Natalie Toro News

Broadway is abuzz with news about NBC's upcoming presentation of The Wiz, with Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and original Dorothy Stephanie Mills all having just signed on to star. They aren't the only ones with love for The Wiz though. On Monday night, January 20, 2014 BroadwayWorld.com kicked off our 10th anniversary celebration with a benefit for BC/EFA entitled BroadwayWorld.com Visits Oz. In celebration of this week's big news, we bring you our own concert highlights of The Wiz, including performances of 'So You Wanted to See the Wizard?,' 'Be A Lion,' 'Home,' 'If You Believe,' and of course, 'Ease on Down the Road.'

NEIL BERG is on tour with his current touring show, 105 Years of Broadway. This all new dazzling musical revue features a cast of five of Broadway's finest stars re-creating moments from many of the sensational Broadway hits. BroadwayWorld was on the scene to snap pics of the latest concert, so check them out below!

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and DARK PROPHETS PRODUCTION LLC are pleased to announce the world premiere production of Wearing Black, winner Best Original Score at FRIGID New York, with book, music and lyrics by Riley Thomas (writer/composer of the sold out award-winning NYMF show STUCK, now a feature film starring Giancarlo Esposito, Amy Madigan and Ashanti.), music direction by Ben Caplan and directed by J. Scott Lapp (Broadway's Bonnie & Clyde; National Tours Murder for Two, Xanadu; Old Globe; La Jolla Playhouse; The Barn Stage  Company).

The show recently celebrated the musicals of 1991-2015 - check out a look back below!

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and DARK PROPHETS PRODUCTION LLC are pleased to announce the world premiere production of Wearing Black, winner Best Original Score at FRIGID New York, with book, music and lyrics by Riley Thomas (writer/composer of the sold out award-winning NYMF show STUCK, now a feature film starring Giancarlo Esposito, Amy Madigan and Ashanti.), music direction by Ben Caplan and directed by J. Scott Lapp (Broadway's Bonnie & Clyde; National Tours Murder for Two, Xanadu; Old Globe; La Jolla Playhouse; The Barn Stage  Company).

The finale of Season 15 of the popular and acclaimed series Broadway by the Year will be June 22 at 8 P.M. at Town Hall and feature tunes from every year during the last quarter century of Broadway [from 1991]. Broadway by the Year creator/writer/host, Scott Siegel, says, 'This particular edition of Broadway by the Year will feature a great many stars who originated the songs they will be singing from the shows in which they starred, including Tony winner Randy Graff (A Class Act); Tony Nominee Cheryl Freeman (The Civil War), Tony Nominee Sahr Ngaujah (Fela!), Lisa Howard (It Shoulda Been You), and Special Guest Star, Tony Danza (Honeymoon in Vegas).' Siegel further explained that the concert will also feature award-winning stars who performed in the shows they will be singing from, including Grammy-winning country legend Larry Gatlin (Broadway, The Will Rogers Follies), Kyle Scatliffe (Olivier Nominee for The Scottsboro Boys), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime).

The finale of Season 15 of the popular and acclaimed series Broadway by the Year will be June 22 at 8 P.M. at Town Hall and feature tunes from every year during the last quarter century of Broadway [from 1991].

On Sunday, April 19th, guest artists from over 32 Broadway shows are assembling in what has become an annual tradition at The Richard Rodgers School, PS 166.  The Manhattan Upper Westside school baring the name of America's greatest lyric composer, Richard Rodgers, annually hosts this one night benefit concert, 'Broadway Sings', in support of arts education.

Two special industry-only readings of ZAPATA! The Musical have been announced and will take place in New York City on April 15 and 16. Luke Caliente Productions will present the new musical which has music and lyrics by Peter Edwards with a book by Peter & Ana Edwards. Direction will be helmed by J. Scott Lapp.

Well, as promised ... we have a CHRISTMAS DAY (night) BONUS to our 12 Days of Christmas 'video' features series that ended yesterday. And SPECIAL it is. Once again, we dove into the VAULTS of BroadwayWorld.com on ICE, a benefit we did, back in 2006, with proceeds going to BC/EFA.

Marking 27 days until Christmas, today we pay tribute to an instantly recognizable Oscar-winning seasonal selection penned by Golden Age Broadway and Hollywood music master Frank Loesser, 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'.

New York's television, film and theatrical celebrities will take their place behind the bar at the annual 'Stockings with Care Celebrity Bartending Night' in New York City on Monday, November 17th at Hudson Station Bar and Grill (440 Ninth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets) from 7pm to 11pm to raise money for the not-for-profit organization. Stockings with Care provides holiday gifts for children whose families live in homeless shelters or are in jeopardy of becoming homeless.

Today in 2008, A Tale of Two Cities opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 60 performances. A Tale of Two Cities is a musical with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens.The Broadway production featured James Barbour, Natalie Toro, Aaron Lazar, Gregg Edelman, and Brandi Burkhardt.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Mount Elise Entertainment, in association with Kim Vasquez / Gray Lady Entertainment, present the American premiere of DEPLOYED the musical. With a book, music and lyrics by Jessy Brouillard, music direction by Martyn Axe, and direction by Mindy Cooper, DEPLOYED begins its limited engagement in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street) on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014. Featuring Natalie Toro, (Les Miserables, A Tale of Two Cities), Janice Landry, Nina Negron and Bryant Martin, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look of the DEPLOYED cast suited up and in action below!

Recently the NYMF production of DEPLOYED the musical gave fans a sneak peek into their rehearsal process. With a soaring pop rock score and set against the epic backdrop of a military base in Baghdad, DEPLOYED follows Emily's emotional journey. Our heroine develops an unlikely friendship with her interpreter, Laila, as she trains Iraqi women. Laila teaches Emily to appreciate others' suffering and to realize the enemy she's fighting is herself. When Emily finally lets go of her inner demons, a secret from the past comes back to wreak its revenge. They cannot forget...but can they forgive?

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) just launched its 2014 season, featuring such stars as Lillias White, J. Robert Spencer, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Jennifer Simard, Robin De Jesus, and more.NYMF exists to revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside opening night below!

DEPLOYED the Musical is set to open at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre on July 16 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and here's a glimpse of the actors in the rehearsal studio in the final stages of production. Watch the video below!

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series just took on THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 featuring such performers as Aladdin star Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTashaYvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in LES MISERABLES), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair),Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, Nightlife Award-winner William Blake and many more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the after party below!

Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series just took on THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1990-2014 featuring such performers as Aladdin star Adam Jacobs, Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis), Jenn Gambatese (Tarzan, All Shook Up), Cheryl Freeman (Tommy, The Civil War), NaTashaYvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Oliver Award-nominee Kyle Scatliffe (The Scottsboro Boys, currently in LES MISERABLES), Morgan James (Motown The Musical), Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Jeannette I. Bayardelle (Hair),Mindy Wallace (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Mark Stuart (Mark Stuart Dance Theatre), Drama Desk-nominee Jeremy Morse, Christine Aranda, Nightlife Award-winner William Blake and many more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the ladies in action!

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL (NYMF) and Mount Elise Entertainment, in association with Kim Vasquez / Gray Lady Entertainment, are pleased to announce the American premiere of DEPLOYED the musical. With a book, music and lyrics by Jessy Brouillard, music direction by Martyn Axe, and direction by Mindy Cooper, DEPLOYED begins its limited engagement in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street) on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014.