Peter Matthew Smith News

The most anticipated arrival in Pittsburgh since Le'Veon's vanishing...Hamilton, the Broadway musical, has taken up shop at the Benedum Center through January 27. The musical, nominated for a record number of Tony Awards and winning 11, recounts the life of Alexander Hamilton and the birth of our nation through hip-hop and song. With lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamiltonastonishes. To quote the author, 'There are moments that words don't reach' - and Hamilton is embodies them.

Every so often the musical theatre landscape experiences a swell of enthusiasm and excitement for a fresh, new and engaging play. Theatre fans (and casual viewers) alike can recall the hype when THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or LES MISERABLES first opened (and went on tour). More recently the WICKED phenomenon brought young and old alike out to experience the magic and electricity that only a live performance can elicit. Today, the show that everyone is talking about (and obsessing over) is Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony winning musical HAMILTON. Like its popular predecessors, it has recently begun touring around the country - riding the wave of enthusiasm and further cementing its place as a true pop-culture phenomenon. But unlike its flashy, big budget predecessors, HAMILTON, in many ways, lives in its own category. It is a show that is modern, fresh, and that pushes boundaries and delivers in two and a half hours an experience unlike anything this reviewer has experienced before. I am thrilled to say, in the production that has now arrived at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, CT - HAMILTON shines brilliantly, delivering in every way (and beyond) on the hype that precedes it.

It's not often that a Broadway musical creates so much press and hype that almost every US citizen has heard of the phenomenon that is HAMILTON. The show that got it's start off Broadway at NY's Public Theatre has taken the country by storm. Still the hottest ticket on Broadway 3 years after it has opened, the touring production has been anticipated in almost every US National tour market for a full two years prior to it actually surfacing. This has created record breaking subscription ticket sales just so everyone could be guaranteed a seat for HAMILTON.

If the rousing and prolonged applause and immediate standing ovation is any indication, this show is going to wow local audiences all throughout the summer.

The National Tour of HAMILTON is now at ASU Gammage in Tempe through February 25th. What more can be said about a production that, since its opening three years ago, has already received the ultimate in honors and plaudits and for which the best adjectives have already been used? Yes, awesome, glorious, uplifting! All of that and more! Outstanding performances all around. In its unique form as a history lesson, HAMILTON is a hymn to the revolutionary spirit and the insatiable desire to fulfill possibility.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK star Uzo Aduba will lead the cast of a musical workshop production of THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

In a lively, funny, often piquant conversation cast and creative team members from Maine State Music Theatre's The Full Monty convened on June 10 to talk with Broadway World in the first of this summer's highly successful talkback series, A Peek Behind the Curtain. The audience was delighted to have the opportunity to meet director, Donna Drake, stars Peter Matthew Smith, Amanda Rose, MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and Outreach Sales Manager Katie White. The discussion focused on the show's appeal, its message, and, of course, on the show stopping strip finale.

The Full Monty, which opened Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season, has all the makings of a new hit for the company! The rollicking, sometimes raucous story of unemployed Buffalo steel workers who create a male strip act to make money has characters to embrace and identify with, clever and provocative dance numbers, music which underscores advances the dramatic development of the script, and one of the most anticipated final numbers in all of Broadway musicals. In addition, at MSMT in a shared production with Lancaster's Fulton Theatre, the David Yazbek -Terrence McNally show is blessed with a stunning ensemble and witty, heartfelt direction and choreography by Donna Drake.

“This show is such a great ride for the cast and the audience!” the actor says enthusiastically. Peter Matthew Smith is referring to his latest gig as Jerry Lukowski in back-to-back runs of the musical, The Full Monty, which opens Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season on June 4, after closing at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster. It is Smith's first visit to Maine and his second essay of the part of the unemployed Buffalo steel worker who organizes a male strip tease act to raise money for his child support payments.

So .... this is sort of a 'mash-up' of mediums and a fun 'take' on a traditional Hanukkah song, bolstered by the additional creative forces of Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman. It also boasts the talents of Harvey Fierstein, Jackie Hoffman, Peter Matthew Smith, Shoshana Bean, Clarke Thorell, Jenn Gambatese, Michael Longoria, Rashad Naylor, Tracy Jai Edwards, Chester Gregory II, Dick Latessa and others from the Broadway cast of HAIRSPRAY. The year was 2003, and HAIRSPRAY, pretty much, owned Broadway.

Audiences will be mesmerized by the classic score in Kopit & Yeston's Phantom tonight, June 21- 30 at the Benedum Center. Phantom is back by popular demand and will feature an incredible cast comprised of Broadway stars and Pittsburgh CLO veterans.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below!

Audiences will be mesmerized by the classic score in Kopit & Yeston's Phantom June 21- 30 at the Benedum Center. Phantom is back by popular demand and will feature an incredible cast comprised of Broadway stars and Pittsburgh CLO veterans.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast.

Pittsburgh CLO's 2013 Summer Season will be highlighted by brilliant Broadway stars, veterans of the stage and screen and accomplished recording artists.

The Kennedy Center presents Memphis in the Opera House from tonight, June 12 to July 1, 2012.