Rachel Bay Jones News

Patrick Hinds, host of Theater People Podcast, recently told me that he considers The Ensemblist to be the Radio Lab of theatre podcasts. For podcast aficionados, that is extremely high (and well-deserved) praise. Nikka Graff Lanzarone (WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, CHICAGO) and Mo Brady (THE ADDAMS FAMILY, SMASH) are two Broadway vets that have been giving listeners a look at Broadway 'from the inside out' for over a year. Next week, they are having a party to celebrate, and you're invited.

The Ensemblist, the only podcast that shows you Broadway from the inside out, announces new guests for its first anniversary live show - a week from today!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for June 16 - June 20, featuring Ravi Coltrane Quartet, The Ensemblist with Nikka Graff, Lanzarone & Mo Brady, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, and more!

Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone announce the release of The Ensemblist's 24th episode: 'Tony Awards.'

Just last night, Drama Desk and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti ('The Sound of Music Live!', Gypsy, Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) hosted the 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street). Big winners for the night included Audra McDonald, Bryan Cranston, Jessie Mueller, and Neil Patrick Harris and Jefferson Mays- who tied for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Click here for a full list of winners. Also check out more photos of arrivals and photos of the winners.

The Ensemblist, the only podcast that shows you Broadway from the inside out, comes to the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in June to celebrate its first anniversary with a live show! Hosts Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone have invited some of their favorite Broadway performers to the stage to celebrate their ensemblist experiences. Click below to watch the announcement for the concert!

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein, who made his Broadway debut and received a Theater World Award for creating the title role in the original 1972 production of Pippin, will join the all-new Tony Award winning production of Pippin in the role of 'Charles.' Mr. Rubinstein will play a limited engagement, Friday, June 20 - Sunday, July 27, 2014, filling in for Terrance Mann's leave of absence. Pippin is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

The Ensemblist, the only podcast that shows you Broadway from the inside out, comes to the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in June to celebrate its first anniversary with a live show! Hosts Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone have invited some of their favorite Broadway performers to the stage to celebrate their ensemblist experiences.

"That's So Raven" star Anneliese van der Pol teams up with actor/writer Tim Realbuto (Ghostlight; The Emperor's Club) for an evening of song, hilarity and personal reflection at popular venue 54 Below in July.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its great line-up of amazing talent for the month of June 2014, featuring Freddy Cole, Stacey Kent, Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Tierney Sutton Quartet, Native Soul, Lorna Luft, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso's Cast Party Celebrates the Tony Awards, and more!

The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder for Two are teaming up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Joe Iconis contines the series on Monday, May 5, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder for Two at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street). Performers will include Liz Lark Brown, Katrina Rose Dideriksen, Seth Eliser, Lauren Marcus, Jeremy Morse, Lance Rubin, Jared Weiss, and Jason "SweetTooth" Williams.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a look at opening night celebrations of IF/THEN, a first look at the West End production of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, a sneak peak at THE REALISTIC JONESES, and more!

Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) assumed the roles of 'Pippin' and 'Leading Player' respectively in the Tony Award-winning musical Pippin last night, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller gave their final performances on Sunday, March 30. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from their first curtain call!

Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) assume the roles of 'Pippin' and 'Leading Player' respectively in the Tony Award-winning Pippin today, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller gave their final performances on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at Massey and Renee in action!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Kyle Dean Massey(Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) will assume the roles of 'Pippin' and 'Leading Player' (respectively) in the Tony-winning Pippin beginning Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller will play their final performance on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Below, BroadwayWorld bid adieu to the show's extraordinary leads, Miller and Thomas, with a flashback of their time spent with the production. Check out photos and videos from their Pippin journey below!

Pippin, now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), is directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus and features choreography by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker in the style ofBob Fosse and circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers). The Tony-winning production just marked its first year at the Music Box and below you can check out full photo coverage of the cast celebrating onstage!

Broadway's best filled a sold-out Al Hirschfeld Theatre with laughter, tears and cheers during the unforgettable ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards on Monday, March 24, 2014, raising a record-breaking $423,182 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

A limited number of $40 rush tickets for the much-anticipated ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards will be released for sale at 6:30 PM Monday, March 24, 2014. The rush tickets will be sold outside the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). They will not be available at the box office. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, cash only and are limited to two tickets per person. The show begins at 8 PM.

Just yesterday, Sardi's Restaurant unveiled caricatures for PIPPIN stars Matthew James Thomas, Tony Award winner Patina Miller, Tony Award nominee Charlotte d'Amboise and Rachel Bay Jones. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out complete photo coverage below!

Actor and acrobat Orion Griffiths from the Tony Award-winning PIPPIN was featured today on "CBS This Morning." Correspondent Jamie Wax spoke to the 26 year-old performer about his extraordinary life and making his Broadway debut. Check out his interview below!