Rebecca Luker News

On Monday, July 24, Theater People podcast welcomes Broadway favorite Julia Murney. Murney discusses growing up in New York City where she attended La Guardia High school during the year and the famed Stagedoor Manor during the summer.

On Monday, July 10, the Theater People podcast welcomes two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes and Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer of THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. For the first part of the episode, host Patrick Hinds chats with Osnes (who is making her fourth appearance on Theater People) about her work in BANDSTAND. Osnes, who has been with the show since it's very first reading, shares stories about how the show has developed, why she turned down other roles to stay with the piece, and a personal family story about why she feels so connected to the role.

Bob Ost & Wildly Productive Productions and Xoregos Performing Company, with generous support by Granite Hills Press and The Confucius Institute of San Diego University, are thrilled to announce that Romance of the Western Chamber, a musical adaptation (in English) of the fabled Chinese classic Xi Xiang Ji, will make its U.S. Premiere this fall. The production will play a strictly limited engagement of 14 performances, beginning Thursday, September 14 at TADA! Theater (located at 15 W. 28th Street, 3rd Floor), with opening night scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2017. Performances will take place according to the following schedule: Thursdays & Friday at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm; and Sundays at 3pm.

On Monday, June 26th, the Theater People podcast welcome's ANASTASIA star Derek Klena. For the podcast, Klena tells all about creating the role of Dmitri in the new Broadway production alongside his friend and CARRIE: THE MUSICAL co-star Christy Altomare.

Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Rob goes to Central Park West and Kevin goes to WOOP WOOP.

Just yesterday, Irish Repertory Theatre presented SONDHEIM AT SEVEN, this season's Gala Benefit production, at The Town Hall. Featuring an introduction by Special Guest Angela Lansbury, SONDHEIM AT SEVEN honored Carmine D. Boccuzzi, Jr., Partner at Cleary Gottlieb LLP, and recognized the extraordinary contributions of Anne Anderson, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States; Barbara Jones, Consul General of Ireland in New York; and David Donoghue, Ambassador of Ireland to the United Nations.

Following news that two major sponsors, Delta Air Lines and Bank of America, had pulled financial support for The Public Theater in response to their Donald Trump-Themed Shakespeare in the Park production of JULIUS CAESAR, the show opened last night at the Delacorte Theater. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night and you can check out photos from the red carpet below!

Curtain up! Light the lights....literally, because this week's guest is Tony Award winning lighting designer Ken Billington, Ken swings by Shetler Studios to discuss his over one hundred Broadway credits including SWEENEY TODD, CHICAGO, and ON THE 20TH CENTURY.

This week Rob, Kevin, and Tony Award historian Bryan Hobgood discuss categories that used to be part of the Tony Awards ceremony but have since been removed....plus, categories that we want to see added for future shows!

Paulo Szot breathtakingly answered the question last night.  Can one of opera and Broadway world's most magnificent and powerful voices be harnessed to create an intimate cabaret experience? If you have a preconceived notion of a barrel chested, non swinging, duck out of water performer, you are a 100 percent wrong. 

5,6,7,8.....TONY! Rob and Kevin welcome back Tony Awards historian Bryan Hobgood to discuss the 2016-2017 Tony Award Nominations! This week's episode focuses on this season's musical works. From COME FROM AWAY to GROUNDHOG'S DAY. HELLO, DOLLY to SUNSET BOULEVARD. Josh Groban to Ben Platt, and everything in between that sings, is discussed, dissected, and dismantled.

In 1996, when Julie Andrews was the only artist involved with VICTOR/VICTORIA to receive a Tony nomination, she withdrew her name from the ballot. In a statement, she said, 'I have searched my conscience and my heart and find that I cannot accept this nomination, and prefer instead to stand with the egregiously overlooked --'

Tony! Tony! Tony! Rob and Kevin welcome back Tony Awards historian Bryan Hobgood to discuss the 2016-2017 Tony Award Nominations! This week's episode focuses on this season's dramatic works. From OSLO to INDECENT, THE LITTLE FOXES to SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, Kevin Kline to Laurie Metcalf, and everything in between, is discussed, dissected, and dismantled.

This Week: One of Rob and Kevin's favorite people, Robbie Rozelle, swings by to discuss his illustrious career as a graphic designer for cast recordings AND to talk about his upcoming show at Feinstein's/54 Below, Songs From Inside My Locker, which is June 9th, 2017 at 9:30pm.

On Tuesday, May 23rd the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony winner and Broadway legend Betty Buckley. For the episode, Buckley shares hilarious and fascinating stories from her nearly five decades as a Broadway and West End star. She also shares cuts from her new album STORY SONGS.

Irish Repertory Theatre has announced more performers for SONDHEIM AT SEVEN, this season's Gala Benefit production, on Tuesday, June 13th at 7 PM at The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street, NYC).

Everything today is thoroughly Hal....Luftig, that is! Four time Tony Award winning producer Hal Luftig swings by Shetler Studios to look back on his career of hits including THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, LEGALLY BLONDE, and KINKY BOOTS.

Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and under appreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: Woody Allen's only movie musical & a great resource for obscure cast recordings!

What does a musical coordinator do, you ask? Well, John Miller, one of Broadway's most respected in the field, swings by to discuss this pivotal role and some of his 100 plus Broadway credits... yes, that's right, 100 plus Broadway credits! 

Featuring a full orchestra and chorus under the direction of John Bell, performers for the evening include Nancy Anderson, Melissa Errico, Mark Evans, Danielle Ferland, Malcolm Gets, Jeremy Jordan, Rebecca Luker  Howard McGillin, Ryan Silverman and Max Von Essen, plus more to be announced and special surprise guests!