Michael Hartung News

To commemorate tonight's official opening of Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler on Broadway, Mayor Bill de Blasio will officially proclaim tomorrow, Friday, April 21, 'Dolly Day' in New York City.

The revival of Hello, Dolly opens tonight on Broadway, starring Bette Midler and featuring a star-studded cast. The Broadway revival of Michael Stewart and Jerry Herman's masterpiece Hello, Dolly! is directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle. Get to know the cast before they take their opening bows!

Masterworks Broadway has announced the release of The New Broadway Cast Recording of Hello, Dolly! starring three-time Grammy Award-winning legend Bette Midler as Dolly Gallagher Levi.

Producer Scott Rudin announced that, with the addition to the company of Beanie Feldstein, in the role of 'Minnie Fay,' principal casting is now complete for the upcoming Broadway revival of Michael Stewart (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) Hello, Dolly!, starring the legendary Bette Midler. Directed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Tony Award winnerWarren Carlyle, Hello, Dolly! will begin performances at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street) on March 15, 2017, with an official opening night of April 20, 2017.

Producer Scott Rudin announced the much anticipated Broadway revival of Michael Stewart's (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) masterpiece Hello, Dolly!, starring legendary performer Bette Midler. Directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle, Hello, Dolly! will begin performances at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street) on March 15, 2017, with an official opening night of April 20, 2017.  Tickets go on sale, via Telecharge.com, tomorrow, Saturday, September 17, at 10:00 A.M. (EST).

Goodspeed is thrilled to announce the cast of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz, abrand-new musical that chronicles a time before "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Easter Parade," and "A Star is Born"-a time when Judy Garland was simply, "the girl with the great big voice." Filled with many beloved songs sung by Judy Garland throughout her career, Chasing Rainbows will run September 16 - November 27 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn. The show is sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts, Eversource Energy, ConnectiCare, Comcast, and Webster Bank.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.' BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'  BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, presents Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, starring Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'

I can't even tell you how many times I have had a conversation that goes something like this: 'Why do I do this?' As an actor this can feel like a hard question to answer. I believe the arts are incredibly important in our world, especially in times when it is difficult to see past the heartbreaking events that seem to be occurring more and more frequently around the globe. But I have found that it can be challenging for me to explain the inherently intangible yet far reaching benefits of theatre and the arts. 

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington, DC, Rhode Island, Sacramento and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include JUMANJI in DC, WEST SIDE STORY in Rhode Island, and HELLO, DOLLY! at Sacramento Music Circus, just to name a few.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, has unveiled full casting for Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, which will star previously announced Will Swenson as 'The Pirate King.'

On Monday, November 16th Broadway Method Academy is hosting a benefit concert "Broadway Sings!" in efforts to find a "forever home". Broadway Method Academy's Executive Director, Connor Deane says the evening will be filled with top-notch talent from both Connecticut and New York, including some of Broadway's top performers.

Below, check out Josh Walden's latest video from The Muny's summer 2015 season, featuring the cast of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST -- in slow motion!

BroadwayWorld and The Muny present a backstage look at Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which is running through August 7, 2015. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, this beloved family classic is directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Vince Pesce and music directed by Ben Whiteley. Check out all the backstage shots below!

Kate Rockwell (Belle) is proud to be The William & Kerry Holekamp Star Performer. Kate is so thrilled to return to The Muny after playing Jane in last year's Tarzan! Check out the video below!

Just in! BroadwayWorld and The Muny present a first look at highlights of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which is running through August 7, 2015. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, this beloved family classic is directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Vince Pesce and music directed by Ben Whiteley. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Just in!  BroadwayWorld and The Muny present a first look at Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which is running through August 7, 2015. With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, this beloved family classic is directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Vince Pesce and music directed by Ben Whiteley.  Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Each year The MUNY makes it a point to present a full-blown musical that's aimed at the younger set. This year it's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which was given the patented Disney treatment when adapted for the stage from their own 1991 animated film. So, it retains plenty of the elements that made the film so successful, while also featuring some additional songs by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, some of which were cut from the movie. There's no denying the appeal of this material, and it's a perfect way to introduce kids to the wonders of live theatre in such a lovely setting, and on such a grand scale.