Michael Crawford News

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, and Steven Glaudini, Artistic Director, have announced the cast of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2, previewing April 13th, with opening night April 14th and running for an additional 12 performances through April 29, 2012.

Today we are talking to a queen of the concert stage famous for her decades touring the country who has also made a mark on the recording industry with her countless remarkable albums and who will be returning to New York with an intimate show dedicated to her favorite leading ladies of song, titled SONGBIRDS - the one and only Linda Eder.

Broadway favorite Michael Crawford, who just released a new album in Australia titled 'The Story Of My Life,' just visited 'Mornings.' In the video below, Crawford chats about his childhood, his career in theatre, and the new album. Click below to check it out!

Broadway favorite Michael Crawford just released a new album in Australia titled 'The Story Of My Life,' and in the video below, the theatre star promotes the album. Click below to watch the theatre star chat with the Telegraph about his career, his own superstitions, and much more!

This video from the BBC's OVER THE RAINBOW TV show gives a sneak peak of what to expect from Danielle Hope's performance as Eponine in London's West-End production of LES MISERABLES when she starts performances on June 18.

Danielle Hope will join the cast of London's West End production of Les Miserables beginning June 18 starring as Eponine. She joins Geronimo Rauch and Tam Mutu, who will join the cast to play Jean Valjean and Javert respectively, Daily Mail reports.

Hollywood and Broadway award-winners Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecchi, and Lee Roy Reams are to star in "Doin' It For Love," a Broadway-style tribute to the standards and the stories behind the music. Celebrating the finale of its Southwest Tour in Los Angeles on March 9 and 10, "Doin' It For Love" features a 10-piece orchestra conducted onstage by David Geist, the show's music director. Hilary Knight, the internationally renowned artist and illustrator, designed the poster art and collectables for the show. The profits from "Doin' It For Love" will go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Investigation and Rescue Fund supporting undercover investigations and animal rescue efforts.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. The 25th Anniversary performance will air on PBS' Great Performances series tonight, March 4th at 7pm.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: February 11-17.

Hollywood and Broadway award-winners Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecchi, and Lee Roy Reams are to star in "Doin' It For Love," a Broadway-style tribute to the standards and the stories behind the music. Celebrating the finale of its Southwest Tour in Los Angeles on March 9 and 10, "Doin' It For Love" features a 10-piece orchestra conducted onstage by David Geist, the show's music director. Hilary Knight, the internationally renowned artist and illustrator, designed the poster art and collectables for the show. The profits from "Doin' It For Love" will go to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Investigation and Rescue Fund supporting undercover investigations and animal rescue efforts.

Original cast members Michael Crawford and Danielle Hope both recently departed the West End production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, and have been replaced by Over the Rainbow finalist Sopie Evans and Russell Grant and Dorothyand the Wizard respectively. Check out production images of the newcomers in action below!

Michael Winner is to bring his one-man show, Michael Winner:?My?Life in Movies and Other Places, to the King's Head Theatre for a one-night only fundraiser for the theatre.

Today we are kicking off our trio of InDepth InterViews with the leading ladies of the new BAM production of RICHARD III by talking to stage and screen star Gemma Jones all about her role in the politically-themed Shakespeare historical drama, which continues performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music through March 4.

From Nick Jonas and Michael Urie to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand to Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters to Susan Boyle, Colin Quinn to GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2012 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

Headlining the most successful entertainment of all time, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Michael Crawford was actually not the first name the creative team considered for the gothic musical undertaking during its creation in the mid-1980s, believe it or not. Steve Harley famously recorded the original single of the title song with composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's muse Sarah Brightman and subsequently starred in the grandiose Ken Russell fever dream music video. While the public and critics alike assumed Harley's bid for the lead role in the gestating show was all but guaranteed after the video debut, it was not meant to be. Master director Hal Prince had his sights set on a British stage and screen star who had made a name with American audiences decades before in the troubled film versions of two Broadway hits - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and HELLO, DOLLY! - as well as made a name for himself the world over in the British sitcom SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM. Crawford had also cemented his place in the musical theatre with his roles in FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON and BILLY, but it was PHANTOM that would catapult him into the ranks of iconic musical megastar. So, today, let us take a look at what made Michael Crawford's performance in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA so unforgettable as we celebrate this week's US release of the simply spectacular DVD/Blu-ray of the 25th anniversary production mounted late last year at the Royal Albert Hall starring Ramim Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, loving assembled and presented by original lead producer Cameron Mackintosh and featuring a grand finale complete with original PHANTOM cast-members Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, among a host of other glories.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WIZARD OF OZ is slated to have its North American premiere in Toronto in 2013.

Broadway's longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall, coming to Blu-ray™ - with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound- DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Damian Arnold, has announced casting for the Broadway premiere of Marc Camoletti's classic farce Don't Dress For Dinner, starring Ben Daniels as "Robert," Melora Hardin as "Jacqueline," Adam James as "Bernard" and Jennifer Tilly as "Suzanne" with Spencer Kayden as "Suzette." Don't Dress For Dinner is adapted by Robin Hawdon and directed by John Tillinger.

Audiences are following the yellow brick road over the rainbow to see Danielle Hope, winner of BBC TV's Over the Rainbow, play Dorothy at The London Palladium, the capital's home of the family musical. A new cast will soon be taking over the show, which includes Sophie Evans and Russell Grant, and you can get to know the new lion in the video below!

Nick Pitera, known for his one man Youtube medleys, has released a new video that is a medley of hits from Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. 'I am such a huge Phantom fan. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius! This is my attempt at paying tribute to such a great piece of musical history!' Pitera wrote.