Michael Gill News

MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opened January 11th. Legendary Broadway star Chita Rivera recently visited Hines after the show - check out photos below!

Following a short winter hiatus, Catskill's Bridge Street Theatre is now ready to spring back into action. With a new marquee providing greater visibility to travelers along the West Bridge Street corridor and continuing improvements to its interior spaces, 2016 promises to be even more seriously entertaining at what one reviewer has called "the ballsiest theater in the region."

 Producer Riki Kane Larimer (Fiddler on the Roof, Tappin' Thru Life, On The Town, Gigi)has announced the Off-Broadway transfer of The York Theatre Company's acclaimed production of the new musical, Cagney with book by Peter Colley (The Donnelly) and music & lyrics by Robert Creighton and Christopher McGovern (Fame, First Wives Club).  Cagney received its New York premiere at The York Theatre Company, last spring, where it played a limited five-week sold out engagement.  This new updated, expanded and revised version will begin performances begin on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. for an open-ended engagement at The Westside Theatre - Upstairs (407 West 43rd Street).  Opening Night is set for Sunday afternoon, April 3, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.

Arena Stage announces casting for the final production of the 2015/16 season, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced. Director Timothy Douglas (Arena's King Hedley II) tackles this emotionally-charged play by Akhtar, author of the novel 'American Dervish' and currently the most produced playwright in the United States. Hailed as 'emotionally shattering, a smart and provocative work of unusual daring that should be seen by anyone who cares about serious theater' by Newsday, Disgraced runs April 22-May 29, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater.

Tonight, before a gathering of theatre artists and patrons, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards, drawn from 202 eligible productions presented in the 2015 calendar year. Scroll down for the full list of nominees!

Casting is complete for LaunchingFWD : Season 2, the second annual sneak preview concert of new musicals in development offered by FWD Theatre Project, one of the most-watched new arts organizations in town. Last year's LaunchingFWD event (starring headliner and hometown superstar Jessie Mueller in her first Chicago appearance since winning the Tony Award for Beautiful) sold out the 320 seat main room at City Winery and required overflow seating; FWD hopes this year's event will be even more impressive.

Next week Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including Ben Vereen, Elizabeth A. Davis and more!

When FWD Theatre Project introduced itself in 2014 (at City Winery Chicago,) audiences, actors, producers, and critics took notice. Something special had arrived for the city's arts community and for the future of musical theatre in Chicago. A group of seasoned theatre professionals combined to create a Festival of Works in Development, part of an effort to build Chicago into a premiere destination for writers and creators to showcase their new musicals in process. One year later and FWD's inaugural season of five staged readings - selected from the world's best projects on offer - was a success, selling out many of its events at a variety of Chicago venues.

Hines has created a charismatic confection that incorporates vintage photos, bittersweet memories, enthusiastic tap dancing and a mega-talented all-female band.

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart. MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opened just last night, January 11th. Check out photos from the big night below!

MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is tonight, January 11th.

Performances of MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE began on December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th. Stage and screen actress Christine Ebersole recently stopped by the show and visited with the cast backstage. Check out photos below!

MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances begin tonight, December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Hines in action below!

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart.

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart. MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed byJeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances begin Wednesday, December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th.

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart. MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed byJeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances begin Wednesday, December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opening night is Monday, January 11th.

Fellowship For Performing Arts presents the New York premiere of C.S. LEWIS' THE GREAT DIVORCE, the first show in its inaugural 2015/2016 New York season at The Pearl Theatre (555 West 42nd Street). Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis and adapted for the stage by FPA Founder and Artistic Director Max McLean and Brian Watkins (My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer), C.S. LEWIS' THE GREAT DIVORCE opens tonight, December 3, 2015 for a strictly limited run through Sunday, January 3, 2016.

Fresh off its world-premiere run in Minneapolis, Children's Theatre Company's new production about an 11-year-old spelling prodigy comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show is adapted for the stage by veteran playwright Cheryl L. West (Arena's Pullman Porter Blues, Jar the Floor), who partners with celebrated director Charles Randolph-Wright (director of Broadway's Motown and an inaugural resident playwright with Arena Stage, where he premiered his play Love in Afghanistan). AKEELAH AND THE BEE runs now through December 27, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivites at Arena Stage below!

He's going to put a smile on your face and song in your heart.

After a triumphant debut at Feinstein's/54 Below last March, Melissa Manchester has returned with a brand new show, and Broadwayworld was on the scene to capture the evening. Check out photos below!