Neil Patrick Harris News

Today marks the last episode review of the second season of Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE and I'm sure that many will agree with me that last night's show was as good a Season Two send-off as could have possibly been expected from Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan and company given what has gone on this year so far. Besides the sights and sounds of the dramatic NYC wrap-up, the Broadway babies amongst the gleeks were treated to the extended returns of fan favorite Jonathan Groff and new cast member Cheyenne Jackson, in addition to a characteristically fabulous cameo by Broadway legend Patti LuPone - and the grand return of international singing sensation - as well as a participant in this column; in addition to Mr. Groff, yesterday (and, coming up: Mr. Jackson) - the big-voiced-diva known as Charice. While original songs dominated the episode, we were also treated to a mash-up of Madonna's 'I Love New York' and the Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green ON THE TOWN anthem 'New York, New York' (and a sample of the Kander & Ebb version elsewhere in the episode, 'for good' measure), in addition to one of the musical highlights of not only this episode, but all of Season Two - a song which was incidentally premiered in this very column on BroadwayWorld last week: Lea Michele and Chris Colfer putting their own spin on the WICKED curtain song 'For Good' on the very stage of the Gershwin Theater where the Broadway smash plays eight times a week - and has since 2004 - right where fellow GLEE guest stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel first sang it. While the musical quotient on GLEE is always appreciably entertaining - with few exceptions - this season has been significantly more expansive and varied in its storytelling style, so the question of the season undoubtedly is: was it all wrapped up satisfactorily? Well, we'll just have to stack it all up side-by-side-by-side-by-side and see, now, won't we? But, one thing is crystal clear: GLEE in NYC was all it was cracked up - and built up - to be. The big pay-off. Finally. Or, make that more to the point: finale.

Play Dead, the Off-Broadway comic thriller co-written and directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and co-written & performed by Todd Robbins is now playing an open-ended run at The Player's Theater. The recipient of a 2011 Drama Desk nomination for Unique Theatrical Experience, the show also features Geri Berman, Charlotte Pines, Drea Lorraine and Don Meehan. BroadwayWorld was recently invited into Robbins' lair backstage at Play Dead. Click below for the tour...if you dare.

Following this weekend's WORLD PREMIERE EXCLUSIVE FIRST LISTEN of 'For Good' from WICKED as featured on the GLEE season finale, today BroadwayWorld is bringing the gleeks one last special surprise, just in time for the Season Two finale! Today, we are talking to GLEE fan favorite - as Jessie St. James - and theatre superstar - from SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway to DEATHTRAP in the West End - the charismatic and magnetic Jonathan Groff. In this world exclusive interview, Jonathan and I discuss all things GLEE and all about working on the second season of the show - and, most importantly, everything about the season finale - with GLEE stars Lea Michele, Cheyenne Jackson, and Charice, in addition to working with Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel and GLEE creator/show-runner Ryan Murphy - and, of course, recording and performing Adele‘s 'Rolling In The Deep' with Lea Michele, the surefire musical highlight of Season Two. Additionally, in the forthcoming complete chat, we take a look back at Groff's many stage roles ranging from HAIR and THE BACCHAE in Central Park for the Public Theater, to SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, DEATHTRAP in the West End, as well as his debut in IN MY LIFE - a show whose composer/lyricist/writer, Joe Brooks, was just in the news following his apparent suicide this weekend. Jonathan and I also touch on his blazing feature film debut in Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK co-starring Liev Schreiber, as well as his work on the pilot for Ryan Murphy's PRETTY/HANDSOME, co-starring Joseph Fiennes and Blythe Danner, and his participation in the new independent film TWELVE THIRTY. Plus, we take a look ahead to the future and deduce what is next for one of the brightest talents on Broadway! All of that and much, much more - yet, one question remains: Is it 8 PM yet?!

The Tony Awards today announced presenters for the 65th Annual Tony Awards at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The 2011 Tony Awards will air live on CBS, on Sunday, June 12th 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay) and are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Muppets are set to make another big screen splash this year, more than 30 years after their big screen debut. Featuring the talents of a slew of stars - Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Rashida Jones, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Liza Minnelli, Katy Griffin, and John Kraskinski, to name a few - the film is slated for a November 23 release. View the trailer below!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2011 season with the return of Broadway star AARON LAZAR in his new show 'For Lovers Only' - an evening of romantic love songs - for two nights only, Sunday, June 19 and Monday, June 20. He will be joined by Music Director Jeff Klitz on piano, Bernd Schoenhart on guitar, and special guest vocalist Capathia Jenkins. The show, directed by David Solomon, will feature new arrangements of classic love songs by composers Adam Guettel, Richard Rodgers, Bruno Mars, Jason Robert Brown, Cole Porter, Ashford and Simpson, Stephen Sondheim and others. Both shows are at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

On Twitter Watch, Neil Patrick Harris wrote 'Just saw Sister Act on B'way. No expectations - and we loved it. Patina Miller (the lead) has every reason to win a Tony. Just saw Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on Broadway. Gayest thing I've ever seen, in the good way. Audience loved it, as did I. More theatah: saw matinee of Catch Me If You Can. Norbert Leo Butz is outstanding. Aaron Tveit (again, robbed!) is SO crazy gifted. The Tony preparations continue. Saw How To Succeed last night. Daniel was robbed. Rob Ashford's direction rules. The crows went nuts. Crows=crowds. Stupid thumbs...'

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

Today we are revisiting the most recent Tony Awards, which took place on June 13, 2010 on CBS - the 64th telecast - with a look at the audience-favorite Emmy-winning star of WILL & GRACE who made his debut last season in the hit revival of Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Neil Simon's PROMISES, PROMISES, co-starring Kristin Chenoweth, and who acted as amiable host for the festivities: Sean Hayes! We will also be casting a glance at the show he starred in last season, PROMISES, PROMISES, with a performance from the Rob Ashford-directed revival featuring Kristin Chenoweth and the talented cast - including Tony-winner Katie Finneran.

Yesterday, May 18, CBS Television Network hosted its 2011 Upfront at Lincoln Center in New York City. The annual gathering reveals the shows that will continue in the upcoming season and introduces the new additions to the line up. Staples such as The Good Wife, Survivor, CSI and How I Met Your Mother return. New additions include Person Of Interest and Unforgettable.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, and LA Stage Alliance, the leading service provider for the performing arts in greater Los Angeles, are proud to announce the 2011 TCG National Conference Honorary Committee of distinguished artists who have had impressive careers on stage, screen and with the written word.

Production begins this week on Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. The pre-apocalyptic comedy stars Golden Globe Award winner Steve Carell and Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley.

Legends in their own time, ascending to the top ranks of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriting landscape, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have accomplished and climbed to heights most of what many film fans, Broadway babies and general entertainment junkies only dream of witnessing and ascending to. Marc Shaiman's work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT prompted Stephen Sondheim - as he told me himself - to cite it as one of the best musicals of the era. And, it is - as is their Tony-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY, based on the film by Pope of Trash John Waters. Featuring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and an all-around-amazing cast of triple-threats, the stunning Craig Zadan/Neil Meron-produced film version of HAIRSPRAY may be the greatest cinematic Shaiman and/or Wittman accomplishment so far. Then, there is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - one of the snappiest new scores on Broadway in a strangely strong season of original scores - boasting boss Sinatra blues and sizzling Shirelles riffs and everything else that's swingin' in between. Up next for the team - onstage and off - is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, in addition to what is perhaps the most exciting prospect on their impossibly cluttered horizon: the new Steven Speilberg/Craig Zadan/Neil Meron musical/comedy/drama series SMASH which has just been picked up for the Fall season on NBC! In this exclusive, extensive and exhaustive conversation we cover it all from HAIRSPRAY to CATCH ME to CHARLIE to all about SMASH and far, far beyond!

The Muppets are set to make another big screen splash this year, more than 30 years after their big screen debut. Featuring the talents of a slew of stars - Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Rashida Jones, Neil Patrick Harris, Katy Perry, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Liza Minnelli, Katy Griffin, and John Kraskinski, to name a few - the film is slated for a November 23 release.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, and LA Stage Alliance, the leading service provider for the performing arts in greater Los Angeles, are proud to announce the 2011 TCG National Conference Honorary Committee of distinguished artists who have had impressive careers on stage, screen and with the written word.

Play Dead, the new Off-Broadway comic thriller co-written and directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and co-written & performed by Todd Robbins announces a new performance schedule effective immediately. As a result, there will be no performances Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday May 18. The new schedule is as follows: Thursdays at 8PM, Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 7PM and 10PM, and Sundays at 3PM and 7PM.

Play Dead, the new Off-Broadway comic thriller co-written and directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and co-written & performed by Todd Robbins announces a new performance scheudle effective immediately.

With a 2011 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor In A Play for his magnetic turn in the critically-hailed revival of Larry Kramer's THE NORMAL HEART on Broadway and a leading role on Showtime's THE BIG C co-starring real-life close friend Laura Linney, as well as a busy film career that boats memorable turns in THE REF, ME & MY SHADOWS: LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND, FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, the recent remake of THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 and TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN, John Benjamin Hickey is a very busy man. Nevertheless, he was kind enough to recently take some time out of his beyond busy schedule to talk all about his stage and screen career - including sharing some revealing anecdotes about starring in THE CRUCIBLE with Liam Neeson and Linney, as well as working with the esteemed playwright Arthur Miller himself, in addition to his work in Terrance McNally's LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION, Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall's revival of CABARET, and, of course, all about the George C. Wolfe/Joel Grey production of THE NORMAL HEART starring director/actor Joe Mantello that he is participating in now. Plus, we have his thoughts on his recent GOOD WIFE appearance, feelings on the place of political theatre in society today, what roles he would like to take on in the future, his affection for the work of Edward Albee - and much, much more.

Screenvision announced that tickets are on sale NOW for its limited presentation of the New York Philharmonic's critically acclaimed, all-star revival of Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical, Company. Through an arrangement with Ellen M. Krass Productions and the New York Philharmonic, Screenvision will bring the special performance - recorded live last month at Lincoln Center's famed Avery Fisher Hall in New York City - to hundreds of its North American digital cinema theaters beginning on June 15.

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day from now until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!