Raúl Esparza News

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, December 16, 2012 - Sunday, December 16, 2012.

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - How should EVITA have handled the departure of its leads?

Now according to the New York Times, a slew of stars were being considered to fill the leading roles. Antonio Banderas, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Ramin Karimloo and Raul Esparza were all being considered to play Che, though they were not able to 'reach any deals.' Additionally, Lea Michele and Sierra Boggess were 'discussed for the title role of Eva Peron.'

Gillian Anderson, who played Dr. Dana Scully on THE X-FILES, has officially signed on for a recurring role on NBC's upcoming midseason drama HANNIBAL. Entertainment Weekly first broke the news this evening.

Gerard Alessandrini and the cast of the acclaimed Forbidden Broadway: ALIVE AND KICKING just performed selections from the recently released cast recording, Forbidden Broadway: ALIVE AND KICKING, The UN-Original Cast Album at the Drama Book Shop (250 W 40th Street) yesterday, December 11th. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out photo coverage below!

Gerard Alessandrini and the cast of the acclaimed FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING will be signing and performing selections from the recently released cast recording, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING, The UN-Original Cast Album at the Drama Book Shop (250 W 40th Street) on Tuesday, December 11th from 4 p.m. - 6p.m. The show has just been named one of the "TOP 10 Plays and Musicals" of the year by Time Magazine. The new recording, from DRG Records, is now available in stores, on iTunes and at Amazon.com.

Academy Award-winner Whoopi Goldberg guest stars as Maris Elder and Broadway's Raul Esparza guest stars as Phillip Perez on tonight's December 2nd episode of the new ABC drama series 666 PARK AVENUE.

Sit back and enjoy a recap of this week's most-read stories in BroadwayWorld's regional markets! Browse over to your favorite far-away city/country to see what's making news, see what productions are playing around the country and overseas and get to know new performers!

Few are the performers described as a force of nature. A force of nature is dynamic, electric and totally unpredictable, in a positive way. Actor/singer Raul Esparza is a true force of nature, based solely on his unforgettable performance at Valley Performing Arts Center, Northridge Saturday November 17. Commanding the stage every second, talking fast with intense reflection, moving like a bolt of lightning from stage left to right, jumping on and off the piano, and singing masterfully, Esparza essayed a personal journey through the music of Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim said to him after an audition once, 'You're f**kin' brilliant, kid!' I agree. I am so glad I was there to witness his brilliance once again.

As first reported on TVLine.com, Broadway vet Raul Esparza will join the cast of NBC's upcoming drama HANNIBAL, based on characters from Thomas Harris' novel 'Red Dragon.' The actor will portray Lechter's jailer 'Dr. Chilton,'

New York City Center celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its Tony Award-winning Encores! series on November 12 with a Gala Benefit starring Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara, and featuring performers who have starred in Encores!productions over the past two decades. The evening raised $1.6 million to help fund City Center's artistic and education programs. Check out photos from the event below!

Academy Award-winner Whoopi Goldberg guest stars as Maris Elder and Broadway's Raul Esparza guest stars as Phillip Perez on the December 2nd episode of the new ABC drama series 666 PARK AVENUE.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) honors Broadway star and multiple time Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee Kelli O'Hara for her work in the theater at the NYMF 2012 Annual Gala taking place tonight, November 11th at The Hudson Theatre (145 W. 44th Street) beginning at 6:00pm.

Broadway producer Dede Harris has optioned the music catalogue of Diane Warren, one of the most popular and successful contemporary songwriters of our time, to create a new musical for the Broadway stage.

The first 11 o'clock number of the evening came at around 8:05, when Marc Kudisch opened Town Hall's The Best of Broadway By The Year concert by caressing Lerner and Loewe's “If Ever I Would Leave You” with his rich, dramatic baritone and superlative musical acting skills.  It was a very appropriate opening since Kudisch, a regular participant throughout the concert series' twelve-season history, very much represents what these evenings have evolved into; a look at what Broadway could be in a commercially different environment.

CABARET, Premiere im Theater Oberhausen am 26.10.2012

On Wednesday night, Broadway greats gathered at Joe's Pub to sing selections from Kander and Ebb's Cabaret. Anne Hathaway, who will be appearing as Fantine in the movie musical Les Miserables, was joined by five-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Eddie Redmayne, Bryce Pinkham, Broadway legend and multi-award-winner Linda Lavin, and yet another great, Harvey Fierstein, all participated in this musical evening called, Perfectly Marvelous: the Songs of Cabaret. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the evening below!

The beauty, intelligence, charisma and singular silver voice of Melissa Errico has been wowing audiences since she was plucked out of Yale to star in the first national touring company of Les Miserables. Since then, Broadway has embraced her in My Fair Lady (Eliza, 1993 revival), High Society, Amour (Tony nomination) and, most recently, Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Kennedy Center audiences applauded her performance as Dot opposite Raul Esparza's George in Sunday in the Park with George. Having sung throughout the world in some of the most prestigious concert halls, and having released three critically-heralded CDs, Blue Like That, Lullabies and Wildflowers and A Legrand Affair (produced by Phil Ramone), look for Melissa lighting up 54 Below this Fall with a brand new evening of tales and tunes right before she starts rehearsals for the first New York revival of Stephen Sondheim's Passion! Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, Musical Direction by John Oddo.

Matthew Broderick (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Tony Danza ("Who's The Boss"), Kathleen Marshall (Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Pajama Game), Greg Naughton (Founder: Blue Light Theater Company), James Naughton (Chicago), Anthony Rapp (Rent), Tom Kitt (Next To Normal), Peter Cincotti (How Deep Is The Ocean) Eric Leviton (How Deep Is The Ocean), Lorinda Lisitza (Triumphant Baby!), and Michael Ogborn (Baby Case) and others to be announced will appear at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) 2012 Annual Gala honoring Broadway star and multiple time Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee Kelli O'Hara on Sunday, November 11th at The Hudson Theatre (145 W. 44th Street) beginning at 6:00pm. Kelli is currently starring on Broadway in Nice Work If You Can Get It, and was seen on Broadway in South Pacific, The Pajama Game, The Light In The Piazza and many others.

Happy Birthday Raul Esparza! Since making his Broadway debut, Esparza has become only the second actor to receive Tony nominations in all four eligible acting categories. Most recently he took on the role of con artist Jonas Nightingale in the Broadway musical adaptation of Leap of Faith directed by Christopher Ashley. Additional Broadway credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Taboo, Company, Arcadia, and more!