Randy Graff News

Renowned musical theatre composer/lyricist, Scott Alan and Broadway star, Caissie Levy, perform music from Scott's extensive original songbook and share the inspiration and stories behind them. Scott's thoughtful and moving original compositions have made him a favorite among many well-known artists including Sutton Foster, Jonathan Groff, Stephanie J. Block and Liz Callaway. The evening features songs from his four original albums.

Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city: the original show at London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre; and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thenardier, Leo Burmester as Thenardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, and Terrence Mann as Javert.

Resonance Ensemble has announced the cast for their 10th anniversary season "Connecting Circuits" featuring two shows in rep, a classic play and new play with resonating themes. This season includes the classic 1920 play R.U.R. by Karel ?apek, adapted by Lee Eric Shackleford, directed by Valentina Fratti in rep with THE TRUTH QUOTIENT, by award-winning playwright Richard Manley, directed By Eric Parness. The season will run tonight, January 9 - February 2, 2013 at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42 Street).

The highly-anticipated film version of LES MISERABLES is now in theaters! To celebrate the release, this week BroadwayWorld brings you an in-depth look at the characters and the actors who portray them. Today, it's all about the Fantine (Anne Hathaway)!

While many MIZ-heads may have assumed the film adaptation of their beloved musical would never actually come to fruition, here it really is, all too soon available for all to see - lo, more than twenty years after it was first announced byway of an official promo ad in a tour souvenir going as far back as the late-1980s. I was lucky enough to catch an advance screening during the dawning days of December and many small moments, full musical sequences and my first impressions themselves have filled me with a certain kind of inexpressible enrapturing ecstasy heretofore inexperienced, coming as a direct result, no doubt, of the sheer force of power the film exacts in its relentless, barreling, blazingly bravado-bedecked style - a style, I can firmly say, is completely unique in movie history. LES MISERABLES is a lot of things, but, first and foremost, it is that which it is unlike that makes it most remarkable of all; that is: it is unlike any movie musical ever made. And, it is a masterpiece.

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content from all corners of the globe. Our regional contributors do an amazing job each day of bringing you the latest theater news in their cities and countries. Sit back and catch up on this week's regional reviews, features, interviews and more!

Resonance Ensemble has announced the cast for their 10th anniversary season "Connecting Circuits" featuring two shows in rep, a classic play and new play with resonating themes. This season includes the classic 1920 play R.U.R. by Karel ?apek, adapted by Lee Eric Shackleford, directed by Valentina Fratti in rep with THE TRUTH QUOTIENT, by award-winning playwright Richard Manley, directed By Eric Parness. The season will run from January 9 - February 2, 2013 at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42 Street).

Randy Graff, who originated the role of Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway, is coming to Toronto to conduct an exciting master class this December. Known for her story-telling through song, Randy will focus on teaching that unique ability to her students. She sat down with BWW to talk about her career, the benefits of the master class and the upcoming feature film version of Les Miserables.

A staged reading of They Promised Her the Moon will be presented Monday, December 3rd at 4pm, directed by Valentina Fratti. They Promised Her the Moon is based on the true story of Geraldyn 'Jerrie' Cobb, the first woman to be tested for space flight. Along with twelve other women, Cobb went through the rigors of physical and mental testing only to be told that women would not be considered for NASA's astronaut training program.

Primary Stages last night held their annual Gala on Wednesday at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honored Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, featured performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you coverage from inside the event below!

Primary Stages last night held their annual Gala on Wednesday at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honored Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, featured performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you full photo coverage below!

Riverdale Repertory Company, under the Artistic Direction of Laurie Walton, is proud to present CITY OF ANGELS, the multi-Tony Award-winning film noir musical comedy set in 1940s Hollywood.

Riverdale Repertory Company, under the Artistic Direction of Laurie Walton, is proud to present CITY OF ANGELS, the multi-Tony Award-winning film noir musical comedy set in 1940s Hollywood.

An industry reading of Sevan K. Greene's Narrow Daylight will be presented Oct. 9 at 3 PM at Primary Stages.

Primary Stages ESPA has announced casting for the ESPA*Drills Reading Series this August.

All Out Arts, with license from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, is proud to announce as part of the Fresh Fruit Festival a one-night only reading of 8, a play chronicling the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California's Proposition 8, written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER founding board member Dustin Lance Black.

Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), the company's professional training school, has announced its Fall 2012 schedule of classes now open for enrollment. ESPA will offer new classes including Comedy Writing, Advanced Libretto and Lyric Writing and Dialects 2: Russian. ESPA will also be offering two new workshops: Writing for TV: Making the Transition from Stage to Screen and The Pilot. Additionally, Tanya Barfield, whose show The Call is part of Primary Stages mainstage 2012-2013 season, will be teaching a special workshop, Finding Your First Draft.

Theatre legend Patti LuPone opens the new nightclub and restaurant 54 BELOW (254 West 54th Street) with a two-week engagement from tonight, June 5 through June 16. The June entertainment line-up also includes Jackie Hoffman, Mx Justin VivIan Bond and Brian d'Arcy James, as well as late-night lounge entertainment Tuesday - Thursday, a Monday night new composers series, and an informal cocktail hour on Sunday evenings.

Second Avenue Meets Broadway: A benefit cabaret directed by Michael Montel will be held at the Museum of the City of New York, tonight, May 31st, from 6:30pm to 8pm (cocktails begin at 8pm).

This June, 54 BELOW, a new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife opens its doors to the public. The venue, located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway brightest talent.