Phoenix Best News

A new Evan is waving through a window at the Music Box Theatre! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Andrew Barth Feldman, the 16-year-old winner of the Best Actor Award at the 2018 National High School Musical Theatre Awards (known more commonly as the Jimmy Awards), made his Broadway debut as 'Evan Hansen' just over a month ago. Check out a first look at Feldman and the rest of the cast in action below!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Happy Friday! Finish off your week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!

Broadway Sessions recently held its 3rd annual Black History Month celebration. We invited an all star roster of Broadway talent to share songs and stories reflecting the influence, impact and legacy of black artists on Broadway and beyond. HOLY MOLY! This was one of the most incredible nights of music we have enjoyed. Beyond that it was moving, hilarious and profound. Enjoy these highlights from Broadway vets Antoine  L Smith, Soarer-Joye Ross, Storm Lever, Brennyn Lark, Judith Franklin, Phoenix Best, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Tiana Okoye, Michel Demby Cain, Imari Hardon, Avery Smith, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Quentin Earl Darrington, Jennie Harney Fleming, John Edwards, Laurissa 'Lala' Romain, Shonica Gooden and Emme Kemp. We also enjoyed performances from 'Rising Stars' Richard Baskin Jr. and Aneesa Folds. OH, and maybe just an impromptu pre show performance by Tony-winning legend FAITH PRINCE! It was a good night.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Phoenix Best in her solo debut on Sunday, March 31 at 9:30pm. Best known for her role as Alana Beck in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, and for The Color Purple, makes her Feinstein's/54 Below debut in Phoenix Rising. Following her journey from the beginning, Phoenix will share stories about the shows, people, and musical influences that carried her to a starring role on Broadway. Featuring songs from The Color Purple, Dear Evan Hansen, and Wicked, plus artists like Alicia Keys and Beyonce, and even debut some original music, Phoenix Rising will show how anyone can rise from the ashes. Phoenix will be joined by some of her current and former cast mates.

BROADWAY SESSIONS is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway cast twice monthly. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida, Footloose, Dance Captain Dance Attack web series) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano.  

The starry lineup is set for the sixth monthly concert in the year-long Broadway Sings spinoff series, Broadway Sings: Unplugged. On March 25 at 7pm and 9:30pm, The Green Room 42 will present Beyonce: Unplugged, featuring original "unplugged" arrangements of the pop star's hits, orchestrated for an acoustic band.

A new Evan is waving through a window at the Music Box Theatre! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Andrew Barth Feldman, the 16-year-old winner of the Best Actor Award at the 2018 National High School Musical Theatre Awards (known more commonly as the Jimmy Awards), just made his Broadway debut as 'Evan Hansen' last night, January 30, 2019. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos below!

Back by popular demand after a wildly successful first edition in 2018, 54/54/54 features the longest setlist in Feinstein's/54 Below's history as 54 singers perform 54-second versions of their favorite songs, ranging from musical theatre, to pop, to originals, and everything in between.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: The Kennedy Center Honors, which celebrated the creators of Hamilton, airs tonight on CBS!

Super young, super hip, super talented cast members from Dear Evan Hansen joined us at Broadway Sessions recently. With a median age of about 20, they showed us just why they have scored some of the most coveted tracks on Broadway. Enjoy performances by Mallory Bechtel, Phoenix Best, Dan Macke, Diamond Essence White, Gabrielle Carrubba and Josh Strobl. Also enjoy performances by teenage powerhouses Robert Montano and Teagan Dye.

History was made at the Music Box Theatre today! Roman Banks made his debut as the title character in Dear Evan Hansen as the show's first Evan of color. Banks is currently the understudy for Evan, Jared and Connor. See video of his first bow below!

History is being made at the Music Box Theatre today! Roman Banks will make his debut as the title character in Dear Evan Hansen as the show's first Evan of color. Banks is currently the understudy for Evan, Jared and Connor. 

BROADWAY SESSIONS is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida, Footloose, Dance Captain Dance Attack web series) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano.

According to Deadline, Dear Evan Hansen will soon be adapted for the big screen! The Tony winning musical will be produced by Marc Platt and Adam Siegel, with creators Benj Pasek and Justin Paul expected to executive produce. Steven Levenson, who won a Tony Award for his book, will write the screenplay.

Yesterday, Dear Evan Hansen celebrated two years on Broadway by donating to the Smithsonian on stage. The cast and creative team were joined by Smithsonian Institution representatives, Catherine Eagleton, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs and Ryan Lintelman, Curator of Entertainment History.

Check out the cast of Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen on the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade performing 'You Will Be Found!' 

Dear Evan Hansen producer Stacey Mindich has just announced today that Andrew Barth Feldman, the 16-year-old winner of the Best Actor Award at the 2018 National High School Musical Theatre Awards (known more commonly as the Jimmy Awards), will make his Broadway debut as 'Evan Hansen' on January 30, 2019. Feldman - who is currently a high school junior at Lawrence Woodmere Academy in Woodmere, New York - takes over the role from Taylor Trensch, who plays his final performance on January 27, 2019 after a year in the title role. Original Broadway cast member Michael Lee Brown will continue his run as the 'Evan' alternate.

Below, check out exclusive photos of Taylor Trensch and the cast of Dear Evan Hansen as they record their track, 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.'

For the first time ever, the moms of Dear Evan Hansen have teamed up to sing together!

Broadway's most sensational onstage and offstage stars, passionate fans, avid collectors and animated bidders celebrated the biggest day for Broadway fans on Sunday, September 30, 2018, as the 32nd Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction raised $906,825 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.