry Gordy himself in the audience hit of the 2012-2013 season, MOTOWN. In addition to eloquently expounding on his various starring roles in those four major musicals and reflecting upon his time spent in each production, Dixon also opens up about his passion for performance in general and the importance of collaboration in the creation of any musical from the ground-up. Dixon also comments upon his experiences originating a role in Oprah Winfrey's recent stage venture THE COLOR PURPLE as well as recounts his association with COTTON CLUB PARADE - set to premiere on Broadway under a new title later this year - as well as the various incarnations of his stage piece based on the life and career of Ray Charles. Most importantly, besides all about MOTOWN and his work with Gordy and the cast on the hit show, Dixon also previews what we can expect from the cast of the show on tonight's A CAPITOL FOURTH PBS concert extravaganza, featuring Dixon alongside MOTOWN standout Saycon Sengbloh. All of that, first news on Dixon's upcoming self-penned solo album project, memories of working on THE GOOD WIFE, thoughts on GLEE and the modern performing arts revolution and much, much more!

Audra McDonald, the five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice, makes her Provincetown debut with four shows only on July 21 and 22 at 5pm and 7pm. Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky, whom theNew York Times just dubbed "The Mayor of Broadway," hosts again at the piano.

America's favorite host, two-time Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron (DANCING WITH THE STARS) will return tothe West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to host A CAPITOL FOURTH, starring music legend Barry Manilow, who is back by popular demand following his powerful debut performance on the show in 2009.

They stand out in a crowd. They have more fun. They always steal the spotlight. Blondes are a special breedand they deserve special treatment. That's why the John Frieda Sheer Blonde team designated June as Blonde Appreciation Montha time to celebrate what sets blondes apart and equip them with the expert care they need to preserve their signature shade.

Bay Area Cabaret, devoted to presenting audiences with top performers who expand the definition of cabaret, enters its 10th season this fall with a gala series at the Fairmont San Francisco's historic Venetian Room. To celebrate this significant milestone, Bay Area Cabaret presents a star-studded lineup of performers making their Bay Area Cabaret debuts, as well as the return of a few favorites from the past decade. Opening the season Saturday, September 21, 2013 with a bang is Broadway's Megan Hilty, known to millions as the powerhouse 'Bombshell' on NBC's television program Smash. The season continues October 20, 2013 with Tony nominee Norm Lewis (The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess) and November 10, 2013 with 'America's romantic piano sensation,' multi-platinum selling recording artist Jim Brickman, joined by special guest Broadway heartthrob David Burnham.

The 33rd annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH on PBS will feature over thirty cast members from Broadways' new smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, including Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Saycon Sengbloh and 2013 Tony Award nominee Valisia LeKae. The company's medley of legendary Motown hits from the Broadway musical will include "Stop in the Name of Love," "Get Ready" and "Dancing in the Street" arranged and orchestrated for the majestic National Symphony Orchestra by 2013 Tony Award nominees Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook.

Joanna Gleason won the Tony Award for her leading role of the Baker's Wife in Into The Woods, by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. She launches this season's Broadway @ The Art House season in Provincetown tonight, June 28 and the 29th with An Evening with Joanna Gleason. Each performance will combine the East Coast premiere of a the hilarious and moving one act play Bloom, written for her by Emmy and Golden Globe winning writer Michael Patrick King (creator of Sex and The City & Two Broke Girls) with a second act of songs featuring special guests Well-Strung, and hosted by pianist/host Seth Rudetsky.

A Broadway star, two television legends and a guitar virtuoso have joined the entertainment lineup for the Encore Celebration Gala Weekend presented by Krieg DeVault, beginning tonight, June 28. The benefit for the Center for the Performing Arts also serves as the setting for the second annual Great American Songbook Hall of Fame induction. Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, Rita Moreno and Jimmy Webb represent the 2013 class of the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.

Called the 'hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games' by the New York Daily News, Well-Strung: the Singing String Quartet will return to Provincetown's Art House theater this season. Since the group's 3-month run at the venue last summer, they've been on a roll - with two recent hit New York productions Off-Broadway and their first album released this spring. Well-Strung will debut an all-new show for the summer, running from June 30 - Sept. 1. It is directed again by Donna Drake, and will feature new arrangements of songs by Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Third Eye Blind among others as well as new material written by Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman). For tickets, please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 800-838-3006.

After recently announcing over 200 hours of original programming, Ovation, America's only arts network, has additionally acquired all episodes of critically acclaimed series SMASH from NBCUniversal Cable & New Media.

Renowned musical theatre composer and lyricist Scott Alan hosts a reading of HOME, written by Christy Hall and himself, today June 27, 2013 under the direction of Stafford Arima. 'For the first time in ten years of doing readings and workshops of HOME,' Alan writes, 'I am presenting the story I always set out to tell.'