Peter Filichia News

Get out your calendars as Rob, Kevin and special guest Todd Buonopane, host of the amazing podcast Broadway Stories, sit down and discuss all the shows slated to open in the 2016-2017 Season. From plays to musicals, revivals to special events, these three folks cover it all! Plus: Donny & Marie's summer stock appearances, the brilliance of The Great Muppet Caper, and Alton Brown's dinner theatre experience! 

Fosse. Bennett. Robbins. Scott Wise got to know and work with them all. His incredible dancing skills were featured in 13 Broadway musicals including A CHORUS LINE, CATS, CARRIE, and JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY, for which he won the Tony Award.

ASD Publishing is thrilled to work with children's book author Gregory G. Allen on the release of his third book, 'Irving the Theater Nut!' (ISBN: 9780996102933, Release date October 10, 2016) that celebrates theater, following dreams, and teaches teamwork. Two and a half years ago, when Gregory G. Allen started a new job as the theater manager of the historic Town Hall Theater in Irvington, NY, he had no idea he would meet the inspiration for his third children's book. A squirrel had gotten into the theater and was quickly removed, but Allen went home that night and wrote an outline about a squirrel that loved theater. 'Irving the Theater Nut!' tells the story of a squirrel who wants nothing more than to join the children rehearsing inside the theater and be a part of that theater world. Many theater kids may feel they are different because of that love they have for the arts, but Allen hopes that his picture book, with illustrations by Morgan Swofford, will show kids of all ages that being a lover of the arts is nothing to be ashamed of. It also teaches subtle lessons of teamwork, encouragement, and collaboration. Allen has been in the entertainment industry (television, film, stage) for over 25 years as an actor, director, writer, and producer, and is an award-winning author of a dozen books and stories (including two children's books on autism awareness carried by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in digital format); ten shows that he has served as book writer and/or composer/lyricists have been produced on stage (Theater Week Magazine Best Score Winner). New York City theater critic and author of 'Let's Put on a Musical,' Peter Filichia, calls Irving an endearing book and says, 'Parents, Gregory G. Allen's 'Irving the Theater Nut!' is the book you'll be reading to your children at bedtime for the foreseeable future. Who doesn't love a story in which a child is nice to an animal and have that animal return the favor?' 'I started my career in children's theater writing my first stage musical when I was only 14 and then toured in children's theater as an adult...including three years as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle,' says Allen. 'To finally write a book for children about the love of theater...it's everything to me!' As a freelance director and script writer, Allen has worked for Broadway Live; a media company specializing in original programming for the New York Theater scene. He has contributed to several online sites (interviewing many stage performers) including Huffington Post, Broadway Voice, and Broadway World, has penned the screenplay for a feature film, and is the winner of the 2015 Indie Soul Best Director Award from the Boston International Film Festival and Best Director at the Los Angeles International Film Festival Awards in April 2015 for his short film 'Mother.' 'I've always been a theater nut so you might say that Irving is a part of me,' says Allen. 'I can't wait for the world to meet this little fellow and learn that there is nothing wrong with chasing a dream...no matter how old you are or different you may feel.' The book will be available in print from all online retailers as well as indie bookstores across the country. The book will launch at the Drama Book Shop at 250 W 40th Street in New York City on Monday, October 10 at 5pm. To see additional signings and events, please check out Allen's website at www.gregorygallen.com ASD Publishing, a division of ASD Media & Entertainment, is an independent book publisher based in New Jersey, specializes in thought-provoking literary fiction, memoir, self-help nonfiction, and children's books that champion personal growth and the independent spirit. www.asdpublishing.com Photo by Tom Schopper

Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This week: The power of illumination! 

For over fifty years, the big, belt voice of Karen Morrow has been filling theatres and TV screens. While audiences across America will fondly remember her numerous appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, it is her live appearances on Broadway, blasting the roof of numerous theatres, that epitomize Karen Morrow. Joining Rob & Kevin via phone, Karen reminisces on how she became known as 'the flop queen', what it was like to share the spotlight with Buddy Hackett,  and how she counted Ethel Merman among her biggest fans.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 28, 2016 - Sunday, August 28, 2016.

You would be hard pressed to find someone who loves the theatre more than Peter Filichia. For years, Peter's observations on musical theatre have inspired countless actors, directors, and writers to start a career in show business. Now, Peter talks to Rob and Kevin, his two biggest fans, about the importance of arts education, for whom a critic should be crafting their reviews, and why he still loves the theatre. Plus, memories of Senator Joe, The Wiz, and My Fair Lady! 

The Drama Book Shop proudly welcomes Mint Theater Company's Artistic Director Jonathan Bank for a discussion about the company's devotion to rediscovering lost plays and its current production, A Day By The Sea. The event, which is free to the public, will take place on Wednesday, August 17th at 5:00PM. Bank will be joined by critic and historian Peter Filichia.

Off-Broadway singer-songwriters Anya Turner & Robert Grusecki return to the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama in their show 'Hello, West 46th Street', an evening of new cabaret songs.

Earlier this week, The Theatre World Awards celebrated this year's Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance honorees. Hosted annually by well-known theater journalist, Peter Filichia, the 72nd Annual Theatre World Awards ceremony was produced by Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors. 

In The Critics Say...: 57 Theater Reviewers in New York and Beyond Discuss Their Craft and Its Future, Matt Windman, theater critic of the newspaper amNewYork, interviews dozens of other theater critics about their backgrounds, how they go about evaluating different kinds of shows, and the enormous challenges that threaten the future of professional theater criticism.

The Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors (Dale Badway, President) has announced the 2016 Theatre World Award Honorees for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance who will be celebrated at the 72nd Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony on Monday evening, May 23, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Circle in the Square Theatre (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current 2015 Tony® Award-winning Best Musical, Fun Home.   

It was announced today by The Theatre World Awards Board of Directors, and The Dorothy Loudon Foundation, Broadway newcomer Nicholas Barasch, currently appearing in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me at Studio 54, will be honored with the 8th Annual Dorothy Loudon Award at the 72nd Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony set for Monday evening, May 23, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Circle in the Square Theatre (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current 2015 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Fun Home.  The 2016 Theatre World winners will be announced shortly.

Drama Desk, Tony®, and Emmy® Award nominee and Theater World Award and NAACP Image Award winner Vanessa Williams (Into The Woods, The Trip to Bountiful, 'Ugly Betty') and Drama Desk, Tony®, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Drama League Award Nominee and SAG & TV Land Award winner Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland, Hairspray, The Light in the Piazza, 'Glee') will announce the nominations for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards on Thursday, April 28th, 2016 at 10:00 AM at Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54th Street), it was announced today by Charles Wright, Drama Desk President and Gretchen Shugart, CEO of TheaterMania.com.

Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers work tirelessly to perfect their dance moves, learn all of their lines, and get their vocal harmonies just right for the culmination of their training session and this spring is no exception. These talented young thespians between the ages of 8 and 18 to the Little Theater with their annual Spring Festival of Shows May 27 through June 5.  This year's festival features a variety of musical favorites to entertain audiences of all ages.  Hailed as a "state treasure" by Peter Filichia of the Star Ledger and bringing in youth from Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties, Centenary Stage Company's Young Performance Workshop is one of the few young actor training programs in the country that combines formal training with practical application.

Drama Desk, Tony®, and Emmy® Award nominee and Theater World Award and NAACP Image Award winner Vanessa Williams (Into The Woods, The Trip to Bountiful, 'Ugly Betty') and Drama Desk, Tony®, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Drama League Award Nominee and SAG & TV Land Award winner Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland, Hairspray, The Light in the Piazza, 'Glee') will announce the nominations for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards on Thursday, April 28th, 2016 at 10:00 AM at Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54th Street), it was announced today by Charles Wright, Drama Desk President and Gretchen Shugart, CEO of TheaterMania.com.

Amas Musical Theatre's (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy will presentUrinetown: The Musical, a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Mark Hollman and book Greg Kotis about a dystopian future where water is worth its weight in gold.

It was announced today by The Theatre World Awards Board of Directors, Golden Globe® and three-time Tony®Award-winner and musical theater icon Bernadette Peters will be honored with the prestigious 4th Annual John Willis Award at the 72nd Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony set for Monday evening, May 23, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Circle in the Square Theatre (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current 2015 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Fun Home.

The 2016 theatre awards season is quickly approaching, and keeping track of all of the important dates for the many ceremonies and their corresponding nomination announcements is no easy feat. Stay up to date on all the need-to-know facts with BroadwayWorld's Awards Season Calendar below!

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, celebrates its 47th Anniversary at a gala benefit tonight, Monday, March 28th, 2016 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center(East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award winning actress, singer and dancer Donna McKechnie.  The master of ceremonies for the evening is noted theatre journalist Peter Filichia.