Nicholas Rodriguez News

This summer The Broadway Dreams Foundation kicked off the 2013 Summer Performing Arts Intensive Tour, CIRCLE OF DREAMS with all-new programming in Atlanta and Charlotte. Both cities participated in the first-ever Dream Lab which allowed students to collaborate with the entire BDF creative team to workshop the numbers and material to be presented as part of the tour. Check out a look back below!

The Broadway Dreams Foundation will give aspiring performers across the country their big break with "Circle of Dreams," the 2013 Summer Performing Arts Intensive Tour. The national non-profit training program will present an incredible roster of Broadway directors, performers and industry insiders who will offer musical theatre training, mentoring and career opportunities through unique, week-long performing arts intensive workshops for students of all ages.

This June, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma will return to the Civic Center Music Hall with a high-flying, powerful production of TARZAN, starring New York-based actor Nicholas Rodriguez as the title character. Running June 25-29, the show will mark the beginning of Lyric's four-show, 50th Anniversary Summer Season and will feature an original set by Helen Hayes Award-winning scenic designer Adam Koch and Oklahoma City artist Erin Latham.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," Joe Iconis & Family, actress/producer/singer Rita Wilson, legendary powerhouse voice Lachanze, Broadway's Ken Page and Carmel Dean, and more.

For those craving a show after the show, stop by 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. Loosen your tie and enjoy as Broadway's nightclub expands its late night series. Joining Tuesday nights' popular Backstage with Susie Mosher will be three new late night events featuring bright and upcoming New York talent:

theatreWashington just announced the 29th Helen Hayes Awards nominees today, January 28th, 2013 in The National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery. This year, for the first time, theatre lovers in Washington and around the world were able to watch the nomination announcements live via webcast at theatrewashington.org, Facebook, or on the Livestream. Rebecca Sheir of WAMU's Metro Connection and WTOP's Bob Madigan hosted. Scroll below for the full list of the 2013 nominees!

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma today announced major casting decisions for its 50thAnniversary Season in 2013, featuring new and returning national talent including Nicholas Rodriguez, Heather Botts,Steve Blanchard, Heather Botts, Alan Muraoka, Lyn Cramer, Kristy Cates, Tom Flagg, Erin Bowman, Derrick Cobey and more. All four shows-TARZAN, THE KING AND I, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and BIG RIVER-will be performed at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation will partner with UCLA to present a week-long Summer Performing Arts Intensive on the UCLA campus June 17 - June 23, 2013. Olivier Award-nominated director Stafford Arima (bare, Altar Boyz, Ragtime), Emmy Award-nominee Spencer Liff (So You Think You Can Dance, Smash), and a roster of Broadway veterans to be announced will work with aspiring performers of all ages in preparation for Circle of Dreams, a unique Broadway concert open to the public at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

Yesterday March 26th, Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever, interviewed the 19 year old author, Henry Hodges, who wrote 'How To Act Like a Kid,' at the Drama Book Shop. The interview was followed by a Q&A with the audience followed by a book signing. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out full photo coverage below!

Broadway stars Tony Vincent (American Idiot, NBC's 'The Voice'), Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Guys and Dolls), BDF Artistic Director Nicholas Rodriguez (Tarzan, 'One Life to Live') and Tony Award nominated director and choreographer Dan Knechtges (Xanadu, Spelling Bee) will turn Charlotte's youth performers into triple threat talents when The Broadway Dreams Foundation presents a unique two-day workshop today, February 15 and the 16th, 2013.

Broadway stars Tony Vincent (American Idiot, NBC's "The Voice"), Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Guys and Dolls), BDF Artistic Director Nicholas Rodriguez (Tarzan, "One Life to Live") and Tony Award nominated director and choreographer Dan Knechtges (Xanadu, Spelling Bee) will turn Charlotte's youth performers into triple threat talents when The Broadway Dreams Foundation presents a unique two-day workshop February 15 and 16th, 2013. BDF's Triple Threat Extreme Workshop will be held at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center (Spirit Square 345 N. College Street, Charlotte, NC) from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday and at Children's Theatre: ImaginOn Rehearsal Studio (300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including award-winning vocalist Eric Michael Gillett, Broadway star Chester Gregory, Grammy Award winner Joni Mitchell, BACKSTAGE, Broadway star T. Olvier Reid, Tony Award nominee Robert Cuccioli, Toni Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh and SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED.

theatreWashington just announced the 29th Helen Hayes Awards nominees today, January 28th, 2013 in The National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery. This year, for the first time, theatre lovers in Washington and around the world were able to watch the nomination announcements live via webcast at theatrewashington.org, Facebook, or on the Livestream. Rebecca Sheir of WAMU's Metro Connection and WTOP's Bob Madigan hosted. Scroll below for the full list of the 2013 nominees!

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, "Backstage." Special guest stars on January 29th include performances by Annie Kunke (Hairspray and If There Is I Still Haven't Found It,) Kirsten Scott (from Broadway's Follies and Hairspray,) Matthew Scott (from Broadway's Jersey Boys and Sondheim on Sondheim,) Hayley Podshun (from Broadway's Hairspray and Chaplin,), Nicholas Rodriguez (from Broadway's Tarzan) and Celisse Henderson (Godspell, and tour of Wicked).

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, will present the following acts.

Award-winning composer Jeremy Schonfeld (Drift, 37 Notebooks) has announced that Broadway's own Titus Burgess (Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid), Adam Kantor (Rent) and Morgan James (Godspell, Motown) are many performers from the worlds of Broadway, television and music who will take the stage with him for the one night only event "JEREMY SCHONFELD & THE BROADWAY MESSIAHS" on Monday January 28th at the newly re-designed Cutting Room recently reopened at its new location (44 East 32nd Street, New York, NY) at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7:00 PM).

BroadwayWorld's Senior Photographer Walter McBride has picked his favorite onstage photos from the year and you can check out his full collection below! CLICK HERE to check out Part 2.

Vicki and Chris Le Vine, along with The Broadway Dreams Foundation, presented the third annual White Christmas at Sweetwater Farm and Grace Winery (50 Sweetwater Road, Glen Mills, PA) on Sunday, December 16. The festive old-fashioned piano party and cabaret featured performances by Broadway's brightest stars and talented local BDF students. Each year hundreds of students received valuable musical theatre training through BDF programs offered in partnership with Philadelphia's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Check out photos from the event below!

Vicki and Chris Le Vine, along with The Broadway Dreams Foundation, present the third annual White Christmas at Sweetwater Farm and Grace Winery (50 Sweetwater Road, Glen Mills, PA) on Sunday, December 16, 2012. The festive old-fashioned piano party and cabaret will feature performances by Broadway's brightest stars and talented local BDF students. Each year hundreds of students receive valuable musical theatre training through BDF programs offered in partnership with Philadelphia's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Proceeds from White Christmas at Sweetwater Farm and Grace Winery will help to fund scholarships for worthy aspiring performers.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation held its second annual Champagne & Caroling Gala last night at Celsius, a restaurant, bar and event space within Citi Pond at Bryant Park (5th Ave and 42nd Street) on Monday, December 10. At this one of a kind urban winter wonderland in of the heart of midtown Manhattan, Broadway's brightest stars and patrons of the arts joined together for a festive celebration of the country's premier musical theatre training program. Check out photos from the event below!