Ryan Murphy News

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com back in November of 2012, it's now official that Academy Award(R) winner Julia Roberts and Academy Award(R) nominee Mark Ruffalo will star in the HBO Films drama THE NORMAL HEART, directed by Emmy(R) winner Ryan Murphy ('Eat Pray Love,' 'Glee'), it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Slated to begin production in New York City later this year for 2014 debut on HBO, the film is written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name.

Matt Bomer is set to guest star on NBC's freshman comedy THE NEW NORMAL. The actor will potray 'legendary party boy 'Monty' in the January 8th episode entitled 'The Goldie Rush'.

On Twitter Watch, Ryan Murphy wrote 'Thanks to everyone for the kind wishes. Logan is one week old and doing great. Happy new year! pic.twitter.com/eQYmf3bn '

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Toronto in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Eonline reports that Ryan Murphy and his husband David Miller welcomed the arrival of their son on Christmas Eve. The couple revealed the news to family and friends via email.

Before GLEE creator Ryan Murphy Tweeted a picture of Blaine (Darren Criss) shirtless and posing with a candy cane for the supposed 'Men of McKinley' calendar last week, he revealed Mr. July--Blake Jenner, also shirtless, in an Uncle Sam hat and patriotic boxers. God bless America. Check it out below!

On Twitter Watch, Ryan Murphy wrote 'Merry Christmas. Men of McKinley calendar coming soon... pic.twitter.com/nKWRMIOC'

As part of its 30th annual celebration of great television, PaleyFest: The William S. Paley Television Festival today announced Ryan Murphy as the recipient of the Festival's inaugural PaleyFest Icon Award. Additionally two of Murphy's series, American Horror Story: Asylum and The New Normal will join the PaleyFest lineup of honorees during the Festival's two-week run, which was recently announced to take place at the Saban Theatre, March 1-15, 2013.

Following Ryan Murphy's very-public announcement that he'd asked the acclaimed Bette Midler to guest on GLEE - it appears the series showrunner hasn't followed through.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning Broadway and Hollywood notable all about his terrifically theatrical background - having appeared in musicals ranging from his debut in the ill-fated MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG to his Tony Award-winning work in JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY to most recent role as the artistic director of LA's lauded Reprise! Theatre Company - the one and only Jason Alexander. Expounding upon his big Broadway break in Stephen Sondheim & Harold Prince's MERRILY and what it was like to witness the two titans as they developed the piece, Alexander shares his insights into the art of Broadway and also casts a glance back at his roles in Kander & Ebb's THE RINK, Mel Brooks's THE PRODUCERS and directing Sondheim‘s musicals himself (such as SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with frequent InDepth InterView participant Kelli O‘Hara). Alexander also opens up about some of his most celebrated dramatic and comedic work to date - to say nothing of the iconic TV dynasty of SEINFELD, we also touch upon the TV movie musicals adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (with a score by Alan Menken & Lynn Ahrens), co-starring Kelsey Grammer, and Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, (with fellow InDepth InterView participant Bernadette Peters), as well as his recent appearance on HARRY'S LAW and more. Plus, Alexander outlines his featured role in the forthcoming Christopher Ashley feature film adaptation of the Ahrens & Flaherty musical comedy LUCKY STIFF, the future for a revival of the Richard Rodgers/Martin Charnin Bible-based Moses musical TWO BY TWO (co-starring SMASH's Megan Hilty once again, perhaps?) - and much, much more!

Liberally utilizing tried and true heartstring-tugging tropes masterfully displayed in holiday entities as diverse as LOVE, ACTUALLY, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, HOLIDAY INN and even showing some Chanukah action sure to set virtually anybody's menorah fully alight thanks to the Puckerman brothers, GLEE's Christmas episode - this year, aptly titled 'Love, Actually' and written by Matthew Hodgson and directed by HAIRSPRAY and ROCK OF AGES movie musical helmer and a recent participant in this very column, Adam Shankman (available here) - was all in all a quite quintessential quintet of seasonal joy, cheer, and, well, glee, broaching the quoin of many and any a viewer's heart valves in so pleasingly enacting its ample entertainment value over the course of the episode's five featured segments within the winning framework. While the split-location structure of the series as dictated by the new style of GLEE 4.0 is assuredly more pronounced than would be the case had the proposed NYC-set spin-off gotten the greenlight by FOX, the cast and creators are making it all work and it is more seamless as it goes on - and the addictive, giddy, all-consuming glee of it all that drew us all in in the first season is still there to relish by Santa's sleigh-ful.

Well, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - I guess Rachel singing a Christmas classic last week is the Glee equivalent of Santa appearing at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, except Rachel wasn't riding a sleigh and looking awesome. …Get on that, Ryan Murphy - tick, tock for next year's Christmas spectacular de Glee. But, let's not jump in 2013 right away now - there's still a Glee Christmas awaiting in the wings - has it been a good little glee child or is it sitting atop the naughty list? Shake a jingle bell, and let's rock this biznitch. After falling out of his chair, Artie makes a wish that he was never in his wheelchair, which prompts him to have a dream of a world where Glee Club never existed - Becky is the school whore, Finn, Puck, Ryder, and Sam continue to bully a held back Kurt, who never met Blaine, and Rachel is a librarian in training hiding in the chorus of the local production of The Music Man, while Mr. Schue is miserably married to a faking a pregnancy Terri and Emma married Ken. Determined to defy the images of this world shown to him by guardian angel Rory, Artie brings the members of the glee club together and performs Feliz Navidad which lands with a thud. After being told by Rory that Quinn died following her accident without support from the glee club, Artie gets back in the chair and all is suddenly right with the world.

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's most remarkable breakout stars to have crossed over into Hollywood with an impressive film career following his superlative work in the Mike Nichols-directed HBO production of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning ANGELS IN AMERICA in 2002, the affable and incredibly talented Patrick Wilson. While looking ahead to Monday's BROADWAY BLOWS BACK benefit concert in aid of Hurricane Sandy relief, Wilson and I take a look back at his career onstage and onscreen thus far, with an emphasis on the diverse range and commendable dedication to character he has displayed since his memorable first starring roles on Broadway - from BRIGHT LIGHTS< BIG CITY to OKLAHOMA! to THE FULL MONTY, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK and ALL MY SONS onstage to his aforementioned Joe Pitt in ANGELS to roles in HARD CANDY with Ellen Page, LITTLE CHILDREN with Kate Winslet, WATCHMEN with fellow recent InDepth InterView participant Carla Gugino to last year's YOUNG ADULT and this year's PROMETHEUS, Wilson can clearly do it all. Additionally, Wilson reflects on his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as well as shares thoughts on other roles he would enjoy playing someday (Joe Gillis in SUNSET BOULEVARD perhaps?) and shares stories from the set of GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY creator Ryan Murphy's first feature film, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Plus, thoughts on how Broadway has changed thus far in the new century, immediate plans for the future and much, much more!

'Tis the season to be jolly as the Glee cast releases Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 3, available Tuesday, December 11.The album features timeless holiday classics, including "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "White Christmas," and "Jingle Bell Rock." Six of the tracks recorded will be included on the holiday themed episode of Glee, which airs Thursday, December 13, at 9:00 PM ET/PT on FOX. Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 3 will also showcase 4 songs recorded exclusively for the release including "Joy To The World" and "Silent Night" (see below for track-listing).

Today BroadwayWorld is proud to present the third and fourth world premiere exclusive songs in a month's time, following "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" performed by Kitty (Becca Tobin) and the New Directions girls as well as "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" performed by Marley (Melissa Benoist): following "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO courtesy of Rachel (Lea Michele)and Cassandra (Kate Hudson), here is Cory Monteith, Darren Criss and the New Directions with a theatrically-attuned group reworking of the 80s Crowded House pop classic "Don't Dream It's Over" from this Thursday's brand new episode, "Swan Song".

Today BroadwayWorld is proud to present the third and fourth world premiere exclusive songs in a month's time, following "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" performed by Kitty (Becca Tobin) and the New Directions girls as well as "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" performed by Marley (Melissa Benoist): in addition to Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Amber Riley, Darren Criss and the New Directions with a theatrically-attuned group reworking of the 80s Crowded House pop classic "Don't Dream It's Over", here is theatrical standard "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO courtesy of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Cassandra (Kate Hudson) from this Thursday's brand new episode, "Swan Song".

Last week I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to Tony Award-winning SPRING AWAKENING songwriter Duncan Sheik all about his staggering spate of upcoming stage projects - the musical stage adaptation of the controversial Bret Easton Ellis bestseller AMERICAN PSYCHO, as well as his Steven Sater collaborations on THE NIGHTENGALE, WHISPER HOUSE, MR. CHESS and ALICE included - in addition to all about his upcoming concert appearance on November 23 at the Gramercy Theatre. Additionally, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter also expounded upon his career thus far and we took a look back at some of his favorite scores and composers, as well as the individuals to have the most impact on him and how that has played out in both his theatre and recording career. Plus, Sheik shares exciting exclusive news on the development of the forthcoming film adaptation of SPRING AWAKENING, directed by McG, to potentially begin filming next summer if all goes as planned, as well as opens up with his feelings on GLEE's recent homage to his hit 90s single "Barely Breathing" and his original SPRING AWAKENING leads Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff, as well as news about his upcoming solo album and the many, many stage projects he currently has in development. All of that and much, much more!

Two time Academy Award & Emmy Winner Jessica Lange presented the International Emmy Founders Award to Ryan Murphy, the creator, writer and director of television shows Glee , American Horror Story and Nip/Tuck. After receiving his award, Murphy in turn, presented the 2 special 40th anniversary Founders Awards to global television legends Alan Alda (*M*A*S*H *) and Norman Lear (All in The Family ).

On Friday afternoon I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to Tony Award-winning SPRING AWAKENING songwriter Duncan Sheik all about his staggering spate of upcoming stage projects - AMERICAN PSYCHO, THE NIGHTENGALE, WHISPER HOUSE, MR. CHESS and ALICE included - as well as all about his upcoming concert appearance on November 23 at the Gramercy Theatre, but, before that InDepth InterView appears next week, here is some exciting exclusive news on the development of the forthcoming film adaptation of SPRING AWAKENING, directed by McG, to potentially begin filming next summer if all goes as planned.

FX has ordered the next book of the award-winning miniseries AMERICAN HORROR STORY, picking up 13 hours of a new miniseries from Twentieth Century Fox Television, it was announced today by John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks. Production of the untitled AHS will begin next summer and premiere in the fall of 2013.